Karnal (Haryana): A special memorial ceremony was held at Kalpana Chawla's school in Karnal today (Feb 1, 2004) on the first anniversary of her tragic death along with six other astronauts when the US space shuttle Columbia disintegrated mid-air.

Recalling Chawla's momentous journey from this sleepy town to the realisation of her dream of space travel, India's first cosmonaut Wing Commander (retd) Rakesh Sharma said Chawla was a role model for many young women in India and the world over, particularly for those of her hometown where she returned ever so often to encourage them to follow in her footsteps.

"The love and respect (for her) one feels emanating from this gathering proves that Kalpana is not gone, she is among us immortalised as a permanent star in sky where she always belonged," he said addressing the ceremony at Tagore Bal Niketan.

A book 'India's First Woman Astronaut' authored by Dilip M Salwi was released by Sharma on the occasion.

Punjab Engineering College at Chandigarh, from where Chawla graduated in Aeronautical Engineering, is also organising a week-long function in her memory.