As the world celebrates the international non-violence day, Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams on Tuesday said Mahatma Gandhi was her role model and that she was proud to be part of a peaceful space project.
"Mahatma Gandhi was an incredible individual. His non-violence policy affects every sphere of our life. The whole world has to learn a lot from him," she said interacting with students of a school in New Delhi on the 138th birth anniversary of the father of the nation.
Williams said Gandhiji had always preached for peace and non-violence and she was proud to be part of a peaceful scientific space project.
Describing herself as a citizen of the universe, she said she took Indian culture to space as her father hailed from India.
Remembering Kalpana Chawla, Williams said she was following the footsteps of the late Indian-American astronaut and they were going ahead with the unfinished mission of the Columbia team.
"I am following the footsteps of Kalpana Chawla.... the legacy of Kalpana.... we want to continue the legacy...," she said.
Williams said she would be happy to see Indian astronauts going to the space and asked the students to study subjects like science and mathematics.
Asked whether she ever felt discrimination in her career for being a woman, Williams said: "Never. That thought never came. I have never felt. Besides, 25 per cent of (NASA) employees are women."
She asked Indian women to come out of 'boundary' and think broadly to do something for the welfare of society and mankind.
Williams said she would be happy to be part of any space training project for school children in India and wanted to come to the country at least once in a year.
Sharing her experience from the space journey, Williams said it was very important to maintain good health while being in space as pain, backache and sleeping disorder were very common problem.