I found it strange that Wikipedia does not mention that an orchid variety had been named after Astronaut Kalpana Chawla who died in Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy. The year was 2003 couple of months after her death the then Prime Minster of India Atal Bihari Vajpee was on his first visit to the Himalayan State of Sikkim. Two new orchid varieties created by K.C. Pradhan, Former Chief Secretary of Sikkim and his son Sailesh Pradhan, both famed Orchid specialist from Sikkim was kept at Orchid Flower Show, Gangtok. An orchid variety Dendrobium Atal Bihari Vajpayee was named after Atal Bihari Vajpee to mark his first visit to Sikkim while when asked to name the second variety, he simply replied “Kalpana Chawla”. Brassocattleya Astronaut Kalpana Chawla was than named after Kalpana Chawla. ALSO READ This was the closest i could go for PM Modi orchid Wikipedia fails to mention Sikkim Orchid named after Kalpana Chawla Coelogyne pantlingii, ...
Proud to be a Sikkimese is the definitive digital encyclopedia of Sikkim State. Since 2007, we have archived the rich heritage of the Himalayas, from the history of the Namgyal dynasty to the vibrant cultures of the Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali communities. Explore expert insights on Sikkim travel, Buddhist monasteries, folklore, and biodiversity.