Sunita Williams meets Prakash Raj at Kerala Lit Fest and gives viral speech

Retired NASA astronaut Sunita Williams met actor Prakash Raj at the Kerala Literature Festival; Prakash Raj shared a selfie from the event and Williams's speech about seeing Earth as one planet went viral.

Sunita Williams, a retired NASA astronaut, met actor Prakash Raj at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode. The ninth KLF ran from 22 to 25 January 2026 and included guests from fields beyond literature. Prakash Raj shared a selfie from the event and praised Williams as a courageous figure. Williams retired from NASA in December 2025 after 27 years with the agency. Key details: - The Kerala Literature Festival 2026 took place on the beaches of Kozhikode from 22–25 January. - Prakash Raj shared a selfie with Sunita Williams and commented on meeting her at the festival. - Sunita Williams retired from NASA in December 2025 after a 27-year career that began with astronaut candidate training in 1998. - Career highlights reported include more than 600 days in space, nine spacewalks with over 60 EVA hours, and being the first astronaut to enter the Boston Marathon from space. - Williams's last mission was extended by nine months due to Boeing Starliner malfunctions; she and crewmate Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on 18 March 2025. - At KLF, Williams spoke about seeing Earth as a single home and the importance of listening to different perspectives; that speech was widely shared online. Summary: The meeting and Williams's remarks drew attention on social media and in news accounts, and the festival appearance highlighted perspectives from science alongside arts and sports. The Kerala Literature Festival continued through 25 January 2026.