Unless your memory is selective - you may recall that the support was far from unanimous. I recall a number of HNers stating that the ISRO budget would be better spent on other 'more pressing' challenges India is facing (poverty, sanitation). In fairness, there was a lot of push-back against the naysayers, stating why the space program is money well spent (the most prominent benefits I recall were improved weather predictions benefit farming and cheaper/better telecoms)
--edit: added stuff below this line--
The naysayers have made an appearance in this very thread. They are currently being downvoted (I expect nothing less from HN).
If we really want to colonize space we need self sustaining habitats and highly compact and automated manufacturing from raw materials. Both can be done while staying on earth, and sending people up or yet another probe is mostly pointless.
Good thing they are lifting telecom & weather sats too! It's reasonable to say those are not pointless.
It's unreasonable to put space programs on hold while we try to solve the human condition. There is no political will or even widespread support. People are horrible - they worry about themselves, their families, their neighbourhoods, towns and countries in that order. "Self-sustaining habitats, pffft, not with my hard-earned tax dollars. Build my kid's school a bigger stadium than last years'"
https://launiusr.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/why-explore-space-...
Especially considering the general negative narrative of misplaced priorities of a thirdworld country from the likes of bbc/guardian/nytimes, HN is a breath of fresh air - probably because HN community is more optimistic about the positive impact of tech, and bbc/guardian/nytimes are not, and sees feeding the hungry and investing in R&D as mutually exclusive.
I remember a large number of users who were enthusiastically supportive.
Mostly what I remember is how quickly the conversation dove into people wondering why the American program was expensive, then discussions on Musk.
The mission was just straight up cool and everyone was kicked to see it succeed.
(I think many people here are still kicked that we as a species could get a satellite that far, and at that cost)
Make a statement about how it's disappointing about the lack of support for X, even though the opposite is true.
Plebs then rush to upvote this statement because they (like the majority) do support X.
Disappointing, but it often works.
I've been on HN for many years and my recollection is that the community here has been very supportive and encouraging of India's efforts in space technology.