Chapter - 16: Appreciation of my South Pole Odyssey

Chapter - 16
Appreciation of my South Pole Odyssey
16.1 Introduction
This Chapter includes some letters of media coverage and appreciation after the successful accomplishment of my work as Project Scientist in the 17th Soviet Antarctic Expedition from 1971 to 1973. In addition to pure scientific work, some popular science articles were also written which were published in reputed national & international magazines and newspapers which were highly appreciated as given here. A documentary TV film ‘India in the Icy Deserts, was also made by the Door Darshan in March 1976 based on my South Pole Odyssey which was telecast by the American Technology Satellite ‘ATS-6’ throughout the world many times. It is of about one hour’s duration and is stored in the Doordarshan, Ahmedabad, India on a permanent basis which is sometimes telecast now also.
16.2 Publishing of my special exclusive feature articles ‘First Indian ever to winter over the South Pole’ in ‘Dharmyug’, Illustrated Hindi Weekly, Vol.27, No. 1, pp. 6-14, January 4, 1976
DHARMYUG
ILLUSTRATED HINDI WEEKLY
PROPRIETORS : COLEMAN & CO. LIMITED
28th August 1975
Shri Parmjit Singh Sehra
Remote Sensing & Meteorology Applications Division (RSMD)
Leena Apartments
Ahmedabad 380006, India.
Dear Shri Sehra,
We are thankful to you for the excellent background material on your Antarctic odyssey. Your open letter to our countrymen reveals many a new facet of Antarctica. Texts of your Rdio and TV interviews are also quite informative.
We earnestly request you not to send this material to any other paper or magazine as we wish to bring out a special exclusive article and we wish to get the honour of being a pioneer magazine to publish details of your Antarctic odyssey.
Kindly send the remaining material with some colour slides or transparencies so that we can schedule the article at the earliest.
Thanking you once again
With best regards
Yours truly,
Sd/-
(A.V. Rammurty)
Sub-Editor
P.O.Box No. 213, Dr. Dadabhoy Naoroji Road, Bombay-1, Telephone No. 268271, Telegram : Indiana.
16.3 Request for permission by Prajamata, Kannada Illustrated weekly for reproducing my special feature article on Antarctic odyssey published in Dharmyug
DHARMYUG
ILLUSTRATED HINDI WEEKLY
PROPRIETORS : COLEMAN & CO. LIMITED
20th August 1975
To
Shri Parmjit Singh Sehra
Room No. 005
Physical Research Laboratory
Navrangpura
Ahmedabad-380009, India.
Dear Shri Sehra,
Hope you have received your copy of ‘Dharmayug’ dated 4th January 1976 which carried your article on Antarctic odyssey. 29 Black and white photographs, 5 maps, some colour photographs and all the background material are returned herewith. Please acknowledge.
Prajamata, a Kannada Illustrated Weekly from Bangalore wants to reproduce this article with colour and black & white photographs. We have no objection if you are willing, Please send your permission to the Secretary, Prajamata, 14/1 North Anjaneya Temple Street, Basavanagudi, Bangalore-560004. You can also send them a few relevent photographs.
Thanking you for co-operation
With best regards
Yours truly
Sd/-
(A.V. Rammurty)
Sub-Editor
P.O.Box No. 213, Dr. Dadabhoy Naoroji Road, Bombay-1, Telephone No. 268271, Telegram : Indiana.
16.4 Publishing of special feature article ‘First ever to Indian ever to winter over the South Pole’ in the Kannada Illustrated Weekly ‘Prajamata’, Vol. 47, Nos. 43 & 44, June 6 & 13, 1976
Prajamata
Kannada Illustrated Weekly
Telephones:
Admn. 62634-61883
Editorial 63281-62184
Accounts 63050
Advt./Cirin. 62481
14/1, North Anjaneya Temple Street. Basavanagudi. Bagalore 560 004, India
Editorial Department 20th May 1976
Shri Parmjit Singh Sehra
R.No. 005, Physical Research Laboratory
Navrangpura
Ahmedabad – 380 009, India.
Dear Sir,
Sub: Indian Scientist at the South Pole
Please refer to your letters dated 18th February 1976 and 18th May 1976.
We wish to inform you that your special feature article on ‘First Indian Scientist ever to winter over the South Pole’ is scheduled for insertion in ‘Prajamata’ in its issues dated 6-6-1976 and 13-6-1976. Three coplimentary copies will be sent to you as well as to Shri A.V. Rammurthy.
However, we are sorry to state that it would not be possible to publish colour prints of the transparencies you have given because according to our processing department the screen used does not match with our screen. Therefore, we have decided to use only the black & white photos to illustrate the feature article. As such the cover page thus does not carry the Antarctic photograph.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
Sd/-
(D.A. Ramaya)
SECRETARY/EDL.
16.5 Publishing of my special feature article ‘Sojourn in the South Pole’ in The Times of India, Vol. CXL, No. 293, October 23, 1977
THE TIMES OF INDIA
PROPRIETORS : BENNETT, COLUMAN & CO. LIMITED
(P.O. Box No. 213)
DR. DADABHOY NAOROJI ROAD
BOMBAY 1
Telegraphic Address : Indiana
WHEN REPLYING
PLEASE QUOTE
July 13, 1977
Dear Mr. Sehra,
We can use your article after 3 or 4 weeks. Please send us the pix.
Your Sincerely
Sd/-
Darryl D’Monte
(Assistant Editor)
Mr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Research Scientist
013 Meteorology Division
Remote Sensing Area
Space Applications Centre
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Jodhpur Tekra
Ahmedabad 380 053, India
16.6 Publishing of my special feature article ‘What is it like to winter over the South Pole’ in The Sunday Tribune, Vol. XCVII, No. 225, August 14, 1977
TELEPHONES : PBX JUNCTIONS 28461-28463 TELEGRAMS : “TRIBUNE’ , CHANDIGARH
The Tribune
ESTABLISHED 1881
No.___ED/596 CHANDIGARH 160020 July 19, 1977
Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Research Scientist
013, Meteorology Division
Remote Sensing Area
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Space Applications Centre
Jodhpur Tekra
AHMEDABAD – 380 053, India.
Dear Sir,
With reference to your letter dated July 12, 1977, we are happy to inform you that we have selected the article you sent along with it.
Meanwhile, we would be happy if you send us a passport size photograph of yours to go with the article.
Thanking you
Your sincerely
Sd/-
Md. Vazeeruddin
(Assistant Editor)

16.7 Publishing of my special feature article ‘An Indian Remembers Antarctica’ in The Statesman’, Vol. CXXXII, No. 32492, August 5, 1977.
THE STATESMAN LTD.
POST BOX NO. 272, G.P.O.
REGD. OFFICE :
4, CHOWRINGHEE SQUARE
CALCUTTA-700 001
TEL. 23-5361-5369
August 10, 1977
Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Research Scientist
Space Applications Centre
Ahmedabad 380 053, India.
Dear Sir,
This is in answer to your telegram and subsequent letter on your article on the South Pole.
The article was published in both the Calcutta and Delhi editions of The Statesman on August 5, 1977. I am, therefore, returning the photographs you have been kind enough to send me.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
S. Nihal Singh
(EDITOR)
16.8 Publishing of my special feature article ‘South Pole Odyssey as I look back’ in The Hindu’, Vol. 100, No. 33, August 14, 1977
THE HINDU Estd. : 1878 Proprietors : Kasturi & Sons Limited
Kasturi Buildings, Mount Road, Madras-600 002,
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
September 23, 1977
Dear Dr. Sehra,
With reference to your letter No. RSA/MET/PSS/ 16.4 dated September 19, 1977, we have no objection to your reproducing the article entitled “South Pole Odyssey as I look back” in the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) Brochure and Journal with due acknowledgement to The Hindu.
Yours sincerely
Sd/-
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Research Scientist
Space Applications Centre
Ahmedabad-380053, India.
Telex : 041-358 Telegrams : HINDU Telephone : 82071 Post Box : 316
16.9 Making of Documentory TV film on my Antarctic odyssey ‘India in the Icy Deserts’ by Door Darshan and its telecast by ATS-6 Satellite
PHYSICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380009, India
February 3 1976
Shri Parmjit Singh Sehra
Honorary Research Scholar
PRL, Ahmedabad, India.
Dear Shri Sehra,
Thank you very much for your letter of 31st January 1976 along with a copy of the Illustrated Hindi Weekly ‘Dharmyug’ dated 4th January 1976 with a special feature article on your Antarctic odyssey ‘the First Indian ever to winter over the South Pole’.
I am very happy to note the various points in your letter. It would indeep be nice if a documentary TV film can be made and telecast through ATS-6 Satellite for the general benefit of all the people to watch your most adventurous journey to the South Pole and scientific explorations there during your participation in the 17th Soviet Antarctic Expedition from 1971 to 1973 as a Project Scientist with them.

We will be very happy to give you any assistance you may need from PRL in your scientific exporations.
With best regards
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
Davendra lal
(Director)
16.10 Appreciation of my South Pole Odssey and Antarctic Explorations by the ISRO Chairman
+╡+Uª G+U+±╡+U
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
+╡+UªF+ ╤∩ªt+Uá╡ ╤+TG≤-╡+ G≤+ªU+
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION
(ISRO)
Telephone : 75303 ISRO HEADQUARTERS
Telegram : ISRO F BLOCK ,CBAB COMPLEX
District office Road
Ref. 88/7 (76)
BANGALORE-560009, INDIA
Y. S. Rajan
Asst. Scientific Secy, ISRO
Scientific Officer to
Chairman-ISRO & Secretary-DOS 18 June 1976
Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Research Associate
Met. Division – R S A
Jodhpur Tekra
Ahmedabad - 380 053, India.
Dear Dr. Sehra,
This is in reference to your letter in your own handwriting, dated January 1, 1976 written to Prof. Satish Dhawan, forwarding two copies of ‘Dharmayug-Illustrated Hindi Weekly’ with a special feature article on your Antarctic Odyssey as written by the Editor through an interview. Chairman has instructed me to specially acknowledge this letter. He has quickly glanced through the article and is very pleased about the descriptions thereof.
We are very sorry for not having acknowledged this earlier though, of course, we appreciate this article fully and this delay has been due to some pre-occupations in the recent months. We would be expecting more such scientific adventures from various persons from ISRO.
With best regards
Yours sincerely
Sd/-
Y S Rajan
16.11 Appreciation of my Antarctic Explorations by the ISRO Project Director
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION (ISRO)
INDIAN SCIENTIFIC SATELLITE PROJECT
ISRO SATELLITE SYSTEMS PROJECT
A, 3-6, PEENYA INDUSTRIL ESTATE
PEENYA – 562140
BANGALORE
INDIA
TELEGRAM : UPAGRAH TELEPHONE
TELEX : UPAGRAH 043-325 38262-69
29th June 1976
Prof. U.R. Rao,
Project Director,
25/1/3 (027)/76.
My Dear Mr. Sehra,
Thank you very much for sending me two issues of ‘PRAJAMATA-Kannada Illustrated weekly’. I went through your article ‘The First Indian ever to winter over the South Pole’ and found it extremely interesting. You must have had a very exciting time in the Antarctic.

With best regards
Yours Sincerely
Sd/-
( U.R. Rao )
Mr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Research Associate
Remote Sensing Area
Space Applications Centre (SAC)
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Ahmedabad-380 053, India.
16.12 Appreciation of My South Pole Odyssey by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF)
Indian Mountaineering Foundation
H.C. SARIN
President 14A Friends colony
Phone : 633350 New Delhi-110 014
August 21, 1977
Dear Dr. Sehra,
I have read with great interest your article in the Hindu of August 14, 1977 on “South Pole Odyssey as I look back”. I congratulate you for a very good article and even more for your courageous participation in the venture.
The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) is hoping to start the construction of its Headquarters within the next few weeks. I am sure, you will know that with about 250 expenditions to heights of 20,000 feet and above during the last 17 or 18 years, India has become one of the leading mountaineering countries. Both in connection with the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony and the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of IMF, we are endeavouring to bring out a Brochure. In the Brochure, we hope to include good interesting and informative articles of permanent value. Our aim is to print a book of such articles later and also to publish it in the ‘Indian Mountainer-Journal of the Indian Mountainering Federation’ which is our official Journal.
I consider that your article would be eminently suitable for the above publication. Would you agree to its inclusion in the Brochure in the form in which it has appeared in The Hindu or in a suitably adapted form.
I am much looking forward to hearing from you.
Sd/-
H.C. Sarin
(President, IMF)
Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Space Applications Centre (SAC)
Indian Space Research Organisation
Ahmedabad-380053, India.
16.13 Publishing of my special feature Antarctic article ‘First Indian at the South Pole’ in the ‘Indian Mountaineer-Journal of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation’, No. 2, pp. 79-86, 1978
Indian Mountaineering Foundation
H.C. SARIN
President
Phone : 633350 14A Friends Colony
New Delhi 110014
September 21, 1977
Dear Dr Sehra,
I am sorry that there has been delay in acknowledging your letter No. RSA/MET/PSS/IMF/1 of 24th August 1977 with which you have been kind enough to send me a copy of your article “South Pole Odyssey as I look back” for inclusion in our IMF Brochure and IMF Journal, ‘Indian Moutaineer’, and IMF book, etc. The delay is because by the time your letter reached me I had already joined the Indo-New Zealand Ganga Expedition with Sir Edmund Hillary. I have come back from it only a couple of days ago.
It is very kind of you to have agreed to the reprint of your above article. Also please send us another general article on Antarctica for publishing in our IMF Brochure, Journal and Book, etc.
I shall look forward to seeing you whenever you are in Delhi.
Sd/-
H.C. SARIN
(President, IMF)
Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Research Scientist
Meteorology Division
Remote Sensing Area
Space Applications Centre
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Jodhpur Tekra
Ahmedabad-380 053, India.
16.14 Publishing of my special feature article ‘Exploration of, Antarctica’ in the IMF Journal ‘Indian Mountaineer’, No. 3, pp. 57-61, 1979
INDIAN MOUNTAINEERING FOUNDATION (IMF)
14-A, Friends Colony
New Delhi-110014
India
H.C. SARIN
President Phone : 633350
No. 1196-IMF/77
November 29, 1977
Dear Dr. Sehra,
Thank you for your letter dated 24th November 1977 and for sending the consent of “The Hindu” for publishing your article in our Brochure, Journal and Book, etc., along with your material for publishing another article on Exploration of Antarctica which is also very intersting and informative. I have requested the Chairman of our IMF Publications Committee to send you a copy of the same in due course.
The film of “Ocean to the Sky” Expedition will take six or seven months to make. When it is released, I am sure there will be some publicity about it.
with Warm regards,
Yours Sincerely,
Sd/-
H.C. Sarin
(President, IMF)
Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Research Scientist
Space Applications Centre
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Jodhpur Tekra
Ahmedabad – 380 053, India.
16.15 Invitation for a Lecture on ‘Geographical Accout of the Antarctic Region’ based upon my South Pole Odyssey.
Tele-{phone: 42335 UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Gram : SAMAJVIDYA GUJARAT UNIVERSITY, NAVRANGPURA
AHMEDABAD-380 009
No. 25 July 15, 1978
To :
Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra
Meteorology Division
Remote Sensing Area
Space Applications Centre
Ahmedabad –380053, India.
Dear Dr. Sehra,
I have great pleasure in extending to you our invitation to deliver a lecutre on “Geographical Account of the Antarctic Region” in the Department of Geography of the School of Social Sciences on July 28, 1978 at 3.00 p.m.
I will be obliged if you could kindly bring slides to illustrate your lecture. We have a slide projector which can be used for your slides.
Please confirm the invitation.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
Dr. (Mrs.) Anjana Desai
Head, Department of Geography
16.16 Compliment from Mr. Ray Garbutt, UK for my Antarctic Explorations and Autographs
27A Wetherby Road
York Yo2 5Bu
England.
31 January 1982
Dear Dr. Sehra,
You may remember my name. I contacted you after your stay in Antarctica at Molodezhnaya station and you kindly signed an envelope for me along with your autographs.
I had heard that an Indian Expedition had sailed for Antarctica this season, and I wondered if you could possibly put me in cantact with any of the members. I should like to obtain philatelic souvenirs from the expedition if any are available.
I hope that your research has prospered since your return from Antarctica and I you must be doing very well in all walks of life now.
I am sorry I have no Indian stamps but I enclose an International Reply coupon. I would be grateful for any suggestion or help you may be able to provide.
Thank you once again for your kind autographs as the first Indian ever to winter over the South Pole and circumnavigate and explore the Antarctic continent with your active participation in the 17th soviet Antarctic Expedition from 1971 to 1973. For which you were owarded the prestigious Soviet Antarctic Medal, Ribbon and Polar watch.
Yours sincerely
Sd/-
Ray Garbutt
16.17 A new item from the Time of India, Monday, January 3, 1977 on the skating Programme’ of our ‘Indian Club of Explorers (ICE)’
The Times Of India, Monday, January 3, 1977
Skating programme AHMEDABAD, JAN 2
The Indian Club of Explorers, formed in Ahmedabad by some young adventurers, celebrated the new year on Saturday by arranging a skating programme on the road between Drive-in-theatre, Thaltej, Ahmedabad and Pathikashram, Gandhinagar, a distance of about 35 km.
Two youths, Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra, who spent the 1972 winter at the South Polar Ice-cap during the scientific Soviet Antarctic Expedition. 1971-73, and Mr. Narayan Dutt Bali, a long distance cyclist from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, did the skating in about four hours.
They said that they started learning skating only last month but joined the skating to encourage youths for such sports-Samachar.
16.18 A news item from the Indian Express, Friday, August 19, 1977 on the ‘Cycle-cum-skating Expedition’ of our ‘Indian club of Explorers (ICE)
Indian Express Friday, August 19, 1977
Cylce-cum-skating expedition
AHMEDBAD, Aug. 18 Three members of the Indian Club of Expolrers who went on a cylce-cum-roller skating expedition from here to Mount Abu and back returned here last night.
The founder member of the club. Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra of the Space Applications Centre, who is the first Indian ever to winter over the South Pole during his participation in the 17th Soviet Antarctic Expedition from 1971 to 1973. Mr. Narayan Dutt Bali and Mr. Rajesh Pandey from the Physical Research Laboratory here had left here on August 12 at 8.00 p.m. and returned here last night after doing the cyling and skating odyssey of a total distance of about 500 km.