Happy Antarctica Day to Everyone!


Celebrate peace and science in the Antarctic.
On this day, December 1st, 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed by 12 nations so that the continent would be a place only to be used for peace and science. These diverse nations established the agreement to protect Antarctica as summarized below:

Antarctica Day was inaugurated in 2010 to celebrate the 1st December 1959 signature of the Antarctic Treaty, which was adopted “with the interests of science and the progress of all mankind.” Antarctica Day was initiated by the Foundation for the Good Governance of International Spaces (www.ourspaces.org.uk) as an annual event to build global awareness of this landmark institution, celebrating this milestone of peace in our civilization with hope and inspiration for future generations.

Map of Antarctica with the flags of the Antarctic Treay nations. 
Map of Antarctica with the flags of the Antarctic Treaty nations. Accurate for Feb 2012 (49 nations). Inner ring are the original 12 signatory nations, central ring are the remaining consultative nations and outer ring are the non-consultative nations.

The Antarctic Treaty has been signed by 48 nations to date and covers the area south of 60 deg latitude. The Treaty has ensured that Antarctica remains a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.

With a vision for young people to be aware of how countries can build on their common interests – Antarctica Day is an opportunity to demonstrate how diverse nations can work together peacefully, continuously using science as a global language of cooperation for decision making beyond national boundaries.


Learn from International Experts:
 
I am Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra, bit.ly/parmjit, an Indian Pioneering Antarctic Explorer with some details given in the following links: 

My following two articles were first published in the Indian Mountaineering Federation (IMF)'s 'Indian Mountaineer' Journal/Magazine as per the details given below:

1. First Indian at the South Pole - P. S. Sehra in Indian Mountaineer, Vol. 2, 1978, and
2. Exploration of Antarctica - P. S. Sehra in Indian Mountaineer, Vol. 3, 1979. 

These articles were invited from me by Shri H. C. Sarin, IAS, Former Indian Mountaineering Federation (IMF) President, which were designated as very important articles of permanent value and were to be published in an IMF Book in 1977-78, but later appeared in the IMF's Indian Mountaineer Journal/Magazine in 1978 & 1979 as mentioned above. 

These articles were later also selected by the NCERT and published in its School Science Journals with due permission from the IMF under the following links:
 
One of my students abroad has also given reference of my related link in his following Facebook post recently showing my efforts to continuously spread awareness about Antarctica and climate change:  https://www.facebook.com/100025137692789/posts/817005965813986/?d=n
 
Being the first Indian to explore, winter over, circumnavigate and do Ph.D. on Antarctic & South Pole Atmospheric Studies and Global Environment, I had to even challenge the NASA/USA scientists for not including my references in their related Antarctic paper as mentioned in the following links:

A brief true story as to how India reached Antarctica and opened Indian research bases there and also a new Institute 'National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), now called National Centre for Polar & Ocean Research (NCPOR)' in Goa started with the following Antarctic Proposal made to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India directly from Antarctica by myself during 1971-1973: 

ANTARCTIC PROPOSAL TO PM AND SOME CORRESPONDENCE

I sent a congratulatory message to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, the late Shrimati Indira Gandhi, on the auspicious occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Indian Independence Day on 15th August, 1972 from Antarctica while I was wintering over at the South Pole there, with a proposal to launch Indian Antarctic Expeditions and open some Indian Research Bases in Antarctica, which is reproduced here.

My most cherished Antarctic dream ultimately came out to be true when my pioneer Antarctic explorations and proposals sparked lot of interest in India for its further explorations with the launching of regular Indian Antarctic Expeditions from the southern summer of 1981-1982 and the opening of some permanent Indian Research Bases in Antarctica since 1982 such as ‘Dakshin Gangotri’ and subsequently ‘Maitri’. 

I have thus opened a Gateway of India to Antarctica which is a matter of great personal satisfaction and reward for me!
.
Congratulatory Message to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India from Antarctica: Official Radiogram Transmitted on 10th August 1972:

Urgent Message

To
The Indian Embassy
Moscow

Kindly transmit the following Radio Message to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India with separate copies 
to:

1. The Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister of India, Research, Ahmedabad, India.
2. The Broadcasting Director, All India Radio, New Delhi, India.
3. The Editor, ‘The Times of India,
New Delhi, India,
and other newspapers so as to reach them before 15th August 1972. 

Et Sequentia (its copy) is for you as well. Please signal its acknowledgement and transmission accordingly.

The Message Begins:

“Heartiest congratulations to all the patriotic citizens of India on the auspicious occasion of the magnificent Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Indian Independence Day and its Silver Jubilee celebrations on 15th August 1972. Heartfelt homages to all the braves and veracious patriots whose great sacrifices earned us sovereign freedom . Those heroes shall remain immortal”.

“In memoriam and honoris causa everyone would appreciate if India lands on the South Polar Ice Cap in Antarctica in the near future and founds some Research Bases in Antarctica glorifying this historical day”.

“Ad hoc ad initium (for this purpose, in the beginning), among other member nations, India should also join the Antarctic Treaty”.

“I hope that this auspicious day will plant the following new programmes and departments :
1. ARPI - The Antarctic Research Programme of India
2. INSCAR - Indian National Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
3. ICE - Indian Interstate Council of Circumpolar Explorations and Expeditions which all combined with logistic support by the Indian Defence Services shall fruit productive scientific research.”

“That day is awaited when India landfalls on Antarctica, the seventh continent of the world, realizing the above wish of every Indian citizen”.
“May India evermore progress and prosper. May the 15th of August always bring lots of progress and prosperity for everyone in our country.”

“India has forever voiced for peace, rapprochement (harmonious relations) and entente (friendly understanding between various countries). May her demarche (foreign policy and diplomatic relations) ever succeed in upholding the world peace ad infinitum (forever).”

“Long live our peaceable Tiranga!”
“Long live our Bharat Mata”!
“Jai Hind”!

(-sd-)
Parmjit Singh Sehra
Imprimis (First) Indian wintering in Antarctica &
Project Scientist, 17th Soviet Antarctic Expedition
(1971-1973), Molodezhnaya station, Antarctica.

The Message Ends
.
"Message from the Indian Embassy, Moscow to my father Shri Mohinder Singh Sehra agreeing to send our Antarctic Messages:

+µ+U¦ +ñµ +Uµ-+O¦µ¯µG¦ +µ±S+ñµ=
Dr. D.C. Biswas EMBASSY OF INDIA
Education Attache MOSCOW
No. Mos (Edn)/327/3/69-70 
1st August 1972

Dear Shri Mohinder Singh Sehra,

Kindly refer to your recent letter addressed to the Ambassador for sending messages to your son Parmjit Singh Sehra in Antarctica. We have talked to the organizers of this Soviet Antarctic Expedition and they have taken the message from us for sending it to your son. 

We have also requested the organizers to give us any message which your son might have sent from Antarctica for transmission to you and others in India.

With best wishes and kind regards
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
(D.C. Biswas)

To:
Shri Mohinder Singh Sehra,
Postmaster, Head Post Office
Phillaur, District Jalandhar, Punjab, India".

-----------------------

This is how was initiated and founded the Indian Antarctic Programme by my humble self through the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Hydrometeorological Service (HMS) of the USSR joint agreement under which I had gone to Antarctica & South Pole and worked there from 1971-1973 and ever thereafter also as explained in the links and text given below:
(Ph.D. Thesis Statement, Indian Express clipping, etc)

The longest day in the life of Dr Sehra - Tribune India 
(Ph.D. Thesis Statement, Indian Express clipping, etc)

World Environment Day Today - Save Our Rivers Like Ganga ..

Atmospheric pollution - Europe PMC 

Atmospheric structure exploration over antarctica and ...
antarcticsociety.org.nz › uploads › 2017/07 › Antarctic.V6.8.1972.pdf. (Indian Subscriber at Base in Enderby Land, page 292)
(Indian Scientist worked at Soviet Antarctic Station, pp.224-225))
Reaching the final frontier - Frontline - The Hindu (9th para)

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Ludhiana Stories (PAU Professor gets Vijay Shree Award)

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - LUDHIANA (Dr Sehra felicitated)

(Pl click on the above links for details)


Happy Antarctic Day to Everyone!
Celebrate Peace and Science all over the world by following the Antarctic example!

 

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