Dharmyug Magazine- Appreciation of my South Pole Odyssey

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 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.

 

Copy of Doctoral Thesis and Happy International Friendship Day To All - First Sunday of August Every Year !

For Copy of Thesis please click the link ;-     
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1klvYfl9X6Wu6eKDEwCtRVYeQu9hLy1tl/view?usp=sharing  
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The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities! Friendship Day is a day in several countries for celebrating friendship. It was first proposed in 1958 in Paraguay as the "International Friendship Day". 

In India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and UAE, Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August every year!

I am Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra with name in history and all details on the internet, e.g., click on the following links:
(Ph.D. Thesis Statement, Indian Express clipping, etc)

While working as Director/Principal at the DAV College of Engineering & Technology (DAVCET), Kanina in District Mahendragarh, Haryana, India in 2011, I once signed a Cheque worth Rs. two crores in favour of DAV College Management Committee (DAVCMC), New Delhi, for transfer of students' admission fee collection to its Governing Body, and I had then felt like Big B Amitabh Bachan running the most popular TV Show KBC in India! 

I very well remember that one day the College Accounts Officer asked me a very simple question in my office there to which I could not answer. His question was, 'Sir, do you know who is the the most dangerous person in the world?' When I was still thinking about its possible answer by taking a little longer time, he said, 'Sir, you won't be able to answer this question, should I answer it myself?' 

I told him, 'Okay, I don't know the answer to your question, you please answer it yourself.' He smiled and answered his own question himself by saying, 'Sir, the most dangerous person in the world is an honest person like you who will neither do any corruption himself nor let others do it'! 

This reminded me about the removal of another Accounts Officer in DAV Institute of Engineering & Technology (DAVIET), Daltonganj, Jharkhand, where also I had worked as Director/Principal in 2010. I thought that he was probably referring to that, but he immediately gave me the required accounts papers for checking the same! At that we both laughed, and then I signed the above mentioned Rs. two crore cheque for transferring this amount to the College Governing Body, viz., DAVCMC, New Delhi! 

I had earlier also written the following anecdote on DAVCET, Kanina, Haryana, which is perhaps temporarily closed now, but this link stays and is worth reading & sharing for the sake of friendship & peace everywhere:
Furthermore, my following two inspiring 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 inspiring articles were invited from me by Shri H. C. Sarin, IAS, Former 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 Indian Mountaineering Federation (IMF), New Delhi for inspiration of students under the following links:

Also please see the following link giving some details about my Ph.D. work carried out at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, in the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO):

So, Wishing Everyone Happy International Friendship Day with Strong Will Power and Never-Say-Die attitude which can really do great wonders in life and also stop suicides being so common these days amongst youth and even affluent people! Life is very precious, Befriend others, Live and Let Live, Seek Peace and Everyone's Welfare!

With Ever Best Wishes & Heartiest Greetings To Everyone:


Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra

(Former PAU Prof, ISRO, NASA/USA & UN Expert, and 1st Indian Antarctic & South Pole Explorer also to do Ph.D. on it and Founder of the Indian Antarctic Programme, Polar Heroes | Polarjournal, having visited and worked in all the seven continents of the world from Deep Freeze, the coldest place Vostok in Antarctica at -89.3 deg C to Furnace, the hottest place El-Zizia in Libya, Sahara Deserts at 58 deg C, with name in history and details on the internet). 


Present Residential & Mailing Address:

Dr. Parmjit Singh Sehra, Ph.D. (Sci.)

C/o Dr. (Mrs.) Bhupinder Sehra, MBBS, MD, Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Apt. A-4, Bilga General Hospital (A Unit of CMC, Ludhiana), Village & P.O. Bilga-144036, Nurmahal Road, Tehsil Phillaur, District Jalandhar, Punjab, India.

 

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!