UNRAVELING MAITRI, ANTARCTICA 1998-2000

By Dr. Khwairakpam Gajananda 

India started its first expedition to Antarctica in the year 1981 led by Dr. S. Z. Qasim, Secretary, Department of Ocean Development (DOD), Govt. of India. The expedition code named 'Operation Gangotri', was undertaken in an ice-breaker named M. V. Polar Circle, chartered from A/S. G. C. Reiber Bergen, Norway. Twenty one scientists, technicians and naval personnel selected from seven different institutions participated the 1st Indian Antarctic Expedition. The ship set sail from Mormugao harbor on December 6, 1981, and after 77 days, covering a distance of about 21,000 kilometers. The ship finally touch the Mormugao harbor on February 21, 1982. The first permanent station known as 'Dakshin Gangotri' was established during the 3rd Expedition of 1983-84. Twelve Members Over Wintered in the Station from March 1, 1984 and returned to Goa on March 25, 1985. Since than India had been continuously launching the Expeditions and sending the Wintering Members every year. In the year 1989 a new Permanent Station called 'Maitri' was commissioned. Maitri lies at the 'Schirmacher Region' of East Antarctica at 70°45'58" S Lat. and 11°43'56" E Long. The area of Schirmacher Oasis is around 35 sq. km. Dakshin Gangotri was abandoned in the year 1990-91. After the establishment of the modern permanent station Maitri, from 1990-91 until 2000 more than 250 Scientists, Technicians, Army and Naval Personnels had Over Winterred during the decade. During December 1998 to April 2000, the Members comprises of 26 scientific and logistic teams from 8 different organizations and Over Wintered until the last year of the 20th Century.

SHELTER

The Maitri Station is reinforced with iron bars to withstand high wind speed (upto 320 km/hr) and the walls are thermally insulated for protection against low temperature. The energy is supplied by generators in the station. The station is kept warm (~ 25° C) by circulating hot water from the boilers. The Maitri Station represent a micro-climate where all the activities are carried out. It is totally in contrast to the outside the ambient environment. There are also several insulated huts for the Summer Team, which are used as Laboratory during Winter. A lake known as 'Priyadrashani Lake' provides palatable fresh water and is totally frozen upto 20ft during winter. Most of this Schirmacher Region is covered by ice round the year. 

CLOTHING AND FOODING

The clothing provided here is all thermally insulated and has the uniqueness of retaining the body heat and to released the perspiration. Foods are devoid of freshness due to the preservation for long time in the deep freezer. The food although contain large amount of proteins and carbohydrates, it lacks some important vitamin like Vitamin-C, therefore, the chances of scurvy is high. The rich supply of apple juice and other fruit juice had curbed of this disease. 

ANTARCTIC MID-WINTER DAY

Antarcticans celebrate only one holiday in a year viz. 21st June of every year. This day is known as 'Antarctic Mid Winter Day'. The year 1999, marks the Centenary of the 1st Wintering Expedition in Antarctica and being the last Wintering of the Millennium.  All the 26 Winter Over Team Members in Maitri witnessed the historic day. Greetings were exchanged among all the Antarctic Stations. Greetings also received from various Celebrities and Dignitaries of the world. The day was celebrated with grand parties and cultural programs. 

SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES

The scientific programs are interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary, with Members drawn from various national organisations/institutions and universities. The main Organisations participating are Geological Survey of India (GSI), National Physical Laboratory (NPL), India Meteorological Department (IMD), R&DE (Engg.), Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Defence Electronics & Application Laboratory (DEAL), Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and various universities like Barkatullah University, Roorkee University, Banaras Hindu University etc. In addition, Members have participated from Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Survey of India, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), Osmania University and Jadhavpur University etc. Physicians and Surgeons were drawn from Railways, Armed Forces, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Indo Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) and various hospitals in India. The logistic team are drawn from the Indian Army to help in maintaining the station, generators and land convoy. The Scientific endeavors are varied; from the study of moving glaciers to ionospheric study. The ongoing programs of Meteorology, Geomagnetism, Biology, Geology and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) were carried out on regular basis. Study on Ozone depletion, green house effect on earth and monitoring of UV-B radiation were carried out most significantly in the Station. The contributions of the Scientists, makes India's image bright and high in the international scenario. 

MEMBERS

The following were the 26 Members of the 16th Winter Over Team (1998-2000) of the 18th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. 

Sl. No.        Name of the members                       Organization/institution

a.                Mr. Ajay Dhar (Stn. Cdr.)                  Indian Institute of Geomagnetism

b.                Dr. Khwairakpam Gajananda            National Physical Laboratory

c.                Dr. Saurabh Baruah                           National Geophysical Research Institute

d.                Mr. RP Lal                                         India Meteorological Department

e.                Mr. Krishna Murthy                           India Meteorological Department

f.                Mr. Praveen Srivastava                      Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment

g.                Mr.VS Shinde                                    R&DE (Engg.) i

h.                Mr. RK Pandkar                                R&DE (Engg.) i

i.                 Mr. Hemant Gaur                              Defence Electronics & Application Laboratory

j.                 Mr. Som Prakash                               Defence Electronics & Application Laboratory

k.                Dr. Kanagamani(Surgeon)                Indian Railways

l.                 Dr. Shitanshu Nag                             Indian Railways

m.               Maj.VV Kadam                                 Indian Army

n.                Capt. RV Vasant                                Indian Army

o.                Sub. MC Sharma                               Indian Army

p.                Nb./Sub. Sarjit Singh                        Indian Army

q.                HMT. Elicus Soreng                         Indian Army

r.                 HMT. Naresh Kumar                        Indian Army

s.                 HMT. RB Singh                                Indian Army

t.                 HMT. Sitaram                                   Indian Army

u.                 Hav. Narayan Singh                         Indian Army

v.                 Hav. Bishnoi                                     Indian Army

w.                Hav. RB Khatri                                 Indian Army

x.                 Hav. Dilbag Singh                            Indian Army

y.                 Hav. Mohan Singh                            Indian Army

z.                 Hav. Jaswinder Singh                       Indian Army

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(The Author is Associate Professor, Center for Environmental Sciences, CNS, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and e-mail: gajakh@gmail.com)