Book Review
The Author-the book.An introduction.
By
Mr.C K Gopalakrishnan,B.E.
Chief Engineer,P W D (Red )
This book is a compilation of a single assignment experience of a highly patriotic and dedicated military officer who was physically strong and mentally robust.An event creates different impact on different people’s mind.Because people are not of the same caliber.Every human being comes with different socio,economic,educational back ground and different expectations in life.So their understanding and approach to a particular assignment is bound to be different.
A military officer was allotted land in the Madras metro politan Development scheme for construction of house in 1977 in the Annanagar Development scheme.He was somewhere in the western border of india.After a gap of 5 years the Tamilnadu Govt issued notices to all the allottees to immediately start construction or else the allotment would be cancelled. One fine morning a military officer came to me seeking procedures for house construction. And that was then Major P. Ganesan.(Now Colonel )
The very first introductory meeting itself was sufficient to understand this absolutely straight forward and upright officer.He was in PWD of Tamilnadu Govt early in 1961-63 and had very unpleasant experience in service. He threw the salary into the flowing river and had resigned his job.Fortunete for this country that he was reminded of the National Emergency in the country after the brutal Chinese attack and was persuaded by his superiors to join the Army.That was a turning point in his life.
Very active,fine sportsman playing all type of games and highly patriotic person getting into Army service was like a fish being led into deep sea. No doubt that he had demonstrated new dimensions to officership in the Army. His past experience and great love for this country led him to the selection as Station commander of Indian Antarctic Research station,Dakshingangotri.
From the day of selection in April-May 1987 till the day of departure from this country in November 1987,Ganesan had six months time to interact with earlier expedition members, go through old files,documents and to select and settle his family. With all these he was to hand over command of his beloved 4 Engineer Regiment. His preparation went on smoothly.and he had mentally lived in Atarctica before even boarding the ship.
Guidelines for Expedition Members.
Department of ocean Development,New Delhi under ministry of science and technology was co ordinating Indian Antarctic expeditions.National Institute of Oceanography,Goa was a base for all such activities.The Govt had prepared a hand book about programme of activities for the 7 th Antarctic Expedition and 5 th winter team. Ganesan was Dy Leader of 7 th Expedition and commander of 5 th winter team. The ship will sail from Goa and stay in Atarctica for about two months and leave the 5 th winter team in isolation and return with the 4 th winter team who would have finished their about 480 days of wintering.
The winter team selected will make sure that all their personal requirements are met and at the same time ensure stores and equipments are carried for completion of their programme.
Co ordination Meetings.
Number of co ordination meetings were held before departure of the expedition.The strength of winter and summer teams depends upon the task ahead .The strength of winter team will always be restricted to the accommodation available at wintering station.All these details are based on the feed back the department gets from Dakshingangotri. Unfortunately no leader was willing to bell the cat.The wintering stations was commissioned in Feb 1984 and since then year after year modifications,improvements or life saving alterations were carried out and this was not updated by the Derpartment.Ganesan was briefed and given direction all based on 1984 details only.
The Reality.
With all fanfare, farewell and Parting messages the 7 th Antarctic expeditin left Goa on 25 th Nov 1987.They reached Antarctic coast on 21 Dec1987.Ganesan had given detailed account of the sailing and activities in the ship.It is worth reading the philosophical quotes and great Indian literature quotes Ganesan uses at appropriate places.
When the ship captain announced the reaching of Atarctic coast Ganesan ran to the Bridgeboard of the ship and had the first look of the greatest mystery of the earth. 14.5 million sq km totally covered by ice without any landmarks. The next day Three members, the Expedition leader .Dy leader, and pilot of MI-4 Navy helicopter took off for Dakshin gangotri to greet the 4 th wintering Leader.
There Ganesan was shocked to see the reality.The authorities have fooled the members and the Nation by not exposing the real Antarctic conditions. The Station was fully buried in ice and a life saving escape shaft had been constructed for the members to go in and out. Ganesan Had an option to fight with the authorities. But then he will miss a great lifelong opportunity to demonstrate to all Indian members and to the world about “how to conduct an wintering at Antarctica “.So he made silent oath and promised to his own conscience that his wintering would open the eyes of all those involved in Antarctic Expeditions.
Colonel Pavadai Ganesan arrives at Antarctica.
History is nothing but collection of Yesterday’s events suitably weaved. Autobiographies may give the true picture of one’s own mind and its reactions to events and situations. Emotional feelings of an individual can best be recorded by himself only provided he had the intelligence and expressive capacity. However people of same frequency of mind can interact better. Throughout the book Ganesan had given wonderful messages from the angle of a citizen who whole heartedly loving this country and his fellow beings.
Expedition of a National mission cannot be taken like any other assignment. Firstly the authorities in charge of such missions should be highly dedicated for the improvement of this country and truthful to himself to deliver the goods. Promises made are to be fulfilled or deeply regretted if it could not be carried out. There cannot be any politics in full filling National mission. But unfortunately after independence politics entered in every walk of life. A highly patriotic Military officer can under no circumstances serve peacefully under a political leader who has no National ambition.
Ganesan’s wintering starts in an unusual circumstances. We all know that thoughts are dynamic and vital; It is creative and changes conditions.There are ample proofs in this book to show that.The 7 th Expedition leaves the continent without a Farewell meeting with the wintering members who are going to be in total isolation for the next one year or so. But the winter team welded with their leader to create history for the posterity.
Wintering activities.
On the day the winter team received message that the summer team leaving the continent without meeting them Ganesan holds a ‘”open mind” MEETING OF HIS WINTER TEAM ANG GIVES OUT HIS YEAR LONG EXPECTED PRORAMME.He gave in writing an assurance to all members that he will be totally dedicated to the safety,honour of all members.He assures that each member’s family will be taken care in india with his personal influence and contacts so that the members will be free to concentrate on their works.There is no wonder that one of the member from J&K who did not have even a telephone contact was in uncontrolled tears when he spoke to all his family members for 23 mts.More datails can be read in the book.
In all the 5 th winter team functioned like a well maintained machine without any disturbance.It is an excellent narrative in the book.
The milestones of 5 th winter team.
From the day of departure at Goa till they landed back on the same port after their wintering Ganesan has brought out excellent record of activities.The Engineer –in –Chief of the Indian Army Lt Gen P S Rai who selected him for the Antarctic mission had sent an official letter in appreciation of Ganesan’s work and mentioned that “your service to the Nation will go down in the annals of history and you have added another glorious feather to the Corps of Engineers “ .The 5 th winter team had conducted an International inspection of our station and got tremendous appreciation from the leader of the inspecting team Dr A N Chellingaro,Dy Chairman U S S R Committee of Hydrometerogy.
Ganesan also had done “Para Sailing “at Antarctica and became first man in the world to have done so.
Conclusion.
Adventure activities about Antarctica had been going on since 1819 and many records have been created.There are many books in English.But This book will stand out as a testimony for the present day youth.It is worth keeping this book as Non detail to a main course.
I wish Colonel Ganesan long life and success.
Chennai-600 102 C K Gopalakrishnan.
(Mr.C K Gopalakrishnan is 1927 born graduate of Guindy Engineering college of 1947 batch.Professionally highly compitant Officer.when he was serving as chief Engineer ,P W D seleceted by the then Chief Minister M G Ramachandran as Managing Director of Pallavan Transport corporation.He retained this appointment for 9 years with an assurance from CM that No politicians should enter his office.)
