Snowflakes are beautiful – because each one is unique. But when you see one made from steel, you cannot take your eyes off it. Anuradha Roy may look like a Clark Kent for many who know her terrific journey at the helm of IT at SAIL. But she is so much more than that. She rips apart all stereotypes and flies all the way to danger when adventure calls. If being a paragliding pilot was ‘saving the cat’ moment for her, this Super-woman has already flown to the galaxy-in-danger and back with her latest feat. Antarctica marks more than a trip for the child inside her. It’s a dream made true with the grit of a woman and the sensibilities of a human being who loves the planet. That’s why she says – ‘Getting a job and making pots of money would be useless if our very survival is at stake.’
Let’s find out why, and also dig out tips on what to pack for when you are travelling to the Moon. And how to leave strong and responsible footprints in soft snow.
What drove you to do a trip in that inhospitable and surreal world?
I always suspected that I was bipolar! Jokes aside, visiting and seeing with my own eyes, the wastes of uninterrupted ice snow and rocks, which is essentially what the polar regions are, has been my dream since childhood. I grew up in a Defence family. My father was always posted to godforsaken camps in remote defence areas where I had to travel up to 50 kms to get to school everyday and back as well, that too in the back of a SHAKTIMAN army truck!. There were times in which we literally lived in tents and in some places we lived in bamboo huts!
Before stepping out of bed in the mornings we had to make sure we weren’t stepping on any snakes and scorpions! But despite all that primitive living, I have this to say for the Forces – they always had a very well-stocked library. National geographic magazines, Thor Heyerdahl (remember kon tiki expedition?), Jim Corbett and Kenneth Anderson books were liberally available. Since there were very few children my age and I was a bit of an introvert anyway, I lost myself in the wide and fantastic world revealed to me in these books and magazines.
Ever since then, my dream has been to walk the path less-trodden, and experience in the flesh all that I read about as a child. I had no idea how it would be possible to travel from the backwoods of Adampur to Antarctica, but I swore to myself that I would stand on my own two feet one day and travel to Antarctica and the Arctic before I died. The Arctic is waiting for me though Antarctica still shouts out to me in my dreams!
Did you do any homework or special luggage-packing or recce before going there?
As for homework before my Antarctica trip- yes, I felt I was back in school! There was a host of expected reading to be done on the origins of Antarctica, its ecology, geology, climate (a temperature of 10 degrees centigrade during the Antarctic summer is considered hideously hot!), history of exploration, current scientific research being carried out on the continent, wildlife etc. We were also expected to watch many TV programs, particularly BBC documentaries about the continent, what an important part it plays in world weather, its ocean currents and many other things.
Recce was not possible to do due to the expense of going there but after all my reading and internet searches, I felt quite prepared. Packing of course was a whole new experience. Cold weather gear had to be found and bought, waterproof bags for camera equipment (in case I fell off the raft during ship-to-shore trips!), and stuff like that. I was fortunate to find a rental shop in Ushuaia (the boarding point in Argentina) for some of the gear.
Tell us about some moments or highlights that still come to life in front of your eyes when you look back at this experience?
There are many such moments- the first time I saw an iceberg, the Commerson dolphins who were so playfully swimming along with the ship, jumping and racing, my first penguin, the immense Elephant seals displaying mock aggressive behaviour on the beaches, the truly-aggressive fur seals, the incredibly-cute-and-curious baby elephant seal who came up to us and slathered snot all over our clothing, the baby king Penguins who waddled up to us and wanted to peck at the camera lens.
Each day is a beautiful memory. There were some bad moments too such as when I threw up my breakfast because I wasn’t used to the rolling of the ship, slamming into the bulkhead during a particularly rough section of our passage. But with time, the bad memory also becomes an adventure and I look back on it with a sense of ‘yeah! I did it!‘
Is it easy for women to go through a challenging journey like this one? Any advice?
It would interest you to know that among the 8 guides we had with us on this trip, 5 were women. What amazing women! Double PHDs, atmospheric scientists, marine biologists, geologists, ace wildlife photographers, mountaineers. So, yes, it’s as easy or difficult as you think it is. If one has the interest and desire, anything is possible.
Did you bring or take back anything from your experience as an IT/business leader to this adventure?
I did not specifically think of this adventure from the viewpoint of a business/IT leader because I was there to fulfil a childhood desire. I have to say though that my experience in the industry did come in very useful in planning the logistics of this trip. The nitty-gritty details like visa requirements, understanding the sensitivities of the local people in Argentina, planning for sea-sickness, optimising on the luggage required to be carried. things like that.
What lessons – if any- did you pick about environment, the world, people, human stamina and team-work here?
Some things were news to me- the fact that why it is so extremely important for Antarctica to stay cold. The cold water flowing outwards from Antarctica fuels the Oceanic ‘conveyor belt“. This conveyor belt keeps the ocean currents moving, the nutrients moving from the ocean bed to the surface, thereby providing food for the marine animals across the food chain. If temperature rise continues the way it is going now, these ocean currents originating in the polar regions would weaken and ultimately stop. Then the oceans of the world would become like stagnant, rotting ponds. The widespread death and destruction this would cause is unimaginable.
The terrifying fact is that we have already passed the point of no return.
At present, Antarctica does not belong to any country. By international treaty valid till 2048, Antarctica has been designated as belonging to all nations for peaceful use in the pursuit of science and exploration. But, Antarctica has valuable resources buried under many kilometers thick ice sheets which all countries have a covetous eye on.
Many of the so-called ‘research stations’ have been set on the continent only to establish territorial claims which are waiting for the treaty to expire. Sure, they maintain the pretence of some scientific activity but the real purpose is common knowledge in Antarctic circles. This not to say that no scientific activity goes on there. Some countries genuinely do a lot of research and contribute to our understanding of not only our world but other planets in our neighborhood.
The deep interiors of Antarctica are extremely cold and dry, reaching temperatures of -89 centigrade in winter. It takes rare courage and strength to just exist in such hostile conditions, leave alone carrying on the duties of researchers. No doubt, camaraderie and team work are essential to merely survive. Due to the expense of maintaining such research stations, most countries send very few people. Hence they need to multi-task, co-operate with each other and most of all not get on each others nerves what with the close confinement necessary.
What would you tell others – as an advice or a hack?
I wish it were mandatory for students to learn about the importance of the polar regions. How absolutely essential it is for survival of life on earth. Then maybe our next generation would take very seriously the threat of global warming and actually do something about it. Getting a job and making pots of money would be useless if our very survival is at stake.
By Pratima H
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