In Conversation with Polar Maidens

In Conversation With Polar Maidens

Swati Nagar

Dr Sudipta Sengupta during the 3rd Indian Expedition to Antarctica DR SUDIPTA SENGUPTA

A geologist by profession and trained mountaineer (trained by Tenzing Norgay, one of the two men to reach Mt. Everest in 1953), Dr Sengupta is one of the first Indian women (along with Dr Aditi Pant) to visit Antarctica as part of the third Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA) in 1983, when girls were confined to laboratory work in India and discouraged from doing field research. Her pioneering work in the Schirmacher Hills of East Antarctica – a line of low coastal hills – boosted further study in the area. For her scientific contribution, Prof. (Dr) Sengupta has been conferred with many awards viz., Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology (so far she is the only woman scientist to receive this award in the category of Earth, Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences); the National Mineral Award; the Antarctica Award, among others. In addition to being a proficient professor and polar scientist, Dr Sengupta has authored many books and articles on Geology in English and Bengali.

NDIAN women are no exception for Polar and Ocean Research In line with the theme of the in choosing the road less (NCPOR) (erstwhile National Centre International Women’s Day 2020, Itravelled, especially of extreme for Antarctica and Ocean Research, “Generation Equality”, we present environments such as Polar Regions. NCAOR), an autonomous body here excerpts from interviews of three Women scientists/researchers have under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Indian polar women – Dr Sudipta been participating in Indian NCPOR provides equal opportunities Sengupta, Dr Binita Phartiyal and Dr expeditions to Polar Regions being for women working in polar and Jasmine P. – who have evened out the organised by the National Centre ocean realms. odds to lay down their success stories.

August 2020 | Science Reporter | 41 These women broke the ice of Norway for the Geodynamics determination, I carried out my barrier making a place for women Project at Uppsala University, fieldwork alone for more than a month scientists in the Polar Regions, Sweden (from 1976 to 1978). I also and completed my job successfully. earlier identified as a domain of trained as a mountaineer and joined men. They not only marked history two expeditions in the Himalayas. SWATI NAGAR: It’s almost four by participating in Indian Polar So I had enough experience and decades of ISEA, what differences Expeditions (Antarctica, Arctic and training to work in cold conditions do you find in the early expeditions the Southern Ocean) but paved the and difficult terrains. and now? way for young ambitious girls to However, working in Antarctica SUDIPTA SENGUPTA: Technology explore the edge of the earth to fulfil is definitely not easy. In addition to low has improved immensely. Both times their dreams. temperature, there was always a strong we travelled to Antarctica by ship both wind and blizzards were quite often. ways. In 1983-84, we stayed in tents SWATI NAGAR: Is there any Doing fieldwork in those conditions in almost primitive conditions. Those instance, where you’ve shown that was really tough. One has to be days we used a camera with films and women are equally competent, both physically and mentally strong. always worried about the number of whether it’s a matter of decision During the third expedition, we photos we were taking. Now with making or any field of research spent nearly six weeks in tents and digital cameras you are free to take Please also share your experiences I was the only female in a group pictures to your heart’s content. Even of Antarctica. of seven scientists. We all worked movies can be taken with your mobile SUDIPTA SENGUPTA: I have equally and did not feel any way cameras. Another improvement is in visited Antarctica twice – the first inferior to anyone. Since there was communication. Back then we were time in 1983-84 and the second time 24 hours sunlight in the summer allowed three minutes time every during 1989-90 (i.e., 3rd and 9th ISEA, months in Antarctica, we used fifteen days to talk to our family, respectively). to carry out fieldwork for more now you are free to communicate any Before the Antarctic expedition, than twelve hours a day which time through email. This is a I had the experience of doing was really physically exhausting. tremendous change. Plus all sorts of fieldwork in difficult terrains during Moreover, at the end of the day, technological improvement in every PhD and post-doctorate. As a PhD we had to carry heavy loads of rock aspect is there. student, I carried out fieldwork samples in our rucksack and walk alone in the jungles of Jharkhand; over hilly terrains for many hours. SWATI NAGAR: How do you as a postdoctoral research scholar During my second visit i.e., 9th combat negative stereotype opinions at the Imperial College in London, ISEA in 1989, three of my geologist about women that sometimes may I did fieldwork in the remote parts colleagues died in an accident. It lead to low self-esteem? of Scottish Highlands for two was a traumatic experience and SUDIPTA SENGUPTA: I always field seasons in 1974 and 1975. In difficult situation both emotionally ignore them. I always have the addition, I worked in the mountains and physically. However, with support of my family, so it was easy to ignore criticism of others. I always had confidence in my ability. I stood first in both the BSc and MSc Examinations in Jadavpur University. And I knew I was not inferior to men in any way.

SWATI NAGAR: You (and Dr Aditi Pant) have inspired many young girls to participate in polar expeditions. Over 60 women scientists/researchers have participated in the Indian Antarctic expedition. Where do you see women in the polar community in future? SUDIPTA SENGUPTA: That is very promising. I am happy for them and wish that many more women join Dr Aditi Pant and Dr Sudipta Sengupta during 3rd Indian Expedition to Antarctica this community.

42 | Science Reporter | August 2020 DR BINITA PHARTIYAL and challenging. One has to be very BINITA PHARTIYAL: Many A dedicated scientist keen to decipher lucky to get good weather days for times. I led my team to the remotest the mysteries of Earth and understand fieldwork, but mostly one has to be of villages in the border areas and past climate, Dr Binita Phartiyal is out in the bad weather with a bone difficult terrains. Women are equally a paleoclimatologist from Nainital, chilling wind. The hands freeze and competent of taking good decisions working at the Birbal Sahni Institute sample collection gets difficult. And and to carry out field research. The of Palaeosciences, Lucknow. Her to bring loads of it, on your way back menfolk have started recognising this keen interest in paleoclimate and with a rifle and pistol (loaded, in the talent of women and are changing too geomorphology has led her to venture Arctic), the way back of kilometres and this is a welcome change indeed. to the three poles – Antarctica, Arctic is really tough. But the satisfaction and Himalayas – making her probably of the sample collection and the view SWATI NAGAR: What advice the first Indian woman to visit all the of the pristine heavenly land energize would you like to give to the girls who three poles. you and make you forget the woes, want to work in the Polar Regions? the pain of the numb fingers, the Dr Binita is the first woman BINITA PHARTIYAL: My advice wet shoes and socks, the strenuous participant of the Indian Arctic is don’t be sceptical at all, just venture walk over the snow, water, mosses, Expedition in the year 2008 when into it, follow your heart, your and shattered rocks and you only Indian Arctic research base ‘Himadri’ research objectives and live every remember the good times. was inaugurated. For her contribution moment. Risks do come but there are in palaeoclimatology, Dr Binita In the Himalayas, the high means to handle them calmly without has been conferred with the INSA altitude and the low oxygen package panic. The Polar moments will be the Bilateral Exchange Award-2014, Dr is challenging. One has to be best moments of your life. P.N. Srivastava Medal-2015, and acclimatised well before proceeding others. to the field in locations at more than DR JASMINE P. 4000 m asl. The work is arduous and Having experienced the extreme SWATI NAGAR: You were one of afternoons get windy. weather of the Southern Ocean is the woman participants in the 25th an act of bravery in itself. Besides Antarctic (2005-06) and the 2008 SWATI NAGAR: Is there any being one of the women participants Arctic Expedition. Please share your instance, where you’ve shown that of the first Indian Southern Ocean experience of the expeditions. women are equally competent, Expedition (ISOE), Dr Jasmine P. BINITA PHARTIYAL: As a team whether it’s a matter of decision- has also visited the Arctic thrice member of the 25th ISEA, I have making or field research. (2017, 2018 and 2019). experienced the “roaring 40s and the furious 50s” while crossing the Southern Ocean. With good teamwork, I completed lake sampling in the Schirmacher oasis. In the Arctic, it was a five- member team with different research objectives so had to act single- handedly. I had collected loads of samples (sometimes 25-30 kg) in the freezing cold environment and carrying back those samples was exhausting. But the contentment of doing a good sampling job used to take away all the tiredness once we reached Himadri, the Indian Research Base in the Arctic.

SWATI NAGAR: You have worked in Antarctic, Arctic and the Himalayas. Which area is more challenging? BINITA PHARTIYAL: Fieldwork Dr Binita during 25th ISEA, Antarctica in both Arctic and Antarctic is hectic

August 2020 | Science Reporter | 43 Dr Jasmine P during Indian Arctic Expedition

Dr Jasmine is a scientist and onboard the research vessel especially pilot expedition to the Southern Officer-in-Charge of Protozoology in the ‘Roaring 40s, Furious 50s and Ocean, only two women were there Section in the Zoological Survey of Screaming 60s’? including me. Nowadays, I could India, Kolkata. Her research focuses JASMINE P: Roaring 40s, Furious see ~50% women participation in on the various aspects of zooplankton 50s and Screaming 60s’ are still the Indian Southern Ocean or Arctic (Spatio-temporal variations in nightmare scenarios for me. At 56 °S, expeditions. I hope in future, many diversity; its role in the pelagic food we were stuck in a cyclone and felt more hardworking women scientists web and studies on bioluminescence). as if the ship would sink. Many from India join the polar expeditions. She also worked as an expert in instruments and chemicals were Biological Oceanography in the damaged due to the high wind and SWATI NAGAR: What advice Marine Fisheries Research Centre, heavy rolling. Besides, one power would you like to give to the girls Ministry of Fisheries, Sultanate of generator also got damaged. During who want to work in Polar Regions Oman, from 2009 to 2011. With more that time, everyone, irrespective of but a bit sceptical to the hardships than 400 days on-board experience, gender, was scared. that one may face in the extreme Dr Jasmine has worked in the extreme environment? environment of the Polar Regions. SWATI NAGAR: How do you JASMINE P: As a researcher, combat negative stereotype opinions working in polar environments, we SWATI NAGAR: You are one of about women which may lead to low should be strong enough to face any the women participants in the 1st self-esteem? situation and should be determined to Indian Southern Ocean Expedition. JASMINE P: Of course, there achieve the goals through hard work Please share your experiences of the are always negative stereotype and perseverance. expedition. opinions when a woman is active or JASMINE P: I was one of the hardworking. My opinion is negative Acknowledgement: The author thanks woman participants in the first Indian stereotype opinions/criticism is the Dr M. Ravichandran, Director, Southern Ocean expedition. While it driving force for us to go ahead and NCPOR; Dr Rahul Mohan, Group was a once in a lifetime experience oppose the obstacles and face the Director, International Cooperation and a good opportunity for further challenges in life or research. and Outreach and Dr Avinash Kumar, research, it was with its own brand Section In-Charge, International of perils. During the expedition, I SWATI NAGAR: Today, many Cooperation and Outreach, could collect zooplankton from all women participate in the Indian NCPOR for their cooperation and the stations throughout the proposed Southern Ocean expeditions. Where encouragement. transect, but also experienced some do you see women in the polar difficult times as we got stuck in a community in the future? cyclone at 56 °S. JASMINE P: I think women are equally competent for any role in Dr Swati Nagar, Project Scientist B (Outreach SWATI NAGAR: What type of research or fieldwork in extreme activities), NCPOR, Vasco-Da-Gama, Goa. challenges did you face while environments. When I went for a Email: [email protected]

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