India in Antarctica

Dilip D'Souza asks and answers an interesting question:

“Indian scientists have been going to Antarctica for four decades. What exactly do they do there?”

 

It started in the 70’s, when Indira Gandhi decided that India too needed its presence in Antarctica. Easier said than done, of course. The selected few had to first undergo brutal training at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Ladakh and then under the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

“The first two Expeditions had to live in tents, their members helped build the Dakshin Gangotri station.”

Today, India has two functioning stations – Maitri and Bharati. Their logistical support and maintenance is the Indian military’s responsibility.

 

In Antarctica, there are geological studies to be done. Remember how all the continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangea?

“This Pangaean jigsaw is the great geological attraction of Antarctica.”

 

Another reason is the study of extremophiles – “creatures that can withstand extremes, whether of acidity, temperature, pressure, radiation or more”. Scientific curiosity aside, some have biotechnological potential:

“There are psychrophiles that are used in the production of anti-freezing glycoprotein for scar treatment. Others, from Antarctica, are used in the food, detergent and pharmaceutical industries.”

There’s also the desire for awareness and preservation of microbial diversity that live in the ice sheets. With increasing global warming, how many such lifeforms might die if the ice sheets melt? Even if that doesn’t bother you, then maybe this question will:

“What if, when the ice melts and they are released, we are faced with diseases we’ve never known?”

 

Then there are energy tapping options to explore. No, not by mining:

“Wind in Antarctica doesn’t blow in gusts… Instead, it blows steadily at a constant speed, which is good if you want to tap it for energy use.”

Unintuitively, solar energy is also an option! How come?

“With no dust or pollution in Antarctica, there is plenty waiting to be tapped—no other spot on Earth gets as much unfiltered sunlight.”

 

There’s another pragmatic reason:

“There are… political reasons for India’s continued presence in Antarctica… We don’t want other countries to start making territorial claims there. If there are ever changes to the terms of the Antarctic Treaty, we want to have a say.”

And while is indeed one reason for a nation to be there, D’Souza says:

“The sense of wonder and romance expedition members take to the southern continent transcends any cynicism.”