'Scientists Are Often More Than Just A Worker In A Lab. Science In This Area Is Rather More Adventurous Than You Think.' - Explained Dr. George W. Rodway at 3rd Sujal Mukherjee Memorial Oration in Kolkata

Dream Wanderlust | Dec 20 , 2015

Like every year the 3rd Sujal Mukherjee Memorial Lecture, 2015 was commemorated with same enthusiasm as all the mountaineers from Bengal gathered together on 19th of November at Rotary Sadan, Kolkata to celebrate the true spirit of mountaineering that Late Sri Sujal Mukherjee exhibited. The event was hosted by Anindya Mukherjee in association with The Himalayan Club and Dream Wanderlust as Web Media Partner. The event began with a welcome note addressed by Dr. Kallol Das. A short movie on Late Sri Sujal Mukherjee based on an interview on him by various mountaineers was shown thereafter. Sri Harish Kapadia (Guest of Honour) next presented a play, "Games Mountaineers Play - A humorous look at mountains and mountaineers, both in mountains and otherwise" followed by a lecture from Dr. George W. Rodway (Guest Speaker) "A Little History of Some Big Peaks: The Saga of Medical Science associated with the Struggle for the Heights". A special felicitation has been given to Sri Harish Kapadia and Dr. George W. Rodway. The event was closed with a thank you note by Rajesh Gadgil.

George W. Rodway, PhD, associate clinical professor at the University of California, Davis (USA), presented contributions of scientific researchers and mountaineers in science through his talk. He also demonstrated evidence of high altitude experiences beginning from the Ancient Greek expeditions by Xenophon and Alexander the Great (prior to 300 BC) in Central Asia to Ancient Chinese expeditions by Too Kin (35 BC) in Kashmir and other historical events. Mr. Rodway helped us to understand other scientific events and experiments on high altitudes... the knowledge what helps world mountaineers to scale high altitude peaks. In his words, "each generation tends to forget the contribution of last generations. I want to illuminate some contributions of the pioneers in past of different fields" which matches with the vive of the 3rd Sujal Mukherjee Memorial Oration Programme.

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In his talk, Sri Harish Kapadiya talked about what mountaineers do in mountains apart from mountaineering in his humorous yet beautiful presentation, Games Mountaineers Play - A humorous look at mountains and mountaineers, both in mountains and otherwise.’ He told a beautiful story in the beginning "I returned home after a short trip and my children who are being deprived of their holidays for my going asked me "what did you do in Solang Vally?" I said "We went there and enjoyed" and they said "No No! Don't say that! Did you explore something? Climbed something?" I said "nothing as such..." They said "That means you did nothing?" I said "We looked at plants, flowers, birds... and enjoyed ourselves and came back with more friends." And then they said "That means you did nothing." Yes. I did nothing but enjoying nature, enjoying ourselves" - This yet again reminded us of the wildness, the madness that Late Sujal Mukherjee exhibited about nature and mountaineering - the always learner, humorous and excellent human being, a great mountaineer, guide and scout of Bengal.

Photo Courtesy: Pratik De

George W. Rodway - The Guest Speaker

Dr. Kallol Das is delivering the Inaugural Speech

Harish Kapadia is delivering his speech - "Games Mountaineers Play"

Banabhushan Nayek Felicitate Harish Kapadia - The Guest of Honour

Dr. Rupak Bhattachariya introduces George W. Rodway

George W. Rodway delivering his speech - "A Little History of Some Big Peaks: The Saga of Medical Science associated with the Struggle for the Heights"