Thursday, February 9, 2012

Yoga at Siachen - highest battleground!

New Delhi, July 13, 2011: Yoga is the latest weapon in the arsenal of the Indian soldiers posted on the forbidding heights of Siachen Glacier – better known as the highest and coldest battleground in the world where guns have been silent since 2003. 
At altitude varying between 10,000-23,000 feet and temperature dipping to -65 degree Celsius, slight physical activity on the part of the soldiers leave them gasping for breath, a little negligence can either cause a sub-burn or a frost bite, food goes stone cold as soon as it is taken off the burner, washing your face becomes a luxury and drinking water smells of kerosene used to melt the snow. The three-months on the glacier in two year tenure in the Siachen-Saltoro region could be a real test of one’s physical and psychological mettle.
It takes more than equipment to conquer those heights, on the other side of which is sitting Pakistan Army. Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Life Sciences laboratories are using the ancient wisdom like Yoga and cotemporary innovation like growing strawberries and vegetables in the otherwise barren Ladakh region to make life better for soldiers in the glacier.
DRDO’s Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) lab has devised a Yoga regime for the soldiers in posted to the region.
“At those heights, the physical capacity and the load carrying capacity of the soldiers decrease considerably due to lack of oxygen. Also the body is constantly losing heat to the environment. We have sought to minimize the affect of harsh climate through Yoga,” DRDO’s Chief Controller of Research and Development Dr William Selvamurthy elaborated.
The soldiers need to perform certain form of exercise at those heights to accustom their heart and lungs to the low oxygen content in the atmosphere. According to the research conducted by DIPAS the oxygen demands during yogic exercises are much less as compared to other form of conventional exercises.

So far, 2000 army personnel posted at the Ladakh-based 14 Corps have been trained in the Yoga, they in turn would impart the knowledge to all soldiers going to the region.
Besides Yoga, DRDO’s plantation drive in the cold-desert of Ladakh has literally started bearing fruits. Due to the efforts of Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), located in Leh and an obscure village of Partapur, the region- completely devoid of rainfall - now boasts of growing strawberries, pears, peaches and water-melons. Today the region is produces 13 types of apple due to collaboration of scientists and local farmers.
“We have been working really hard to provide fresh food for the soldiers at Siachen. Now we have the capacity to supply 5000 metric tonnes of vegetables to the army,” Dr. Selvamurthy said. DIHAR is celebrating its diamond jubilee this year.
The initiative is important for the Indian Army, as its soldiers voluntary give non-veg as they start their posting at various camps on Siachen Glacier. The belief is that non-veg and tobacco at Glacier would bring ill-fate for the unit and its members in Siachen, where more than enemy bullet the extreme weather can take you down.
The DIHAR scientists are helping the local population in growing various plants making use of economical methods for green-house and trench cultivation.
“DIHAR has made a hybrid cow and buffalo that is capable of giving 18 litres of day per day,” said the distinguished scientist.
Selvamurthy sums it up: “We have been mandated to increase the lethality, survivability, efficiency and sustainability of our soldiers at that altitude. After all it is the man behind the machine that matters the most.”

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