Desk Caged Geologists
Have observed two types of geologists: one who sits on a vast floor, perched on a wooden chair, nestled within either a luxurious or an aged structure, encircled by glass cabinets filled with countless files draped in black cobwebs.
The other kind is the adventurous brand – always outdoors, on the fields, at any time of the day.
Taking the plunge into the unknown.
Sheer passion for the subject drives them.
Outdoor Geologists
nature and finds out the way the physical
features of the world have been created
The second type has no qualms whatsoever for the unfamiliar world. They thrive by living in tents and facing the harsh sun through the sweeping dust.
A bland, four-wheel drive Jeep with a canvas top is all that they need to face the raw nature.
My father, Dinabandhu Lahiri, was of the second type.
Longing to Fly
Among the many hidden talents that he had; one was his interest in flying.
and expensive in India
Flying, in India in those days, and perhaps, even today is an expensive pursuit.
He always had a trump card up his sleeves. One of his team members, Krishnan was a very outspoken, and adventurous kind.
Common Hobbies
During the numerous bold adventures of my father, Krishnan was always by his side, and they both enjoyed many shared hobbies that united them.
Of all the virtues he had, one was –
Krishnan was a flyer and had a private pilot’s license.
He was a member of the Nagpur; Maharashtra flying club and flew regularly on the weekends.
Dad, goes Sky bound
Stinson Sentinel L5 Club, after their maiden
flight over the city of Nagpur
The sun had just rolled off the 12 o’clock position, and with eagerness and exhilaration written large on his face, my father hurriedly packs.
With a morsel of lunch, runs for his Jeep, with my elder sister in tow.
He will fly and none knows how many heartbeats he had missed that day.
Krishnan had already taxied the little plane out of its hanger and awaited the ingress of my father into the little Perspex frame with the anhedral wings splayed out.
Cramped Cockpit
The tripod plane bounced on its front tires as the 150 HP engine changed its sound to a crescendo.
My father strapped the seat belts and positioned sister on the lap as he put on the headphones to speak to Krishnan.
Lift-Off
The dials were quivering as he ran a quick glance from left to right – tachometer, airspeed, compass, altimeter, oil pressure, and the lone primer button on the right.
Krishnan gunned the engine and went into the wind, to lift off.
About 400 feet was reached when Krishnan turned the aircraft for a thirty-degree port turn or left to glide over the more densely populated section of the city.
He crackled on the headphones to ask permission to lose height to about two hundred fifty feet.
My father touched the joystick as Krishnan pressed the right rudder pedal, and the Club did a starboard turn, or turned right.
Your House, from Air
Krishnan pointed a finger to his left as the plane swayed in a crosswind. What was he pointing at?
Guess what …yes, my father was flying over his own house.
of Nagpur. Somewhere among those children’s blocks,
resided my parents, viewed from 5,000 feet
It was the first time ever; he saw his own house from such a height. He was gripped with nervous excitement.
They did everything – turned into the wind, banked right and then left.
Club lands back
The sun by now had advanced towards the western fringe and the plane was airborne for over forty-five minutes or more.
The engine changed its note as she banked another twenty degrees to the starboard, or right by a gentle nudge on the right rudder pedal and tilted the joystick about a degree or so.
The setting sun glinted off the fuselage as the Sentinel lost height.
Krishnan pushes the stick forward to dip the nose.
Seen here as one of the ground staff took the
snap years ago, as a memento for my father
The Club made a clean turn and flew for about seven minutes and approached the Nagpur airport.
As the plane leveled again and made its approach towards the thin strip down ahead, a gust of crosswind pushed the Sentinel off its course.
Krishnan used “Trim“ tabs to stabilize the aircraft to ward off the constantly changing aerodynamic forces.
With a “Thud”, the Club landed.
Fulfilled Dream
Filled with the joy of flying, my father disembarked with my sister and touched the Terra-firma, consumed by untold happiness.
my father’s team as a junior geologist. He helped accomplish
my father’s dream to be at the controls of an aircraft
and fly over his own residence at five thousand feet
Son Followed Father
Thirty-seven years later, my father’s son, made the same discovery of the joy of flying as a copilot of a Piper Cherokee, not over Nagpur though but over the gently lashing waves of the Pacific Ocean along the western coast of San Francisco.
Shall we talk about it? Well, in another post.
Inference
- If there’s a will, there’s a way
- Believe in Yourself – Sureness is key. Trust that you have the competence to achieve your goal
- Stay Persistent – Encounters will come, but persistence and spirit will help you overcome obstacles.
- Take Action – Even tiny actions move you closer to your goal. Consistently take steps forward, and progress
✨Life of a Geologist, 1960’s Series 👇
| Part 1 | Life of a Geologist, 1960’s – British Doctor’s Haunted 👻 Circuit House: A 👨👩👦 Family’s Unnerving Experience |
| Part 2 | Life of a Geologist, 1960’s – Ranikhet, ⛰️ Mountain 🛑Encounter and Unexpected ☠️ Danger |
| Part 4 | Life of a Geologist, 1960’s – Geologist’s 🐕 Canine 👥Companion: Raju the Alsatian |
| Part 5 | Life of a Geologist 1960’s – Rajasthan 🧑🔬🌍 Geologist Adventure: Surviving Floods 🌊 |
SPITFIRE GAUTAM 