Lieutenant Ram Charan was the first Indian to set foot on Antarctica. In 1960, he accompanied an Australian expedition to the continent, marking a significant milestone in India’s engagement with polar research.
Lieutenant Ram Charan served as a meteorologist during the expedition. He joined an Australian polar expedition, contributing to the international scientific community’s understanding of Antarctica.
His journey paved the way for India’s future involvement in Antarctic research and exploration.
Following this, in 1981, India initiated its own Antarctic program, with the first Indian expedition reaching the continent in January 1982 under the leadership of Dr. Syed Zahur Qasim.
