If it is taking pictures a large casting web being thrown into the azure waters of the Nice Nicobar Island, a tempest within the Arabian Sea, or the attention-grabbing tales that shroud tribal communities the world over, Capt Navtej Singh guarantees every image of his tells a tale, and a strong one at that.
As he speaks to The Higher India, his tales be offering compelling insights into his adventures round India and the arena as a part of his paintings. Via his 32-year stint with the Indian Army, Capt Navtej has held a robust penchant for untold tales and photographs that talk 1000 phrases.
Whilst he’s recently taking advantage of his retired existence, he assists in keeping the spirit of the process alive thru his posts on LinkedIn, and their accompanying captions.
Right here, we chronicle a couple of.
1. The Meghwal Tribe
Citizens of the Mewar area of Rajasthan and Kutch of Gujarat, the group is recognized by means of the strange albeit elaborate gold nostril ring known as the ‘velado’. The Meghwal tribe prides itself on its apparel, and each accent and piece of clothes is synonymous with one thing — on this case, the velado being a mark of marriage.
There’s a tale in the back of this group, explains Capt Navtej. “Megh manner ‘rain’ in Hindustani, and due to this fact the Meghwals imagine themselves descendants and fans of the saints who introduced down rain into those extra arid portions of India.”
2. The Porbandar Fishing Harbour
The Porbandar Fishing Harbour is a smart draw for other folks of the Kharva group who’re engaged in sea farming. The all-weather port is this kind of great spot for fishing that the catch from right here makes up for 8.5% of Gujarat’s general catch. The image was once captured by means of Capt Navtej all the way through the monsoons. Whilst the seas are tough and unpredictable, he says the harbour turns into a sight to behold because it fills with a large number of fishing boats not able to undertaking out to sea.
“The water under can be dotted with those desk bound boats, forming a colourful mosaic amidst the monsoon rains. As you jump above Porbandar fishing harbour all the way through the monsoons, you witness a novel and poignant second within the lives of the fishermen,” he provides.
3. Salt Evaporation Ponds
Exciting instances at nice altitudes imply Capt Navtej frequently has alternatives to seize pictures from an aerial viewpoint. And all the way through one among his flights, he was once astounded to witness the implausible color coordination of salt pans within the Rann of Kutch.
Those shallow man-made ponds, designed to supply salt from seawater, supply a productive resting and feeding flooring for greater than 70 species of waterbirds, together with a number of endangered species. The rise up of color is a results of the other salinity ranges of the ponds, with inexperienced being a sign of low to mid-salinity. In the meantime, high-salinity ponds are vivid crimson because of the presence of Dunaliella salina.
4. INS Vikramaditya
The changed Kiev-class plane service was once at the start constructed within the Soviet Union within the Eighties because the Baku-class service, named Admiral Gorshkov. It was once decommissioned in 1996 and later offered to India in 2004 explains Capt Navtej.
Following an in depth refurbishment of the service — together with an entire overhaul of its propulsion gadget, set up of a new flight deck, and upgradation of guns and sensor programs — the send was once commissioned into the Indian Army in 2013.
The mighty service is able to sporting as much as 36 plane, together with MiG-29K opponents, helicopters, and airborne early caution and keep watch over plane.
5. Existence At Sea
Taking pictures the essence of what existence is as a part of the defense force isn’t a very simple job, cautions Capt Navtej. “You’re employed in a adverse atmosphere dressed in tools, helmet, bulletproof jackets, and many others, all whilst looking to click on the easiest image whilst within the thick of the motion, and making sure you aren’t obstructing anyone’s responsibility.”
He recognizes the nice duty being a defence photographer includes, because the pictures which might be put out “ultimately form the worldwide recognition of the rustic’s defense force”. However, says the captain, timing is of the essence.
“A missile is handiest fired as soon as and you have got a second to get your shot. That second received’t come again. Each example, each image has its personal glory.”
6. Foxtrot-Magnificence Submarines
In 1967, India received its first Foxtrot-class submarine from the Soviet Union. Over the following 20 years, a complete of 9 submarines had been inducted into the Indian Army for intelligence amassing, patrolling, and coaching functions.
Measuring 300 toes and weighing 1,500 heaps, those magnanimous carriers had a most sensible velocity of about 16 knots and may just dive to a intensity of about 985 toes.
As Capt Navtej notes, “They had been extensively utilized for intelligence-gathering operations and had been frequently used to track the actions of alternative nations’ navies. The closing Foxtrot-class submarine within the Indian Army, INS Vagli, was once decommissioned in 2001.”
Probably the most heartwarming phase about his adventures, says the captain, is getting accustomed to tribes the world over, and getting an perception into their tradition. For example, the Brokpas group in Ladakh has a number of tales pointing to their foundation. Whilst one says they’re descendants of the Aryans, every other legend says they had been those from Alexander’s military who selected to stick again in 325 BC whilst the remainder retreated. A novel side of the tribe is their sense of dressing.
“The ladies put on putting head apparel decorated with vibrantly colored plants in conjunction with heavy steel items, silver jewelry, sheepskin caps and sheep wool. The lads most commonly put on maroon robes with cummerbands.”
8. The Havelock Islands
“I’ve at all times lived at the edge, clicking images from the air at sea in tough seas and excessive winds. I’m actually striking out of a helicopter with anyone preserving directly to my overalls with an excessively free seat harness, which wouldn’t grasp if the entire was once let cross,” says Capt Navtej recounting the various excessive adrenaline circumstances.
Certainly one of them was once whilst clicking the Havelock Island within the Andamans.
“A attention-grabbing symbiosis unfolds between native fishermen and the delicate ecosystems of coral reefs and mangroves. This can be a testomony to the harmonious coexistence that may be accomplished when conventional knowledge and conservation merge.”
9. The Fisherfolk Of Visakhapatnam
Whilst fashionable tactics of fishing are rising, the fishermen at Visakhapatnam nonetheless depend on their conventional nation boats. As one can see within the image captured by means of Capt Navtej, robust gusty winds and waves frequently threaten their protection.
“The fishermen face the chance of capsizing or being swept away by means of robust currents. Inclement climate prerequisites could make it tough to navigate and go back safely to the shore. In addition they come across the specter of marine creatures, similar to sharks or jellyfish, whilst at sea. In spite of those dangers, the fishermen show immense braveness and resilience,” says Capt Navtej.
10. Semaphore
Within the defense force, codes of communique are extraordinarily a very powerful when eventualities deem essential. Semaphore is one such conventional type of visible communique deployed as a competent backup way of communique when digital programs fail or are compromised.
“It lets in for non-verbal communique, which will also be superb in sure eventualities when keeping up stealth or covert operations is a very powerful. It additionally allows communique in noisy environments or when verbal communique will not be sensible. In shut quarters or congested spaces, similar to all the way through naval workouts or in port operations, Semaphore can facilitate speedy and transparent communique between vessels or between body of workers on board a boat. It supplies a visible signalling way this is fast and simple to grasp.”
Edited by means of Divya Sethu