Harsh K. Gupta: Not a Day Different: My Life in Earth Science

This book captures the essence of one of the most remarkable journeys of a professional who prevailed over numerous challenges and adverse situations that appeared before him from nowhere and how he emerged victorious to be hailed at a global forum of American Geophysical Union in 2008. The author reflects upon the circumstances and times in post independent India that threw him out of the comforts of a well-to-do family into the real world. He traces back his entry into the field of earthquake science and dwells at length upon the scope and freedom it offered for innovative thinking in the field with limitless opportunities.

Mishaps and accidents paved way to remarkable discoveries and achievements including creation of the world record of establishing and populating India's first permanent base station in Antarctica in a record time of one Antarctic summer despite of having a near fatal helicopter crash on 4th day after reaching Antarctica. Stressing on the need to live safely with earthquakes as their short -term prediction is not a possibility yet, the author advocates a two-prong strategy of directly looking into the earthquake source region deep inside the earth and develop an earthquake resilient society, simultaneously. He sites the success story of Indian Early Warning Tsunami System that is operational in the India Ocean, today. The book inspires young professionals who have a flair for challenges and a burning desire to achieve results at any cost.

This book provides important information in a nutshell about artificial water reservoir triggered earthquakes, India's building of the Dakshin Gangotri all weather station in Antarctica, Indian Ocean Tsunami warning set-up, Low Temperature Thermal Desalination etc. The main objective the book is to inspire a generation of young minds through a narration of scientific achievements that did not come easily to me. The aim is to tell them the difference between a reaction and a response to a given situation, the former being an impulsive and irrational reaction and the later responsible and rational.