March 06 2016, 16.11 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
The exhibition was dedicated to "The Heroes of the Indian Armed Forces, who bravely fought the Kargil War of 1999"
Each mile of the journey reminded us the death several times. I had to shoot most of the pics from the window of a jumping SUV, with a hand held camera” , Dr. Ravi Kumar
Hyderabad, March 06, 2016....Shikhara—The Summit, a photo exhibition from the photographs of a photographic journey from the valley of Kashmir to the Mountains of Ladakh by Dr. Ravi Kumar and his family was inaugurated here in city at State Art Gallery at Madhapur on Sunday.
Col Deshpande and Col Vikram Sing, Senior Officers of Army Head Quarters Telangan&AP Sub Area Seen placing the Ruth to the Heroes of Kargil War and also seen Sanjana Saxena at Shikar Pic
Col Deshpande, Col Vikram Singh, Senior Army Officers of Headquarters of Telangana and AP Sub Area graced the exhibition and inaugurated the same. They also placed a wreath as a mark of respect to the Heros of Kargil War. A symbolic War Memorial was put up at the Exhbition for the officers to put the wreath.
Dr. Ravi Kumar and his family dedicated the exhibition to "The Heroes of the Indian Armed Forces, who bravely fought the Kargil War of 1999".
The Doctor family on their visit to the Kagil and War Memorial part of the Photographics journey in the last may have seen how Army struggles hard in extreme climatic conditions to keep our country safe. So they decided to dedicate the exhibition to the Heroes of the Indian Armed Forces
Dr. Ravi Kumar has also put up photos of War Memorial of Kargil set up by the Army at 9000 ft above the sea level, where temperatures even minus 10 degree Celsius.
The exhibition was the outcome of the 8 days treacherous journey undertaken by the family to the Kashmir valley, where doctor Ravi Kumar has clicked little over 3000 photos of which 75 are being exhibited in the exhibition. Armed with a backpack of Nikon DSLs, Nikon and Stigma Lenses and a tripod, I embarked on this trip with my family informed Dr. Ravi Kumar.
Our driver discouraged us from stopping and getting down as the terrain was narrow and there was a perpetual possibility of a landslide coming our way. To get the images right in such a situation, I had to use high shutter speeds, he said. The moist environment was a challenge to the upkeep of the equipment, but, I still dared to put my camera out to catch a few snowing frames. I was lucky tgo have carried a stock of memory cards, as I had exposed more than 3000 snaps in those 8 memorable days, he described his journey and experience.
Among many exhibits, there was one collage of inspirational military quotes such as “What is lifetime adventure for you is a daily routine for us”, a sign on Ladak Leh Highway sign.
The other one is “Sleep Peacefully, at your homes, Indian Army is guarding the frontiers”.
Some of the other quotes include “A soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what’s behind him”.
Another quotation of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a gurkha”.
Another quotation of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, Param Veer Chakra Kargil War, 1999 “If death strikes before I prove my blood, I sear; I will kill death”.
Another important thing to note in one of the pics of an Army Canteen at Kargil War Memorial which is set up at 9000 ft height of sea level is the menu board, which says Tea or Black Coffee at Rs 10/-, which at minus 10 degree Celsius is a luxury.
We keep hearing people often say ‘busy’. People do say that they don’t have spare time to do exercises. Then where is the question of pursuing a hobby. It is said only busy people can take time out.
Dr. Ravi Kumar, Consultant Oncologist with Global Hospitals, Lakdikapul and Basavatarakam Indo Global Cancer Hospital and with private practice at Mallepally is the most busy doctor. But, still he purses his passion for Photography, Art and Classical Music with many international awards to his credit.
He is so busy doctor that he attends many patients every day. His passion for photography and arts drove him as his wife and two daughters all the way to Kashmir for a dare devil journey up to Ladakh.
Accompanied by wife Nitika, a costume designer; two daughters Sanjana Saxena, a Medical student, Musician and Radhna Saxena, an Architect, Artist and Musician Doctor has undertaken a daredevil family photographic adventure on road for eight days from the Valley of Kashmir to the Mountains of Ladakh in the last week of May 2015.
They travelled on the treacherous terrain, almost in zero temperatures where they could not even stand out of car for five minutes. Our sole aim to travel by road was to enjoy scenic beauty of the valley and capture the same for memory.
We humbly dedicate this Photo Exhibition to "The Heroes of the Indian Armed Forces, who bravely fought the Kargil War of 1999, informs Dr. Ravi Kumar. Because we have seen how Indian soldiers posted in those locations fight not only the threat from the militants, but also harsh cold winters. Each day for them is a new battle for their survival, described Dr., Ravi Kumar.
Our drive began from Srinagar to Sonamarg, Zojilla Pass, Drass, Kargil towards Leh. It began from Srinagar, went through a treacherous terrain, riddled with frequent landslides, but the views are immensely breathtaking is how he described his journey. Each mile of the journey reminded us the death several times, he added.
Giving more details, Dr. Ravi Kumar said from Leah, we went to Changla Pass, Pangyong Lake then to Khardungla Pass, the highest motorable road in the world and Nubra Valley and Siachin Base Camp.
The Photographs shot by him were curated by his wife Nitika and daughter Radhna Saxena. His another daughter Sanjana Saxena has done poetic description of each of these handpicked 75 photographs.
The family is very accomplished. Dr. Ravi Kumar, 55years is a multifaceted personality. He is passionate about Photography, Painting, Tabla and he played Hockey for his University. He is a member of Royal Photographic Society, London.
He composes Hindustani Classical Music. He paints on several media like Acrylic, Oil and Water. He has done a Research work on Music Therapy for Cancer. Dr. Ravi Kumar published his papers at Hyderabad Central University and Osmania University. He is a guide to Ph.D students at Central University.
He has performed the First Stem Cell Transplant in Andhra Pradesh
He is a self taught photographer. How does he get such time to pursue his passion? I pursue all these hobbies during weekends and holidays, he says with lot of enthusiasm. He has done many group shows in the past. But, this exhibition is his first solo show. He is the member of save the rocks society. He has done painting exhibitions on save the rocks in the past.
I have been shooting since the age of six year. My first Camera was Kodak Ritinette, said to be an expensive camera in those days when my father gifted it to me he says.
Even his fore fathers were very accomplished His grandfather Rai Janki Pershad who was the first Director of Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, immediately after the formation of the new Andhra Pradesh state in 1956. Rai Janki Pershad was instrumental in setting up the city’s first Cancer Hospital near Niloufer Hospital. A road in Mallepally where Dr. Ravi Kumar has a clinic is named after his Grand Father Rai Janki Pershad.
His wife Nitika is highly successful costume designer. She has passion for Traditional and ethnic Art & Design and has several shows to her credit.
Both daughters as highly accomplished. The eldest one has been pursuing writing, poetry along with her medical education. She has many published poetry to her credit. The younger one is pursuing Architecture at the Carnegie Mellon University in USA. She is the recipient of a Gold Medal in Design. Like parents, she is an Artist and a Musician.
Visitors Seen Going Through the Shikar-Photo Exhibition by Dr. Ravi Kumar Pic2
Sanjana Saxena, who wrote poetry for the Shikhara Photo Exhibition conducted by her father. She is a medical students who accompanied her father to Kashmire valley
