Aryan Books

ARUNACHAL PRADESH FOREVER: History, Treks, Travels

By :- Harish Kapadia

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Available: In Stock

Type: English

Pages: xxxvi + 292

Format: Hard Bound

ISBN-13: 978-81-7305-712-0

Edition: 1st

Publisher: ARYAN BOOKS INTERNATIONAL

Size: 17cm x 25cm

Product Year: 2024

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Arunachal Pradesh, nestled in the northeastern corner of India, is a land of immense natural beauty and unique history. Arunachal Pradesh Forever is a comprehensive exploration of this region, where the author Harish Kapadia meticulously weaves together historical accounts, personal anecdotes, and cultural studies to present a unique perspective.

Arunachal Pradesh has been one of the least explored Himalayan regions in India. As a testimony to this, the book narrates the account of Bill Timan, the first mountaineer to climb here in 1938, who barely survived, while a Sherpa accompanying him lost his life to malaria. Several accounts of explorations by early explorers like F.M. Bailey and H.T. Moreshead, and the work of Christian missionaries find a mention, covering the historic explorations that were undertaken here. There is a detailed description of the Great Earthquake of 1950 and the observations by Frank Kingdon-Ward who was caught in the centre of it.

Harish has enriched these narratives with twenty treks and explorations personally undertaken by him to remote parts like Takpa Siri, the Chaukan Pass on the Burma border, and Yonggyap La on the McMahon Line, the border with China. One of his historic explorations was reaching the “S BEND”, from where the Tsangpo river originating near Manasarovar in Tibet enters India to be called Brahmaputra in the Assam valley.

The book also captures stories of war and the valour displayed by the Indian army. It also acknowledges the contributions of legendary bureaucrats like Nari Rustomji and Governor Daulatram Jairamdas, who played pivotal roles in the administration and development of this region. The scholarly studies of the tribal society by Verrier Elwin and Haimendorf are also highlighted. Poems by Mamang Dai, a well-decorated poet of the state adds a personal touch to this book.

The book describes all these people and their works, perhaps one of the only books to cover Arunachal Pradesh so exhaustively. The book gives an insight into many aspects of the State through the author's explorations over the last 20 years; narrating development, people, and the changing society. For an armchair mountaineer, there are personal stories, history and accounts that illustrate that “Arunachal Pradesh Forever” is a book forever!

With 20 sketch maps, 19 sketches by Geeta Kapadia, and more than 90 colour and B-W photographs this book promises to be an invaluable guide and historical record.

Foreword by Mamang Dai

Acknowledgement

Introduction

WESTERN ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Tawang, Kangto Range, Kameng River, Kamala Valley,
Mechuka, Bailey Trail, Bangajang Monastery

1. The Tawang Tract: Visit to Tawang Valley, Western
Arunachal Pradesh

2. The Riddle of Kangto: The Highest Peak of Arunachal

3. The Unknown Kamala Valley: Exploring the
Kurung-Kumey Valleys in Arunachal Pradesh

4. Monasteries Near Borders: Mechuka (Tibet) and
The Bangajang (Bhutan)

CENTRAL ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Takpa Siri, Subansiri, Apatani Plateau,
Tsangpo S Bend

5. On the Apatani Plateau, The Subansiri Valley

6. Secrets of Subansiri: On the Pilgrim Trail of Takpa Siri

7. Takpa Siri: A Forgotten High-Altitude Pilgrimage

8. The Journey of a River: Tsangpo-Siang-Brahmaputra

9. Tsangpo: The Final Exploration – Reaching the Tsangpo
Bend from India

EASTERN ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Yang Sang Valley, Dibang Valley, Lohit Valley

10. The Hidden Land of Pemako

11. The Survey of McMahon Line

12. The Promised Land: The Dibang Valley

13. ‘This Valley is Damn Tough for One Who Isn’t’:
The Lohit Valley

SOUTH EASTERN ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Chaukan Pass, Pangsau Pass, Flying the Hump

14. Flying across the Eastern Himalaya: The Hump

15. Pangsau Pass and the East

16. The Epic of Chaukan Pass: Along the Noa Dihing
towards Burma

17. Changing Arunachal Pradesh: Past, Present and Future

Bibliography

Index

Harish Kapadia, a celebrated Indian mountaineer, is the author of numerous books on the Indian Himalaya. His contributions to furthering our knowledge of the Himalaya have been immense. As the leader and organizer of countless expeditions, he has explored the range in great detail, venturing into many hitherto unexplored valleys and opening up new climbing possibilities. He served as the editor of the Himalayan Journal for more than three decades. His deep knowledge and accounts of his journeys and personal experiences, recounted in many books and articles, continue to serve as valuable sources of information about the region.

Harish began climbing and trekking in the hills around Mumbai at a young age, making his first visit to the Himalaya almost six decades ago. He has continued to visit the Himalaya, particularly the Siachen Glacier, East Karakoram, and the unknown Arunachal Pradesh, to carry forward explorations, backed up by excellent documentation and writing. He continued with his passion despite facing serious personal injuries and personal loss. He suffered a major family setback when his younger son, Lt. Nawang Kapadia, fell to a bullet in a terrorist attack in Kashmir.

Harish Kapadia was honoured with the “Patrons (Royal) Medal” by the Royal Geographical Society 'for his contributions to geographical discovery and mountaineering in the Himalaya'. He was the first Indian to receive this award after 125 years. He was also honoured with the Piolet d'Or (Asia), King Albert Medal (Belgium), and Joss Lynam Medal (Ireland).

He was awarded the IMF Gold Medal in 1993 and the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award by the President of India, the highest adventure award in the country. . He is married and lives in Mumbai.

His wife, Geeta Kapadia, is an artist specializing in the Himalayan regions. She has contributed sketches to most of the books written by Harish and has accompanied him on several Himalayan treks. She has held art exhibitions in Mumbai, Goa, London, Paris, and Tokyo.

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