Username: avtarkaul
Gender: Male
Member since: May 24, 2009
Birthday: July 21, 1947

I am a: Teacher
Grades: Vocational
Subjects: Vocational

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About Me

Media Advisor

Bio

Avtar Krishan Kaul (A K KAUL) Born on July 21, 1947 son of (Late) Mr. Sona Kaul residing at D/1001, Sarjan Towers, Memnagar, Ahmedabad 380 052. Studied for B.Sc. Honours School at Panjab University Chandigarh 1965-71 and for Diploma in Cinema from Film & Television Institute of India, Pune 1971-74 Served in ISRO with distinction for 20 years from SITE to the present INSAT & IRS Programmes. Took voluntary retirement after completing mandatory 20 years of active service, when I was holding the post Scientist Engineer SF. Since 1974, was directly or indirectly involved in all major projects of ISRO. I have been in Gujarat since 1974 except for a 2 year break with Zee Telefilms, Delhi. Now a team member of the SpaceTech Consultants, Based in Ahmedabad. Photographed/ Directed Documentaries in 35mm/16mm • Dial 101, directed by Shahrukh Baig on “Mumbai/Pune Police Wireless System”. 1974 • A Young Surgeon, directed by Surindra Suri on “A Young Doctor who pioneered Open-Heart Surgery at Sassoon Hospital, Pune”.1974 • Dauligiri (Orissa), directed by Nirod Mahapatra on “The Ancient Site of Kalinga” which has Buddhist Stupa on top of Dauli Hill. 1974 • Udaygiri and Khandgiri Caves, directed by Nirod Mahapatra on “Ancient Jain Cave Temples” near Bhubhaneshwar. 1973 • Orissa Cement directed by Nirod Mahapatra on “Corporate Film on Orissa Cement Company”. 1973 • Alternate Sources of Energy, directed by Basu Bhattacharya for Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference. 1977 • Agre’sar Gujarat in Gujarati 35mm. Eastmancolor on Implementation of e-Governance in Gujarat as Director & Cameraman 2002 Documentaries on Scientific Projects: As Cameraperson & Director • Bhaskara coverage’s • SITE - Satellite Instructional Television Experiment • STEP - Satellite Telecommunications Project • APPLE - Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment • INSAT - Indian National Satellite System • IRS - Indian Remote Sensing Satellite • SLV3 E02 - Satellite Launching Vehicle • IRS Camera System * • ECT Air Lifting - Emergency Communications Terminal Air Lifting.* • DRS - Direct Reception System.* • Glaciers (Rivers of Ice) (Chota Shigri Glacier Expedition)* • Understanding Our Sun (Solar Observatory, Udaipur)* • SLAR – Side-looking Air-borne Radar.* • “A Partnership for Progress” documentary for ISRO Technology Transfer Programme* Environment, Ecology & Wild Life: As Director & Cameraman • Gir Calling - A documentary on Gir National Park, Sasan Gir which is last and the only habitat of Asiatic Lion. *** • Destination Pirotan - Marine National Park at Gulf of Kutch, off Jamnagar around Pirotan islands.*** • Black Buck - A documentary on Black Buck Sanctuary near Velavadar, Bhavnagar. • Fragile Little Rann of Kutch - a documentary on Wild Ass Sanctuary Little Rann of Kutch *** • Siddi’s of Sasan - A documentary on the African Tribes living in Sasan Gir** • Maldhari’s of Sasan Gir- A documentary on the nomadic tribes living inside Gir National Park ** Development Communication: • A Development Story on “Dantivada Irrigation Project”, This is a World Bank Funded Project. Done in Gujarati & English • Sukhomajri (near Chandigarh) - A development story on Water Cooperatives and Watershed Management in Shivalik foothills. This was a project supported by Ford Foundation. • Watershed Development in Rajasthan - series of programmes on watershed development. As Team leader, Director and Cameraman • Watershed Development in Gujarat: A series of Documentaries and dramas in Gujarati & English Irrigation Projects of Gujarat: • Kadana Dam When the construction was in progress • Fatehwadi Yojna Effective use of sewerage water from the city of Ahmedabad for agricultural purposes. • Rawalpura (on sharing the water and warabundi) • Ukai Dam and • Dharoi Dam. * (These programmes were executed independently). Lectures & Personalities: Recorded lectures and discourses of world eminent personalities - • Mr. Buckminster Fuller, Inventor of Astrodomes • Prof. S Chandrashekar, Nobel Prize Winner in Astrophysics • Sir Arthur Clarke, Science Fiction Writer • Prof Phillip Morrison famous Nuclear Physicist • Academician Ginzberg, Scientist in Fusion Research. • Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, as a Poet / Political personality *** • Prof U. R. Rao, Chairman Antarix Corporation Dance Performances of: • Sanjukta Panigrahi Odissi dancer ** • Swapna Sundari Kuchipudi** • Mallika Sarabhai Bharatnatyam** • Protima Bedi Odissi** • Kumudini Lakhia Kathak** • Mrinalini Sarabhai Bharatnatyam** Musical Performances of: • Ustad Bismillah Khan Shehnai • Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan Tabla ** • Pandit Jasraj Vocal ** • Kumar Gandharv Vocal** • Shivkumar Sharma Santoor ** • Pandit Ramnarayan Sarangi** • Langa’s of Jaisalmer Rajasthani Folk ** Recorded / Documented Theatre Workshops of: • Habib Tanvir Folk Theatre Workshop, Barunda, Rajasthan • Badal Sarkar Third Theatre, Calcutta • Jashwant Thakkar IPTA, Gujarat. • Bansi Kaul NSD Repertory, New Delhi. Medical Sciences: • Open Heart Surgery by Dr Kanetkar at Sassoon Hospital, Pune • Catheterization of Heart BY Dr. Sunil Dalal at VS Hospital, Ahmedabad • Cornea Grafting at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad • Telemedicine Experiment via Satellite, by Dr A.S Deshpande, SAC Studio, Ahmedabad Satellite Teleconferencing / Tele-teaching / Live broadcasting: • STEP: Teleconference connecting German, French and Indian Scientists. • APPLE: Training Course on IIT Students on Satellite Broadcasting. • INSAT: Training for Teachers/Adult Education with Talkback. Tele-films& Teleplays as Director of Photography • Reva (Theme - Untouchability)” for Doordarshan, Dir: Deepak Bawaskar *** • Marubhumi (Theme - Afforestation)”, for Doordarshan Dir. Bharat Dave*** • Anthim Adhyay (Theme - Historical)” on last days of Adolph Hitler, Dir. ** Bharat Dave • Meena Gurjari” (Theme - Historical), Dir. Deena Pathak ** • Naval Shah Hirji” (Theme - Historical), Dr. Kailash Pandya ** Tele-Serials as Director of Photography • Kaka-ni Deli: A current affairs programme in drama format** • Danji Makanji and Malji : Interaction between three strata’s of society** • Ranglila: In traditional folk style** • Hun ane Han: Puppet as the medium** • Zarrokho using Bhavai folk form** • Nandu - Indu for Children** • Exploitation Series in Pandad & Golana in Khambat district in Gujarat** Documentaries Conceived, Photographed and Directed Independently for ISRO: • Papa Pagli - on Developmentally Handicapped Children in Gujarati. ** • Textile Industry of Ahmedabad in Gujarati- A three part series. ** • Sara Swasthya Mate, on Runners Club of Ahmedabad in Gujarati ** • Gujarat Police: A documentary ** • Sikkim: in Gujarati, A documentary on Sikkim when it acceded to India ** • Hello – in Gujarati, A documentary of Ahmedabad Telecommunications. ** Events Covered Independently for ISRO & Gujarat Government: • Morbi Dam Burst Coverage and Documentary in Gujarati. • Total Solar Eclipse at Rangpur, 1982, Andhra Pradesh. • Total Solar Eclipse at Neem ka Thana 1995, Rajasthan. • Live Telecast-using TRACT from Gangtok, Sikkim. • Inauguration of APPLE via Satellite. • Gujarat Cyclone ’98 with Madame Indira Gandhi • Gujarat Cyclone Kutch in Gujarati • Drought in Gujarat 99 in Gujarati • Gujarat-Kutch Earthquake 2001 Documentaries that won acclaim and appreciation for me as Director/Cameraman: • Hariyali ki Aur - “Towards Greenery” - Documentary on Afforestation of Dungarpur in Rajasthan. *** • Understanding our Sun - Documentary on Solar Observatory, Udaipur.*** • Space for Development - Documentary on 25 Years of Space Research in India. This documentary won the Silver Prize instituted by ICN, Japan. • Glaciers Rivers of Ice - Scientific expedition to Chota-Shigri Glacier in Lahul-Spiti Himachal Pradesh. *** • Ek Atoot Aastha - Documentary on Silting of Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan.*** • Telecom Vectors & Rural Dynamics - Documentary on Telecommunications for Rural Development. This documentary won the special mention at ITU’s Golden Antenna Festival, Geneva. • IIMA - 25 years of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. *** • Fragile Little Rann - Documentary on the fragile ecosystem of Little Rann of Kutch, the last and the only habitat of Asiatic Wild Ass. This documentary won An international award at an international competition conducted by WWF. *** • Pilgrimage to Badrinath in Himalayas on Zee TV *** • Gujarat Cyclone ‘98. Done for Government of Gujarat. ** All the above documentaries were telecast by Doordarshan and Zee TV on their prime Channels respectively. Participation in Training and International Workshops: • Attended a Workshop on development of “Training Materials” at Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Institute for Development (AIBD), at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This workshop was sponsored by Radio Netherlands. • Attended a Workshop on Environment Education for South and South-East Asia at CEE, Ahmedabad, known as SASEANE. • Attended ISRO Management Development/HRD Workshop at Rivera Hotel, Ahmedabad • Attended Management Development of HRD Workshop at Hotel President, New Delhi. Sponsored by ESSEL Group of Companies. Teacher / Resource Person: Have been a Trainer, Communicator, Interlocutor, Resource Person, Chief Resource Person and Course Director of many a training programmes conducted by SAC, DECU for outside agencies viz. UGC Countrywide Class Rooms, CIET, Doordarshan, DRDO, Gujarat University, Dept of S&T. Individually conducted trainings for • NID National School of Design, • MICA Mudra Institute of Communications • Kashmir University, • Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (for Gujarat Government Information Officers), • Department of Drama and Gujarat College. • Also participated as a Trainer in a training conducted by AIBD for State Institutes of Education Technologies at NCERT, New Delhi. Programmes done for M/s Labh Construction and Industries: • “We Build The Best” - Corporate Film of the Group • “Sun City” - Promotional Film starring Ajit Vachhani, Krutika Desai • “A Jewel in the Crown” - film on Shiromani bungalows project • “Shilalekh Mon- a- mour” - film on Shilalekh housing project. • “New Methods in Construction Technology” - a film on concrete hollow block technology and products. Advertisements shorts for ZEE TV network. • “ESSEL Basmati” - Theme on basmati rice marketed by ESSEL Agro • “Siti-Sachdeva Tutorials” - Theme on educational programmes for Siti Network Watershed Management: During my last two years (92-94) at Development Educational and Communication Unit (DECU/ ISRO, I was designated Project Leader for a series of Instructional Programmes on Watershed Programmes and Management. During the course of which, I worked extensively with the officials, engineers/agronomists, soil scientists and forest officers of the Department of Watershed Development, Government of Rajasthan. The Rajasthan Government funded this series. The programmes undertaken were on the following subjects: • Techniques of Water Harvesting • Hedges and Fences • Wind Breaks and Kana Bandi • Pasture Development • Contour Forming • Check Dams • Plantations • Water Cooperatives These programmes were made into six programmes having duration of thirty minutes each. The production of these programmes involved extensive shootings throughout the year, different phases of its implementation. World Bank and Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India supported this project. GIS/Technical expertise was provided by RRSC, Jodhpur. As Director of Photography & Director Technical ZEE Telefilms Ltd Delhi: Worked for the series: • “Aap ki Adalat” - with Rajat Sharma • “Insight” - with Umesh Upadhyaya • “Helpline” - with Radhika Kaul • “Zee News” Studio Set up at South Extension, New Delhi. • I was also involved in the technical supervision of Zee TV’s ESSEL Studios at Noida. • Was Technical Director Siti Cable Network an ESSEL Group Enterprise. • Was Technical Consultant for Zee Alpha Gujarati Studio, at Fun Republic, Ahmedabad Completed recently as Director • A documentary India in Space on Indian Space Programme covering a time span of 40 years, by the Department of Space, Government of India. This was transmitted on Doordarshan National Network. • A documentary on Structural Safety Audit for Saket Projects Ltd. • A corporate documentary on Five Star Pharmaceuticals, • A Corporate film on Energy Audit for M/s Saket Projects Ltd (Energy Division). • Directed & Photographed a series of instructional and information documentaries on GNFC (Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company) covering production, product line and safety. • I am also commissioned to do a direct and photograph a documentary on “Kandla Port Trust” premier port of India • A documentary on UN-ESCAP featuring “Space for Sustainable Development and International Cooperation for DECU/ ISRO. This too was broadcast on Doordarshan National Network as a curtain raiser programme.*** • Gujarat Earthquake 2001, Natures Fury & the Healing Touch, Clinton’s Kutch visit. For the Department of Information Government of Gujarat.** • I also directed two documentaries on “Kandla - a premier port of India” for Doordarshan Network ** • I have completed a series of six documentaries on the Sardar Sarovar Project. Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited commissioned these documentaries. One major documentary “The End of Thirst” was previewed at the international conference in Netherlands’s organized by World Water Forum”. • Completed a documentary “SEWA Fights Drought” for SEWA • Completed two pilot programmes for the TALEEM foundation on curriculum based educational programmes. These are for transmission on the Zee Television’s educational channels. For Department of Information, Govt. of Gujarat: as Director-Cameraman • We shall Overcome on the “Killer Earthquake 2001” titled: • The Nature’s Fury and the Healing Touch in Gujarati, English & Hindi • Karuna Yatra on Mr. Clinton’s visit to quake hit areas. • Navi Shiteej a Telefilm with a developmental theme. • Agre’ssar Gujarat” on E-Governance. A documentary on Information Technology revolution in Gujarat, on 35 film, in Eastmancolor, duration 20 minutes” on E-Governance. • Rebuilding of Kutch, on the role-played by Rotary International. • Women Water and Work for SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association). One of these funded by ISIDA / IRC, Nederland’s is on a research project “Women Water and Work” • Saras 2006 All India Rural Craft Mela. • Institutes of Excellence in Gujarat for the Dept. of higher Education Gujarat Govt. • Kalpasar Yojna for the Kalpasar Department, Govt. of Gujarat in Hindi, English and Gujarati • Narmada Based Water Supply for GWSSB • Raksha Shakti A four part series for Gujarat Government in Gujarati meant for DD Transmission. • Ek Viraat Kadam (Saurashtra Canal Pumping System) at Dhanki, Surendranagar Projects completed recently: • A series titled: Centre’s of Excellence in ISRO & NRSA, for which I have already done the video recording during the shooting of India in Space. • Completed a 6 part series on “Biotechnology” for ISRO/DST Science Channel that is being broadcast on Doordarshan on every Sunday at 9am.Completed 6 Parts of the Serial. • Completed a 13 part Serial “Asooryalok” for Doordarshan, in Gujarati based on a Sahitya Academy Award Winning Novel by the same name. Extra-Curricular Activities: • I have participated in many mountaineering, hiking and trekking expeditions, while I was a student of CMS School, Srinagar. • I was a Member of the First Boat Crew and participated in a 6 km. long distance swim across Dal Lake in Kashmir. • I was the Secretary of Mathematics Association, Centre for Advanced Study in Pure Mathematics at Panjab University, Chandigarh (1970-71). • I was instrumental in establishing Avakash Film Appreciation Group, SAC. a film society in ISRO 1976-1994 Please note: The documentaries marked *** were transmitted on Doordarshan National Network The Documentaries marked ** were transmitted on Doordarshan Ahmedabad Programmes made for Ahmedabad Doordarshan were mostly in Gujarati -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avtar K. Kaul SpaceTech Consultants J/104 Sumadhur II, Near Azad Society, Ahmedabad 380015 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Res. Avtar K. Kaul D/1001 Sarjan Towers, Memnagar, Ahmedabad 380052, India Telephone: 91-79-27436339 Mobile: 91-9825065626 URL: www.spacetechconsultants.com Email: admin@spacetechconsultants.com, info@avtarkaul.com and avtar.k.kaul@gmail.com Dated: Oct.18, 2008 Ahmedabad

Interests

Cinema, English Literature, Philosophy, Music, Poetry