YPS Meet Live | December 13, Sun | 5:30 PM | YPS Facebook Page and YouTube Channel

There is possibly no place on earth more remote, more forbidding, more harsh than the continent of Antarctica – characterised by high winds, rain, snow, ice and cold temperatures that make anyone planning to visit it, have second thoughts. It is no wonder, therefore, that very few people have actually set foot on this remarkable place. Dr Ajit Huilgol has been one of the fortunate few. He spent a month photographing the iconic landscape and the animals and birds that inhabit this wilderness, and came back with over 30,000 photos, some of which he would like to share with us. So, join him as he takes you on a photographic journey to one of the last, relatively unexplored frontiers on earth. On this journey, you will see penguins, seals, icebergs and other wonders, and also learn about the whaling industry and some of the early explorers and adventurers.

To join the session

1. FaceBook:
   1. Like the YPS Facebook page by clicking here:
   2. Click on https://facebook.com/ypsbengaluru/live/ on 13 Dec 2020 at 5.30pm IST.
2. YouTube:
   1. Subscribe to YPS YouTube channel by clicking here
   2. Click on https://youtube.com/ypsbengaluru/live/ on 13 Dec 2020 at 5.30pm IST.

He is a kidney transplant surgeon based in Bangalore, and has been doing kidney transplants in this city since the very first successful transplant in Karnataka in 1983. Since then he has performed close to 2500 kidney transplants, the most by any surgeon in Karnataka. 

He was the President of the prestigious Indian Society of Organ Transplantation from 2010 to 2012, and has many publications in national and international journals. He has received many awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Nephrology Association of Karnataka, Lifetime Achievement Award given by FKCCI, Karnataka, Samaja Seva Bhushan Award given by the Subharam Trust, Karnataka, and many others.

Dr Huilgol has been invited by the Govts of Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nigeria to set up kidney transplant centres in those countries, and to train their surgeons.

While still in medical college as an undergraduate, he made his debut as a cricket commentator in English for All India Radio, Bangalore, in 1972. He continued to give commentary, in spite of being a busy surgeon, until 2005. He was probably the youngest commentator in the country when he made his debut as a 20 year old in 1972. He has also lent his voice to Doordarshan for some international cricket matches, including the Women’s World Cup in 1997, and the Sri Lanka vs India ODI in 1997.

Again, while still an undergraduate, he became a hypnotist, and conducted many hypnosis shows in Bangalore and Mysore.

Even as a youngster Dr Huilgol was interested in nature and wildlife, but it wasn’t until 2007 when he developed a keen interest in wildlife photography. With Mr M N Jayakumar as his guru, he bought his first digital camera, the Canon 1D Mk3, and started visiting many wildlife reserves in India and abroad. 

In 2008 he received his Associateship of the Royal Photographic Society. In 2009 he received the Runner-up Award in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the Mammals Behaviour category. His images and articles have appeared in many magazines and books. He is a very sought-after speaker on topics ranging from travels to post-processing. 

In June 2001, his image and video of a large male tiger (later named Masti) caught in a jaw trap in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve led to the arrest of over 40 poachers of the notorious Sansar Chand gang. For this he was made a Special Police Officer in the CID Forest Wing, Govt of Karnataka. 

Finally, Dr Huilgol has also acted in a movie, “Freaky Chakra” that starred Dipti Naval.

You can follow his work here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajit.huilgol.3

-YPS Executive Committee