The Rain Man

Dhar joined the Indian Metrological Department in 1945 and was posted to the Radio Sonde Laboratory in New Delhi. After a stint at the Central Water Commission,he was deputed to Nevada University,USA,to research ‘Snow Surveying’ in the Himalayas. “I spent years working there. I had to travel continuously from Sikkim to Kashmir,putting observatories,rain gauges and measuring rain fall.” Thus began his work in the field of Hydrometeorology. “In lay man’s terms,I would work on providing data to the engineers on how much rainfall is recorded in India. My work was concerned with measuring rainfall that would help them in building dams and so on.”

During this time,from 1947 to 1958,Dhar was the leader for more than 12 expeditions to the Himalayas for Snow Surveying and installing hydrometeorology observatories in many remote and inaccessible regions. In 1965,he joined IITM in Pune and a year later,he represented India as a UNDP fellow to undergo training in hydrometeorology at the US Weather Bureau. During 1982-1986 he acted as a consultant to the World Bank Regional Office in matters pertaining to hydrometeorology. He was also a member of the Dam Safety Panel of the Karnataka government during 1987-1989.

In his career spanning more than 60 years,he has contributed extensively to research in this field. What are the changes that he noticed? “The data we have at the institute dates back 150 years. Thanks to the way the Britishers catalogued this information,we have a rich data that helps us in comparative study. Today the science has changed a lot. Technology has taken charge,” he says. Dhar has written more than 250 scientific papers and review articles in national and international journals. A member of the Indian Meteorlogical Society and Americal Geophysica Union,Washington,he has also received the prestigious fellowship by the Indian Meteorological Society. Shares Shobha Nandargi,who works as a scientist at the IITM,“I have worked with him for over 27 years. His work goes on from basic to advanced meteorology. I would really call him a master at what he does.” As Dhar sifts through his documents,showing his latest study,the passion for his work is visible. “Rains,I have lived with them,” he says as he watches one leave and walk into the gentle drizzle outside.