PEOPLE: Fijian for Antarctica

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Anuragh Chandra, (left), a former radar technician at the Fiji Meteorological Service with a fellow staff member of NIWA will be part of the engineering team to Antarctica. Picture: SUPPLIED/STUFF

Four decades ago Anuragh Chandra had no intention of visiting the Antarctica, one of the coldest places on Earth. He was just a simple Naikabula boy enjoying a simple life outside Lautoka City destined with the dream of becoming an engineer and a successful person in life.

Fast forward 30 years later, this proud Fijian is joining a group of New Zealand scientists and technicians to the South Pole to visit the Scott Base with a role to install and commission a new Automatic Weather Station.

“While I live and work in New Zealand, I very much have Fiji and Fijians at heart and am proud that this coverage has reached Fiji as not many people are destined to go to Antarctica so I will be proudly flying the Fiji flag in Antarctica during my one month stay there,” Chandra said.

“COVID-19 has affected our lives and I have been separated from my wife Poonam and son Yohan, who are stuck in Fiji due to travel restrictions but they together with my parents and other family and friends in Fiji are also very proud of this moment and will be looking forward to my return.

“Our 13th wedding anniversary is coming up on November 24 so even though I will not be celebrating with my wife, it will be a unique one for me at a totally different icy continent of the Antarctica.” After completing his tertiary education in electronics engineering from the then Fiji Institute of Technology, the Lautoka man joined the Fiji Meteorological Service in 2003 and worked up the ranks to a key position within the Instrument Systems Division.

His work experience allowed him to attend various World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Observers and specialised courses overseas on sophisticated meteorological instrumentation in New Zealand and the US with the major one being on weather surveillance radar through a WMO fellowship at the Bureau of Meteorology in Australia.

“Through these trainings and various on the job trainings with expatriates from Australia, New Zealand, US, Finland etc, I gained more merit and joined the private sector in Fiji working for a US-based meteorological instrument and systems manufacturer.”

Having gained enough experience and exposure in his field of work which was somewhat specialised in nature, Chandra became confident enough to dream for a job at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). His first opportunity to fulfil his dream of working at NIWA came about in 2016, however, he could not take up the offer as his wife had just given birth to their first child. “I believe I was destined to work and grow with NIWA as I took up their second employment offer in 2018 for a 2019 start.

“This was perfect timing in all aspects that allowed me to make the ultimate move to NZ without any hesitation.

“And here I am today living my dream proudly working for the best CSRI in New Zealand.” Mr Chandra said NIWA’s science was amazing and being part of such science and fame was overwhelming.

“It is a very proud moment in my life fulfilling NIWA’s science in Antarctica this season.

For those who don’t know, NIWA through its science and expertise has made an extensive contribution with surface weather monitoring in Fiji and the Pacific.”

Chandra will proudly fly the Fijian flag in the Antarctica in the next four weeks and he cannot wait to share his experience and pictures with his family and fellow Fijians.

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