CORRESPONDENCE

10 August 1993
7 January 1994

Romesh Bhattacharji,
D 1008, New Friends Colony,
New Delhi 110065.

10 August 1993

Mr. Harish Kapadia,
The Honorary Editor
Dear Harish,

Vol. 49 of The Himalayan Journal is continuing the excellent tradition that you have established. Aamir Ali's article on 'The Himalayan Journal Vol. II (1930)' was well written and informative as usual. His deft comments are always entertaining and liven what could have been a dull recital.

There is one oversight which I would like to point out. Aamir AH, perhaps overwhelmed by the extent of achievements of some of the people he mentions in his article, has suspended his moral indignation. I refer to para 3 on p. 147 in which he casually mentions Aurel Stein having 'despatched a hundred and eighty cases of anitques from Kashgar' without commenting that this kind of plunder was common during the days the Great Game was being played. Aurel Stein and others of his ilk had explored many blanks on the map, but their efforts weren't as altruistic as they and others would have us believe. Not all the antiques they brought back landed in the British museum. The one sole exception that I know of was Sven Hedin, and he was not made a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society!

Best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
R. Bhattacharji

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West Bengal Mountaineers' & Trekkers' Confederation
63E, Mahanirban Road,
Calcutta 700 029.

7 January 1994

To,
Mr. Harish Kapadia
Dear Mr. Kapadia,

Referring to your article 'Fires on the Mountain' (H.J. Vol. 49) in the list of expeditions to Panch Chuli group appended to your article, the attempt on Panch Chuli II by West Bengal Mountaineers' & Trekkers' Confederation in 1990 has not been mentioned.

I shall be glad if you will please set the record right in the subsequent volume of the H.J.

Yours sincerely,
Kankan K. Ray
Secretary

Editor's Note:
Add in the table in H.J. Vol. 49, p. 76
1990: S. Ghosh led an Indian team from Calcutta. They attempted Panch Chuli II from the Meola glacier.

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