The Beginnings A.K.Kaul: Founder & Team leader Born in Srinagar, Kashmir (India) and Schooling at the famous C.M.S Tyndale Biscoe High School, Srinagar, Kashmir. The school motto "In all things be men” was an inspiration that shaped his mind and attitude to life. It is this mindset that made him a long distance swimmer, made him climb mountains, hitchhike, play hockey and football. He furthered his education at S.P.College Srinagar and then at the Centre for Advanced Study in Pure Mathematics, Panjab University Chandigarh. Thereafter, got entry into the famous FTII (Film & Television Institute of India, Pune) Completed Diploma in Cinema with specialisation in Cinematography in1974. Early recognition came when the documentary film "A Young Surgeon" shot by him the won the prestigious PV Pathy Memorial Prize for the best Documentary of that year at FTII. The same year he did a documentary "Dauligiri" on the epoch making Battle of Kalinga in Orissa, for the Films Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Joined Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1974 At Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad as a Cameraman in the project SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment) an ISRO-NASA Project. Was involved in the design, development and the production of television programmes for “development” with prime focus on rural development. These programmes were being designed to test the efficacy of Satellite Broadcasting for Development. Hailed as the world's largest communications experiment, it tried out Direct Community Broadcasting using ATS 6 Satellite in India for the first time. As a Cameraman & Director Photography Though trained as a Cinematographer/ Motion Picture Cameraman, took lead in using low cost video as the future medium of mass communication. The advantages were spontaneity, economy of operation and flexibility. Though its initial drawbacks like poor image quality, resolution and limited dynamic range worried professionals, nevertheless, it progressed leaps and bounds thereafter. Teacher/ Resource Person: Played various roles of a Trainer, Communicator, Interlocutor, Resource Person, Chief Resource Person and Course Director for many a training programmes conducted by SAC and DECU for outside agencies. These were the UGC Countrywide Classroom, CIET, Doordarshan, DRDO, Gujarat University, Dept of S&T. Individually conducted training workshops at NID, Kashmir University, Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (for Gujarat Government Information Officers), Department of Drama, Gujarat College. Also participated as a Trainer in a course conducted by the (Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development) AIBD for State Institutes of Education Technologies at NCERT, New Delhi. Promotional Programmes: M/s. LABH CONSTRUCTION AND INDUSTRIES LTD. We Build The Best - Corporate Film of the Group Sun City - Promotional Video starring Ajit Vachhani, Krutika Desai A Jewel in the Crown - Promotional Video on "Shiromani" bungalows project Shilalekh Mon-a-Mor -Promotional Video on "Shilalekh" housing project. New Methods in Construction Technology - focus on Concrete Hollow Block Technology. Participation in Training and International Workshops Attended a Workshop on development of "Training Materials" at Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting 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 Management Development/HRD Workshop at Rivera Hotel, Ahmedabad Attended a workshop on Management Development of HRD at Hotel President, New Delhi. Sponsored by ESSEL Group of Companies. Advertisement shorts for ZEE TV network. ESSEL Basmati - Basmati rice marketed by ESSEL Agro. Siti-Sachdeva Tutorials - Educational programmes for Siti Cable Network Watershed Management: Was designated Project Leader for a series of instructional programmes on Watershed Development. This was a thoroughly researched series, which involved extensive interactions with the officials, engineers/agronomists, soil scientists and forest officers of the Department of Watershed Development, Government of Rajasthan. The Government of Rajasthan 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 Farming Check Dams Plantations Water Co-operatives 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 in Zee Telefilms Ltd. (A lead Satellite TV Network). Aap ki Adalat - with Rajat Sharma Insight - with Umesh Upadhyaya Helpline - with Radhika Kaul Zee News Was involved in the technical supervision of Zee TV's ESSEL Studios at Noida, Delhi during its construction. Photographed documentary films in 35/16 mm. Dial 101, directed by Shahrukh Baig on "Mumbai/Pune Police Wireless System" A Young Surgeon, directed by Surindra Suri on "A Young Doctor who Pioneered Open-Heart Surgery at Sasson Hospital, Pune" Dauligiri (Orissa), directed by Nirod Mahapadra on "The Ancient Site of Kalinga" which has Buddhist Stupa on top of Dauli Hill Udaygiri and Khandgiri Caves, directed by Nirod Mahapadra on "Ancient Jain Cave Temples" near Bhubaneshwar. Orissa Cement directed by Nirod Mahapadra on "Corporate Film on Orissa Cement Company". Alternate Sources of Energy, directed by Basu Bhattacharya for Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference. “Agresar Gujarat” on introduction and implementation of E-Governance in Gujarat Documentaries on Scientific Projects: Aryabhata: India's first Artificial Satellite Bhaskara: India's first Remote Sensing Satellite 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 Airlifting of ECT (Emergency Communications Terminal). DRS Unfolded (Direct Reception System) its assembly and installation. Glaciers (Rivers of Ice) (Chota Shigri Glacier Expedition) Understanding Our Sun (on the Udaipur Solar Observatory) SLAR (Side-looking Air-borne Radar). A Partnership for Progress (ISRO’s Technology Transfer Programme.) Environment, Ecology and Wildlife Documentaries Gir Calling (Gir National Park) the last and the habitat of Asiatic Lion). Destination Pirotan (Marine National Park at Gulf of Kutch, off the Jamnagar coast. Black Buck (Black Buck Sanctuary near Velavadar, Bhavnagar). Fragile Little Rann of Kutch.(on Satellite monitoring of Wild Life Sanctuaries or National parks using remote sensing technology). Development Communication Dantivada Irrigation Project (A development story on Dantivada Irrigation Project, in north Gujarat. World Bank funded this Development Project). Sukhomajari (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 (a six part series on programmes on Watershed Development. Irrigation Projects of Gujarat - Kadana Dam Fatehwadi Yojna Warabandi Rawalpura (on sharing irrigation water) Ukai dam and Dharoi Dam. Lectures / Personalities Prof S Chandrashekar, Noble Prize Winner in Astrophysics Sir Arthur Clarke, Science Fiction Writer Prof Phillip Morrison, famous Nuclear Physicist Academician Ginsberg, Scientist in Fusion Research. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, as a Poet / Political personality. Dance performances Sanjukta Panigrahi - Odissi dancer Swapna Sundari - Kuchipudi Mallika Sarabhai - Bharatnatyam Protima Bedi - Odissi Kumudini Lakhia - Kathak Musical performances Ustad Bismillah Khan - Shehnai Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan - Tabla Pandit Jasaraj - Vocal Kumar Gandharv - Vocal Shivkumar Sharma - Santoor. Pandit Ramnarayan - Sarangi Recorded / Documented Theatre Workshops of the following renowned Theatre Personalities: Komal Kothari - on Rajasthani folk theatre & music Habib Tanvir - Folk Theatre Workshop, Barunda, Rajasthan Badal Sarkar - Third Theatre, Calcutta Jashwant Thakkar - INT, Gujarati theatre. Bansi Kaul - NSD Repertory, New Delhi on Bhavai. Important Projects completed recently Completed a documentary "India in Space" for the Indian Space Research Organization, covering a time span of 40 years. It basically covered Indian achievements in Space Sciences and Technology. This was broadcast on Doordarshan's National Network. Produced a documentary on "Space for Development & Cooperation" UNESCAP for ISRO on eve of an international conference at New Delhi. This was also transmitted on Doordarshan's National Network. Produced Corporate documentaries on a few companies from Ahmedabad like the Five Star Pharmaceuticals, and Saket Projects Limited for its Energy Audit Division Directed and photographed a series of instructional and promotional programmes for the GNFC (Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company) product line and safety. Directed and photographed documentaries for Doordarshan on Kandla Port, a premier port of India, for the 50-year's of Independence Series. Was commissioned to produce a corporate film on Sardar Sarovar Project for Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited, titled "The End of Thirst”. This documentary was shown at the World Water Forum, The Hague. It was designed to counter the anti dam compaign lead by Narmada Bachao Andolan. This documentary also explained the importance of this project in the socio economic development of India. Also produced five other documentaries on issues like environment and rehabilitation etc. in detail. For the Government of Gujarat, produced documentaries on the devastating Cyclone of 1998, Earthquake of 2001, Former US President Clinton's visit to Earthquake hit areas. These documentaries were broadcast on the Doordarshan channel. Also produced a telefilm on a developmental theme titled "Navi Disha". The importance of developing our villages with the knowledge gain and advances in Information technology. "SEWA Fights Drought" A documentary on the acute drought conditions in Saurashtra, Kutch and Banaskantha, and the relief effort implemented by SEWA, a women's cooperative of more than 2 lac 50 thousand women. This is getting ready. "Women, Work and Water" A documentary on the micro-economic study of the water in relation the effort by women in collecting it and using it. The project funded by IRC, based in Nederland's. Accolades and Awards* Hariyali ki Aur (Greening) - On Afforestation of Dungarpur in Rajasthan. Understanding our Sun - On Udaipur Solar Observatory. 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 Astha - Documentary on silting of Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan, in the background of Cattle fair on Kartika Purnima Telecom Vectors & Rural Dynamics - Documentary on Telecommunications for Rural Development. This documentary won the special mention at ITU's Golden Antenna Festival, in Geneva. IIMA – Commemorating 25 years of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Pilgrimage to Badrinath in Himalayas - Documentary on Badrinath (for Zee TV Network). The Fragile Little Rann - On the fragile ecosystem of the Little Rann of Kutch. Habitat of the Asiatic Wild Ass. This documentary won WWF International award. Gujarat Cyclone ‘98 (Gujarat Cyclone 1998) done for the Gujarat Govt. We Shall Overcome (Gujarat Earthquake 2001) for the Gujarat Govt. Nature’s Fury and the Healing Touch, (Gujarat Earthquake Aftermath) for the Gujarat Govt. A Pilgrimage of Hope, Former US President Clinton's visit to the Earthquake hit areas * Doordarshan or Zee TV telecast all the above documentaries. Agresar Gujarat (E-Governance development in Gujarat) in 35 mm Eastmancolor Boribunds Use of Gunny bags for Check Dams Gujarat Govt. (completed in 2004) Checkdams and Boribunds for Rural Development Department, Gujarat Govt. (completed) Institutes of Excellence in Gujarat for the Gujarat Govt. (completed in 2004) Kalpasar Project a curtain-raiser programme for the Gujarat Govt. (completed 2004) Kalpasar Project Launched at Ghogha Bandar (for Gujarat Govt. (completed in 2004) Jalabhiyaan on Gujarat Water Supply based on Narmada waters (completed in 2004) Programmes under execution Biotechnology Frontiers Part 1 & 2 for EduSat Science Channel (under production) ISRO’s Centres of Excellence. Short video profiles of SAC, VSSC, ISAC, SD Space Centre, MCF Haasan, NRSA Hyderabad, LPSC etc. Further programmes on Biotechnology are being worked out as an extension. Plasma & Tokamaks, a series on high energy physics on the anvil. Poverty, an in-depth study of poverty, in a project funded by the Ford Foundation based on a research study by Duke University New York Professor Anirudh Krishna. Kutch Calling, a promotional on Kutch for Gujarat Tourism Dev. Corp (under-production) Contact: A. K. Kaul D/1001, Sarjan Towers, Memnagar, Ahmedabad 380052, Gujarat, India. Email: info@avtarkaul.com Ph. 91-79-8026126 Mobile: 919825065626