Inder Jit Singh F.R.G.S., Fellow Asia Foundation - a personal profile

Born in Shillong , Meghalaya on 18 January 1959, Inder Jit Singh's fascination with the Himalaya and remote parts of the Indian Sub Continent began here as a schoolboy and "military brat" in the early 70's, when he returned to his birthplace as a teenager. This fascination was also attributable to his father's association with the Assam Rifles, (an old frontier force of the North East Frontier Agency as that part of India was known), and the latter's role in the flight of the Dalai Lama from Tibet into north-eastern India.

Inder Jit's school years included travels in the mid 70's to remote corners of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Assam, including journeys along the Stillwell Road and Pangsu's Pass, Kohima, Mokokchong, Bible Hill and Wokha in Nagaland and the border villages in Burma like Moreh via Manipur's capital Imphal.

It was these early years of travel that led to his fascination with the indigenous culture and biodiversity of the regions. Professional adventure, anthropological and WW2 history trips and expeditions have been promoted and conducted since 1979. Coming from a long and distinguished military lineage also contributed to the career he charted out for himself in later years.

Professional Background & Experience

Upon completing his Bachelor's in Economics in the summer of 1979 Inder Jit Singh first trained as a wildlife naturalist in Nepal's Chitwan Park. He then moved to Kashmir & Ladakh functioning varyingly as a trek leader, Fishing Camp Manager and then Yurt Camp architect in Ladakh in 1980 building the final stage of the Ladakh Serai for the Tiger Mountain group. In 1980 Inder Jit Singh co -led a trekking expedition along with Jeffrey Campbell, to the source of the Ganges for Charles Allen in the writing of the latter's book -A Mountain in Tibet.

In 1982 he set up his own adventure travel company Tiger Paw Adventures conducting high altitude treks in Kashmir and Ladakh in the summers and overland expeditions during the winters, in Rajasthan , Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Southern India and Garhwal.

Besides running all kinds of educational adventure trips, Inder Jit has also been instrumental in developing and conducting off beat trips for American Express, outdoor management style team building and leadership programs for American Express Human Resources Division. These included some with the British firm Action Based Leadership and Himalayan mountaineering, trek, ski expeditions and rafting expeditions for the British Army, as well as Himalayan rafting expeditions and training programs for forward formations of the Indian Army and all the first all women's rafting team from the Indian Police. The latter followed his key role while representing his company in founding the Indian Association of Professional Rafting Outfitters. Apart from numerous high altitude trekking expeditions that he has independently led in the Indian and Nepal Himalaya, Inder Jit has been involved with some notable Himalayan white water expeditions as well which have been either led, planned or directed on the ground by him through his company.

Inder Jit has also developed for his company International Horseback and Polo Holidays and conducts these in various locations worldwide. The horseback and polo safaris are selected on the basis of their unique quality. For example one of the horseback safaris developed studies the customs and ceremonies of the Nihang Warriors of the Punjab foothills in India , and the exploration of the Mustang Valley in Nepal-Tibet. The polo safaris include besides polo instruction exploration on horseback in various ecosystems.