When India gained independence, it had almost no domestic oil production and depended heavily on foreign energy sources for everything its new economy required. Dr. Shreekrishna Deshpande was part of the small group of geologists who went out into the field — into forests that harboured wild animals and hostile tribes, through regions marked by active insurgencies — to change that. His memoir covers the founding years of India's oil exploration effort, the institution that grew into a Fortune 500 corporation, and the scientific challenges a field geologist faces in terrain that no one has mapped for hydrocarbons before.
Deshpande writes as someone who was present: the anecdotes are specific, the landscapes vivid, and the statistical data — on India's oil exploration, production, consumption, import quantities, and future projections — compiled with the rigour of a researcher. Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Padma Vibhushan economist Dr. Vijay Kelkar have both called this a largely uncharted chapter in India's modern history. The book includes detailed sketches, photographs, and maps by Jyotsna Deshpande that anchor the narrative in place.
For readers interested in India's economic history, the Nehruvian era's ambitions, or what it actually takes to build an industry from a standing start, this is a first-person account from the inside.
ABOUT THE BOOK: India's struggle for fossil fuel independence is probably the least understood chapter in our nation's history. Reliance on foreign energy sources was a major impediment to our progress as a free nation. This is the story of how a small group of bold scientists succeeded against all odds in putting India on the world's oil map. The author has provided a first-hand account of his adventures in establishing India's fledgling oil exploration department which grew into a mighty Fortune 500 corporation. Alongside his scientific challenges, he has meticulously observed and documented local cultures, histories, and legends. His travels as a field geologist brought him in face-to-face contact with wild animals, hostile tribes and violent insurgencies. Weaving a tapestry of anecdotes, this fascinating narrative is complemented by detailed sketches, photographs, and maps. Deshpande has also diligently compiled comprehensive data on India's oil exploration, production, consumption, cost, and quantities of imports and has also statistically predicted future trends. Written in a breezy and animated style, this book will be enjoyed by the novice and scientist alike. ~*~ "It is my pleasure to introduce "The Oil Hunter" to Indian readers as the nation celebrates 75 years of independence. I am confident that this book will unveil the remarkable history of our oil exploration efforts, a largely uncharted chapter in India's journey toward modernity. The author's contribution in bringing this history to a wider audience is invaluable." -Hon. Shri Prithviraj Chavan Former Chief Minister, Maharashtra; Former Minister for Science and Technology, Government of India ~*~ "The story of oil exploration in India is also the story of our early years as a young nation. In a remarkable career spanning the Nehruvian era to today, Dr. Shreekrishna Deshpande has been at the forefront of India's oil and natural gas exploration. His memoir, The Oil Hunter, is a fascinating personal account of this challenging endeavor." -Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Padma Vibhushan Former Executive Director - World Bank, Former Secretary - Petroleum and Finance, Government of India ~*~ "A most wonderful memoir of a phenomenal journey from the wilds of India in Nehruvian times to the more recent times. Dr. Deshpande has woven a weave around his fascinating journey that makes this memoir a must-read." -Najeeb Jung Former Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, Former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, Former Senior Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank, Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India ~*~ "I strongly recommend this book to international readers and all those who are interested in the Indian petroleum industry. Dr. Deshpande has narrated several historical events and anecdotes which would be equally interesting to the common man and the inquisitive scientist alike. Full of illustrations, maps and detailed statistical analysis of India's petroleum information in totality, this book is a unique milestone in the otherwise scarce record of the petroleum industry in India." -L. K. Kshirsagar Former Principal & Professor of Petroleum Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune ~*~ Sketches by: Jyotsna Deshpande ~*~
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