Harish Kapadia, born in 1945 in Mumbai, India, has explored unchartered territories in the Indian Himalayas through over 170 climbs and explorations over the past 40 years, and has authored 18 books and some 70 articles about his expeditions.

For his contributions in widening our scope of geographical and exploratory knowledge regarding the Himalayas, he has been awarded the Royal Geographical Society's "Patron's Medal". He has been globally recognized by receiving the "Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award" from the President of India, and the "Piolets D'or Asia" which is considered to be the Oscar award of mountaineering.

He is also the "explorer for peace" leading the campaigns for the "Siachen Peace Park" initiative surrounding the Karakoram Range, a region marred by border disputes persisting over half a century.