Soumik De
Celebrating 60 years since the first ascent of Everest...
Mount Everest... the name is synonymous to the ultimate test of one's physical and mental endurance, demand of extreme fitness and capability, courage, and strength of mind. Although there are some mountains which are considered to be more technically challenging than Everest, there is no dispute that Everest is the highest physical point on the planet and considered to be the third pole or the roof of the world (8848 meter or 29029 feet). The Himalaya has always been a symbol of the battle of survival of human-kind versus nature's supreme power and hence Everest is a dream for the world's elite mountaineers and seduced thousands of climbers around the world in last hundred years or so.
This year Nepal marks 60 years since the first ascent of Everest. Govt. of Nepal has organized special events to observe the "Everest Diamond Jubilee" with a gala in the capital Kathmandu. Geographically Mt Everest does not belong to India but interestingly it has always been very special to Indians. If we look back, in 1852, Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician and surveyor from Bengal, was the first to identify Everest as the world's highest peak, using trigonometric calculations. Tenzing Norgay a sherpa climber from Darjeeling, India, along with Edmond Hillary reached the summit at 11:30 am local time on 29 May 1953 via the South Col Route.
Since then many world records have been made, dozens of people from 13 year olds to the blind and amputees clamor reached the summit. 21st May 2013, Arunima Biswas, ex volleyball player in National level, scaled to the summit with artificial limb and made history by becoming first woman amputee to conquer Everest. 25 years old Arunima was thrown off a running train and lost her leg. Her journey from railway tracks to top of the world is really phenomenal.
3 days ago, four climbers from Kolkata Chhanda Gayen, Tusi Das, Debdash Nandi, Ujwal Roy conquered Everest and in next two days Chhanda Gayen scaled Mt Lhotse (4th highest peak) and created an unique record. 19th May 2013, Nansi Malik and Tashi Malik, 21 years from Dehradun became the first twin in the world to reach summit. On the same day, Samina Baig, 22 from Pakistan achieved the feat as the first woman from her country. She, jointly with Malik sisters, hoisted their national flags to usher in peace, friendship and cooperation between two nations. On that very day Raha Moharak, 25, became the first and youngest woman from Saudi Arabia to climb Mt Everest, despite of various restrictions imposed on women in her country which prevents them participating in driving and sports. At the age of 15 years and seven months, Raghav Joneja from Moradabad became the youngest Indian to scale the Mount Everest this year.
We often think why these people focus entirely on mountaineering on this at this young age, subject themselves to freezing temperatures and lack of oxygen for long periods of time, not to mention the immense physical challenge of the climb? Why they do not confine themselves with 'smart' electronic gadgets to appreciate the power of computer science and information counts, it's the number of moments that takes our breath away. Climbing Mount Everest represents technology? May be because they believe It's not the number of breaths in our life that doubts and fears overcome, the accumulation of an enormous amount of hard work, and a larger than mind. In a sense, it is a metaphor for all the challenges we face in life. But aren't they scared of the life life indication that literally anything is possible and all finally boils down to a battle between body and risks? Haven't they seen the documentary on the death zone? Don't they know that many climbers die every year due to acute altitude sickness? However, it's interesting to ask ourselves why a few deaths on Everest evoke far more empathy and emotion than hundreds of deaths caused by train accidents or drug problems. It is because we all relate climbing to an adventure in some form and often believe attempting Mount Everest will provide with just fun.
Unfortunately hiking and mountaineering is not yet recognized as popular sports in India. Mountaineering is nothing but a great sports activity with an amazing blend of science and art but it's very much under publicized in our country. In spite of the so many world records by Indians it's very much evident that India just does not produce mountaineers. This is not a sad fact but dismaying. The number of Indian mountaineers seems too few for a country that is blessed with the Himalayas. That's why famous climbers like Satyabrata Dam or Basanta Sinha Roy still remain in the list of exceptional people. Satyabrata Dam has the world record of reaching the two poles and climbing Mt. Everest (what is referred as the 3 poles). Most of us still relate sports to Cricket and that's why only Cricket nurseries have mushroomed all over the country but reality is a professional cricket kit is no way cheaper than a mountaineering gears. Financial constraints cannot explain the failure of investment in mountaineering right from school level. Otherwise Tusi Das, who is seen selling eggs in Dumdum market every day morning, could never reach to the top of the world. After so many achievements by youth in 2013 it is probably a time to encourage, support and represent development of mountaineering and climbing with children and young people, at all levels, beginner to elite, throughout the country by training programmes, events and projects and right from school level by promoting it as an activity of high social and educational value, encouraging healthy lifestyle and respect for the environment. Those who believe that the youth is the future of our country need to unite and seek help from government and administration to introduce hiking and climbing activities in school curriculum across the country and promote adventure sports in all levels. There are three world class institutes in our country that imparts professional training in mountaineering. These are the Mountaineering Institute Manali, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering Dehradun and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Darjeeling, who run the basic and advanced mountaineering courses in very much affordable budget. They aim to train the youth of our country, who in turn develop mountaineering activities in the Himalayas as a sport or as a scientific pursuit. Parents and teacher has a great role to adopt and support a new perspective and culture to lay the foundation in youth. Regardless of whether anyone can make it to the summit or not, Himalayan expedition is sure to provide experiences of realistic goal setting, extreme hard work, real-time decision making, prudent resource management and effective team work that broaden our perspectives and values of life, build characters and finally provide with the memories for lifetime. After all we are as big as the dreams we dare to live by.