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Bachendri Pal was the first Indian woman to ascend Mt. Everest (29,029 ft), the world’s highest summit.
Bachendri Pal first tasted the thrill of the mountains at the age of twelve. It was exhilarating. With dreams in her eyes and conviction at heart, Bachendri joined the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering to learn the ropes of climbing.
In 1982, Bachendri climbed the Gangotri (21,900 ft.) and the Rudugaria (19,091 ft.), her first milestone.
Two years later, Bachendri was chosen to be a part of the fourth organized expedition to Mount Everest. The trek was laden with perils, freezing sub-zero temperatures and enervating altitude sickness. And when a massive avalanche broke the morale of half the members of the team who abandoned their journeys, this intrepid woman refused to give up.
On 23rd May 1984, Bachendri scaled Mt. Everest, creating a powerful new record as the first Indian woman to reach the top of the world.
For her stupendous lifetime’s achievement, Bachendri Pal was awarded the Padma Shri. She is also acclaimed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Mountaineering and river rafting – Bachendri pursues her life’s passions even today, as she spearheads several only-women expeditions across the formidable Himalayan outdoors, and trains youngsters to surmount their fears.
Why we find her inspiring?
– Because she is fearless and daring and stimulates us to seek ‘the adventurer’ in ourselves
– Because she exemplifies the proverb – when the going gets tough, the tough get going
– Because she galvanizes women out of their comfort zones towards new and gigantic feats
– Because she proves that with single-mindedness, no challenge is insurmountable – be it scaling mountain peaks or defying the naysayers.
Suggested links
The Inner Himalayas
Values stronger than steel (video)
Pic credit: http://nameisbond.files.wordpress.com/
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She would serve everyone fresh food and serve herself the stale rice and curries from the previous meal. Some days after finishing the leftovers she was so full she would not even be able to even taste the fresh food.
When I married the first time, my MIL told me that during the Navratri the lady of the house should not eat stale food. ‘Gharatlya bai ni shila khau naye’ — in refined upper caste Marathi.
I was just 26, eager to please, not versed in patriarchy or feminism, and it seemed like a positive thing — respect for the goddess in woman.
But soon I realised she spent the remaining 356 days of her year finishing leftovers. And that I was expected to do the same.
We say that we live in modern times and talk on subjects like feminism, supporting your loved ones, encouraging them to follow their dreams. But how many of us can really say that they actually do that?
We live in a world where there comes times in everyone’s life when one has to make choices which will leave a long term impact in not just their life but on the lives of those attached to them.
Giving the ones you claim to love the freedom and space to make their own choices and the wings to fly is not only the right thing to do but sometimes its also the thing they need the most; without having to face the ‘guilt’ of living the life they want.