Strong yet encouraging, Bachendri Pal is an example to women across India, showing us how to challenge ourselves and achieve unimaginable heights (literally). Her persona and palpable willingness to accept life as a challenge can leave you mesmerised. In a tete-a-tete with iDiva.com, the mountaineer who became the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1984, talks about the struggles and joys of mountaineering as well as promoting it as a career for women in India.
What was life like as a struggling mountaineer?
Well, for one, I decided to take up mountaineering at a time when the knowledge about it was very limited.Being a girl from a small village from Uttarkashi, I had worked hard to get an education for myself, and had always put academics before my love for sport. Hence, people wondered why I would throw that away to climb a mountain!
My brother was part of security force and was trained in mountain climbing. But while he encouraged my younger brother to take up a mountaineering course, he did not want me to do the same. My family was afraid of the risk and challenge involved in it for me, but I was determined.
I met a renowned mountaineer Colonel Premchand who motivated me to take a mountaineering course and a while later I was selected by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for the Pre-Everest Expedition. After my training started for Mt. Everest, there was no looking back. I was focused and committed to my goal of reaching the top of Mt. Everest.
Who helped you financially at the initial stages?
I was jobless at that point of time and had no money to fund my trip. The Government of India took care of all the finances required for me to take up the course. It was the dream of late Hon. President Indira Gandhi to see an Indian woman on top of Mt. Everest. I was lucky to have the whole trip and course funded by the government. Even Tata Steel Adventure Foundation supported me. Soon after I achieved my goal, Tata Steel Adventure Foundation offered and empowered me with the designation of Chief of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation.
Being the chief of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, what are your future plans?
We have various plans for upcoming mountaineers, but my major goal is to empower women and encourage them to take up mountaineering as career. We also plan to spread awareness about mountaineering as a sport.
For the past few years, we have constantly encouraged women to be a part of our trips. Arunima Sinha, the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest was fully funded by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation. We also sponsored Premlata Agrawal, who was the first Indian woman mountaineer to scale seven continental peaks. Currently, we are training Vinita from Jharkhand, who will be the first adivasi girl to climb Mount Everest.
We have made the mountaineering course a proper classroom study. We not only train them in climbing and safety measures, but also build a positive attitude in them, which helps them stay focused on their goal. I want to see Tata Steel Adventure Foundation as a premiere institute for adventure training.
Tell us 5 things the mountains teach you.
For one, you realise how insignificant you are in front of Mother Nature. So you learn to respect nature. I also learned about teamwork, discipline, to believe in myself and to be focused.
What are the physical attributes essential to become a professional mountaineer?
The most important thing a mountaineer should have is will power. Mountaineering is a hardcore sport, so you must have a passion for it. I believe more than physical attributes, mountaineering is a mind game. You have to be mentally prepared to take up the challenge and I have discovered women have a lot of will power, and the power and passion to do something challenging.
What does it take to achieve your dreams?
A lot of the time, I come across people who fear challenging themselves. To them I just want convey that the biggest risk in life is not taking any risk. Take risk in life and you will discover your true self.
Tell us what you think about Tashi and Nugshi Malick, India’s first twin mountaineers to climb Mt. Everest.
I felt great when I learnt about them. They are doing wonders and setting an example for other women to take up mountaineering as a sport as well as a career!
Tashi and Nugshi Malick have the dream of climbing seven peaks of seven continents and I wish them all the best for their goal.
What do you do when you are not promoting mountaineering?
I hardly get any free time because I am either climbing mountains or attending events. But if I do get some free time, I go on a long drive. I also like to eat at dhabas, where I have some privacy.
Do you enjoy travelling? What are your favourite places in the world?
I have travelled the world and been to several places. Each place has its own uniqueness, but for me, nothing is better than India. The culture and heritage is completely different from any other country. So much versatility, so many festivals and so many colours. India is certainly my favourite!
Tell us a little bit about family life.
I come from a middle class family. My father is no longer alive. My mother is 97 years old; I respect her tremendously and strongly believe in her. For me, she is my god. In my childhood, my family went through various hardships but still they made me what I am. I am very happy and privileged to be so lucky to have parents and mentors like them.
Apart from this, since I was a part of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, I adopted 10 underprivileged children. Although my parents were not well off, they provided for me, and I wish to share the same with these kids by raising them and taking care of their education. Now only four of them are with me as the rest are now independent and settled.
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