Convincing people that it was not a bad idea to have a second attempt at climbing atop the world’s highest peak mount Everest was a very challenging task, said the first among Indian Forest Service officers to have climbed Mount Everest, S Prabakaran. Addressing a gathering held at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Prabakaran was felicitated by the academy director Shashi Kumar who appreciated the young IFS officer for achieving such a commendable feat. “There are no words that would be enough to appreciate S Prabakaran” said the director. In addition, he also advised the probationers of the 2015 IFS batch to stay fit and motivated.
According to the academy officials, S Prabakaran, a 2011 batch IFS officer from Tamil Nadu, belonging to Karnataka cadre, scaled the highest peak in his second attempt in May this year. During the first attempt his expedition was foiled by the 2015 Nepal-Earthquake where he had been able to narrowly escape death. Not being deterred by this and other factors, the IFS officer persevered and was finally able to achieve success in the world’s highest mountain peak earlier this year on May 20. He said, “I had an extremely difficult time convincing people that giving a second attempt (on scaling mount Everest) was not a bad idea,” he said. Prabakaran is stated to have toiled consistently for two years, being an asthma patient from childhood; he pushed himself to the extreme limits which enabled him to achieve the feat.
At present, S Prabakaran is posted as the deputy cvonservator of of forests in the Koppal forest division in the state of Karnataka.
The IGNFA additional director Mohit Gera also expressed his views on the occasion, appreciating Prabakaran on the occasion. He opined that a strong physique is an essential component for all the IFS officers. Other senior IFS officers, faculty members and IFS probationers of the 2015 batch were also among those present at the felicitation programme.