leading an all-woman expedition to Mt Everest base camp, Bachendri Pal tells us how mountaineering is all about team-building and self-confidence. By Ankita Jain
When she climbed Mount Everest, she was a relatively unknown mountaineer but as soon as Bachendri Pal became India’s first woman to reach the summit of the world’s highest peak, her fame took an ascendant path that has never looked down. “If I can achieve that, many other women can achieve that too. Anyone can reach the top but the real journey begins when one readily gives back to the society. We are changing the life of people by teaching them team work and coordination, making them aware of their strengths and weaknesses and creating a sense of confidence,” says Bachendri of her legacy as a mentor.
She further recalls, “Three decades back (1984 to be precise) the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi told me ‘Bachendri I want you to create hundreds more like you.’ When I told her that I would promote adventure sports, her suggestion was to bring more women and rural people into this field.”
Bachendri’s passion and determination have only solidified as she is all set to lead an all-woman’s expedition to Gokyo Everest base camp, beginning March 26. For the summit, her team comprises Hemant Gupta and Payo Murmu, who will attempt to scale Mt Everest. “Both will accompany my all-women’s team and trek to the base camp to get acclimatised to the altitude and rigour,” she explains. To relive her old memories, she has chosen the same route to the base camp as the one she traversed in 1984. “We will travel by road to Kathmandu and then move from there onwards. I have intentionally chosen the same route to refresh all my memories.”
The expedition is also etched in her mind for another reason. “Dorje Sherpa and I attempted the climb. Due to some problem we did not use a rope which meant that we were not tethered, so any slip would have meant certain death with no chance of rescue by the other. It was a huge risk. The morning conditions made the snow very hard rendering it very slippery. I kept wondering as to how we would make it back when we reached the top and then everything changed.”
Having made it to the top and led contingents there, she says every expedition has its own challenges. “One can’t afford to lose focus or take it easy. After all Mt Everest is one of the the toughest climbs in the world. For me, leading expeditions has always been more satisfying than even climbing the summit,” she smiles.
When in camp, especially during all women’s expeditions, recounts Bachendri, “We talk about food all the time, exchanging recipes. Then we feel as if we have eaten.” Expansion of gases within the system causes discomfort, she explains, and to avoid this it is necessary to climb gradually. “Climb high and sleep low is the remedy,” she says.
Following her 1984 achievement, mountaineering to her is to create awareness of self among individuals. Enrolling women in this sport, she feels, has tremendous effect on them. “Being subjected to gender disparity and bias, many have ceased to believe in their capability and potential. Moreover, since mountaineering is treated as men’s domain, participation by women immediately gets them respect.” Hardly looking for physical strength, she chooses those determined and willing to strive and bear discomfort. “Mountaineering or any other adventure sports is not only about physical fitness; one should be brave at heart, have a solid mind, strong will power and the can-do spirit. I see many youngsters who are physically fit but are handicapped at heart,” she jests. Exhorting women to change their attitude, she observes: “They must cease to take help from men and instead of feeling privileged to hold somebody’s hand to climb a mountain, do it themselves.”
Mountain-climbing was an unheard of calling when Bachendri started her career. “When I was selected for Everest, I would train by jogging. The women in the fields would ask me, have you lost somethingIJ” The question irked her so much that the next time she saw someone approaching as she jogged, she would look the other way.
Talking about the present day climbs made easier due to light weight equipment and gadgets, she makes a pertinent point. “It has robbed the essence of learning. Expeditions in the past were like classrooms where constant uncertainty taught one decision-making, quick reactions, teamwork and managing against all odds.” She cites her example when in 1984 she was hit by an avalanche. “While many decided to discontinue, I went on and that incident made me realise I was born to climb Mt Everest,” she says.
Author of Everest — My Journey to the Top, she is planning to pen another book which is based on her journey to Mount Kilimanjaro. “I returned from an all-women’s expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro in 2008, a feat that was accomplished in record time. Hopefully the book will be out this year,” she concludes.