Country’s first female mountaineer Bachhendri Pal on Monday received Virangana laxmibai National Award 2013-14 at Virangana Balidan Mela Premises, Gwalior. BJP State president Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Culture Madhya Pradesh laxmikant Sharma and President of Virangana Balidan Memorial Committee Jaibhan Singh were also present on the occasion.
Virangana laxmibai National Award is given to the females who have contributed in some way of the other to the society, may it be bravery, women empowerment, social awareness or even sacrifice. The prize amount of the award if Rs two lakhs along with appreciation certificate and trophy.
Noticeably, the decision to award first female mountaineer of the country Bachendri Pal with Virangana laxmibai National Award 2013-14 was taken during the meeting of selection committee members of Virangana Balidan Committee at Bhopal. It was observed that Pal has a huge contribution in women empowerment and ha set good examples before women of the country.
Pal was born on May 24, 1954 at Nakuri. She is the Indian mountaineer who in 1984 became the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Pal was born into a rural working-class family in what is now Uttarakhand and was one of seven children. A gifted student, she encountered stiff opposition from her family and relatives when she decided to opt for a career as a professional mountaineer rather than as a schoolteacher. She soon found success in her chosen field. After summiting a number of smaller peaks, she was selected to join India’s first mixed-gender team to attempt an expedition to Mount Everest. Her troupe included seven female mountaineers and 11 male mountaineers. Beginning its ascent in early May 1984, her team almost met disaster and half the group was forced to abandon the ascent because of injury. Pal moved on and reached the summit.
Pal achieved immediate fame and in 1985 she returned to Mount Everest to successfully lead an all-woman team to the summit. She led an all-woman rafting expedition down the Ganges River in 1994, covering over 1,500 miles (2,500 km). In 1997 she led an all-woman team on a successful 2,500-mile (4,000-km) transit of the Himalayas, beginning in Arunachal Pradesh and concluding at the Siachen Glacier. She was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 1984 as well.