29 years may have passed since inspirational Bachendri Pal had scaled the Mount Everest to become the first Indian women in making the herculean effort. But, for Bachendri those 29 years seems like 29 months.
later, she has been the face of Indian women empowerment and has spent her life in social service. But, the 59-year old is going strong and going by her spirit, she feels she has not done enough and fears that span of human being’s life is short. “I feel there are a lot of work which is yet to be done. I am excited about my work everyday I wake up.
Now, to add another feather in her glittering cap, Bachendri will spearhead a 10-member women team to an expedition to Annapurna range from Monday. The Annapurna range of Nepal Himalaya will start from Beishahar and along the Marshyangdi river, it covers the north of the main Himalay range and passes through Tibetan plateau.
The team will pass through the Thorang la Pass at the height of 17,872 ft and finally settled at Pokhara and will return back in a 23-day adventure. The members of the Bachendri-led team are Premlata Agrawal, an housewife and first Indian woman to reach all the seven highest summits in all continents, Arunima Sinha, first woman amputee to conquer Everest, Shobha Hansdah, l Annapurna, tribal woman Payo Murmu, Om Keshav Singh Kirti, Naina Dhakar, Kalpana Dash and Jyoti Sharma, a bank employee based in Delhi.
“The women in the expedition come from diverse and traditional background. It is going to be good fun and a challenge for all of us to trek the Annapurna range. It’s an initiative to empower women in the country. I sincerely hope that these women inspire many others to take up mountaineering,”Bachedri, who heads the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, said on Saturday prior to leaving for Kathmandu.
“I have always felt that women are very strong but they need to be given freedom to showcase their potential. Times have changed. But there are still some challenges a woman faces today. People say what you will do by mountaineering. During the recent flood in Uttarakhand because of extreme fitness level, we undertook a relief operation in the remotest of areas and rescued some villagers. We can help people in times of difficulties,” she added.
Despite all those personal achievement, Bachendri believes that the bigger achievement lies in guiding others to scal greater heights. “I have guided, helped others to scale greater heights in adventure sports and societyand they are bigger success than my personal milestone,” she singned off.