Bachendri Pal Created History By Climbing The World’s Highest Peak 37 Years Ago: 22 May

Bachendri Pal created history by climbing the world’s highest peak 37 years ago. May 22, 2022 is a very important day in history. On this day Bachendri Pal of India reached Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world. She is the first woman mountaineer in the country, who has achieved this feat. Bachendri Pal was awarded the Padma Bhushan for her contribution in the field of mountaineering and adventure sports.

Bachendri Pal had scaled Mount Everest on 22 May 1984. She became the first Indian and the fifth woman climber in the world to achieve the feat. The Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri in 1984 and the Arjuna Award in 1986 for this achievement.

In the 21st century, in the world of sports, Indian women are holding aloft the Indian flag shoulder to shoulder with the men. But 36 years ago today, the feat that mountaineer Bachendri Pal had done was amazing in itself. On 22 May 1984, just 2 days before her 30th birthday, she had given flight to the dreams of Indian women by conquering Everest and it continues to this day.

Bachendri Pal was born on 24 May 1954 in Nakuri, Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Born in an agricultural family, Bachendri’s education initiation was good and she completed her B.Ed. Her father was a businessman who used to go from India to Tibet to sell goods. Despite being brilliant and talented student she did not get any good job. Whatever employment opportunities they got at that time were temporary and junior level. Apart from this, the salary received was also very less.

Bachendri Pal Took To Mountaineering Being Jobless

In such a situation, Bachendri was very disappointed and instead of doing a job, applied for ‘Nehru Institute of Mountaineering’ course in Dehradun and from here, Bachendri’s life changed completely and knowingly or unknowingly she started on a new path of success. After this, she went on to do advanced courses in mountaineering and in the meantime, she also got a job as an instructor. She also faced opposition from family and relatives for adopting the profession of mountaineering, but she listened to her heart and continued in this work.

Bachendri Pal Climbed For The First Time At The Age Of 12

Bachendri Pal got his first chance to climb the mountain at the age of 12 with his schoolmates. Then she had climbed 4000 meters. While doing an advanced course in mountaineering, Bachendri completed the ascents of Gangotri (6,672 m) and Rudugaira (5,819). In such a situation, she was selected in the team of India’s fourth Everest expedition in the year 1984, in which there were a total of 17 people including 6 women and 11 men.

Accident While Climbing

The team was confronted by an avalanche during the Everest expedition. Her camp was buried in a storm at an altitude of about 7 thousand meters. In such a situation, some of the teammates decided to return due to injury and fatigue. But Bachendri did not give up and she was the only woman left in the team for the further climb. On 22 May, the team led by Aung Dorji (Sherpa Sardar) conquered Everest and Bachendri Pal’s name was recorded forever in the history of India. She became the fifth woman climber in the world to scale Everest. He achieved this feat two days before his 30th birthday and 6 days before his 31st anniversary of conquering the Himalayas.

In 1984, the Government of India honored Bachendri Pal with the Padma Shri for his distinguished achievement and the Arjuna Award in 1986. In the year 2019, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for his distinguished career achievements