New Delhi, May 24: Bachendri Pal was born on May 24, 1954, in the picturesque yet remote village of Nakuri in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. Interestingly, her birth occurred just five days before the first anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s historic ascent of Everest.
Her family belonged to the traditional Bhotiya community, an ancient tribe primarily residing in the Himalayan regions of India. Her father, Kishan Singh Pal, was a marginal trader who transported flour and rice to Tibet using mules and goats. Her mother, Hansa Devi, managed the household while also assisting the family in carpet weaving. A devastating flood in 1943 had ravaged their ancestral village, Harsil, forcing the family into severe financial hardship.
From a young age, Bachendri Pal was a trailblazer. At just 12 years old, she climbed a nearly 13,000-foot mountain during a school picnic without any preparation or equipment. That night, she and her friends were stranded on the mountain. Upon returning home, instead of praise, she faced reprimand. Witnessing her brothers being encouraged to explore the mountains while girls were advised to focus on household chores ignited a spark in her to prove that girls could excel too.
Despite financial struggles, Bachendri did not abandon her studies. She earned an MA in Sanskrit and a B.Ed degree, overcoming societal and familial opposition. To fund her education, she worked tirelessly sewing clothes at night. She became the first female graduate from her village.
Bachendri enrolled at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in Uttarkashi. During her training, she conquered challenging peaks like Gangotri I and Mount Rudragaira, showcasing her exceptional mountaineering skills.
Selected for the Indian Everest Expedition in 1984, this journey was not just a climb for Bachendri; it symbolized the aspirations of millions of women in the country. Along the way, she endured the pain of losing a Sherpa porter and faced a terrifying avalanche that shattered the spirits of many seasoned climbers.
On May 23, 1984, when she reached the South Col Camp at an altitude of 26,000 feet, she was the only woman left in the final climbing team. The next morning, braving extreme cold (-30°C to -40°C) and a fierce blizzard with winds up to 100 km/h, she began her final ascent with Sirdar Ang Dorje.
By afternoon, Bachendri Pal stood atop the peak that every mountaineer dreams of reaching. She became the first Indian woman and the fifth woman in the world to conquer Mount Everest.
What sets Bachendri apart is her commitment to sharing her success. In December 1983, Tata Steel recognized her talent and included her in their sports department. Later, as the director of the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF), she spent three decades teaching life skills and leadership to thousands of youth.
She identified talent among the most marginalized, rural, and physically challenged individuals. Under her guidance, Arunima Sinha, a national volleyball player who lost a leg in a train accident, made history by summiting Everest with a prosthetic leg.
The Government of India has honored her with prestigious civilian awards, including the Padma Shri in 1984 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019.
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