This is the inspiring true story of one of India's most iconic mountaineers - Major HPS Ahluwalia, who was the member of India's first successful expedition to Everest. But the story does not end with this spectacular achievement. In fact this is where the real story begins - for the struggle to climb Everest was but a preparation for an even bigger challenge that lay ahead.
Just four months after his success, Major Ahluwalia suffered a grievous spinal injury in the Indo-Pak war of 1965. In a man of lesser courage, this could have destroyed his spirit but in Major Ahluwalia's case, it ignited a deep passion.
This is the story of how he fought 'the impossible fight' towards rehabilitation and how he achieved the 'seemingly unattainable dream' of building India's first world class Spinal Injuries Centre.
This is ultimately the story of how Major Ahluwalia conquered a Summit even higher than the Everest, the Summit of the Mind.
Major HPS Ahluwalia, during his distinguished career has made immense contributions in the fields of adventure, sports, environment, disability and social work. Following his advance training at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, he climbed various peaks before conquering Mount Everest. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he suffered a bullet injury which resulted in his confinement to a wheelchair. Despite that, he continued to pursue his love for adventure by organising pioneering events like the first Ski Expedition to Mt. Trisul, the first Trans-Himalayan Motor Expedition (1983), and the Central Asia Cultural Expedition (1994) following the Silk and Marco Polo's Route.
He has written thirteen books and has also produced an award-wining serial, 'Beyond Himalaya', which has been telecast worldwide on Discovery and National Geographic channels.
Realising the needs of spinal injury patients, he with the support of his friends, set up Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, a landmark healthcare institute at par with the best in the world.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, he was honoured with the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, National Award for the Welfare of People with Disabilities, Padma Bhushan, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award for Lifetime Achievement, Order of the Khalsa (Nishan-e-Khalsa) on the Tercentenary of the Birth of Khalsa and World Health Initiative for Peace Award.
A lthough I was born on one of the flattest plains of the world, I have always regarded myself as a child of the mountains. Not merely because that is where my ancestors belonged, but because I feel more at home there and they seem to fulfil an emotional need, if I may borrow Justice G.D. Khosla's phrase.
It is difficult to pinpoint the reason underlying any emotion. What do I see in the mountains beauty of landscape, purity of air, solitude or the greater challenge to one's endurance and resourcefulness? Perhaps all these and something more. On the plains one is surrounded by the works of man and consequently full of the importance of human beings. The heights give another perspective man is but an insignificant speck, dwarfed by the giant forces of nature.
Whatever the reason, I love all mountains. What fun it is to run up and down the hills. How soothing to the eye is the cool green of the higher, forest-clothed ones, heady with scents of pine and a myriad other trees and plants, where one must make one's own path. No less attractive are the many and ever-changing hues of the barren rocks, so stark and strong. And, of course, there are the majestic snow-covered peaks, glistening gold and silver in the sunshine or coyly veiled with wisps of cloud. I never cease to be astonished and delighted at the sight of wild flowers in the high mountains, their tiny colourful heads peering out of unlikely nooks and crevices, tenaciously defying the most inhospitable elements.
Major Ahluwalia has the distinction of belonging to a select band of men - the few who have stood atop the highest peak in the world - Mount Everest. He has distinguished himself equally on the field of battle in defence of our country. Courage has many faces. The manner in which Major Ahluwalia faced his long and dreary treatment and convalescence called for the same grit and perseverance. Major Ahluwalia now shares with us the hardships and the pain, the exhilaration of success and the understandable periods of depression. To his other accomplishments he adds that of authorship. I especially enjoyed his description of the Everest expedition.
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