The Hindu : Northeast to get mountaineering institute

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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Northeast to get mountaineering institute

By Our Staff Reporter

PTI

A surprise gift for the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, from Ratanmani Roy Chauduri, who was among the recipients of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards — 1999 to 2001, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI MAY 20. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today called on the youth to inculcate the spirit of adventure symbolised by such legendary mountaineers as Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay and all other Everesters who have made the country proud by scaling the world's highest peak.

Inaugurating the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the first ascent of Mount Everest, Mr. Vajpayee announced the Government's decision to establish a new institute for mountaineering and allied sports in the North-East. The Ministry of Defence would fund the institute.

Lady Hillary, Sir Edmund — the hero of the epochal event in 1953 — and Jemling Norgay, son of Tenzing Norgay, along with Indian Everesters such as Captain M.S. Kohli and Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia, and a host of other dignitaries and diplomats were present.

Saluting Sir Edmund for showing the way for a romantic saga that continues to this day, Mr. Vajpayee recalled the thrill and excitement he had experienced 50 years ago upon hearing the news of the ascent of Mt. Everest. "The fact that nearly 1,300 people have since stood on the highest summit of the world is a tribute to the enormity of your and Tenzing Norgay's achievement,'' he said.

Describing mountain climbing as a spiritual sport, Mr. Vajpayee said, "the first ascent of Mount Everest was not merely an occasion for rejoicing. It transmitted the message of peace, universal brotherhood and cosmic harmony.''

The Prime Minister also paid homage to the memory of Tenzing Norgay and exhorted the youth to imbibe the spirit of adventure in exploring the unexplored, in the work that they do and in building a better society for us and for future generations.

Photo: V. Sudershan

The Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, presenting the scroll of honour to Sir Edmund Hillary and Jamling Norgay, son of Tenzing Norgay, while inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations to mark the first ascent to Mount Everest, at a function in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Sir Edmund recalled the event in 1953 when he, along with Tenzing Norgay, reached the summit. "We were the lucky ones who never walked in another's footsteps,'' he said.

Recalling fond memories of his stay in India from 1985 to 1989 as Ambassador of New Zealand to India, Sir Edmund regretted that Mt. Everest over the years had lost its pristine purity and was being commercialised.

"It was vital that all expeditions have a sense of responsibility in order to preserve the mountain environment,'' he said.

The Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Vikram Verma, the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Arun Shourie, and the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Thirunavukkarasar, also paid rich tributes to the two mountaineers who achieved the impossible by scaling the world's highest peak 50 years ago.

The Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp to mark the first ascent of Mt. Everest and also gave away the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards to 13 eminent votaries of adventure sports from across the country.

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