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In May 1984, one young girl from a small village in Uttarakhand did something that no Indian woman ever did before. She was at the very top of the world quite literally. Her name became a permanent part of Indian history as the whole nation watched her climb Mount Everest. Let’s find out who was the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest and why her story still matters today.
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Who is the First Indian Woman to Climb Mount Everest?
Source: Tata Steel
Bachendri Pal is the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak of 8,848 metres, on 23rd May 1984.
She was born on May 24, 1954, in the village of Nakuri, Uttarakhand. She was brought up in a rural working class family. She reached the top of the summit just one day before her 30th birthday.
She didn't simply just climb one of the highest peaks in the world but also opened a door that was long closed to women in this society.
Quick Facts
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First Indian woman to climb Mount Everest: Bachendri Pal
Date of summit: 23 May 1984
Expedition name: Everest '84 (India's 4th Everest Expedition)
Height of Mount Everest: 8,848 metres
Training institute: Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi
5th woman in the world to summit Everest at that time
Bachendri Pal Early Life
Bachendri Pal grew up in a modest family. Her father was a tradesman along the border. Although facing financial problems, she performed very well in her academics and passed out with M.A. Sanskrit and B.Ed.
She switched her career and joined the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi. During this course, she climbed Mount Gangotri in 1982 which is at an elevation of 23,419 feet or 7,138 meters.
At that time, her family and relatives strongly opposed her choice to become a professional mountaineer, preferring she become a schoolteacher. She was considered rebellious.
The Historic 1984 Expedition
India's fourth expedition to Mount Everest, titled as Everest '84', was planned in 1984. Bachendri Pal was among a team of six female mountaineers and 11 males attempting the ascent.
It wasn't a straightforward expedition. The climb was almost a disaster for Pal's team when an avalanche struck the camp at 24,000 feet. Many team members were injured in this incident, including Bachendri. There were many people who turned back; however, she was determined to climb Mount Everest.
She reached the summit on May 23, 1984, at 1:07 PM with a team of 8–9 members. She was on top of Mount Everest for 43 minutes.
Awards and Honours
Bachendri received a Gold Medal for Excellence in Mountaineering from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour in 1984.
She was the recipient of the second highest sporting honour of the country, the Arjuna Award, in 1986. Her name is also recorded in the Guinness Book of Record for becoming the first woman to conquer Mount Everest. She has also been awarded the third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan in India.
The achievement of Bachendri Pal is not just that of Everest. It represents strength, loyalty and resilience against societal rules. She was not born with privilege. The only difference was her courage.