| |
Story of the 1965 Indian Expedition’s Record-breaking Triumph of Everest.
It was for the first time in the history of Everest that a summit attempt was launched so early in the season; as it happened the team reached the goal in 85 days and the Indian Tricolour fluttered on the Summit on the morning of May 25, 1965.
Fifty years ago, in 1965 nine brave hearts, supported by ten gallant colleagues, unfurled the Indian Tricolour four times on top of the world, inspiring a whole new generation and opening floodgates of adventure and mountaineering in India.
The entire world sat up and took notice of this record-breaking achievement. Members of the team arrived at the Delhi airport to an ecstatic welcome by the then Prime Minister of India and members of his cabinet. Congratulatory messages poured in from Alpine Clubs around the world.
‘You can be proud of the magnificent effort of the Indian expedition… to get four teams to the top is compliment to the leadership and the team spirit…’ wrote Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb the Everest. Tenzing Norgay, Hillary’s partner sent a personal message which said, ‘Congratulations on your success… Double congratulations to Nowang Gombu for having made the glorious record of climbing Everest twice…… May you climb from peak-to-peak.’
The leader of the Expedition was invited to address Members of the Parliament of both the Houses in the Central Hall. Chief Ministers of almost all States feted the team at the State capitals. To mark this triumph a special postage stamp and first cover was issued on 15 August 1965 by the Postal Department which carried the autographs of all members.
The account of the climb was published in 1980. In her foreword to the book, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wrote, ‘The record of Commander Kohli’s expedition will find special mention in history. It was a masterpiece of planning, organization, teamwork, individual effort and leadership’.
This Golden Jubilee commemorative volume brings alive the epoch-making and most celebrated triumph of Indian mountaineering.
ISBN - 9788122205879
|
| |
|