Chronicles of Kangchenjunga 2: Core Driving force

 Core Driving force

 

When I returned from the expedition, many of our well-wishers, friends, and especially the media personnel asked me what seemed like a formidable task to them: ‘Why did an engineering grad switch completely into mountaineering and didn’t his parents resist him?’

The answer to the first part is quite complicated but the later part I can definitely answer with ‘Never.’ I grew up in a family where, progress-unrestricted and the passion chase-uncompromised, were highly encouraged. My grandfather late Dr. Sadashiv Shivade retired as a veterinary doctor but immediately after the retirement, embarked on his second inning of 23 years. During which, he authored 24 research books on Maratha history & literature; many of which are immensely recognized by scholars & academies in Pune. My father is no different. Like grandpa’s passion towards research in history, my father is an excellent general surgeon and passionate to serve the poor ones. Even today at the age of 59 today, he works for 15-16 hours a day and yet never gets tired of surgeries. He works for his patients like a devotee worships his deity. He taught me since childhood that in the end what prevails is your attitude towards your work and how only hard work and unending dedication, leads to achieving excellence.

As I began preparing for the expedition, old memories of their guidance, their wisdom, their discipline, began to resurface in my mind, and became my source of inspiration. I discussed with my seniors and in a week, prepared my training plan. Daily workout session started soon. Three days a week I went to the gym for strength training, & three days I performed various cardio exercises. The workout used to leave me exhausted but the thoughts of KJ ascent always kept me going.

My family were extremely happy for my selection. They trusted my capabilities and stood by me. Aai used to stay with me for 4 days a week to ensure that I get fresh and healthy meals daily. Papa used to visit us on weekends while rest of the days, he managed the workload in hospital. Aai, Papa, Kaka, Kaku, Tejasi, Attya, Madankaka, Akshaydada participated in various Sahyadri trekking programmes which Giripremi planned to support the expedition. Both my maternal as well as paternal families shared the burden of fund raising. Aai’s enthusiasm was so high that she participated in every trek, did daily fitness, trekked Sinhagad quite often, and finally along with her college friends, successfully completed Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Two days before our team reached the summit of Kj, she and all her friends prayed and sent their blessings to us from Annapurna Base. It was an incredible achievement for her. She was not a physically strong woman per say. But she took hard efforts to be able to hike till Annapurna Base Camp and support Giripremi’s expedition. Could there be any better support than participating in what I believe in doing?  

While Aai played an active role in supporting me for the expedition, Papa stood behind us like a watchful guardian. He looked after my health status and ensured that I remained illness free throughout the training session. He was to be a proud father and a husband. When Mama called him at 5:45 AM in the morning on 15th May 2019, to share my summit news, his happiness had no limits. His eyes were moist filled with tears of delight and content. Aai-papa’s faith in me, and the blessings from everyone in my family had come to fruition. Such was the driving force at the core that propelled me unhindered.  

Comments

Post a Comment

More!! :)

Royal Flush!! Mt. CB 13 Expedition

Image
Part 1- I walked back to the mountains: Year 2011. IIT Kharagpur. Inter IIT cricket tournament. Our team of young players lost to IIT Delhi. We prepared well. We defeated previous champions but we failed to keep the winning momentum going. After the match, I spoke to my ex. Captain Kartik. He was totally disappointed & frustrated. He had seen our progress very closely during the training days and not only Kartik but all IIT Bombay cricket fraternity was holding high hopes from our energetic team. That we could win the series. That we could defeat IIT Delhi and avenge previous years’ loss. But sadly, total disappointment came to their way. So did to me. That scar never healed. Never. Here on CB13 expedition, after 6 years, almost similar situation had arisen. Our team of young mountaineers after putting up a stellar attempt, fell short in reaching the summit. And we were left choiceless and had to turn back leaving last 400 m due to worsening weather conditions an
Read more

Climbathon 2014 – Bara Shigri Glacier part 3

Image
The trek begins On the morning of 16 th we hiked along the Chandra river towards the snout camp of Bara shigri glacier. Only obstacle was the notorious Karcha nallah. Previous year while crossing the nallah one of the participants had slipped off. Thanks to the instructor present there who ran towards the scene and secured him out. The climate was sunny and the trail was plane with mountains on left side and the Chandra flowing benignly on the right side. We had already identified famous peaks of the valley such as Papsura and Dharmsura as they could be seen from the road. Within 3-4 hours we reached the snout camp. A lush green meadow upon which red, blue and orange colored tents were set up. A tiny blue watered pond augmented the loveliness of the campsite. But on the mountain side, intimidating moraines and deep jaws of valley through which the Bara shigri glacier flowed, awaited us next day.   At night we gathered in a huge dome tent which accommodated everyone inc
Read more

I will come back..

Image
Introduction Unlike my previous accounts, this is not a narration of scenic beauties of Himalaya despite there was plethora of exquisiteness in Gangotri National Park, Nandanban meadows and shear elegance of giant mountains. You may hardly find any mention of glacier walks, fixed ropes, summit and happy endings, although few of us had wonderful feelings in experiencing them all. There is no talk about the floral outburst on well-marked trails that snake along the Bhagirathi River. The experiences and feelings I had in me during those days, were perhaps entirely different from that of others despite we shared the same physical reality. This is rather than a thrilling, adrenaline gushing adventure story; a brief recollection of the things that happened up there and what I felt about how some of those could have been done differently to make the expedition an even better journey. My faults, however minor they seemed then, have defeated my purpose of coming here. There were a fe
Read more

Home ground Tail baila

Image
22:00, Thursday, 7 th Apr 2016. After a satisfactory dinner at Annapurna restaurant, we parked our vehicle at the Lonavla bus station and were waiting for Jayant to come who had agreed to reach there by 22:30. And he did come. But not before 1:15 AM. Needless to say, he was greeted with an overwhelmingly touching ovation. At 2:30 in the night, Tailbaila dyke looked as stunning as it always. And we were glad that we were the only mad minds who skipped Gudipadva celebration at homes and came to this lonely place for climbing. Generally our hosts are a pack of monkeys from whom keeping our luggage secured is an adventure in itself. But today even they seemed to be on vacation on the eve of the festive day. At 6:55 AM, after snacks of a few dark chocolates and black tea, Sanket and I set forth on the easiest route (left inner). Although the route was easy but we had a different plan in mind. Simultaneous climbing. Which means, no belay. We had 10-12 m rope and
Read more