ASIAN ALPINE E-NEWS
Issue No 71. July 2020

THE HIMALAYAN Annual report 2019-2020 from India
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Page 2 ~ 35

ANNUAL REPORTThe Himalayan

2019-20

The YEAR that wasTHE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

Another year full of activity comes to a close. Albeit on a sad note.
Our mentor, advisor and prime mover of The Himalayan, Meher H Mehta, passed away on the 27thof February 2020 after suffering from age related illnesses. He was 89. TH President Priyadarshi
Gupta's tribute resonates our thoughts:

20 September 1930 - 27 February 2020
It is not often that one comes across a personality whose motivational skills would magnetiseyoung mountain lovers and climbers to dream of achieving Himalayan excellence. He would stimulate the intellectual yearning of the erudite mountain lover, as well as kindle the fertile mind of
the incorrigibly romantic young mountaineer.
It was way back in 2004 that I had first met Mr. Meher H Mehta, FRGS (affectionately referred
to as MHM by us). I had just returned from a family trek in Sikkim, and was introduced to him by
Dr Rupamanjari Biswas. He radiated great aspirations and seemed to be someone who was in
the process of turning a moribund Kolkata section of mountain club into an active and dynamic
happening place.

I had joined the club out of curiosity and stayed on as its member for many years, learning manythings from MHM in the process. MHM could attract the young and old, with his articulate speeches and phenomenal organisational ability. He would burn the mid night oil communicating globallywith renowned mountaineers and environmentalists whilst chalking out programs of International
standards. Even the Kolkata Newspapers began covering these programs and seminars.
I realised that this tall and straight talking person, one who had worked his way up in the banking industry to the top echelon of ANZ GRINZLAYS Bank (with several years being overseas) in
his professional career till his retirement, was someone of immense personal integrity and charisma. Most admired him for these traits as they set him apart from most. He could appear to
be condescending at times towards many, but his intention was always for the development of
the movement he had started. He was also one not to cower down when his ideas of freedomof self-expression was not looked down upon kindly by many detractors. It caused heart burn inmany but he would remain unrelenting due to his unflinching self-beliefs.
MHM was an astute visionary who found ways and means of building his enterprise with infectious
support from the likes of the late Russi Mody, late Aditya Kashyap and the late Guenther Wehrman(past Consul General of Germany in Kolkata). He attracted many more who sought to support him
without any expectations in return.
On the mountain front, he found acumen and support in the planning and execution of 7,000m
peak expeditions in the form of AVM (Retd) Apurba Kumar Bhattacharyya. With the induction oflate Pradeep Sahoo (an engineer and dreamy eyed mountaineer) into the management of thelocal section, he was able to kindle interest in attempting difficult peaks in the Himalaya and the
Karakoram, since Pradeep was able to support his fund raising activity. He propagated the idealsof thinking differently and thinking high - of thought and action.
Great climbs were achieved in the bargain - especially on Saser Kangri IV in the Karakoram, Nilkanth peak in the Garhwal, Jongsong peak in the Sikkim Himalaya, amongst so many others. The
crown in the jewel was the first ascent of Mt Plateau (7,287m) in the Indian Karakoram by his bandof intrepid climbers.
MHM was concerned by environmental degradation and climate change effects on the Himalaya.
He pushed us to organize many a seminar on the climate change to bring awareness amongst
the people. MHM loved to read and write. He maintained a phenomenal collection of books on
the Himalaya or of Himalayan adventure. I had the good fortune of helping him edit several publications on different mountain peaks. He always had an incredible eye for perfection and detail.
These publications were well received in the fraternity.

THE Y E A R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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MHM has now moved on and become a part of the twinkling stars that adorn and glitter in thenight sky! Yet his inspiration that led to the formation of THE HIMALAYAN in 2017 by a handful of
us close to him, would seek to continue the meaningful work initiated by him, for the times tocome...A vision that encompasses ventures outdoors and indoors, along with the incorporation ofa balanced and incisive dissemination platform for the reporting of Himalayan Activity– Of Climbing, Science, Literature and the yonder.
And, if I ever have the good fortune of seeking a shooting star flash by in the nocturnal sky, I would
silently wish - Abou Ben Adhem! (May your tribe increase)
For such humans are not born every day!

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06 April2019

THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

A photographer par excellence, traveller, a guide, an author and most important of all A Himalayan, Mr. Sujoy Das' tips, experiences and anecdotes held the audience captive
and their response was eager and agile. Many queries, many discussions and so muchinformation about photography in the mountains were shared with the audience.
Thank you.
Anindya Basu from Nikon also shared lot of information about their upcoming productlaunches. His photographs and guidance to Nikon loving audience brought an added
value to the wonderful evening.

Sujoy Das imparting Tips & Tricks

Anindo Basu being felicitated

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FOUNDATION DAY :04 May2019

NATURE ON THE BRINK

THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

The Himalayan's Founder'sDay celebrated with zeal
and zest. Two stories, one ofpassion & courage and theother of passion& exploration. Everester Chetna Sahoo and Bird specialist Pitam
Chattopadhay. The evening
opened with a wonderfultalk session by Chetna who
is a keen environmentalisttoo, about her journey toclean River Ganga in project Clean Ganga which wasa Tata Steel & Governmentof India initiative under theleadership of Ms. Bachendri Pal. It was passion andthe spirit of wonderful adventure that helped clean
River Ganga from Hardwar
to Patna. Chetna's words
reached out to each one of
us to put in our worth to help
the cause. She is one of us
at The Himalayan so it was atale of pride for us.

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The Himalayan thanks both the speakers formaking the Founder's Day celebration one of
the most memorable events.

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Pitam Chattopadhay,a bundle of energy, spoke about Birds ofHimalaya and what a presentation it was.
Pitam's expertise about birds and his storytelling
had the audience mesmerized and captivatedfor the entire session. Pitam is also an ace
photographer who had been published innumerous magazines both in Bangla and English.
That the rich Flora and fauna along withthe birds & animals need attention to
be preserved, was repeatedly
brought to us through his talk.

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20 Julyand 12 November

EDMUND HILLARY BIRTH CENTENARY
Two programmes were organized on this ocassion, one on 20th July the birth dateof Sir Ed, and one on 12th of November 2019.

2019

THE Y E A R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

We The Himalayans, were mighty proud on 20th July evening to celebrate Sir Edmund Hillary's
birth Centenary year with three wonderful illustrated talks by Shri Sujoy Das- The celebrated photographer and keen mountaineer of renown who spoke on 'Hillary-Everest & beyond', Mr. Bhanu
Bandyopadhay- well known mountaineer and a Sir Ed's friend & follower, he spoke on- 'A year in
Sherpaland with Ed Hillary', and Piyali Basak- climber and mountaineer of renown, spoke on her
Manaslu and Everest expedition. That talk could be so mesmerizing and engaging was provedby a packed hall and pin drop silence in the hall as the talks proceeded. The applause and appreciation were so spontaneous that it just won our hearts. Shri Sujoy Das is a prolific speaker
who influences his audience with his energy and beautiful speaking photographs. That Ed Hillary
was much beyond a mountaineer was constantly highlighted by both Sujoy Das and Mr. Bhanu
Bannerjee.

Bhanu Banerjee

It was impossible to capture, in an hour and a half, Mr.Bannerjee's wealth of amusing yet heartwarming
events with Sir Ed and information that he remembers by heart. He is a young soul in his eighties, withengaging speaking style of a storyteller which enthralled the audience. Wish we could listen to the bookthat he aurally wrote yesterday for some more. Kudos Sir!

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THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

Sujoy Das

The Telegraph report, 22-7-19

Times of India report,20.7.19

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THE Y E A R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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Piyali Basak- may look unassuming
and very simple but we bow to hermental strength and ominous courage as she summited Manaslu andalmost reached Mt. Everest summit
without any organised financial
aid. A reflection of woman courage. She presented a beautiful video on her expedition and series ofamazing photographs with a simple storytelling of her adventure.
We wish her many such expeditions
and success in future.

Piyali Basak being felicitated

A dinner in honour of Mr. Bhanu Banerjee wrapped up the day’s events.
The program and its success just reconfirmed that our goal and mission to protect, engage and raiseawareness about our wonderful Himalayan region was on a right path. Our love and vow to leavea better world for generations to come is indomitable and ever zestful. We hope to engage more
like-minded souls in our effort.
The 2nd programme was held on the evening of 12th of November 2020 at the Kalamandir basement
hall.
A joint program between THE TELEGRAPH and THE HIMALAYAN,we were fortunate to have with us Peter
Hillary, mountaineer son of Sir Ed, and James Wilson , friend and close associate of Ed Hillary, as the
speakers. Entitled 'Our relationships with Ed Hillary as father and friend' , it was a most enjoyable as wellas inspiring program and the speakers kept the audience,a full house, spell bound as they reminisced
through the life of Sir Edmund Hillary (1919–2008).The event was widely covered by THE TELEGRAPH and
ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA as well as the TV channel ABP ANANDA

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THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The HimalayanPeter Hillary and James Wilson at Kalakunj

With the TH Team at Kalakunj

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October 2019

TREK : MARDI HIMAL BASE CAMP

THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

We are very happy to present the very first trek under The Himalayan banner, undertaken by our Associates Anirban Banerjee, Srimati Banerjee and their little daughter Tista Banerjee, to the lesser trodden
trails of Mardi Himal, in October 2019.

PC and text by Srimati Banerjee:"Mardi Himal is a lesser known trek that runs along the ridge just east of the popular Annapurna Sanctuary trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp. From high on the ridge, the trail provides panoramic views of the
Mt.Annapurna South, Mt. Hiunchuli, Mt. Gangapurna, Mt.
Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail) andMardi Himal as well as sweeping
vistas of the Himalaya foothills
and cities of Ghandruk, Chomrong and Pokhara.
Compared to nearby treks, it
is less busy, shorter, and has amore consistent ascent to its
maximum elevation of 4,500
m.The trek can be comfortablycompleted in 5-6 days includingtransport to and from Pokhara.
Most lodges have gas showers

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THE Y E A R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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OUR ITINERARY WASDay 1
Kolkata --> Train to Raxaul
Day 2
Reached Raxaul at around 4pm --> Birgunj(O/N stay)Day 3
Birgunj --> Pokhara (6-7 hrs)
Day 4
Pokhara--> Kande (trek starts)(1.5 hrs by
car from Pokhara)-->Australian Camp -->Pothana--> Pitam Deurali (O/N stay)
Day 5
Pitam Deurali --> Forest Camp (O/N Stay)Day 6
Forest Camp--> Rest Camp--> Low Camp--> Badal Danda (O/N stay)
Day 7
Badal Danda --> High Camp (O/N stay)
Day 8High Camp --> View Point--> High Camp--> Badal Danda (O/N stay)
Day 9
Badal Danda--> Low Camp--> Sidding (Trekends)--> Pokhara (2.5 hrs by car)Day 10
PokharaDay 11
Pokhara-->Birgunj
Day 12
Birgunj--. Raxaul--> Train to Kolkata "and lights provided by solar power, althoughsome have backup generators. Prices are
fixed and regulated by a committee so theyshould be the same for all lodges at a single
location.

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5

SOCIAL INTIATIVES

July 2019 -February
2020

THE Y E A R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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On July 16, 2019, THE HIMALAYAN conducted an awareness camp on First Respose in the case of an
accident or other emergencies to young resident children of ‘Save the Children Home’ at Thakurpukur.
Most of these children are tribals from West Bengal districts- Burdwan, Biirbhum, Malda and aroundThakurpukur, Kolkata and are studying in schools in the vicinity. Our member Subrata De, mountaineer
and a disaster management expert, conducted the camp with much elan. The children were responsive,
absorbed the introductory lecture, as was evident from the question they asked, and enjoyed the handson experience immensely. Heat and humidity were forgotten for the next three hours! Some healthcare
and food products donated by our member, Debarati Sengupta were handed over to the children.

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THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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August-December

2019

TH reaches out to the people of the hills.

School bags and healthcare products were distributed to school going children from under-priviledged families on the way to Mardi Himal trek
in Nepal, in Bangh bustee in Manali ( Himachal
Pradesh) and in Vattitar. Winter jackets were distributed to old men in Vattitar and men's clothes
and warm-wear distributed in the bustee in Manali.
Children from a Primary school in Samsing near
Vattitar, who are residents of Vattitar, were given
school shoes.
A project is underway to clear vegetation along theroad that the children travel to reach their school,
during the rainy season( June -September). This
stretch gets choked with undergrowth and hanging
branches and makes travel difficult for the children.

From top left, anti-clockwise: school for underprivileged children
been gifted hand washes; clothes for men of Bangh bustee; schoolbags for children of Bangh bustee in HP and Badal Danra in Nepal.

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THE Y E A R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan2020 9 February'The Himalayan' conducted an Anventure Camp at
Save the Children Home Thakurpukur, where about
90 students participated. The students assembled
in the hall. After a short prayer from the Vedas on
comradeship and an introduction to mountaineering/rock climbing by Debraj Dutta , they were divided into
two groups. One group went outdoors to participate
in Zip-lining and Slackline traverse. At first, the girls
were afraid but eventually got involved and enjoyed
the events.
A tent was pitched by our member Somenath Sen andit was a very exciting experience for them. Speciallythe small children flocked into the tent and sang songs
and played indoor games!
Activities were conducted by young mountaineersfrom Kolkata - Murari Chakraborty, Debjit Ghosh,Avirup Sengupta, Agniva Basu, Suman Mistri, Biswajit
Gurey, Shreyoshi Basu and Aditi Roy.
Waltzing the rope

Children were also given a hands-on
experience on map-pointing and aknowledge of different kinds of rocks
by Geo-Physisist Dr. Ashim Goswami
and Geologist Mr. Tapajyoti Pal.
Map Reading

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THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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Dr. Birendra Nath Das , a retired
teacher of Physics, explained surface tension and properties oflight by using simple experimental methods, to the other set ofchildren. The children were most
receptive and asked a lot of questions.
Ms. Subharthi Biswas conducteda short workshop on Social Interactions which the children wererather doubtful about in the beginning but warmed up to , eventually!
The children participated in all theevents in rotation.
The day ended with muchenjoyment and broad smiles.
Lunch for the children weresponsored by The Himalayan.

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Science is fun!

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1 February

2020

ADDA 3 EVEREST AND THE BATTLE FOR 8000 METRES

THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

On the 1st of February 2020, TH
held a discussion on the topic'Everest & the Battle for 8000
metre Peaks'. The Panelists were
three young mountaineers from
West Bengal who have either summited (Rudra
Prasad Haldar), almost summited (Shyamal Sarkar) or
have never tried an 8000m peak but have summitted
5-6000m ones (Tapas Paul). Sujoy Das, who Moderated the discussion, put forward the following points
to the Panelists:

Sujoy Das introduces the subject•

PREPARATIONSWhat is needed to climb an 8000
metre peak? An earlier climb on a7000 metre or 6500 metre peak?
Or is a training course with a mountaineering institute like HMI or NIM
enough? Can a non mountaineer
also use Sherpa support and climb
an 8000 metre peak?
Rudra Prasad Haldar

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THE Y E A R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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Shyamal Sarkar•

FINANCING

Climbing an 8000 metre peak is
an expensive affair – Everest may
cost around $35,000 or around Rs
24 lacs or thereabouts – the other8000 metre peaks are less expensive.
How does one arrange funds? Own
sources? Sponsorships? Loans?
Crowdfunding? Friends andRelatives?

OXYGEN

This has been a controversial subject for the last few years – the issues to be discussed areHow many bottles of oxygen are needed on summit day – in the case of Everest from the south col tothe summit and back? Why do we frequently hear that oxygen was finished especially on the descentand the climber is above 28,000 feet with no oxygen? It seems foreign guiding companies provide
more oxygen to their clients than Nepal based companies? There is also the issue of oxygen cylinders
being stashed by sherpas on the mountain and then used by some other group.
Comments on all these issues and how to manage the climb with adequate oxygen.
•

OVERCROWDING

There are those viral photos showing long lines of climbers again on Everest causing human traffic
jams on summit day. Is there any way to beat overcrowding?
Options : choose a weather window when fewer climbers will be on the mountain? Wait for the majority to summit at the end of the season and then make a bid? Or try early in the season if possible
before the crowds?
•

SHERPASIn the last few years there has been a lot of controversy about the sherpas – various climbers havealleged that the sherpas abandoned them on summit day; sherpas forced them to go back; sherpas
misbehaved with them and so on. Whenever a climber has a problem it seems the sherpas are toblame. What do you see as the role and responsibility of a Sherpa on a guided climb?

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THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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TURNAROUND TIMES

Climbs on 8000 metre peaks usually start around midnight and the summit is expected by 7-8 am. We
find climbers still going up even at 11 am – 12 noon. By the time they come back it is night-time andthe problems begin. So what are reasons for these delays and abnormally long climbs to the summit?
Should there be a turnaround time and if so why are turnaround times not followed.
•

ALPINE STYLE ATTEMPTS ON
8000m PEAKS?

Can our climbers attempt this?
What is needed? Technical skills,
physical endurance, and mental
makeup?
•OTHERS

Anything further not covered
above which the speakers would
like to discuss.

Tapas PaulIt was an open-hearted, no-holds-barred session and it must be said that the discussion revealed
facts that no mountaineer would have otherwise talked about in public. The participation of the audience was remarkable.
The panellists ultimately came up with only one truth...you need to research your trip to the TOP thoroughly before and during the climb.
Question raised by the audience whether Bengal climbers were not good enough to open routes wascontradicted by the panellists.
If any alpine style climbing was taken up by Bengal climbers ...yes, there are several of them.

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AVM(Retd) Apurba Bhattacharyya wrapped up the discussion by saying that Everest will be there toclimb but history will only remember Tenzing and Hillary; the rest is only statistics.

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ACT WHILE YOU STILL CAN

7 March2020

THE Y E A R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

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A minute's silence was observed in deference to the memory of our mentor Meher H. Mehta. Mr.
Priyadarshi Gupta and AVM(retd) A.K.Bhattacharya very eloquently elucidated his prismatic qualities.

Act While You Still Can, a series of two lectures on Climate
Emergency and how we canaddress it The Tribal Way, washeld at the Asutosh Mookerjee Memorial Institute hall on
the 7th of March, 2020. The
programme was dedicated tothe memory of Meher H Mehta, our mentor, whom we loston 27th of February last...takng his vision for the environment forward.

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Mr.Tapan Saha,retired Senior Scientist Institute of Environmental Studies and Wetland Management,in his erudite lecture on Climate Emergency, enunciated how the Earth has been taken for grantedby the greedy Human race. Hopefully a generation will eventually seriously perceive that 'We do notinherit the Earth from our Ancestors, We borrow it from our Children' and make provisons for theirchildren, where we have failed so disgracefully.

Dr. Archana Banerjee, in her most informative, delightful and discourse-like presentation on "Nature
Conservation revisited the Tribal Way" , made it clear that, as custodians of the Earth, it is imperative
we follow the Tribals' way of life , nurturing Nature being the most significant of tributes that we canoffer Her.

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2019-

2020

PUBLICATIONSTHE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan

NEWSLETTERS
Two issues were published. It being the birth centenary year of Edmund Hillary both the issues werededicate to the great personality who was not only a mountaineer but also a friend of the Sherpas
and dedicated his life for their betterment.

THE HIMALAYAN NEWS 5, JUNE 2019

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THE HIMALAYAN NEWS 6, MARCH 2020

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The Himalayan

STORIES
Seven articles were published in our 'Stories' section.

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THE Y EA R THAT WAS 20 1 9 - 20

The Himalayan2020 CALENDAR
Further activities of The Himalayan had to come to a stop owing to the deadly COVID 19 pandemic
that shattered the lives and livihoods of millions of people around the world. Just as the Universe is
not static, so is Human consciousness. Intelligence of the real and virtual kinds are working overtime,
finding out ways and means to keep connected socially. In the mean time, let the bad times pass andthe good and sane take over.

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