Conquering the Summit

1. About the text

‘Conquering the Summit’ is a true account placed in Unit 4, ‘Travel and Adventure’, of the new NEP textbook Poorvi. The word ‘summit’ means the very top of a mountain, and to ‘conquer’ means to defeat or overcome something very difficult. The title therefore has a double meaning: it refers both to literally climbing to the top of Mount Everest and to the inner struggle Arunima Sinha overcame to get there.

The chapter is the real-life story of Arunima Sinha, a young sportswoman whose life changed forever after a tragic accident. It shows how she turned the greatest setback of her life into the greatest achievement, becoming an inspiration for the whole nation.

2. The accident that changed everything

Arunima Sinha was a national-level volleyball player, fit, active and full of energy. One day, while travelling by train, she was the victim of a terrible accident. In the struggle she fell from the train and was badly injured. Her leg was so severely crushed that the doctors had no choice but to amputate it — that is, to surgically remove the lower part of her leg.

It was a devastating moment. A talented athlete had lost a leg, and many people thought her active life was over. But lying in the hospital, Arunima made a decision that surprised everyone: she would not let her disability defeat her. In fact, she set herself the most ambitious goal imaginable — to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

3. A bold and ambitious goal

For most people, recovering from an amputation and learning to walk again with a prosthetic (artificial) leg would be challenge enough. Arunima, however, dreamed far bigger. She decided that climbing Everest would not only fulfil a personal ambition but also prove to the world — and to herself — that a disability cannot stop a determined person.

Many doubted her. Climbing Everest is extremely dangerous even for fully fit and experienced mountaineers; the cold, the thin air at high altitude and the steep, icy slopes test the strongest bodies. To attempt it with one artificial leg seemed impossible. But Arunima was determined to convert her pain into purpose.

4. Training and the role of Bachendri Pal

Arunima knew that determination alone was not enough; she needed proper training and expert guidance. She first completed a basic mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi, where she learned the essential skills of climbing.

Then she sought out Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest (in 1984). Bachendri Pal became Arunima’s mentor. Under her guidance, Arunima underwent about eighteen months of intense, rigorous training, building the strength, stamina and technique she would need. Bachendri Pal not only trained her but also gave her confidence and motivation, believing in her dream when many others did not.

5. The climb and the summit

After her long preparation, Arunima set out to climb Mount Everest. The climb was gruelling and dangerous. She faced extreme cold, exhaustion, thin air and the constant difficulty of climbing on a prosthetic leg. There were moments of great hardship, but her self-belief never broke.

On 21 May 2013, after roughly 52 days of climbing, Arunima Sinha reached the summit of Mount Everest — about 8,848 metres above sea level. She became the first woman amputee in the world to achieve this feat. Standing on the top of the world, she had proved that the human spirit can conquer any obstacle.

6. Beyond Everest — the Seven Summits

Reaching Everest did not end Arunima’s journey; it inspired her to aim even higher. She set out to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents — a challenge known as the Seven Summits. Over the following years she conquered the highest mountains of Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, South America and North America. In January 2019, she climbed Mount Vinson in Antarctica, completing the Seven Summits and becoming the first woman amputee to do so.

For her remarkable courage and achievements, Arunima Sinha has been honoured with several awards, including the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours.

7. Theme & message

• Never give up: A disability or a setback need not be the end of one’s dreams. Arunima turned the worst day of her life into the start of her greatest success.
• Determination and willpower: With a clear goal and relentless effort, even the ‘impossible’ becomes possible.
• Self-belief: Arunima believed in herself when many others doubted her, and that belief carried her to the summit.
• The value of guidance and hard training: Success came from combining her courage with proper mountaineering training and Bachendri Pal’s mentorship.
• Inspiration to others: Her story motivates everyone, especially people facing physical challenges, to chase their dreams fearlessly.

8. Character sketch — Arunima Sinha

Courageous — she dared to attempt Everest with a prosthetic leg, something no woman amputee had ever done. Determined and persistent — she trained intensely for about eighteen months and never gave up despite hardship. Self-confident — she believed in her dream even when the world doubted her. Hard-working and disciplined — she completed a mountaineering course and rigorous training. Inspiring and selfless — through her achievements she encourages countless others, especially differently-abled people, to believe in themselves.

9. Word meanings (glossary)

• Summit — the highest point or top of a mountain.
• Conquer — to overcome or defeat something difficult.
• Amputate / amputation — to surgically remove a limb (here, a leg).
• Prosthetic limb — an artificial limb that replaces a missing one.
• Amputee — a person who has had a limb removed.
• Mountaineering — the sport or activity of climbing mountains.
• Mentor — an experienced person who guides and advises another.
• Altitude — height above sea level.
• Rigorous — very strict, demanding and thorough.
• Gruelling — extremely tiring and difficult.
• Determination — firmness of purpose; refusing to give up.