BANDIPORA, SEPTEMBER 26: As part of its ongoing efforts to inspire and empower youth through real-life experiences, the District Administration Bandipora today organized 9th episode of “Nun Chai Talks”, featuring renowned mountaineers and sisters Aditi Vaidya and Anuja Vaidya.
Member of the Legislative Assembly, Devyani Singh Rana, also joined the episode.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, lauded the remarkable achievements of Aditi and Anuja Vaidya and their efforts to inspire young people through their experiences. She emphasized the importance of determination, discipline, courage and perseverance in pursuing one’s aspirations, and encouraged local youth to explore mountaineering, adventure sports and other constructive activities while learning from the experiences of accomplished achievers.
Sharing their remarkable mountaineering journey, the sisters spoke about their historic ascent of Mount Everest on May 22, 2019, when they became the first Gujarati sisters to scale the world’s highest peak and the second pair of sisters in the world to achieve the feat.
During the interactive session, local athletes, mountaineers and other participants raised queries regarding mountaineering, adventure activities, training opportunities and pursuing such activities within and outside Jammu and Kashmir. The guests responded to the queries and offered practical guidance based on their experiences.
They assured participants of their continued support and guidance for those interested in pursuing mountaineering and adventure sports.
They shared that their journey towards Everest began in 2019 and involved rigorous physical as well as mental preparation. Emphasizing the importance of mental strength in mountaineering, they said that for several months they worked extensively on decision-making and preparedness.
The sisters also spoke about their successful ascent of Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in South America, which they scaled in February 2019 before attempting Everest.
They shared experiences from their subsequent mountaineering expeditions, including climbs across different continents. Anuja also shared her experiences of scaling Manirang in Himachal Pradesh, Mount Elbrus in Russia, Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia and Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica, where she became the first Gujarati woman to stand atop the Antarctic continent.
The sisters further shared their experience of scaling Mount Denali in Alaska in June 2024, becoming the first Gujarati sisters to summit the highest peak of North America.
They emphasized that aspiring mountaineers should undertake Basic Mountaineering Courses before progressing to advanced levels. They also spoke about the professional mountaineering courses they completed from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, including Basic, Advanced, Method of Instruction, and Search and Rescue courses.
The sisters also spoke about their interests and experience in adventure activities beyond mountaineering, including water skiing, scuba diving and paragliding.
The session provided participants with an opportunity to draw inspiration from the sisters’ remarkable journey of determination, preparation, courage and perseverance.
