“You can tell the condition of a nation by looking at the status of its women.”
This is a well known expression by Jawaharlal Nehru on ladies. The situation with ladies mirrors the social, financial and mental status in a country. The person we are going to talk about today sets a ideal match to the Nehru’s quote. She is Harshwanti Bisht. Bisht is a renowned mountaineer from Uttarakhand, has been chosen the Indian Mountaineering Foundation’s first female president (IMF).On November 20, she was chosen to the coveted position, receiving 60 votes out of a total of 107.
First women president of IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was created in 1958, has elected a woman as its head for the first time in its history.
62 years old Bisht ,from the hamlet of Sukai in Pauri district, says one of her top priorities would be to promote climbing and other adventure sports, as well as getting more women into the area.
Arjuna Awardee Bisht talks about ‘obstacles’
Bisht, who received the Arjuna award in 1982 for her efforts in climbing, said that there was a period when Uttarakhand was at the top when it comes to adventure sports such as mountaineering, but that has changed in recent years.
The state government’s stance on adventure sports has gotten increasingly difficult in recent years, dampening the excitement of those who desire to participate.
“My effort will be to increase coordination with the forest and tourism departments and have the policy amended, so that more and more people take to adventure sports,” she said.
She also stated that she would seek advise from the state tourist agency on how to promote climbing and trekking.
Life achievements of Harshwanti Bisht
Bisht completed her mountaineering training at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi in 1975. She conquered the Nanda Devi peak in 1981. Here she was awarded with the Arjuna medal. She was also one of the members of an Everest expedition crew in 1984. Harshwanti Bisht, an economics professor, recently stepped down as the principal of PG College in Uttarkashi.
She created history
The very moment when Harshwanti was chosen president of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for the first time, she created a new chapter in Indian History.
It’s inspiring to watch Indian ladies demonstrating their mettle in the realm of climbing. Tashi Yangjom, for example, made history by becoming the first Indian woman to summit Mount Everest in 2021. She started the climb on May 9 and finished it on May 11. Early in the morning, at 6 a.m., she reached the pinnacle.
