12 Darjeeling: A 35-year-old amputee from Kolkata, with 91% physical disability, was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award — the highest honour in Indian adventure sports for conquering mountain, sky, and ocean all at once in August 2024.
Uday Kumar, a resident of Belghoria in Kolkata, was working as a data entry operator when he lost his leg in 2015. While travelling on a train in Kolkata, he was using a washbasin near the train's door. That's when someone pushed him onto the tracks, and one of his legs was caught under the train's wheels.
As part of a six-member team from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling, led by the then principal, Group Captain Jai Kishan, Uday Kumar climbed Mt Kilimanjaro under a mission titled ‘Mera Yuva Bharat- Divyangjan Expedition Mission K2K "Kanchenjunga (16,500ft) to Kilimanjaro (19,341ft)". The expedition was sponsored by the ministry of defence and began in March last year.
"The handicapped are always looked down upon in society, with people thinking we can't do anything. All we need is a little push. Everything I achieved was possible only because of Jai Kishan, who constantly motivated and guided me. Climbing mountains, scuba diving, and skydiving were extremely challenging for me, but Jai Kishan always reminded me that no obstacle is too big to conquer," said Kumar from Delhi to TOI .
Apart from Jai Kishan and Uday, the team that travelled to Tanzania included Captain Shruti S Chanaveeragoudra, Subedar Mahendra Kumar Yadav, Pawel Sharma, and Sulaxchana Tamang (an Everester). At the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, the team unfurled a 7,800 sqft Indian flag to celebrate the country's 78th year of Independence. Following this, the team headed to Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam, where they performed a skydiving display. They then travelled to Zanzibar, where they participated in scuba diving and unfurled a 780 sqft Indian flag in Indian Ocean.
"The mission was to highlight empowerment, inclusivity, and national pride, showcasing the strength of the Divyangjan community. It set multiple world records, reinforcing India's commitment to innovation and perseverance," said Jai Kishan, a recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.