Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today felicitated Rupamoni Gorh, the first woman from Assam to scale Mount Everest, at a function held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur.
The Chief Minister also felicitated Assistant Commandant of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Bhanita Timungpi, who led the successful ITBP All-Women’s Everest Expedition.
In recognition of their outstanding achievements, the Chief Minister presented financial assistance of Rs. 10 lakh to Rupamoni Gorh and Rs. 2 lakh to Bhanita Timungpi on behalf of the Government of Assam.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said Rupamoni Gorh, a native of Na-Gaon Pathar village in the Boginadi area of Lakhimpur district, has brought immense pride to Assam through her courage, discipline and perseverance. He noted that after joining the ITBP in 2021, she successfully summited the world’s highest peak on May 21 as a member of the ITBP All-Women’s Everest Expedition, setting an inspiring example of determination and women empowerment.
The Chief Minister said the special expedition was organised under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ Nari Shakti Vandan initiative. He added that the 14-member team, including 11 women climbers, was led by Assam’s Bhanita Timungpi, Assistant Commandant of the ITBP. Highlighting her distinguished mountaineering career, he said Timungpi has scaled more than 30 Himalayan peaks and that her vast experience was instrumental in the expedition’s success. He further noted that she has been honoured by the President of India for her achievements and has also served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Africa.
To commemorate Rupamoni Gorh’s historic achievement, the Chief Minister announced that, on the initiative of Lakhimpur MLA Manab Deka, the one-kilometre road connecting her residence to Lilabari High School will be newly constructed and named as Rupamoni Gorh Path.
Reflecting on the history of Everest expeditions and the indomitable spirit of human endeavour, the Chief Minister recalled the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953. He observed that failures often become the stepping stones to success and paid tribute to British mountaineer George Mallory, who lost his life during his third attempt to conquer Everest in 1924 after two unsuccessful expeditions.
The Chief Minister also highlighted Assam’s rich mountaineering legacy. He said the Assam Mountaineering Association, founded in 1968 by Rohini Kumar Bhuyan and Atanu Prasad Barua, pioneered organised mountaineering in the state. He recalled that Rohini Kumar Bhuyan and Khagendra Nath Bora became the first Assamese climbers to scale Bethartoli South in 1970, followed by Ajit Sarma and Bhagat Singh, who summited Mrigthuni Peak a few days later. He also remembered Rohini Kumar Bhuyan’s pioneering contributions, including the establishment of The Adventurers in 1974, before he lost his life in a snowstorm while returning from Kedarnath Dome in 1979.
The Chief Minister also proposed a major initiative to promote mountaineering in the state. He said the Government of Assam would hold discussions with the ITBP authorities and, subject to their concurrence, appoint Rupamoni Gorh as a Sub-Inspector in Assam Police so that she can inspire, mentor and train aspiring mountaineers across the state.
Assam CM felicitates Rupamoni Gorh, the first woman from Assam to scale Mount Everest.
