Savita Kanswal Conquers Mount Everest, Says "People Pitied My Family For Having Four Daughters"

Savita Kanswal, who comes from a lower-income family and is from a small town in Uttarakhand's Uttar Kashi, has conquered Mount Everest (10 excursions), the highest mountain peak in the world, setting a new record. Numerous donors supported Kanswal's mountaineering journey by contributing to a crowdfunding campaign.

Kanswal reportedly persevered despite obstacles and financial hardships on the personal front, climbing Trishul Parvat (7120 metres), Hanuman Tibba (5930 metres), Kolahai (5400 metres), Draupadi's Danda (5680 metres), Tuliyan Peak (5500 metres), Mount Lhotse (8516 metres), and Mount Makalu, the fifth-tallest mountain peak in the world.

Who Is Savita Kanswal?

Kanswal, 25, added to TOI that she is grateful to people who supported her. Through crowdfunding, people offered assistance and made contributions as low as Rs 100. She continues by saying that the people who provided her with financial support deserved this (mountaineering excursion).

"People pitied my family for having four daughters and no sons. This fuelled my determination to prove them wrong. I am happy that I am now able to support my family financially," Kanswal further said.

She believes that a conservative male-dominated society propelled her to achieve "something big" in her life. After completing the adventure course by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, Kanswal decided that she wanted to become a mountaineer.

Rajkumar Upadhayay, chairman, of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) said, "We are extremely happy that Kanswal despite a poor background was able to make a national record, and we will continue to support her in future ambitions." 

One of the few people who inspired her during her alpinism was Upadhayay.

Savita Kanswal attended a government school and graduated from the Nehru Mountaineering Institute, Uttar Kashi. During her journey, which concluded with raising the flag of her country on mountain summits, she overcame several obstacles.

She successfully finished a total of 10 expeditions after Mount Makalu. She is currently employed by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute as a qualified instructor.

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As part of a Nehru Institute of Mountaineering team, Kanswal had the opportunity to embark on her maiden excursion to Mount Draupadi Ka Danda (5,670 m) in 2018. The next year, she joined other trips organised by both public and commercial organisations and scaled numerous summits, including Mount Tuliyan (4,800m), Mount Hanuman Tibba (5,930m), and Mount Trishul (7,120m).

Feature image credit: Sk Today's