Geethu Mohandas, 28, is a Bangalore-based hardware engineer has become the first Indian woman to be selected for Fjällräven Polar. It is an excursion to the Arctic meant especially for common and ordinary people all around the world.
“Travelling has been an integral part of my life ever since I was ten years old. With geography and environmental sciences being my favourite subjects, being a responsible traveller has always been one among my prime goals in life,” Geethu told indianexpress.com
The Arctic Expedition
The Arctic expedition was started back in 1997 and is run by Swedish clothing – backpack brand named Fjällräven. The expedition covers a journey of 300 km in the Arctic wilderness. The journey is to test the daily endurance of the explorers under Arctic experts and 200 skilled sled dogs.
“As the journey requires me to stay fit in extreme conditions – even in -30 degrees Celsius temperatures – I have been focusing on cardio workouts, yoga and breathing exercises,” she said.
The trip will be an all-expense paid trip from March 30 to April 6 later this year. Geethu will be accompanied by 19 other such explorers. The engineer competed with contestants from 60 countries and was declared the winner of January 7 through online voting.
Key Takeaways:
- Geethu Mohandas, a 28-year-old Bangalore based engineer has become the first Indian woman to be selected for Fjällräven Polar.
- Fjällräven Pola is an excursion to the Arctic meant especially for common and ordinary people all around the world.
- The expedition covers a journey of 300 km in the Arctic wilderness, from 30 March 30 to April 6. Geethu will be accompanied by 19 other applicants and Arctic experts.
- The engineer competed with contestants from 60 countries and was declared the winner of January 7 through online voting.
Read Also:Hanifa Yousoufi Is First Afghan Woman To Climb Mt. Noshaq
About Her Love For Travelling
Geethu originally hails from Aluva, Kerala. She developed an interest in travelling in 5th grade after she attended her first nature camp. “That camp, which took place when I was in the fifth standard, gave me a totally new perspective on what travelling was, which gradually grew with me to become an integral part of my life,” she said.
In 2015, Geethu moved to Bangalore for a job. It was then when she explored her passion for travelling, she began a traveling group based on sustainable tourism and responsible tourism.
“The thought came out of boredom but I was amazed to see many, including my friends showing deep interest in such an initiative,” she said.
Geethu has so far conducted around 100 trips with her friends under the tag, ‘’Let’s go for a camp.” She has been on four international trips including the villages of Bhutan, Nepal, and Thailand.
The engineer competed with contestants from 60 countries and was declared the winner of January 7 through online voting.
When asked about what in her opinion means ‘responsible tourism’. According to her, it means, “Cultivating behaviour among tourists to be aware of preserving the culture and history of any place they visit.”
Furthermore, quite coincidentally these requirements met with the qualifications asked by Fjällräven Polar for applicants interested in the Arctic expedition.
However, at present Geethu has decided to give her fitness improvisation the utmost priority for the journey. “As the journey requires me to stay fit in extreme conditions – even in -30 degrees Celsius temperatures – I have been focusing on cardio workouts, yoga and breathing exercises,” she said.
The expedition covers a journey of 300 km in the Arctic wilderness, from 30 March 30 to April 6. Geethu will be accompanied by 19 other applicants and Arctic experts.
Geethu On Facing Cyberbullying
However, Geethu’s selection process for the expedition hasn’t been a pleasant experience. Mohandas said that she faced “cyberbullying” during the selection process during November- December by other contestants. It included “harassment posts, spamming by supporters of other contestants, and offers to withdraw my nomination for money.”
“The thought of getting one step closer to my childhood dream kept me going, with the strong support provided by thousands online,” she further said.
Also Read: Meet Jyoti Jadhav, An Indian As A Young Arctic Leader
Image Credits: The News Minute
Gaurika Taneja is an intern with SheThePeople.TV
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