Debasish Biswas, Tenzing Norgey National Adventure Awardee (Arjuna in Mountaineering) is a Joint Commissioner of Income Tax and first Civilian Bengali climber of Mt. Everest:
Also known as Sagarmatha (Nepali), Chomolungma (Tibetan), located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China. Height: 8,848 metres (29,029 ft.) The Highest Peak of the world.
Participated in 23 Mountaineering Expeditions in Indian and Nepal Himalayas. Climbed lot of prestigious peaks like – Everest, Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak; Annapurna – I (tenth), Mt. Makalu (fifth), Mt. Manaslu (eighth), Mt. Dhaulagiri (seventh) and Mt. Lhotse (fourth), Ama Dablam, Kamet, Shiva, Shivling, Panwalidwar etc.
Mr. Biswas is actually a sports loving guy.When I asked him about this collaborative initiative of Indian Army and Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh to organize a high altitude Marathon , he replied-
“Obviously this type of adventure activities is a great initiative of Indian army and as well as government of Arunachal Pradesh. This will certainly motivate the local youth and children in adventure sports. This type of activities build up individual bonding, fellow feelings and sportsman spirit. Especially when the young generation are addicted with mobile & computer game, this high altitude marathon certainly boost up the participant as well as the viewers and the local people.”
China continues to stake claim on the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, calling it “South Tibet” but when I asked him about this illegal claiming he told-
“Not as a senior of official of Indian Govt. I strongly feel every Indians should have no doubt in mind that the entire Arunachal Pradesh is the integral part of our great country India.
More so, I firmly believe the entire Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Akshay Chin are also the integral part of India.”
How tough a high altitude Marathon according to him-
“Every altitude marathon is very much tough. It requires physical strength, mental toughness and regular practice to compete but I feel it’s a great morale booster for the people of Arunachal Pradesh.”
(Author is a Sr. Broadcast Journalist working for British Media with 20 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence and Sports.In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and Indian media awards for Journalism)
