Narendra Kumar (mountaineer)
Narendra Kumar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 February 1933 India |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service |  Indian Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Awards | MacGregor Medal |
Colonel Narendra Kumar also known as Narendra Bull Kumar is known for the mountaineering reconnaissance expedition he undertook in Teram Kangri,Siachen Glacier and Saltoro Range for Indian Army in 1978 at the age of 45.[1][2][3] If he had not undertaken this expedition ,all of Siachen Glacier and its adjoining regions, including the Nubra Valley, would be Pakistan’s. That’s an area covering almost 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi).But because of his expedition,Indian conquered all the entire area.
Army life and mountaineering
Narendra Kumar belong to Kumaon Regiment. He earned this sobriquet at the National Defence Academy, Dehradun, during the first boxing match he fought. His rival was a senior cadet, Sunith Francis Rodrigues, who went on to become the Chief of the Army Staff (India). Col Kumar lost the bout, but helped earning himself a nickname: Bull. He was the first Indian to reach up to 28,700ft, in his first attempt at climbing the Mount Everest in 1960, before having to turn back due to inclement weather.In 1961, Kumar led a harrowing 5-men expedition to climb Neelkanth (21,644ft) in the Garhwal Himalayas. While decending from the summit,Kumar lost four of his toes. In 1964,he was first Indian to scale Nanda Devi.In 1965, he was deputy leader of a team that put nine Indian Army climbers at the top of the world’s tallest peak. Capt. Mohan Singh Kohli, who led the 1965 Everest expedition, said Kumar’s climbing career was "astonishing". Wing Commander T. Sridharan, now the treasurer of the New Delhi-based Indian Mountaineering Foundation called Kumar “India’s Chris Bonington”. Kumar successfully climbed the Kangchenjunga from the toughest north-east spur in 1976. Later,Kumar was put in “permanent category C” by the Indian Army, which meant no postings above 7,000ft. Every time he was in the mountains, he had to give the government a certificate saying that he absolve them of all responsibilities should anything happen to him.He spent 35 years in the Indian Army.
Mountaineering Expeditions to Siachen in 1978 and 1981
In 1978, Kumar, as commandant of the Indian Army’s High Altitude Warfare School, joined two German explorers in an attempt to navigate the upper reaches of the Indus river in Ladakh. Two years later, one of his former co-travellers returned to India and asked Kumar to join him in an expedition to the Nubra Valley, which separates Ladakh from the Karakoram ranges. Kumar took one full batch of students from the High Altitude Warfare School in 1978, saying that he is taking them for practical training.It was the first Indian expedition into the remote glacier. The team started at the snout of the glacier and reached halfway up the massive bulk of uncharted ice, braving temperatures that dipped to -50 degrees Celsius, and navigating tricky crevasses, peaks and passes—bound to each other with thick ropes. The Indian Air Force provided valuable support to this expedition through logistic support and supply of fresh rations.The team returned with the trash left behind by Pakistani expeditions as proof of their incursions.
In April 1981, Kumar went back to Siachen Glacier, this time covering it from its freezing snout to its icy source. He thus became the first person to scale the uncharted Siachen Glacier—the world’s third pole.In his salty style, Kumar said “Once you get the heights, you’re the tiger. We put the tricolour at the farthest end of Siachen.” He also summited Sia Kangri (24,350ft), India’s northernmost point.
Operation Meghdoot
Three years later, on 13 April 1984, the Indian Army launched its first major offensive attack,known as Operation Meghdoot against the Pakistani army at Siachen Glacier and established bases along the glacier. The detailed maps, plans, photographs and videos made by Kumar and his team,helped Indian Army to conquer the whole of Siachen Glacier and also the area to the west of it,along with the main ridges and passes along the Saltoro Range.
Personal life
His is married to Mridula.They have a son Akshay, an adventure travel professional, and a daughter Shailaja Kumar, India’s first woman winter Olympian,who participated in 1988 in Alpine skiing.[4][5]
Award and recognition
On 25 June 2010, Narendra Kumar was honoured with the MacGregor Medal, awarded by the United Service Institution of India for the best military reconnaissance, exploration or survey in remote areas in India.
Narendra has been awarded Padma Shri,fourth highest civilian award in India.
Narendra Kumar is only colonel with Param Vishisht Seva Medal(PSVM) distinction in all three services,which is generally accorded to generals.
He has also been awarded Kirti Chakra and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal(ASVM).
There is a base in Siachen Glacier known as Kumar Base.
Later life
He is staying in Delhi now.
See also
- Indian Army
- Siachen Glacier
- Saltoro Kangri
- High Altitude Warfare School
- Mountain warfare
- Teram Kangri
- NJ9842
- Actual Ground Position Line
- Nubra Valley