महिला की साहसगाथा Mahila Ki Sahas Gaatha

बिछेंद्री का जन्म साधारण परिवार में। भाई को देखकर पर्वतारोहण करने का निश्चय किया। पाँच किलोमीटर पैदल स्कूल।

Bachendri was the third of five children, loved mountains, walked 5 km to school daily, funded her education through sewing, and earned an MA in Sanskrit and B.Ed. while training in mountaineering.

1982 में गंगोत्री ग्लेशियर पर चढ़ाई। 1983 में दिल्ली में तेनज़िंग नोर्गे और जुंके ताबी से मिलीं।

In 1982 she climbed Gangotri Glacier (6672 m) and Rudd Gero (5819 m). In August 1983 in Delhi she met Tenzing Norgay and Junko Tabei and pledged to climb Everest herself.

23 मई 1984 - सुबह 4 बजे उठीं। बर्फ पिघलाई, चाय बनाई। साढ़े पाँच बजे निकलीं। ग्लेशियर और चट्टानें पार कीं।

23 May 1984: Rose at 4 AM, melted snow, made tea. Set out at 5:30 AM with Ang Dorji. Without rope, they climbed the icy South Col ridge. The frozen rocks were like glass. They used ice axes to cut through.

दो घंटे में शिखर कैंप पहुँचे। ऑक्सीजन कम थी। नायलॉन रस्सी से ऊपर चढ़े।

Reached summit camp in under 2 hours. Ang Dorji asked 'Are you tired?' - Bachendri said 'No.' After tea they resumed with Lhatu on a nylon rope. Lhatu noticed she was using 2.5L/min O2 instead of 4L - adjusted her regulator. At the southern peak wind scattered snow particles everywhere. The slope flattened. Success felt close.

23 मई 1984, दोपहर 1 बजकर 7 मिनट पर एवरेस्ट की चोटी पर खड़ी हुईं। 43 मिनट रुकीं। स्वर्ण-पदक और पद्मश्री मिला।

23 May 1984, 1:07 PM: Bachendri stood on Everest's summit - the first Indian woman to do so. She bowed, kissed the snow, placed Hanuman Chalisa and Durga Ma's photo there. Colonel Khullar said 'The country is proud of you.' Spent 43 minutes on top. Returned in 3 hours. Was awarded India's mountaineering gold medal, Padmashri and Arjuna Award.