Baljeet Kaur is an Indian mountaineer who is famous for setting many records in the field of mountaineering. In April 2023, Baljit made headlines when she disappeared while climbing from Nepal’s Annapurna Peak.
Wiki/Biography
Baljeet Kaur was born on Wednesday, 29 November 1995 (age 27; as of 2022) in Palashta Panjrol village, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. After completing his education at Government High School, Mamli, Himachal Pradesh, Baljit enrolled in Post Graduate Degree College, Solan, where he completed his studies. Baljeet Kaur joined the National Cadets Corps (NCC) as a cadet during her higher education studies at Solan Graduate School; she later became a Senior Officer (SUO), the highest military rank a cadet can attain.
Photos taken by Baljeet Kaur during his time at NCC
Later, she received mountaineering training at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling. In 2017, she was selected to participate in the Republic Day Camp (RDC) organized by NCC.
Baljeet Kaur (kneeling, second from right) during Republic Day Camp
She studied at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mountaineering and Allied Sports Academy (ABVIMAS) in Manali and secured A+ in the advanced mountaineering course in 2017.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′6″
Weight (approximately): 60kg
Hair Color: Black with light brown highlights
Eye color: light brown
Body measurements (approx): 32-28-32
family
Baljit Kaur was born into a Sikh family in Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
parents and siblings
Her father Amrik Singh is a bus driver with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). Her mother Shanti Devi is a homemaker. Baljit Kaur has three siblings.
Photo of Baljit standing with his parents
husband and children
Buljit Kaur is unmarried.
religion
Baljeet Kaur believes in Sikhism.
Instagram post by Baljeet Kaur
Profession
NCC’s Early Mountaineering Career
Baljit said in an interview that she had no intention of pursuing a career in mountaineering; however, she became interested in mountaineering after she read about Malavath Purna’s ascent of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, in 2014. Speaking about it, she said:
I had never considered mountaineering as a career option. In 2014, while I was waiting for my test results, I saw an article in the newspaper about a girl from Rajasthan who had climbed Mount Everest. That article inspired me a lot. This was the beginning of my dream of becoming a climber. “
In 2015, Baljit applied to participate in India’s first NCC Girls Everest Expedition and went through a rigorous selection process. Since then, Baljit participated in several climbing camps organized by NCC, where she learned how to climb mountains. As part of the first stage of the selection and training process, Baljit attended a mountaineering course at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling, where he achieved an A+ grade. During the second phase, she took a month-long mountaineering course at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg, Kashmir. After completing the selection process, Baljit was included in the NCC Mountaineering Team along with ten other NCC trainees.
Baljeet Kaur holds high the NCC Girls Everest Expedition flag along with other NCC students
In 2015, she climbed the Thrissur Hills in Uttarakhand with her team; however, due to bad weather, the team could only climb to 6,350 meters. In 2016, Baljeet traveled with the NCC team to Nepal to summit Mount Everest; however, she was unable to reach the summit due to a malfunction in her oxygen mask, which forced her to return. Speaking about it in an interview, she said:
On my final push to the 8,548 m summit of Everest, my oxygen mask failed and my oxygen supply gradually stopped. My Sherpa and I tried our best to solve the problem but without success. At that time, we were only 300m away from the summit of Mount Everest, but I had to decide to give up the attempt and turn around from 8,548m. I came back with the promise that one day I would come back again and be at the top. “
Later mountaineering career
After failing to summit Everest, Baljeet Kaur returned to India and in 2017 climbed at Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. Allied Sports Academy (ABVIMAS) for advanced mountaineering courses. In the same year, she successfully summited Friendship Peak in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.
Photo by Baljeet Kaur at Friendship Peak
In 2018, she took ski lessons at ABVIMAS. In 2019, Baljit set his sights on Mount Everest, applying for and being shortlisted for the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) Everest Mass Expedition, which was originally scheduled for 2020; however, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, this The expedition has been postponed until 2021. On May 12, 2021, Baljeet along with Gunbala Sharma climbed Mount Pumori, which is 7,161 meters above sea level, and unfurled the tricolor flag at the top. She and Gambala became the first Indian women to climb Mount Pumori.
Baljeet Kaur on Pumori Hill
In August 2021, she climbed Mount Kun at an altitude of 7,077 meters in Ladakh’s Kargil Sulu Valley. Baljit will become the first Indian woman to climb Dhaulagiri in October 2021.
Photo of Baljjeet Kaur in Mount Dhaulagiri
On April 28, 2022, she reached the summit of Annapurna in Nepal. On May 12, 2022, Baljeet Kaur climbed Kanchenjunga. On May 21, 2022, she raised the Indian flag on the top of Mount Everest. On May 22, 2022, she climbed Lhotse Peak, the world’s fourth highest peak at an altitude of 8,516 meters.
Baljeet Kaur at the top of Lhotse Peak
On May 28, 2022, she climbed Mount Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world at an altitude of 8,481 meters.
Photo by Baljeet Kaur on top of Makalu
Baljeet Kaur set a record as the first Indian to climb five eight thousand peaks in thirty days (i.e. from April 28, 2022 to May 28, 2022). In November 2022, she set a record by summiting Manaslu without an oxygen tank. Speaking about her experience in an interview, Baljit said:
This climbing season was not easy as the weather conditions were severe throughout the season, with heavy rain at the base camp and heavy snow at the higher camps. Adding to the hardship and misery, the avalanche took the innocent lives of some Sherpas as well as some very high profile climbers. I was also caught in an avalanche between camps 3 and 4. After several summit attempts, my Sherpa Mingma Dai and I managed to summit the revered true summit on September 30th. I would like to dedicate this summit to all young and future female mountaineers in India and hope to be their inspiration and motivation to pursue mountaineering as a sport, both a passion and a profession. “
Baljeet Kaur hoists the tricolor flag on the summit of Manaslu
In April 2023, Baljeet Kaur attempted to climb Annapurna in Nepal without using oxygen, setting a record. She successfully reached the summit without oxygen; however, while returning to base camp, she disappeared on April 18, 2023, and was presumed dead. According to sources, Baljit went missing above Camp IV at an altitude of 7,300 meters.
Annapurna 1
Comfort ZoneCamp-2
(high altitude) pic.twitter.com/g3TuJqKs2i
— Baljeet Kaur (@Baljeet11684140) April 9, 2023
In the early morning of April 19, 2023, she sent an emergency message to the base camp, and then the authorities dispatched three helicopters for search and rescue operations. Authorities triangulated Baljit’s location with the help of GPS. After being rescued, Baljit was taken to a hospital in Kathmandu, where he underwent a medical examination.
Baljeet Kaur’s Instagram Story
Awards and Honors
- In 2017, Baljeet Kaur was awarded the Raksha Mantri Padak by the Government of India for his participation in the 2016 Mount Everest expedition.
Certificate received by Baljeet Kaur after winning Raksha Mantri Padak
Baljeet Kaur holding the award she won at NCC
- In July 2022, Baljeet Kaur was awarded the NCC Achievement Award by NCC Director General Lt. Gen. Gurbirpal Singh for his achievements in mountaineering.
Photo of Baljeet Kaur accepting the NCC Achievement Award
Note: She received several awards during her tenure at NCC.
mountaineering feat
- On May 12, 2021, the first Indian female mountaineer to summit Pumori.
- On October 1, 2021, the first Indian female mountaineer climbed Dhaulagiri.
- First Indian to climb Annapurna (April 28, 2022) and Kanchenjunga (May 12, 2022) in 14 days.
- Records for climbing Mount Everest (8848.86 m), the fourth highest peak on Earth, Lhotse (8,517 m) and Makalu (8,485 m), the fourth highest peak on earth, within 7 days.
- The first Indian to climb Mount Everest and Lhotse in just 25 hours.
- The first Indian woman to climb six or eight thousand in the shortest time.
- First Indian mountaineer to climb Everest, Annapurna, Lhotse, Makalu and Kanchenjunga in less than 30 days.
- In November 2022, the first Indian woman to climb Manaslu without oxygen.
Facts/Trivia
- Baljeet Kaur is affectionately known as ‘Bharti’ by her friends and family.
- Baljit once revealed that when she was studying in college, she worked as a domestic worker in other people’s homes to help her family develop financially. She said in an interview,
After graduating from college, I often went to work in other people’s homes, cleaning and cooking. I’ve known how to cook a good meal since I was eight years old. “
- Baljeet Kaur has been part of various performing groups and has participated in many stage and street performances with them.
- Baljeet Kaur has been invited to give inspirational speeches on numerous talk shows including TEDx.
- Baljeet Kaur posted on Instagram that she first learned about mountain climbing through the internet rather than from a professional instructor because she couldn’t afford one due to lack of money.
- Baljeet Kaur set a world record when he completed the world’s longest marathon relay at 9,490 kilometers in 960 hours.
- In July 2022, an article was published by Baljeet Kaur of Grehlakshmi.
Grehalakshmi’s article on Baljeet Kaur
- Her success motto is “always try your luck”.
- Baljeet Kaur has volunteered with the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education