Thanks to Tapi Mra, Mount Everest is a known name in Arunachal! Mount Everest – also called Sagarmatha in Nepali, Chomolungma or Qomolangma in Tibetan, the highest mountain on earth and the most intimidating have for centuries attracted the fancy of many.
In 1850s, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon recommendation of Andrew Waugh, the than British Surveyor General of India.
Since its discovery, Everest has been the scene of many triumphs and tragedies. The formidable challenges have been source for many compelling stories of bravery, failure and determination.
The intimidating Everest is witness to many tragedies too. Many have met their ends in their attempt to reach the top of the world’s highest peak. But human spirit is such that these tragedies have not stopped individuals from trying.
By the end of the 2008-climbing season, there had been 4,102 ascents to the summit by about 2,700 individuals. Everest has claimed some three hundred lives and the number keeps rising. Conditions are so difficult in the death zone that most corpses have been left where they fell.
Tapi Mra knew all these but went ahead for a journey that would put his state and him in the elite club of some two thousand individuals who have made it to the top of the world.
It was Edmund Hillary and Tenzin Norgay who first showed the world that human beings could do once they have made up their mind.
Despite several unsuccessful attempts, the duo was not daunted. They managed to script history in 1953.
The story of Tapi Mra is what legends are made of. Overnight, Mra has become a youth icon that the state was desperately looking for.
A boy from remote Lemiking in Upper Subansiri, Mra by his sheer hard work, determination made history for himself and the people of the state.
When the news of him making it to the top reached, there was a collective euphoria in the state.
He has shown that no dream is impossible to achieve if one has set its heart. It does not matter from where one comes from. Dare to dream and follow your dream. Everything will fall into place.