New Delhi: At 8:34 AM on the 19th of May, the icy winds of Mount Everest bore witness to a sheer moment of human triumph. Chhonzin Angmo, a 29-year old woman from the remote area of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh, stood at the highest point on earth, as a symbol of strong determination and willpower. What makes her journey extraordinary is that Angmo is visually impaired, having lost her eyesight when she was in the third standard.
Born in the picturesque district of Kinnaur, Angmo lost her eyesight at eight due to a severe reaction from a medicine. Yet, this did not prove to be a limiting factor in her journey. It rather set out as a stepping stone in helping Angmo realise her true potential. She refused to let her disability define her and pursued her education, got trained in mountaineering ad climbed several peaks before she set out to conquer the Everest.
The journey that inspired millions
Her journey, however, was not just a sudden leap, it was marked by years of preparation that eventually marked her successful expedition. Angmo completed her graduation from Miranda House after which she set out to complete a mountaineering course. She also scaled several high altitude peaks including, Lobuche in Ladakh, as a part of her training primarily to test her acclimation.
In a conversation with the Indian Express, she said:
“Stepping on the summit of Mt Everest, my first thought was how each step counts in our journey, whether one is abled or specially-abled. This is only a step in my dream to instill willpower in every specially-abled person. If we have the willpower, nothing can stop us and my next target will be the highest peaks in each continent”.
She also mentioned how Hellen Keller and the story of her life became instrumental in ensuring that she never backs down. It served as a positive and motivating reminder for her to push forward her boundaries and ascend various challenges.
A step towards empowerment
Angmo was a ray of hope, according to the members of her family.
In a meeting with Skalzang Rigzin, who became the first Indian civilian mountaineer to scale Mt Everest without supplemental oxygen, that she began dreaming of conquering higher peaks, according to the Indian Express.
She was accompanied by Boots & Crampons along with Pioneer adventures of Nepal. Angmo pressed forward despite insurmountable challenges. She had strong grit and an unbreakable willpower that allowed her to break free from all the shackles of the societal conditions imposed on her.
Angmo was employed by the Union Bank of India back in 2024 and received the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. This year, the Union Bank of India decided to sponsor her expedition.
Angmo’s story is a testimony to the fact that with firm and iron-will determination, we can defy the odds.
