Page 42 - Mann ki Baat June 2022 - English

Poorna Malavath : The Youngest Girl

to Climb Mt. Everest at the age of 13

So far I have
climbed all 7 highest
mountains in the
world and some
Indian mountains.
I started my
journey from school
when I was in 9th
grade. It was very
challenging and
scary for me at that
age, but slowly I
became confident
through my training,
through my course
to the advanced level, through
for a purpose. The purpose is to
a winter expedition that I did,
inspire my new project, called
and eventually got selected to
SHAKTI, led by 2 women aiming
climb Mount Everest. One will be
amazed to know that I started my to raise funds for underprivileged
journey when I was thirteen years girls for their education. The
and four months, and I climbed objective of this project is “we
Mount Everest when I was thirteen climb, so they could climb”.
years and eleven months. When I
After my Everest achievement, I was
got selected for this opportunity, I
was determined and committed fortunate to meet our Prime Minister
to showing the world that girls can Narendra Modi. It was an honour for
do anything. me to be appreciated by him and
When I got to know about the receive an excellency certificate
Seven Summits, I decided that from him. He also mentioned my
this would be my way of showing achievements of climbing the
the strength, and perseverance Seven Summits in his recent 'Mann
of a woman and I decided to just ki Baat' address and I feel extremely
go for it.
happy and motivated by all his
So far, I did it for my passion, now I appreciation, will continue to make
want to continue mountaineering India proud.

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