Visually Impaired Tribal Woman from Himachal Becomes First Indian Woman to Scale Mount Everest
Shimla, May 23: In a remarkable feat of perseverance and courage, Chonjin Angmo, a visually impaired tribal woman from the remote Chango village in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, has become the first blind Indian woman to conquer Mount Everest. As per agency report, she scaled the world’s highest peak on Monday, becoming the fifth visually impaired person globally to achieve this milestone.
Angmo, who lost her sight at the age of eight, never allowed her disability to obstruct her dreams. Inspired by Helen Keller and her famous quote that having sight but no vision is worse than blindness, Angmo pursued her goals with unyielding determination. She earned both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Miranda House at Delhi University and currently works as a customer service associate at Union Bank of India in Delhi.
Her father, Amar Chand, expressed immense pride in her accomplishment, stating that the family is awaiting her return to celebrate her achievement fully. The news of her ascent has sent waves of joy through her native village, with relatives and villagers praising her fearless spirit and determination.
Angmo’s journey to the summit has not been without hurdles. From financial constraints to the physical demands of mountaineering, her path was lined with challenges. However, she turned each obstacle into an opportunity, reiterating in an earlier interview that her visual impairment is not a weakness but a strength. She declared her intent to climb all the peaks she once only dreamed of.
In October 2024, Angmo became the first blind Indian woman to complete the trek to the Everest Base Camp, located at an altitude of 5,364 meters. She has also scaled Mount Kang Yatse II in Ladakh, standing 6,250 meters high, and was part of a special expedition team that summited an unnamed peak of approximately 6,000 meters in the region.
Her achievements were recognized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who mentioned her in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program, praising her spirit and accomplishments.
Angmo’s passion for sports is equally inspiring. She has won a gold medal in swimming at the state level, participated in national-level judo championships, and secured two bronze medals in national marathon events. She has also completed the Delhi Marathon three times, along with the Pink Marathon and the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, and has represented at both regional and national levels in football.
Chonjin Angmo’s story stands as a beacon of inspiration, proving that vision and determination are more powerful than physical limitations.
