Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Tapi Mra of Arunachal Pradesh,who was among the 12 Indians to scale the Mount Everest on Thursday,has become the first from the state to reach such dizzying heights.
Twenty-five-year-old Mra,who hails from the sleepy village of Lemiking in the Upper Subansiri district,close to the India-China boundary,was inspired ever since he heard of mountaineer Bachendri Pals feat when he was at school. Mra sold off his four mithuns,a type of gaur or Indian bison,a year ago,to meet his expenses. Though the state Government provided him with Rs 10.75 lakh,it was not enough to cover his expenses.
Mra had climbed the 6654-metre Mera Peak in Nepal,the highest among 36 group-B peaks,last year. In 2007,he climbed the 6160-metre Island Peak barefoot which made him sure he would conquer the Everest. Congratulating him,Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu said in Itanagar that the feat was the result of Mras determination,untiring effort and sincerity in mountaineering along with the prayers of over 10 lakh people of the state.
