Assam CM Honors First Assamese Woman to Conquer Mount Everest

Celebrating a Historic Achievement

GUWAHATI, July 27: On Sunday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma honored Rupamoni Gorh, the first woman from Assam to reach the summit of Mount Everest, along with ITBP Assistant Commandant Bhanita Timungpi, during a ceremony at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur.

The state government awarded Rupamoni Gorh with a financial grant of Rs 10 lakh and Bhanita Timungpi with Rs 2 lakh in recognition of their remarkable accomplishments.

While congratulating Rupamoni, who hails from Na-Gaon Pathar village in the Boginadi area of Lakhimpur district, the chief minister expressed that her successful climb on May 21 as part of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s All-Women Everest Expedition has brought great honor to Assam and serves as a powerful example of bravery, discipline, and determination.

Sarma noted that the expedition was part of the Nari Shakti Vandan initiative organized by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The team consisted of 14 members, including 11 women climbers, and was led by Bhanita Timungpi from Assam.

Commending Timungpi’s leadership, Sarma highlighted her experience of scaling over 30 Himalayan peaks, which significantly contributed to the expedition's success. He also mentioned her recognition by the President of India and her service with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Africa.

To honor Rupamoni’s achievement, the chief minister announced the construction of a new one-kilometer road connecting her home to Lilabari High School, which will be named Rupamoni Gorh Path, a proposal initiated by Lakhimpur MLA Manab Deka.

Reflecting on Assam’s mountaineering heritage, Sarma acknowledged the role of the Assam Mountaineering Association, established in 1968 by Rohini Kumar Bhuyan and Atanu Prasad Barua. He recalled that Rohini Kumar Bhuyan and Khagendra Nath Bora were the first Assamese climbers to reach Bethartoli South in 1970, followed by Ajit Sarma and Bhagat Singh who summited Mrigthuni Peak shortly thereafter.

The chief minister also paid tribute to Rohini Kumar Bhuyan, who founded The Adventurers in 1974 and tragically lost his life in a snowstorm while returning from Kedarnath Dome in 1979.

He noted that Tarun Saikia became the first Assamese to summit Mount Everest on May 19, 2013, followed by Manish Deka on May 25 of the same year. Nanda Dulal Das, Henry David Terang, Kharsing Terang, and Nava Kumar Phukan also successfully reached the Everest summit in 2015.

Sarma emphasized that Rupamoni’s achievement is a historic milestone, as no Assamese woman had previously conquered the world’s highest peak.

Encouraging the youth to engage in adventure sports, Sarma stated that mountaineering presents promising career prospects and assured government support for aspiring climbers. He also expressed pride in Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain leading the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony of the ongoing Commonwealth Games while carrying the national flag.