HMI CLIMBATHON – Azadi Ka Amrit Utsav (आज़ादी का अमृत उत्सव) Tribute To Indian Freedom Fighters

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the premier mountaineering institute of South-east Asia is organizing a short duration Trainees’ Climb-a-thon Expedition to four smaller peaks in West Sikkim Himalayas from 21 to 30 April 2021 under the leadership of Gp Capt Jai Kishan, Principal HMI

The expedition was flagged off by Vice Admiral MS Pawar, AVSM,VSM, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff on 08 Apr 2021 at HMI, Darjeeling during his maiden visit to the Institute.

The expedition has multiple aims and objectives:

Commemorating 75 Years of Independence ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Utsav’: To commemorate the 75 years of Indian Independence as a part of AZADI KA AMRIT UTSAV, highly skilled HMI instructors and trainees of Basic & Advance Mountaineering courses will unfurl the Indian National Flag measuring 7500 sft and weighing more than 70 kg atop a mountain in Sikkim Himalayas (HMI Base Camp) symbolizing the glorious journey of 75 years of independence.

Tribute to Freedom Fighters – Summit attempt by 125 mountaineers: This will be the first time that 125 trainee mountaineers will attempt 3-4 peaks from a common base camp in 125 hours. The summit attempt by 125 trainee mountaineers will symbolize the 125 th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and an endeavour by the Institute to pay tribute to Netaji. The trainees comprise of candidates from Indian Armed Forces, NCC, Youth Services Departments and a few from Bangladesh also.

Tribute to Late Trilochan Pokhrel (first Indian Independence activist from Sikkim). Born in Eastern Sikkim he was highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and was popularly known as ‘Gandhi Pokhrel’ or ‘Vande Pokhrel’. He was actively involved in Gandhi’s freedom movements like Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience. He is known from propagating the concept of Swadeshi among the Sikkimese peasantry. Akin to Gandhiji, he also used to wear a piece of cotton dhoti with a pair of khadau (wooden paduka). He used to address the village elders with ‘Vande Mataram’ as such the villagers started calling him as ‘Vande Pokhrel’.

Large Size Flag : The idea behind unfurling the large size national flag is to promote legacy and large motive of Indian Freedom Movement and Indian Himalayas. The flag hoisting place will be promoted as ‘Pokhrel Point’ in memory of Late Trilochan Pokhrel amongst the Indian mountaineering fraternity and make an effort to promote smaller peaks in Sikkim Himalayas for small mountain climbing/trekking expeditions and encourage young mountaineers to explore and enjoy this part of the country.