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10 Nepalese women who successfully climed Mt. Everest at the reception in Kathmandu. Photo: Smita
Kathmandu, June 6, 2008- Ten of First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition (FIWSE) who successfully ascended the Mount Everest summit this Spring on 25th May were felicitated with tamrapatra and cultural places tour (nagar parikrama) in Kathmandu.
Speaking in a reception program in Basantapur where first Mt. Everest conqueror Tenjing Norge Sherpa and Sir Admund Hillary were fecilated, Minister of Finance Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said that it was the moment of proud for whole Nepalese and Nepal.
“In this historical year, with the successful expedition of Mt. Everest from these courageous Nepali daughters I believe 2065 will be established as the year of glory,” Minister Mahat stated.
He further shared that he had his doubts when he had seen the inclusive women team before they left for expedition. “They are so young of age and so it looked impossible for me to think of them successfully conquer the harsh circumstances of Mt. Everest. But what seemed impossible to me, they made it possible,” he said.
“Their success not only proves women are not in any way inferior to men but also will give inspiration and courage to other women,” he added.
Expedition Co-coordinator, Susmita Maskey expressed her gratitude to all the supporters and felicitating program organizers. “Thank you for believing us, supporting us and celebrating our success with us,” she expressed.
In 2005, Maskey had reached up to 8,800 m in her first attempt to climb Mt. Everest.
Sailee Basnet, the first Nepali woman journalist to scale Mt. Everest said apart from exhilarating feelings, her first thought when she was on top of the world was “From where, what region, what profession…where I have come.”
The team had special support in expedition from Dangbu Sherpa and Pemba Dorje Sherpa. “We were a little bit worried as they all are very young and it was their first time but they showed immense strength, courage and determination which led to this successful scale on Everest,” said Pemba Dorje Sherpa who has himself climbed Everest 8 times and has the World Record as the fast climber.
In the program organized by First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition, Citizen Felicitating Committee, after these successful conquerors of Mount Everest were honored with tamrapatra they were taken to the cultural places tour in Kathmandu. The tour started from Basantapur, Lagan, Bhimsenthan, Indrachok then back to Basantapur with Nayakhi baja, cultural jhaki, dhime baja, police band and huge mass even though it was raining.
The team of FIWSE 2008 Spring includes ten Nepali women, from 17-27 years-old, representing a range of the country’s castes and ethnicities. This is the first time that women from the Brahmin, Chettri, Danuwar, and Gurung communities have summited Mt. Everest. They are Pujan Acharya, Sailee Basnet, Usha Bista, Asha Kumari Sing and Maya Gurung respectively.
Other successful climbers are Susmita Maskey and Chunu Shrestha from Newar community, Nimdoma Sherpa, Pema Diki Sherpa and Nawang Phuti Sherpa from Sherpa community.
In total,17 Nepali women have successfully climbed Mt. Everest.
The expedition was supported by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) along with other government and non government organizations including the private sector.
Know Them:
1) Susmita Maskey-Expedition Coordinator
Susmita Maskey, 27, is a Masters Degree holder in English Literature and model for an international brand. She has been climbing and mountaineering since 2003. In 2005, as a member of the Peace-Everest Expedition, she became the first Newar to climb any mountain. During her first attempt of Everest she came within 48 meters of the summit.
She represents the Newars, a people who traditionally reside in Kathmandu.
2) Asha Kumari Singh
Asha Kumari Sing is a 22-year-old student and a beautician. She comes from the Danuwar community and an orthodox Madhesi family in Meghrail, Janakpur. She has completed Female Outdoor Leadership training and the Basic Mountaineering Course. Given her upbringing along the flatlands of the Terai in a village without electricity, challenging all orthodox beliefs she has come a long way to become a member of the team.
3) Chunu Shrestha
Hailing from a poor Kathmandu family, Chunu, 26, and her sister began working to help support her family during grade 6 by taking other people’s laundry to wash. Despite this she has finished plus-2 education (High School) and started pursuing her B.A.
When she heard about Susmita’s summit attempt in 2005, she became inspired by the possibility of her earning money and succeeding in adventure tourism to support her family. With FIWSE she is now able to nurture her passion for the outdoors that she dreamt about during her long days of work.
4) Maya Gurung
At a young age, Maya left her village, Sindhapulchowk, to come to Kathmandu and seek a better education. Now 27, she has faced her fair share of hardships. She ran away from home after her father tried to force her to marry and her family in general hesitates to support her passion for adventure sports.
She completed her Basic Mountaineering Course without their consent. She participates in activities like climbing and rafting to give her strength and free her spirit from her troubles.
5) Nimdoma Sherpa
Nimboda Sherpa, 17, is the youngest on the team. She has recently completed her high school graduation.
When she was 8, at the insistence of her older brother, she left Dolkha to attend private school in Kathmandu. Overcoming the death of her father before exams, she subsequently became the first in her family to complete her School Leaving Certificate (SLC). This same brother, an acquaintance of Pemba Dorje Sherpa, encouraged her to join the FIWSE expedition.
She has completed the Basic Mountaineering Course as the part of FIWSE, outperforming everybody in her class, even the men.
6) Nawang Phuti Sherpa
Nawang Phuti Sherpa was a homey-girl until Sherpa women inspired her to explore mountaineering.
Having recently completed a Basic Mountaineering Course, she is eager to explore her limits and hopes to use her experience with FIWSE to build a career in mountaineering.
She is 31 years old and represents the Sherpa community. She is from Taplejung.
7) Pemadiki Sherpa
Pemadiki Sherpa is one of three girls born to parents who moved to Kathmandu with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In school Pemadiki was ridiculed because she was so poor. Now 20 years old, she is an acupuncture nurse and student who take trekking as an enchanting and spiritual journey.
She has completed a Basic Mountaineering Course. From Dolkha, she represents the Sherpa Community.
8) Pujan Acharya
Working on completing her undergraduate studies in Business Management, Pujan Acharya is also an activist working for a human rights organization in Dolkha.
At 23 years old, she is an accomplished volleyball player and marathon runner who holds several awards for competition at the District Level. She gained her first mountaineering experience in 2003 when she completed a program in Female Outdoor Leadership training.
From Dolkha, she represents the Brahmin Community.
9) Sailee Basnet
Having completed her Bachelors degree in Bachelor’s of Business Information Systems (BBIS) and Post Graduate degree in Journalism, Sailee Basnet has made her mark as a young journalist working as a staff reporter for Himal Media.
She became interested in climbing and mountaineering because of the physical and mental challenges that it poses. Aged 24 years old from Kathmandu, she represents the Chhetri community.
She is now the first Nepali woman journalist to climb Mt. Everest. In 2005, first Nepali journalist Sherpa climbed Mt. Everest.
10) Usha Bista
Usha Bista is the first Chhetri to attempt Mt. Everest as part of the Loktantrik Expedition Team (2007). She was left behind at 8,400m and later rescued by Nepali instructors and an American team.
She is now 22 years old and was excited to make her second attempt as part of FIWSE. She has completed basic and advanced mountaineering courses.
-Smita Magar in Kathmandu
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