Baljeet Kaur is an Indian mountaineer, who is famous for setting many records in the field of mountaineering. In April 2023, Baljeet made headlines after he went missing while descending Mount Annapurna in Nepal.
Wiki/Biography
Baljeet Kaur was born on Wednesday, 29 November 1995 (age 27 years; in 2022) in village Palashta Panjrol, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. After completing his schooling at the Government Senior High School in Mamligh, Himachal Pradesh, Baljeet enrolled in the Post Graduate College in Solan, where he completed his studies. Baljeet Kaur joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) as a cadet while she was pursuing her higher studies at the Post Graduate College in Solan; he later became a Senior Subordinate Officer (SUO), the highest rank a cadet could attain.
Baljeet Kaur’s photo taken when she was at NCC
Later, at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling, he underwent a mountaineering training module. In 2017, he was selected to attend the Republic Day Camp (RDC) organized by NCC.
Baljeet Kaur (kneeling second from right) during the Republic Day Camp
He attended the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) in Manali, where he received an A+ grade in the Advanced Mountaineering Course in 2017.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 6″
Weight (approx): 60 kg
Hair Color: Black with Light Brown highlights
Eye Color: Light Brown
Body Measurements (approx): 32-28-32
Family
Baljeet Kaur was born in a Sikh family in Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Amrik Singh, is a bus driver working for the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). His mother, Shanti Devi, is a housewife. Baljeet Kaur has three siblings.
Photo of Baljeet standing with his parents
Husband & Son
Baljeet Kaur is not married.
religion
Baljeet Kaur follows the Sikh religion.
Baljeet Kaur’s Instagram post
Career
Early Climbing Career with NCC
In an interview, Baljeet said that he had no intention of pursuing a career in mountaineering; however, his interest in mountain climbing arose after he read about Malavath Purna, who had climbed the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, in 2014. Talking about it, he said,
I never thought of mountaineering as a career choice. In 2014, when I was waiting for my exam results, I came across a newspaper article about a girl from Rajasthan who had climbed Mount Everest. The article inspired me a lot. And that was the beginning of my dream of becoming a Mountaineer.”
In 2015, Baljeet applied to be part of India’s first NCC Girls Everest Expedition and underwent a rigorous selection procedure. After that, Baljeet attended many mountaineering camps organized by NCC, where he learned how to climb mountains. As part of the first phase of his selection and training process, Baljeet attended a mountaineering course at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling, where he received an A+ grade. In the second phase, he attended a month-long mountaineering course at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg, Kashmir. After completing the selection procedure, Baljeet, along with ten other NCC cadets, were inducted into the NCC mountaineering team.
Baljeet Kaur, along with other NCC cadets, held the NCC Girls Mount Everest Expedition banner
In 2015, he, along with his team, climbed Mount Trishul in Uttarakhand; however, due to bad weather, the team could only climb up to 6,350 meters. In 2016, Baljeet, along with his NCC team, went to Nepal to climb Mount Everest; however, he was unable to reach the summit as his oxygen mask malfunctioned, forcing him to turn back. While giving an interview, he talked about it and said,
On my last attempt to the summit of Mount Everest at around 8,548 m, I had a problem with my Oxygen mask and the oxygen supply gradually stopped. My Sherpa and I did our best to resolve this issue but to no avail. I was only 300m from the summit of EVEREST but I had to decide to abandon my attempt and turn back from 8,548m. I came back with a promise that I would come back again to stand on top of it one day.”
Later Mountaineering Career
After failing to summit Mount Everest, Baljeet Kaur returned to India, where she enrolled at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) in Manali, Himachal Pradesh for an Advanced Mountaineering Course in 2017. In the same year, he successfully climbed the Friendship Peak located in the Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh.
Photo of Baljeet Kaur taken at Puncak Persahabatan
In 2018, he took a ski course at ABVIMAS. In 2019, with eyes set on Mount Everest, Baljeet applied and was shortlisted for the Indian Mountaineering Foundation’s (IMF) Everest Massif Expedition, which was due to take place in 2020; however, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the expedition was postponed until 2021. On 12 May 2021, Baljeet, along with Gunbala Sharma, climbed Mount Pumori, which is 7,161 meters above sea level and displayed three colors on it. She and Gunbala became the first Indian women to climb Mount Pumori.
Baljeet Kaur at Mount Pumori
In August 2021, he climbed Mount Kun, which is located at an altitude of 7,077 meters in the Suru Valley, Kargil, Ladakh. Baljeet became the first Indian woman to climb Mount Dhaulagiri in October 2021.
Photo of Baljjeet Kaur at Mount Dhaulagiri
On April 28, 2022, he climbed Mount Annapurna in Nepal. On May 12, 2022, Baljeet Kaur climbed Mount Kangchenjunga. On May 21, 2022, he hoisted the Indian flag atop Mount Everest. On May 22, 2022, he climbed Mount Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world at 8,516 meters.
Baljeet Kaur on Mount Lhotse
On May 28, 2022, he climbed Mount Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,481 meters.
Baljeet Kaur’s photo was taken on Mount Makalu
Climbing five eight thousand peaks in thirty days, that is, from April 28, 2022 to May 28, 2022, Baljeet Kaur set a record as the first Indian to do so. In November 2022, he set a record after he climbed Mount Manaslu without an oxygen cylinder. While talking about his experience, Baljeet, in an interview, said,
This climbing season has not been easy as there have been many bad weather conditions throughout with lots of rain at the base camp and heavy snow at the higher camps. Avalanches added to the difficulties and misery that claimed the lives of several innocent sherpas and even some very famous climbers. I was also caught in one of the avalanches between camp3 and camp4. After several summit attempts, my sherpa Mingma Dai and I made it to the revered true summit on September 30th. I would like to dedicate this summit to all the young and upcoming women mountaineers in India and would like to be an inspiration and motivation for them to take up mountaineering as a sport both as a passion and a profession.
Baljeet Kaur holds the tricolor atop Mount Manaslu
In April 2023, Baljeet Kaur attempted to set a record by climbing Mount Annapurna in Nepal without supplemental oxygen. He managed to reach the summit without oxygen; however, while returning to base camp, he disappeared on April 18, 2023 and was presumed dead. According to sources, Baljeet went missing above Camp IV, located 7,300 meters above sea level.
Mount Annapurna 1
Camp-2 comfort zone
(High altitude) pic.twitter.com/g3TuJqKs2i
— Baljeet kaur (@Baljeet11684140) April 9, 2023
In the early morning of April 19, 2023, he sent an SOS emergency message to the base camp following three helicopters sent by the authorities to conduct a search and rescue operation. Baljeet’s location was triangulated by the authorities with the help of GPS. After being rescued, Baljeet was taken to a hospital in Kathmandu, where he underwent a medical examination.
Baljeet Kaur’s Instagram story
Awards & Honors
- In 2017, Baljeet Kaur received the Raksha Mantri Padak from the Indian government for participating in the 2016 Mount Everest Expedition.
Baljeet Kaur’s certificate which she received after winning the Raksha Mantri Padak
Baljeet Kaur holding the award she received at NCC
- In July 2022, for her achievements in mountaineering, Baljeet Kaur was presented with the NCC Achiever Award by NCC Director General Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh.
Baljeet Kaur’s photo taken when she received the NCC Achiever Award
Note: He has won many awards during his tenure at NCC.
Mountain Climbing Performance
- The first Indian woman mountaineer to climb Pumori Peak on 12 May 2021.
- The first Indian woman mountaineer climbed Mount Dhaulagiri on October 1, 2021.
- The first Indian to climb Mount Annapurna (28 April 2022) and Mount Kanchenjunga (12 May 2022) within 14 days.
- The record of climbing Mount Everest (8848.86 m), the highest mountain on the planet, Mount Lhotse (8,517 m), the fourth highest mountain on the planet, and Mount Makalu (8,485 m), in 7 days.
- The first Indian to climb Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse in just 25 hours.
- The first Indian woman to reach six eight thousand in the shortest period.
- The first Indian mountaineer to climb Mount Everest, Mount Annapurna, Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, and Mount Kangchenjunga in less than 30 days.
- First Indian woman to climb Mount Manaslu without Oxygen in November 2022.
Facts/Trivia
- Baljeet Kaur is called Bharti by her friends and family.
- Baljeet once revealed that while he was studying in college, he used to work as a maid in people’s homes to help his family financially. While giving an interview, he said,
After college, I used to work in people’s homes, cleaning and cooking. I’ve known how to cook a full meal since I was eight years old.”
- Baljeet Kaur has been a part of several acting groups with which she participated in various stage shows and street plays.
- Baljeet Kaur has been invited to various talk shows, including TEDx, to give motivational speeches.
- In an Instagram post, Baljeet Kaur claimed that she initially learned about mountaineering from the internet and not from a professional trainer as she could not afford a trainer due to lack of money.
- Baljeet Kaur set a world record after she completed the world’s longest relay Marathon of 9,490 kilometers in 960 hours.
- In July 2022, an article was featured on Baljeet Kaur on Grehlakshmi.
Grehalakshmi’s article on Baljeet Kaur
- His success mantra is “Always try your luck.”
- Baljeet Kaur has worked as a volunteer with the National Service Scheme (NSS) and The Bharat Scouts & Guides.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
