TALE OF SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS

Akriti Jamwal. Updated: 2/14/2018 1:45:44 PM We the Women

If you have been missing out on your weekly dose of inspiring tales we tell here at We the Women, this is for you- Spread over past 6 weeks, We have been documenting the experiences of four stars from the state who were part of the first-ever all girls expedition of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) that scaled the highest peak of the world, the Everest.

It is unbelievable that at that point in time their ages were ranging from 18 to 22 only. Out of 10 girls selected pan India four were from Jammu and Kashmir, bringing glory to the state back in 2016.

Today, we are here with the third part of the series and in case you have not gone through the write-up with inspiring journeys and pieces of mind of Rigzen Dolker and Angmo, you can check that out on our website www.thenewsnow.co.in in its section 'We The WOMEN'.

Don’t assume that each of them would have a similar experience to share. Interacting with these girls, one realizes how diverse are the personalities, perception, and attitude of these girls, despite a common experience and accomplishment of climbing up to the top of the world despite the extremities and adversities. So without further ado let’s dive again into this real-life saga of Tashi Laskit.



Tashi Laskit was born in a moderate family of village Stok of Ladakh. Like Angmo she was only 18 when she summitted the world's highest mountain. But she had never thought that her daily routines and lifestyle was prepping her for something major in her life. "When I was a kid I mostly liked climbing mountains in my village and I always tried to reach the top. Even today, during my free time I mostly like to play sports," she tells.

Currently pursuing graduation in Humanities from E.J.M College, barely into her twenties, Laskit is leading quite simple life pursuing her studies, helping her parents in doing the house works and the field work. She says, “I am continuing my studies and I am doing quite well with it. As of now, I would like to finish my studies and then to serve in the army.”

It was while in 12th standard when Lastik got into NCC and there along with few others girls were provided the basic mountaineering training. "It was during that time, I felt that I should get into it completely and try my best to go for the expedition that was organized by the Indian army."

Sharing her dreading experiences and struggles of mountaineering Tashi mentions, "While climbing Mt. Trishul, a big stone came rolling and injured my feet, which made me limp. Yet I carried a big bag of 15 kilograms bearing the pain and chose to keep on climbing until we all reached the shoulder of Mt. Trishul."

According to Tashi, she continued on because if she had given up, she wouldn't have been selected and her dream would have only remained a dream.

Sharing another incident of the same quest, Laskit says, "We all had to climb at an 80-degree ice sheet for almost four hours. Even after all these hardships, at last, we all had to give up due to bad weather that made us realize how difficult it was to accomplish our goal."

According to Tashi, the hardest thing to endure physically, of all her journey to the top of the world was while climbing Mt. Everest; from balcony, they all had to change their oxygen cylinder, at that time the porter who had to bring her cylinder was late by 15 minutes. Tashi elaborates, “Instead of waiting for him, I changed the oxygen regulator fixed the cylinder and continued on for almost ten minutes. Due to lack of oxygen and the extremities, I was slowly losing my eyesight and no one could help me.”

She adds, “Fortunately one of the other porters chose to help me and then he fixed my oxygen regulator, but by then all the other climbers had gone quite far and I was left behind."

She further adds, "Even though my body was exhausted but my mind wasn't. I was persistent and so despite the physical and mental grind to stop and to keep moving, I chose the latter. I gave in all myself to catch-up with them. It was a near death experience; looking back at it I think about the worst that could have happened."

Sharing her experience of the significant moment of reaching the top of the world, Laskit expresses, "First, I was very excited and happy, for I had achieved what I had been working hard and struggling for around a year and a half. But that was followed by fear, for it was much harder to climb down than climbing up."

She further shares, "While descending, the sun was up and I could see all the edges very deep down, and it makes you question yourself if you will reach down alive and be able to share your experience; the feeling twists your gut."

"The thing that I liked the most at the top of the world was the picturesque view; the clouds were quite down and it made me feel as if I was on the sky and all the other mountains nearby looked very small and tiny."

Talking about what exactly has changed after Laskit switched to mountaineering she expresses,

"I always felt within myself that I could be a good mountaineer but earlier I wasn't very confident enough. After getting into this field, my belief has not only concreted, I have grown more confident and ever ready to accept challenges, that life throws at me and viable towards the opportunities that it provides me with."

Analyzing the essentials to summit the Mt. Everest Laskit says, "However clichéd it may sound but strong determination and fitness comprising both physical strength and stamina as well as mental gritty and endurance are the key."

She further elaborates, "I would always go for jog almost for an hour and a half, every morning and evening, attend Nepali language and medical class, practice tent pitching, rope knots as well as learn the uses of all the climbing equipment."

Mountaineering is not something that many women take up; in fact, Stanzlin Laskit, Tashi Laskit, Rigzen Dolker and Tsering Angmo are among the youngest from the state. So along with physical strength, it takes lots of mental strength.

Shedding light upon it, Tashi says, "I believe more than physical, it requires more mental strength because while climbing it is essential to remain very focused and alert in every step you take. And the willpower and determination play a great role when you shred down physically with every step up towards the summit."

Now, Tashi is looking forward to many more such achievements. She says that if she could, she would do it again, despite the challenges. Apart from mountaineering, Laskit likes sports and is striving to be in the Indian army. According to Tashi, summiting Mt. Everest would always be her most cherished achievement from every aspect.

Tashi is one of those who would credit her accomplishments to her parents. She says, "My parents never gave up on me and they always encouraged me throughout my journey, it would have been a shame if I let them down."

Sharing the note Tashi leads her life on, she says, "To be good and do good is the one thing that resonates in my mind, for I have seen the impressive results of it.”

Adding on she says, "I feel that we all are equal, be it, men or women. When one has the faith and determination within oneself he or she can accomplish anything."

Tashi is hopeful that in few years time, the women around us would be more empowered and skillful in anything that they choose to do or to be. Her words to the ladies out there are, "Today's society has evolved and to many extents offer equal opportunity to everyone, so it is time we stop being pessimistic and stop complaining about the conditions we are exposed to and experiencing and be optimistic and upbeat. I wish that all the girls out there to take every opportunity they get and to take interest in them, striving to come out with bright colors."


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