H. P. S. Ahluwalia

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H. P. S Ahluwalia
File:Maj. Haripal Singh Ahluwalia.jpg
Born (1936-11-06) 6 November 1936 (age 87)
Sialkot, Punjab, India
Residence South West Delhi, New Delhi, India
Alma mater St. George's College, Mussoorie, India
Years active 1995
Board member of Chairman, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre
Spouse(s) Bholi Ahluwalia
Children Daughter- Sugandh Ahluwalia
Parent(s) Father- Mr. Sarjit Singh
Mother- Mrs. Harbans Kaur
Awards Padma Bhushan
Padma Shri
Arjuna Award

Major H. P. S. Ahluwalia is an Indian mountaineer. During his career of 45 years, he has made contributions in the fields of adventure, sports, environment, disability and social work.
Following his advanced training at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, he climbed extensively in Sikkim, Nepal and later he climbed Mount Everest on 29 May 1965. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, he suffered a bullet injury which resulted in his confinement to a wheelchair. Presently, he is the Chairman of Indian Spinal Injuries Centre.
He has written thirteen books which includes his autobiography Higher than Everest, which ran into several editions and languages. Eternal Himalaya, Ladakh-The Hermit Kingdom, Climbing Everest, Faces of Everest, Himalaya, Everest, where Snow Never Melts, Nubra-A Forbidden Valley and the book titled Tracing Marco Polo's Journey of the Silk Route was recently released.[when?] He has also produced an award-winning serial, Beyond Himalaya, which has been telecast all over the world on Discovery and National Geographic channels.[citation needed]

Early life

Hari Pal Singh Ahluwalia was born on 6 November 1936 and brought up in Shimla along with his two sisters and two younger brothers. His father was employed as a Civil Engineer in the Indian Central Public Works Department.

Education

File:Sir with pt J Nehru.jpg

For his academic career he went to St. Joseph's Academy and St. George's College, Mussoorie. There, he discovered his interest in photography and rock climbing. Along with graduation, his interest in rock-climbing increased. Some of the places where Ahluwalia did his rock climbing are Garhwal, Sikkim, Nepal, Ladakh, and of course Mount Everest.

Army

File:Major Ahluwalia (C) in his Army Days.jpg
Major Ahluwalia (center) in his Army days

After his graduation Ahluwalia joined the Indian Army as an officer. Along with time most of the people changed and so do their hobbies and interests. But Ahluwalia's love for mountaineering never went in tandem with his professional life.

Mountaineering career

Ahluwalia has also been the President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and Delhi Mountaineering Association. He was also the Chairman of Special Ability Trust (created to assist young achievers with disabilities with fellowships and scholarships), Youth Exploring Society (with its chapter in Ireland, West Germany and Italy), Rehabilitation Council of India (a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment), Chairman of Planning Committee of Persons with Disability of 12-year plan and Chairman of the Committee of Drafting Country Report.

Expeditions and adventures

After treatment at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, he continued to pursue his love for adventure by organising pioneering events such as the first Ski Expedition to Mount Trisul, the first Trans-Himalaya Motor Expedition (1983),[citation needed] and the Central Asia Cultural Expedition (1994)[citation needed] following the Silk & Marco Polo's Route through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, entering China in the Asian City of Kashgar, Yarkhand and returned via Tibet and Kathmandu.

Professional career

Indian Spinal Injuries Centre

Realizing the needs of persons with spinal injury, Ahluwalia, with the support of his friends, set up the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India in 1993.

Positions

  • Chairman – Indian Spinal Injuries Centre.
  • Chairman – Planning Committee of Persons with Disability of 12 five-year plan and Chairman of the committee of drafting country report.
  • Former president – Indian Mountaineering Foundation.
  • Former president – Delhi Mountaineering Association.
  • Former chairman – Special Ability Trust (created to assist young achiever with disabilities with *fellowships and scholarships).
  • Former chairman – Youth Exploring Society (with its chapter in Ireland, West Germany and Italy).
  • Former chairman – Rehabilitation Council of India (a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment).
  • Member – Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
  • Member – Planning Commission – Steering committee of the Social Welfare and other special groups.
  • Member – National Consultation on National Policy for PwD.
  • Member – CII Core Group on Disability.
  • Member – National Finance and Revenue Committee constituted by Ministry of Finance.
  • Member – CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation), in collaboration with AISPO-ITALY.
  • Member – International Spinal Cord Society.
  • Member – Patron, Spinal Cord Society, India.

Bibliography

  • Higher than Everest
  • The Everest Within
  • Eternal Himalaya
  • Beyond the Himalayas
  • Everest- Where the Snow never melts
  • Hermit Kingdom Ladakh
  • Ladakh Nubra The Forbidden Valley
  • Tracing Marco Polo's Journey

Awards

National Awards

  • Arjuna Award-1965
  • Padma Shri-1966[1]
  • Padma Bhushan-2002 [2]
  • Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award for lifetime Achievement-29 August 2009
  • National Award for the Welfare of People with Disabilities-3 December 1998
  • Order of the Khalsa (Nishan-e- Khalsa) Tercentenary of the Birth of Khalsa

International Awards

  • FRGS – Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (United Kingdom)
  • Fellowship conferred for significant contribution to studies and literature written on Environment and Adventure
  • CONDOR-DE-ORO – A high Argentinean honour given for overall contribution to adventure writing / participation in Adventure Sports.
  • Advisor/Consultant to the Argentina Everest Expedition
  • World Health Initiative for Peace Award, 29 July 2013

Special Moments

  • Ahluwalia with former President of India- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
File:Maj Ahluwalia with Dr Abdul Kalam copy.jpg
Ahluwalia with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
  • Ahluwalia with former President of India - Zail Singh.
File:Zail singh1.jpg
Ahluwalia with Zail Singh
File:Major Ahluwalia with Smt Indira Gandhi.jpg
  • Ahluwalia with former Prime Minister of India - Rajiv Gandhi.
File:With Rajiv Gandhi and H C Sareen inaugurating ISIC.jpg
File:Major Ahluwalia with Shri Atal Bihari Vajpai 001.jpg
File:With PM Manmohan Singh.jpg

References

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