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The Wire
a day ago
- General
- The Wire
The Scaling of Kanchenjunga and What it Means to Sikkim's Culture and Autonomy
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Culture The Scaling of Kanchenjunga and What it Means to Sikkim's Culture and Autonomy Jiwan Rai 11 minutes ago On May 18 this year, an expedition team under the Har Shikhar Tiranga Mission, an initiative of the Indian Army, planted the national flag atop the Kanchenjunga peak. This has hurt the indigenous Buddhist communities of Sikkim, to whom the mountain is a deeply revered spiritual entity. Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal during the Kanchenjunga expedition. Photo: Facebook. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Twenty-four years ago, while the rest of India was racing to open up 18 virgin peaks and 176 lesser-known summits to foreign climbers, the Sikkim government, through notification 70/HOME/2000, imposed a ban on expeditions to its highest peak, Kanchenjunga, along with seven other peaks considered sacred by local Buddhists. This administrative decision was actually the reaffirmation of a longstanding cultural tradition of reverence. In fact, an expedition to Kangchenjunga would fall under the scope of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits any desecration of sites held sacred. When British climbers Joe Brown and George Band first successfully ascended Kangchenjunga in 1955, they voluntarily stopped just short of the summit to honour local sentiments. Their act of restraint was more than a display of mountaineering ethics. It was a profound gesture of civilisational respect. Nearly seven decades after the respectful restraint shown by climbers on Kangchenjunga, fresh reports of another summit attempt have stirred a storm of emotions among the Bhutia and Lepcha communities of Sikkim. On May 18 this year, an expedition team under the Har Shikhar Tiranga Mission, a patriotic initiative of the Indian Army executed through the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), successfully planted the national flag atop the sacred peak. The mission, led by the celebrated mountaineer Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, was envisioned as a tribute to India's unity in diversity. 'This wasn't just an expedition,' Colonel Jamwal remarked. 'It was a tribute to every corner of India. From the dense forests of the Northeast to the icy ramparts of Kanchenjunga, our Tiranga has now flown atop every state's highest point. I'm proud of the team and honoured to lead a mission that reflects the unity and diversity of our great nation.' Sacred However, beneath the wave of patriotic celebrations, are the hurt religious sentiments and cultural traditions of the indigenous Buddhist communities of Sikkim. To them Kanchenjunga is not merely a geographic pinnacle, it is a deeply revered spiritual entity. Its summit is considered sacred and has traditionally been off-limits to human trespass. This restriction is not unique to Sikkim; similar bans exist elsewhere. In China, Mount Kailash remains unclimbed due to its profound spiritual significance, while in Nepal, climbing Machapuchare and Khumbila is prohibited out of respect for their sacred status among the Gurung and Sherpa communities. The recent ascent has reignited a long-standing and sensitive debate between the fervour of national pride and religious belief. In this image released by @adgpi via X on May 19, 2025, a team of Indian Army and Nepali Army personnel climbs Kanchenjunga mountain. (@adgpi via PTI Photo) Photo: PTI In anticipation of this clash, the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) had taken pre-emptive efforts. On April 4, it formally petitioned the Ministry of Defence and the governor of Sikkim, Om Prakash Mathur, urging them to halt the planned expedition. The irony should not be lost in how an initiative meant to celebrate the unity in India's diversity has hurt the sentiments of a religious and cultural group of a state that had merged with India by way of abolition of its own kingdom 50 years ago. True unity respects diversity, and true patriotism upholds the sentiments of all its peoples. Now, as the tricolour flutters over a peak considered sacred for centuries, the question before the nation is not merely who reached the top but at what cultural cost. When seen through a time-honoured Sikkimese lens, Kanchenjunga is not a trophy for adventurers, a playground for thrill-seekers, or just another tick on a climber's checklist. It stands as a symbol of cultural heritage and the pinnacle of religious identity for a significant section of Sikkim's people. In this context, the ban on climbing it is not merely a regulatory restriction. It is a civilisational assertion. And the significance of this act extends beyond religion or tradition. It is deeply political, rooted in the Sikkimese identity, dignity and autonomy. Politics Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang has written to Union home minister Amit Shah on the matter. But what exactly is the state government demanding in response to the violation? Why did it not act in advance? Given that the climbing ban was imposed by the state government back in 2001, should the authorities not have been consulted before any expedition was approved? Interestingly, Sonam Lama, the Sikkim Sangha minister – elected by a unique constituency which is reserved for Buddhist monks and nuns – downplayed the issue, noting that the expedition took place from the Nepalese side. It is unclear if the the Sikkim government fully grasps that at the heart of this issue lies the deeper question of Sikkimese autonomy. It must know that any violation here is not just cultural sacrilege but also an infringement of the special protections granted to Sikkim under Article 371F of the Indian Constitution. The state government thus faces a twofold responsibility: to safeguard the indigenous worldview of its people and to uphold the autonomy enshrined in its constitutional status. On one hand, the Bhutia-Lepcha cosmo-vision is being undermined. On the other hand, Sikkim's political and constitutional autonomy, hard-won and historically negotiated, must be defended against external decisions that bypass the state's authority and its cultural sensibilities. If Sikkim does not make its voice heard now, it risks losing its unique identity to India's broader and increasingly homogenised national narrative. The government must demand accountability for this violation, reaffirm the inviolability of its sacred landscapes and amplify indigenous voices before they are silenced forever. Jiwan Rai is a social and political commentator from Sikkim. He can be reached at jiwanr@ The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. 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The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indian team scales world's third-highest peak
GUWAHATI A team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) in Arunachal Pradesh's Dirang became the first from India this climbing season to scale Mount Khangchendzonga, the world's third-highest peak. While the feat has been hailed as the first '100% success' in scaling the peak, the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) found it 'painful', as Mt. Khangchendzonga is revered as the guardian deity of the indigenous communities in the Himalayan State. The '100%' refers to all five members of the team led by NIMAS Director Col. Ranveer Singh Jamwal reaching the summit on May 18. A five-member team from the Army achieved the same feat a day later. 'In a season marked by extreme conditions and high attrition, every climber from the NIMAS team who attempted the summit made it — an extraordinary accomplishment on one of the most formidable mountains in the world,' a statement from a Ministry of Defence spokesperson read. Mt. Khangchendzonga, India's tallest peak at 8,586 metres above sea level, borders Sikkim and Nepal. The NIMAS and the Army teams approached the peak from the Nepal side, as the mountain is considered too sacred in Sikkim to set foot on. 'The expedition marked the culmination of 'Har Shikhar Tiranga', a patriotic mission to hoist the Indian national flag atop the highest peak of each of India's 28 States. The expedition was a tribute to every corner of India, and I am honoured to have led the mission,' he said after reaching the base camp on Thursday (May 22, 2025). Members of the SIBLAC said the climbers did display character in scaling Mt. Khangchendzonga but lamented the 'indifference' of the Ministry of Defence to their plea to call off the expedition. 'The Nepal government has been consistently ignoring our appeals to make the peak out of bounds for climbers because of the sacredness attached to it. We hoped our government would listen to us,' SIBLAC advisor, S.B. Tshering, told The Hindu. Recognised as a sacred site, Mt. Khangchendzonga is protected under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The people of Sikkim celebrate Pang Lhabsol, an annual festival, to honour and remember the spiritual significance of the mountain.
India Gazette
22-05-2025
- India Gazette
NIMAS successfully summits Mt Kangchenjunga, concludes 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' mission
New Delhi [India], May 22 (ANI): A team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) has successfully summited Mt Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), the third-highest peak in the world and the highest in India, on May 18. The expedition, led by renowned mountaineer Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, marked the culmination of the landmark 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' campaign -- a patriotic mission to hoist the Indian national flag atop the highest peak of each of India's 28 states, a release said. This mission, conceptualised to celebrate the spirit of unity and national pride through adventure, has now achieved its final milestone with the ascent of Kangchenjunga, the highest point in the state of Sikkim and the campaign's symbolic crown. Notably, the NIMAS team is the only Indian expedition to achieve a 100 per cent summit success rate on Mt Kangchenjunga this season, a testament to the team's rigorous preparation, discipline, and unyielding spirit, the release said. In a season marked by extreme conditions and high attrition, every climber from the NIMAS team who attempted the summit made it -- an extraordinary accomplishment on one of the most formidable mountains in the world. 'This wasn't just an expedition. It was a tribute to every corner of India. From the dense forests of the northeast to the icy ramparts of Kangchenjunga, our Tiranga has now flown atop every state's highest point,' said Col Jamwal. 'I'm proud of the team and honored to lead a mission that reflects the unity and diversity of our great nation.' The success of the 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' mission through the Kangchenjunga ascent underscores NIMAS's growing legacy in adventure leadership and national service. As the Tiranga waved proudly from the summit, it carried with it not just the dreams of climbers, but the spirit of an entire nation. Earlier on March 26, Minister of State (MoS) Defence, Sanjay Seth, had flagged off the expedition to Mount Kangchenjunga, led by Col Jamwal, Director, NIMAS, Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh. The team comprised five highly skilled climbers and three support staff. (ANI)
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NIMAS summits Mt. Kangchenjunga, concludes historic ‘Har Shikhar Tiranga' mission successfully
In a historic feat for Indian mountaineering , a team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports ( NIMAS ) has successfully summited Mt. Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), the third-highest mountain in the world and the highest in India, on 18 May 2025. The expedition, led by renowned mountaineer Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal , marked the culmination of the landmark 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' campaign — a patriotic mission to hoist the Indian national flag atop the highest peak of each of India's 28 states. This mission, conceptualized to celebrate the spirit of unity and national pride through adventure, has now achieved its final milestone with the ascent of Kangchenjunga — the highest point in the state of Sikkim and the symbolic crown of the campaign. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tunisia: New Small Electric Car For Seniors. Prices Might Surprise You. Electric Cars | Search Ads Undo Notably, the NIMAS team is the only Indian expedition to achieve a 100% summit success rate on Mt. Kangchenjunga this season, a testament to the team's rigorous preparation, discipline, and unyielding spirit. In a season marked by extreme conditions and high attrition, every climber from the NIMAS team who attempted the summit made it — an extraordinary accomplishment on one of the most formidable mountains in the world. 'This wasn't just an expedition. It was a tribute to every corner of India. From the dense forests of the northeast to the icy ramparts of Kangchenjunga, our Tiranga has now flown atop every state's highest point,' said Col Jamwal. 'I'm proud of the team and honored to lead a mission that reflects the unity and diversity of our great nation.' Live Events The success of the 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' mission through the Kangchenjunga ascent underscores NIMAS's growing legacy in adventure leadership and national service. As the Tiranga waved proudly from the summit, it carried with it not just the dreams of climbers, but the spirit of an entire nation.
United News of India
22-05-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
NIMAS conquers Mt Kangchenjunga, completes ‘Har Shikhar Tiranga' mission
Itanagar, May 22 (UNI) In a landmark achievement for Indian mountaineering, a team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh has successfully summited Mt Kangchenjunga (8,586m), the third-highest mountain in the world and the highest in India, on May 18 last, stated a press note on Thursday. The expedition, led by renowned mountaineer Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, marked the triumphant culmination of the 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' campaign, a patriotic mission to hoist the Indian national flag atop the highest peak in each of India's 28 states. Conceptualized to celebrate the spirit of unity and national pride through adventure, the 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' mission has reached its pinnacle with the ascent of Kangchenjunga, the highest point in Sikkim and the symbolic crown of the campaign. Remarkably, the NIMAS team is the only Indian expedition to achieve a 100 percent summit success rate on Mt Kangchenjunga this season — a rare feat given the mountain's extreme conditions and challenging terrain. Every climber who attempted the summit succeeded, reflecting the team's meticulous preparation, exceptional endurance, and indomitable spirit. 'This wasn't just an expedition — it was a tribute to every corner of India,' said Col Jamwal. 'From the dense forests of the Northeast to the icy ramparts of Kangchenjunga, our Tiranga now flies atop the highest point of every Indian state. I'm immensely proud of the team and honoured to lead a mission that embodies the unity and diversity of our great nation.' The success of the 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' mission through the Kangchenjunga ascent underscores NIMAS' growing legacy in adventure leadership and national service. As the Tiranga waved proudly from the summit, it carried with it not just the dreams of climbers, but the spirit of the entire nation. UNI TD BD
