Uday Kumar, a 35-year-old individual with a 91 per cent physical disability above the knee amputee, has etched his name in history through his awe-inspiring ascent of Mount Rhenock, standing tall at 16,500 feet in the picturesque Kanchenjunga National Park of West Sikkim.
The expedition was organized by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling. Spearheaded and conceptualized by Group Captain Jai Kishan, Principal of HMI, the expedition was a manifestation of the visionary initiatives championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi focusing on empowering individuals with disabilities under the banners of ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ and ‘Divyangjan’.
From March 5 to March 18 Uday Kumar embarked on a journey that defied the odds stacked against him. Scaling treacherous slopes and facing unpredictable weather conditions, he persevered, inching closer to his goal with each step. The expedition culminated in a historic moment as Kumar became the first amputee to unfurl the largest Indian flag, measuring a staggering 780 square feet, atop Mount Rhenock, stated a press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on April 3.
The press release further claimed the feat set a new world record for the display of the largest national flag by a physically disabled individual.
Trekking nearly 100 kilometres through uphill and downhill slopes adorned with boulders, moraines, loose rocks, snow, and hard ice, Kumar faced the harsh realities of nature head-on. The ascent to the base camp of HMI at 14,600 feet presented its own set of obstacles, with unforgiving weather conditions adding to the already formidable task.
However, it was the daunting 75-degree angle peak of Mount Rhenock that proved to be the ultimate test of Kumar’s strength and determination.
