Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ felicitated Ms. Kaamya Karthikeyan as the youngest Indian Mount Everest summiteer on 29 May 2024. The day is annually celebrated as International Everest Day to commemorate the first ascent on Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world at 8848.86 metres. Since 1953, when Nepal’s Tenzing Norgey and New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary reached the Everest summit, more than 8000 people have followed suit.
Youngest Summiteer
Ms. Kaamya is 16 years and nine months old. She reached the summit on May 20 from South Cole on the Nepalese side. She was accompanied by her father, Mr. S Karthikeyan, 45, an Indian Navy Commander. Ms. Shivangi Pathak previously held the title in 2018, being the youngest woman to scale Mount Everest at 16 years and 10 months. The father-daughter commenced their journey from Kathmandu on 6 April 2024. To reach Mount Everest, they underwent extreme climate conditions and braved the rough and dangerous terrain of the Khumbu Icefall. According to Ms. Kaamya, her interest in scaling Mount Everest peaked when she trekked to the Everest Base Camp seven years ago. Furthermore, the love and hospitality she received from the locals encouraged her to undertake this difficult journey.
Commenting on the occasion, Ms. Kaamya remarked, “Extremely honoured to have been invited to the celebration of the 71st Sagarmatha Day and felicitated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Puspa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” ji! It was truly a privilege to be amongst such celebrated mountaineers… I’m also really thankful to have been given the opportunity to address such an amazing audience!” She also expressed gratitude to have met several notable mountaineers: “Also had the privilege of meeting the legendary Kami Rita Sherpa (@kamiritasherpa ) who just successfully returned from his 30th SUMMIT of Mt. Everest!! Truly a legend I also got to meet a fellow Everest summiteer and awardee of this season, @alliepepperadventures who is on an amazing mission to climb the 14x8000ers without oxygen! Wishing her all the very best in her endeavour.”
Indian Navy Celebrations
The Indian Navy congratulated Ms. Kaamya profusely. The Western Naval Command remarked, “Ms Kaamya Karthikeyan, a 16-year-old, class XII student of Navy Children School, Mumbai and her father Cdr S Karthikeyan of the #IndianNavy successfully summitted Mt. Everest (8849 M) on 20 May 24.” Commenting on her spectacular achievement, the Naval Command also noted, “Ms. Kaamya has now completed six milestones in her mission to summit the highest peak of all seven continents and aims to summit Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica this December to become the youngest girl to accomplish the 7summits challenge.”
The official spokesperson for the Indian Navy also congratulated Ms. Kaamya for this extraordinary feat: “#IndianNavy congratulates Ms.
Kaamya Karthikeyan d/o Cdr S Karthikeyan on becoming the youngest #Indian & the second youngest girl in the world to summit Mt Everest from the Nepal side. Kaamya has exhibited immense courage & fortitude in summiting the highest peaks in six of the seven continents. #IndianNavy wishes young Kaamya the very best in her aspiration to summit the highest peaks of all seven continents, becoming the youngest girl to do so.”
Apart from Ms. Kaamya, P.M. Prachanda felicitated notable mountaineers like Kami Rita Sherpa and Phunjo Lama. Moreover, he pledged to set up a welfare fund to assist sherpas in contributing to mountain tourism.
