I wanted to share with you some thoughts, and possibly the news in case you had not heard, about the passing of my grandfather, former foreign minister of Nepal Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay. My grandfather was 82 years young (yes, young), and he suddenly became ill and collapsed while attempting to scale Mount Everest and break the record of Min Bahadur Sherchan as the oldest climber of the highest peak on earth.
When he had first announced his wish to climb Mount Everest, there were very few people who believed in the idea, some even laughed it off saying it was just a velleity and a public stunt of a passing whim. But my grandfather was really serious, and as part of his preparations he had climbed the 6,467m Mera Peak and the 6,160m Island Peak, popularly known as the trekkers’ peaks, some months ago.
He had also undergone a training regimen in order to prepare himself for the daunting task of scaling Everest. A challenge even for those in the prime of their lives and in peak physical condition!
In attempting this climb, my grandfather definitely went out with a bang, doing something he firmly believed in and was impassioned about doing.
I cannot say enough, how great a man he was and how proud I am to be his grandson. His lifelong ambition has been toward helping the young and old alike, and to be a role model for all.
Granddad was a well-known politician, serving as Nepal’s ambassador to the United Nations from 1972 to 1978 and later became Nepal´s minister for foreign affairs from 1986 to 1990. He was born in Karnowl in India. He joined the Indian National Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 at the start of his political career.
In these days when young people do not have exemplary people to look at, I can safely say that I had one. I still remember his famous quote: "Either I will successfully climb Mount Everest or bury myself in the ice of Himalayas during my mission."
I am certain Nepal has lost one of its bravest souls and most profound contributors. We will mourn this loss for ages to come, and I know that for me and my family this tragedy leaves a void in our lives that will not be mended soon.
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good one bidhan.....A couragoeus man indeed!! May his soul rest in peace!
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saugat
He was a great person, great adventuer, great politician, and great inspiration to our family and country.We must be proud of him. Personally i think, this is a boost to our family and the people of Nepal.He was living a simple ordinary life. But his aim and thoughts were always big. He always wanted to do something that would benefit to every body. There is not what they take away from you that counts. It is what you do with what you have left. After all, all he did was string together a lot of
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Saurav Upadhyay
Nice article Bidhan. All i wanted to say is that your grand dad was a man of courage, wanting to do some impossibles and i don´t think he failed to climb the highest peak but in fact he climbed the highest point where someone can possibly think of reaching. No wander his death was a catastrophe that aroused into your family. As a matter of fact some day we all have to die, but to die like a real man or to die with courage is not possible to every man.
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