Malavath Purna, 13, becomes youngest female to climb Mount Everest. Photo from the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Educational Society Facebook page
A 13-year-old poor tribal student from a remote region of India made history Sunday by becoming the youngest girl to climb Mount Everest , at 29,035 feet the tallest mountain on Earth. The feat is all the more
remarkable and inspirational considering the teens background, and the route taken.
Malavath Purna was joined by Sadanapalli Anand, a 17-year-old student, in climbing Mount Everest from the Tibetan side, considered a more difficult route than the more popular Nepal side. The Times of India said it was the first time two poor tribal students from the remote area of Andhra Pradesh, India, had attempted climbing Mount Everest.
Malavath Purna, left, and Sadanapalli Anand, two poor tribal students from India who climbed Mount Everest. Photo from the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Educational Society Facebook page
According to The Hindu , Purna planted the Indian flag at the summit and declared, The world is very small.
The two students were handpicked for the 52-day expedition by the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Educational Society, a government-run social welfare organization that developed the climbing program as a means to encourage young tribal students from impoverished and inaccessible areas.
The Times of India explained :
Purna is a student IX in Thadwai [Andra Pradesh Residential Schools]. Her parents are daily wageworkers. Extremely good in studies and extracurricular activities, she grabbed the opportunity by undergoing a four-stage screening test.
Last year, APSWRS authorities picked up two students from each of 299 residential schools across the state and selected 108 talented students after a held in Bhongir of Nalgonda district. In the screening test only 20 students were shortlisted. They were trained at Darjeeling Himalayan Mountaineering Institute between October 26 and November 16.
During the training programme, Purna got A grade by climbing Kanchenjunga and she was finally selected for the Everest [expedition]. She along with Anand began the hike on April 4 from Kathmandu.
Purnas father is from an indigenous tribe and earns 35,000 rupees ($600) a year as a farm , according to the Arab News.
We are happy that our girl has set the world record, Purnas parents said, according to The Times of India. We know she will go places. She is not only bright in academics , but also in adventure.
Added Mohammed Ansari, the technical coordinator for the climbing team, which included 10 Sherpas: She was strong and determined to climb Everest. We are very proud. She wanted to take the risk. She said that her community will gain recognition if they succeed.
They certainly succeeded. The feat also prompted Indias new prime minister, Narendra Modi, to tweet, Was very happy to read this. Congrats to our youngsters. They make us truly proud.
Malavath Purna, a 13-year-old poor tribal student from a remote region of India, made history by becoming the youngest girl to climb Mount Everest. Photo from Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Educational Society Facebook page
In 2010, 13-year-old American Jordan Romero claimed the record for the youngest to climb Mount Everest, also from Tibet. His climb sparked criticism because of the dangers taken by such a young climber. The China Tibet Mountaineering Association reportedly banned children 16 and under from climbing Everest. According to the Arab News , the age limit is in effect on the Nepal side but not the Tibet side.
Before Purna, who is also being referred to as Poorna by some, the youngest female to climb Everest was Nima Chemji Sherpa of Nepal at age 16 in 2012.
Purnas historic climb comes more than a month after a deadly avalanche killed 16 Sherpas that shutdown the climbing season on the Nepal side, and delayed Purnas climb.
What an amazing girl. BRAVO !!
Her parents are extremely proud of her.