Southern Star-January 2023 English

After a long time our club has been instrumental in a huge project with huge contribution.
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The dam is going to elevate lives of thousands of farming families in the Gundalwadi area. I suggest
A visit to Gundalwadi to be arranged for all members.
Rtn. PP Vinodbhai has once again done a herculean task and Rtn. Subhash Karandikar was lucky to get to work with him and learn a lot from him in the process of procuring this CSR funding.

Congratulations to the duo, president Ogale, IPP Atul, Rtn. Ramdas Jaid....!!

This project is an example of a good synergy project that fulfills all required guidelines by RI.

Presidents to be, get inspired.....get planning such big... OR
even bigger projects for your years of presidentship....

Rtn Sudhanshu Gore

This is the story of a mountaineer,Will Unsoeld, who was possessed by an ambition to climb Nandadevi. He first saw Nandadevi in 1949 while trekking in the area. Nandadevi is a very beautiful mountain and Will fell in love with it and decided to name his daughter after Nandadevi, when born. Unsoeld was a skilled mountaineer. His campaign in 1963 on the Western Ridge of Mt.Everest is considered to be one of the most thrilling climbing achievement in the history of mountaineering .He was a  professor of Theology at Evergreen State College, Washington, U S A,and a believer in occult science. When he got a daughter, as promised, she was named Nandadevi.

This is the story of a girl called Nandadevi,blue eyed ,golden haired ,beloved daughter,of a possessed father.She, as a child, was in Nepal for some years. There, while going about, holding her
father's hand, she must have heard many stories of Nandadevi Mt.,and been attracted to it right from her childhood. She must have sensed his urge to climb the Mountain and must have nurtured the ambition to fulfill his wish right from the beginning. In 1975 she decided to climb the Mountain along with her brother and father and few other mountaineers.To arrange a Himalayan expedition is not an easy task to undertake. It takes 2 to 4 months for the expedition to be completed, at a considerable expense.Expedition material along with food items, climbing gear, tents,coolies to carry the luggage, Sherpas,skilled mountaineers, have to be collected. There are very few good mountaineers available who are capable of climbing a difficult peak like, Nandadevi. Many of the first class climbers capable of reaching Himalayan Heights have perished, doing so. Thirst to climb higher and higher takes its toll and sometimes the Mountain wins. 15% of the Everesters have died on Everest. Many  American companies helped the expedition with funds.India also sent two mountaineers along with qqq funds with the expedition.

The expedition started from New York on 5th of July 1976 and all the mountaineers got together in Delhi till 9th. Because of Nandadevi,the news media was very much interested in the expedition. In one of the interviews given She says' I have been attracted to Mt.Nandadevi  right from my childhood. That Mountain has occupied every moment of my life. Like my father, I strongly wish to climb Nandadevi. 'At the age of 49-50years,Will Unsold was not fit enough to climb the Mountain. After enduring the heat of North India, the team reached JoshiMath and further to Lata by truck.Onward journey was very hard and on foot.Many expedition members were suffering from stomach problems. Within one day the team reached Lata Kharak at the altitude of 12000ft. through a difficult climb in torrential rains. On 16th July Dhanarasi Pass at 16000ft.was reached. The passage was very difficult with heavy rains and land slides on the way.The Rishi river was flowing deep in the Rishi Gorge, a few thousand feet below. Nandadevi was suffering from hernia, occurred during the lifting of heavy luggage in Delhi.The stress of climbing the steep gradient exacerbated her condition. Ultimately on 17th of July the expedition reached the Base Camp at 13500 ft.Infront of them was the 12000ft. straight face of Nandadevi Mountain.Nandadevi was seeing the same spectacular Nandadevi Mountain for the first time. The Mountain was conquered for the first time on 29th of August 1936. At that time Nandadevi was the highest peak to be climbed. Annapurna was climbed 14 years later. It is believed that an attempt was made to install some nuclear powered devices on Nandadevi Mountain, in collaboration with USA, to keep an eye on Chinese missile testing, which failed Therefore currently Nandadevi area is out of bounds for trekking. Nandadevi fell in love with the Mountain at the  first sight. But she was also falling in love with Andy Harvard, a fellow mountaineer.

This is a love story of Nandadevi, a golden haired, blue eyed beauty.It is a classic love story like Laila Majanu, Hir Ranja or Romeo Juliette.Andy was a student of Law and an ordinary mountaineer.How and when this love affair began?When did their eyes met?When did their minds matched?How could their love blossom, where not even a blade of grass can grow? How was that passion  ignited, where even  breath can freeze?. Perhaps, while tackling a difficult climb ,Andy must have given her his hand and that touch must have ignited the passion in her.

After a hard climb mountaineers reached  advance base camp at the height of 17,100 ft.The weather was very bad with strong winds. So much so, that every body had to sit on the tents, so that, they would not be blown away. It was freezing cold. Defying death, Nandadevi was climbing along with the others. On 2nd of August camp 1 at 19000 ft was established. Nandadevi was not fully acclimatized. Among the many hazards of a high altitude climbing, like, falling down the ice slope, getting stuck in a snow storm or getting caught in an avalanche, life threatening  mountain sickness is one of them. In mountain sickness, one gets nausea,headache ,weakness, lethargy, hallucinations, emphysema, cerebral edema, blindness and subsequent death.The only cure for this condition is to descend to the lower levels.Mountain sickness strikes without warning. Sherpas of Nepal who live at high altitude, can carry luggage on their back,up to the hight of 28,000 ft.Where as, during Nandadevi expedition, a lady mountaineer was evacuated by helicopter from the height of 14000 ft. 11th August 1976 must have been a Rakhi Purnima Day. Nandadevi was a favorite person among the porters. She tied Rakhi to everyone. At the same time Andy also proposed to her and she said Yes to him. This must have been a Rakhi Bandhan as well as a marriage proposal at the highest altitude at that time. Preparations were being made to establish camp 2 at the height of 19,907ft. Nandadevi was suffering from severe cough,therefore she decided to come down to advance base camp at 17,000 ft. From 11th August to 20th there was a snow storm and everyone was stuck in  their camps. On 20th August the Sun peeped out of the clouds and the expedition started again. That day camp 2 was established. Next day camp 3 at the hight of 22,300,was hammered in. Nandadevi along with the others stated climbing up from the lower level. There was a vertical cliff between 23,000 and 24,000ft. It was essential to climb and secure that cliff to establish camp 4 at 24,000 ft.On the 1st of September camp 4 was erected. Next day from camp 4 Nandadevi peak at the hight of 25,645, was reached. At night Nandadevi was informed about the success. She was overwhelmed with emotions. After the initial success, Nandadevi partnering with Andy and Peter was to attempt the peak next and her long standing ambition to climb Nandadevi Mountain was going to be fulfilled. The first team of Jim and John started getting down from camp 4 and reached camp 3,but Nandadevi's team from camp 3 had not even started from the camp. Nandadevi was not well.John advised Nandadevi not to go further, but no body listened to him. Nandadevi was furious. Her long standing dream of climbing Nandadevi Mountain would have been shattered. John also pleaded with her father Will,but he refused to intervene. On 3rd September Andy,Peter and Nandadevi started for camp 4.Her Hernia was troubling Nandadevi. Till 6 o'clock in the evening Nandadevi had not reached camp 4.Andy reached camp 4 alone at 11 o'clock at night. Willy was at camp 3.He called for Nandadevi and she answered. At 12 o'clock Andy turned back and found Nandadevi stuck up 30 ft.below on the vertical cliff. She was shouting for help and could be heard at camp 3 at the hight of 19000 ft.but Andy and Peter did not hear her.She was brought to camp 4 at 2 0'clock.Everybody was exhausted at camp 4 and decided to rest. On 5th of September Peter, Andy and Nandadevi put on climbing gear and started for the summit. Nandadevi was very slow and was suffering from diarrhea. She decided to stay back. Andy also stayed with her. Peter went towards the summit alone, but couldn't go farther because of the inclement weather and turned back. It was snowing outside and Nandadevi had to spend her 3rd night at the hight of 24000 ft.On 6th of September Nandadevi was still stuck at camp 4.She was too weak to climb. Neither could she climb down the difficult cliff between camp 3 and 4.Andy was not prepared to leave her alone for the summit attempt. She was more important to him than the summit of Nandadevi Mountain. Both of them decided to marry soon after their return from the expedition. Willy and Andy decided to make an attempt for summit on 7th of September and then get Nandadevi down the cliff .But on 7th there was a severe storm outside and nobody could leave the tent. Nandadevi was suffering from stomach ach and bloated stomach. Her physical condition deteriorated. She could feel better in sitting position but needed help to do so.Everybody decided to take her to a lower level inspite of her condition.

On Himalayan Mountain, it is not easy to evacuate  a sick person. The patient has to be carried on back or given support by others. There is a danger of slipping down the slope or over a precipice. The storm was not abating. Nandadevi was turning blue. She was trying to drink something. Her father Willy had gone outside the tent to collect some clothes. She was having extreme stomach ache . Suddenly she turned white. She asked Peter to check her pulse. She said 'I think I am dying '.She vomited and dropped her head.Andy tried to resuscitate her,but it was of no use. Nandadevi was sacrificed to Nandadevi Mountain.

There is a tradition among mountaineers. More Importance is given to the survivors than the perished. To bring Nandadevi's  corpse down would have been more dangerous, therefore her body was wrapped in her sleeping bag and released over the flank of Nandadevi Mountain to have a Perpetual resting place. Dear Nandadevi was handed over to Goddess Nandadevi.

How could such a tragedy occur?There is a belief among the Sherpas that Gods reside on the high mountains and improper behavior among the men and women spoils the piety of the place.In the month of May 1996,around 240 people had gone to Mt.Everest, many among them were mere tourists. There was a sexual relationship between a man and woman on the Mountain. Sherpas had complained about it. During that expedition 9 mountaineers died in a single night. Totally 12 people perished in May 1996.But on Everest there was lust. Where as, Nandadevi was in love, where promises were made. Dreams were dreamt about the future together. Why was she not pardoned by the Goddess?Only the Gods know.
Thus this love story ended, where it started. On a Mountain called Nandadevi.

The  End

The list of celebrities, both Indian and foreigners included acclaimed writers, critics, historians, film actors, and social activists. I was blessed to witness the presence of Mrs. Sudha Murthy, Nasiruddin Shah, Dr. Vikram Sampat, Deepti Naval, Sushmita Mukherjee, Rujuta Diwekar. Interacting with Mrs. Sudha Murthy and learning about a life of humility, diligence and unerring compassion is now one of the most memorable experiences in life. I look forward to more such intriguing experiences in life.

The summary of her guidance to people and to ladies mainly is on 3 points as:

1. Ladies should never under estimate their capabilities and should continue to do all jobs with men.

2. Husband and wife should give adequate space and support to each other to pursue their career and life.

3. We should always try to study and analyze the mindset of people around us in society, understand their expectations and difficulties to give them support what ever possible.

This helps us in developing our own personality and have good relations with people around us.