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Once having granted this, the question remains: Why Everest? Because it is the highest, the mightiest and has defied many previous attempts. It takes the last ounce of one’s energy. It is a brutal struggle with rock and ice. Once taken up, it cannot be given up halfway even when one’s life is at stake. The passage back is as difficult as the passage onwards. And then, when the summit is climbed, there is the exhilaration, the joy of having done something, the sense of a battle fought and won. There is a feeling of victory and of happiness.
Glimpsing a peak in the distance, I get transported to another world. I experience a change within myself which can only be called mystical. By its beauty, aloofness, might, ruggedness, and the difficulties encountered on the way, the peak draws me to it — as Everest did. It is a challenge that is difficult to resist.
Glimpsing a peak in the distance, I get transported to another world. I experience a change within myself which can only be called mystical. By its beauty, aloofness, might, ruggedness, and the difficulties encountered on the way, the peak draws me to it — as Everest did. It is a challenge that is difficult to resist.
Explanation:
Later the narrator went on to say that even after answering why people climb mountains, the question of "Why Everest?" remained unanswered. It indicated that there were many mountains for climbing, and his mind questioned why he had selected Everest in particular.
The narrator had his reason behind climbing the world's highest mountain. He said that Everest was the world's highest peak and the most powerful mountain. Many people had tried and failed to climb over it because it was the most difficult climb. As a result, he was tremendously interested in climbing Everest. People needed every bit of power to reach the summit of Everest. It indicates while climbing Everest, the climbers undergo numerous hurdles. Also, the narrator stated while climbing Everest, the climb would take one's energy completely.
While climbing up, the climatic conditions vary, and it was a tough battle to fight against ice and massive rocks. When people were fighting with ice and huge rocks while ascending Everest, they cannot stop or give up even if their lives were in danger. It meant that the climbers would have to constantly deal with the hard ice and heavy rocks, and they would face it with determination and strength.
The narrator had his reason behind climbing the world's highest mountain. He said that Everest was the world's highest peak and the most powerful mountain. Many people had tried and failed to climb over it because it was the most difficult climb. As a result, he was tremendously interested in climbing Everest. People needed every bit of power to reach the summit of Everest. It indicates while climbing Everest, the climbers undergo numerous hurdles. Also, the narrator stated while climbing Everest, the climb would take one's energy completely.
While climbing up, the climatic conditions vary, and it was a tough battle to fight against ice and massive rocks. When people were fighting with ice and huge rocks while ascending Everest, they cannot stop or give up even if their lives were in danger. It meant that the climbers would have to constantly deal with the hard ice and heavy rocks, and they would face it with determination and strength.
People climbing Mount Everest and fighting against ice
Once someone had begun the difficult task of climbing Mount Everest, there was no way for them to give up in between because the journey backwards presented the same obstacles and challenges as the journey upwards. It meant that climbing Everest would be like a fight between barriers. It would give them a lot of struggles, and it was not easier to judge how the climbers would feel while climbing Everest. On the other hand, after mastering these hurdles, one felt immense happiness, excitement, joy, and victory over their accomplishment. It gave them a sense of satisfaction as if they had fought and won a battle.
The narrator claimed that while standing on Everest, he caught the glimpse of a distant peak. While looking at the peak, he got transported to another universe. He had gone through a transformation that could only be described as mystical. It meant that the beauty of the peak seemed to be magical and spiritual. Also, the narrator stated that there were many qualities in the peak, such as its uniqueness and power. The summit drawn him to it as Everest did because of its beauty, aloofness, might, toughness, and the obstacles endured along the way. The narrator believed that it was a difficult hurdle to overcome.
The narrator saw a distant peak
Meanings of the difficult words:
| S.No | Words | Meanings |
1 | Defy | Appear to be challenging someone to do or prove something |
2 | Resist | To fight against something |
3 | Brutal | Cruel and violent struggle |
4 | Struggle | To experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something |
5 | Encounter | To experience something, especially something unpleasant |
6 | Exhilaration | A feeling of excitement, happiness, or elation |
7 | Victory | An act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition |
8 | Glimpsing | To see something or someone for a very short time or only partly |
9 | Mystical | Relating to the belief that there is hidden meaning in life, or that each human being can unite with God |
10 | Aloofness | Behaviour that shows you are not friendly or willing to take part in things |
11 | Might | Strength, power or force |
12 | Ruggedness | Of a ground or mountain having a broken, rocky, and uneven surface |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2008). Honeydew. The Summit Within- H P S Ahluwalia (pp.75-82). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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