From contemplating suicide to receiving adventure award from President, life has come full circle for Uday Kumar

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 17, 2025 : From losing a leg in an accident and contemplating ending his life due to depression and then going on to climb peaks and being awarded by the President, life has come full circle for Uday Kumar of Bihar. On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu conferred on Kumar the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2023 for his outstanding achievements in Land Adventure at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi.

Kumar (35) hails from Chapra, Bihar, and is currently employed in a private firm in Kolkata.

"It is a dream come true for every mountaineer. We aspire for this moment. I am extremely grateful to the HMI for helping and supporting me. I am elated at the moment and will need some time to savor the occasion," Kumar said over the phone from Delhi.

Life was cruel for Kumar when he lost his left leg in a train accident in 2015. He has 91 percent disability above the knee, and four fingers on his right leg had to be amputated.

Thereafter, Kumar went into a deep depression due to his condition and the inability to fend for his family. In 2016, Kumar tried to take his life. But, timely intervention by his family members changed his perspective towards life. Kumar took to running and participated in several events across the country to rebuild his confidence, which had reached its nadir.

In 2022, Kumar thought of taking up climbing activities and approached Group Captain Jai Kishan, Principal of the famed Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, to help him.

"I am ever grateful to my Guru (Jai Kishan). He lifted my spirit and helped me overcome my doubts. It is very difficult for a disabled person to lead a normal life, leave alone climb huge mountains. I will strive harder to achieve greater things," Kumar said.

Following his meeting with the HMI Principal, Kumar did not look back, and his journey began. He underwent and completed rigorous training and started climbing the mountains.

"After seeing his (Kumar's) physical condition, many thoughts cropped up in mind; especially about his fitness, training requirements, and planning. There were hundreds of reasons to say no. However, after seeing Kumar's perseverance and grit, I made up my mind to assist and support him to cross the barriers," the HMI principal said over the phone from Delhi.

Kumar's recognition marks the culmination of his extraordinary journey and the success of the "Mera Yuva Bharat Divyangjan Mission K2K Expedition" of the Centre. It is an example of an inspiring feat of resilience, empowerment, and national pride. Mission K2K implies Kanchenjunga to Kilimanjaro, varying in altitudes from 16,500 feet to 19,341 feet.

On March 5, 2024, Kumar, under the aegis of the HMI, set off on an expedition to reach the summit of Mount Rhenock in Sikkim, which he successfully completed after 15 grueling days. Rhenock falls under the Kanchenjunga Mountain Range.

Then, the same year, from August 2 to 17, Kumar traversed continents to conquer the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa under the mentorship and guidance of Jai Kishan.

The K2K expedition set a world record for displaying a 7,800 square feet Indian flag atop Mt. Kilimanjaro, an Asian record for displaying the national flag underwater off the African coast, and another Asian record was achieved with a sky-diving display over the African continent.

Even as Kumar was felicitated by the President, he continues to deliver food to customers to make ends meet, in his after-office hours.