Himalayan Times (1954)

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November 28, 1954

Editor

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impong

LEARNING TO CLIMB MOUNTAINS

The -first batch of trainees
from • India's Mountaineering
institute in Darjeeling has
reached" Sikkiui f.r their prac-
tical training. They will receive
their practical training in moun-
taineering on the glaciers of
Sikk'im Himalayas. The Moun-
taineering institute aimB at the
promotion' pf the science and
»rt of mountaineering among
Indians including members of
the ■ Defence . Serv.ces. Among
other things the institute will
undertake comprehensive pro-
fessional training, short . inten-
sive coursos, courses fur students,
training of guides and develop-
ment of winter sports.

. In his inaugural address
at the foundation-stone laying,
ceremony at Darjeeling -Dr.
B. C. Roy pointed out that the
institute aimed at imparting
training in leadership, comrade-
ship fnd discipline. Th^se qua-
lities produce good soldiers and
mountaineering as a sport is
heigh ly considered in the De-
fence Seivioes, ' •

The Defend! Services are
keenly interested in the Hima-
layan mouu'aiiieering institute
and the first Principal is an
Army man, Major N. I). Jayal.
Tenzing is the . Director of
Field'Training. Tenz n< beheves
and inces3Hnt:y in eftci.es the
first rule that every climber
has to learn. It is this tlwit
no one should kick at -a stone,
or the stone will .kick back.
B.it to'cfimti thousands of fe«t
and not kick a stone is some-

thing which can be mastered
by learning the science and art
of climbing only. India, a land
of mountains and rivers, should
find, enough applicants at all
times for the school at Darjeeling.

The Defenr-e Ministry wiil,
share part of the expenses, re-
curring snd non-recurring, of
the mountaineering institute. A
batch of Service trainees will
be included in tho first course
and subsequent courses. Moun-
taineering develops qualities
essential in an official and lea-
der of men. It has immense
training va'uo f.r militarV per-
sonnel. In view of India's
long mountain rampart on the
north it is very necessary to
have battalions of mountain
fighters in the Indian Army.
The snowy areas of India, are
strategic and vulnerable and
soldiers in such areas need part
of the training given to men
who carry arms n Switzerland

KOGAN AND LAMBERT
IN DARJEELING

Darjeeling;. Nov. 24

M" e Kogan, the French
women wl 0 recently esta-
blished a climbing record
among women climbers bv
reaching a height of 25,400
ft. on Cho Oyu, has arrived
in Darjeeling for a short
stay as Tenzing's guest.
With her is Raymond Lam-
bert, the leader of the
unsuccessfu' Swiss expedi-

CONGRESS ELECTION
Kalimporjg, Nov. 27

The affairs of the Man
dal Congress Committee
has taken a serious turn
at present. The nomina-
tion and election of the
delegate from Kalimpong
has been openly critisised
by Congress members.
Most of the influential
members and committee
members have no know-
ledge of the election.

This has created a rift
among the members.

tion to Gourishanker and
later Cho Oyu.

In an interview Mme
Kogan told that though she
was ' very happy'1 to have
established a record, she
was disappointed of not
being able to reach the
summit of Cho Oyo, gene-
rally due to bad weather
and, the lale season.

Mme Kogan has spe-
cially come to Darjeeling
to meet Tenzing, whom she
had never met before. But
her host is away, some-
where on the base of Kin-
chinjunga, coaching the
frst batch of trainees of
the Himalayan Mouhtai-
' neering Institute.

Do You Know

The ornate copper cof-
fin for M. Andrei Vy-
. shinsky. said to have cost
more than £ 2850 ( Rs.
38000)