13-year-old Jaahnavi from Andhra Pradesh to set global mountaineering record

Jaahnavi at the Stok Summit in August 2014

Jaahnavi started the last leg of her climb at 2.30 a.m. 11 hours later, she had completed the steep 12 kilometer hike up the Stok Kangri trail. At the summit, with the mountains dropping off below her, she called her father, “I am fine. I am right on top. It’s awesome.” This is not the end of the road for Jaahnavi. Glory can wait.

The Seven Summits Mountaineering Challenge

The Stok climb was part of Jaahnavi’s training to scale the Seven Summits: the highest mountains in each of the seven continents. This is a mountaineering challenge accomplished by only about a hundred mountaineers. She has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, and set another global record at her age. Next, at 13, she will climb Everest.

Jaahnavi scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa, setting a global record.

For a girl from a middle-class family in Srikakulam, India, this is a major achievement. But then, Jaahnavi is no ordinary child.By the age of 10, she had completed two high altitude treks, five national treks, and 25 local treks. She is also into rafting, parasailing, rock climbing, and practicing ninjutsu. “I do not know what fear is,” she admits, before heading off for her classical dance lessons. Later, she will work on her homework; Class 9 studies at school are no cakewalk.

A journey of struggle and sacrifice

Dr. Krishna Rao, Jaahnavi’s father, is proud of her, “She is a dedicated child. She is an inspiration to young girls aspiring to be mountaineers. She is proof that given opportunity, a child can reach unexpected heights.”

But providing their child an opportunity this big comes at a price. Supporting herrigorous preparations take up a lot of time. So her father quit his hospital job to support her, and has been unemployed the past year. He divides his time between accompanying her and seeking sponsors. Jaahnavi’s mother, a school teacher, runs their home.

As any mountaineer will vouch, finding sponsors for expeditions is a tough sell and a time consuming effort. When pressed for details, Jaahnavi’s father shared, “We need to raise Rs. 5,000,000 for the Everest climb, to fundequipment, travel expenses, and other costs. We have been going around. But till now, no company or institute has agreed.” Since Jaahnavi donated all the surplus from her previous expeditions to charity, they have to raise funds from scratch.

Her motivation

Asked why she does it, Jaahnavi replies, “Because I can. Because my parents let me. I want all Indian girls and their parents to know, it can be done. If only every girl had the opportunity to achieve her potential,” she hopes.

That is why, after each trek, Jaahnavi donates all her surplus sponsored funds to support the education of underprivileged girls.After this climb too, she will donate the surplus to educate 5 girls.“This time, we will start our own foundation. It will be transparent, and will provide underprivileged girls an education and opportunities.”

In a country where 50% of the girls don’t make it through school, a girl like Jaahnavi is a very powerful role model. Her achievement will be so much more than personal triumph. It will be so much more than bringing glory to India.

Jaahnavi’s Everest climb is scheduled for April 2015. She has put in a lot of effort preparing for this. She has not heard back from a single sponsor yet. Time is running out. But she does not let that distract her from her goals. “We will find a way,” says the determined young girl from Andhra Pradesh.