Migrant labourer’s daughter scales Mt Kilimanjaro
Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi
Garhshankar, August 16
Priyanka Dass, daughter of a migrant labourer living in Moranwali village, etched her name in history books by scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. She received help from Shaheed-a-Azam Bhagat Singh Football Club, Garhshankar, and financial assistance from the kin of a retired Armyman at whose residence she used to work as a help.
Got assistance from football club
- When Priyanka got an invitation to go for Kilimanjaro expedition, arranging the expenses (around Rs 3 lakh) of the expedition was the biggest hurdle. “Our club came forward to support her and also major assistance was provided by Preetam Singh Aujla’s daughters Rajinder Kaur from Canada and Kulwinder Kaur from England and other family members to fulfil her dream,” said Jasvir Singh Rai, president, Shaheed-a-Azam Bhagat Singh Football Club, Garhshankar. He said Priyanka would be returning home on August 19 and they were planning to throw a warm welcome to her.
Advocate Jasvir Singh Rai, president, Shaheed-a-Azam Bhagat Singh Football Club, Garhshankar, told The Tribune, “Priyanka passed her graduation recently. During her studies, she had attempted to get recruited in the police but could not succeed. She then joined the NCC in college and learnt mountaineering. Army’s retired Subedar Kewal Singh Bhajjal of Garhshankar and retired Subedar Lakhwinder Singh, athletics coach motivated and guided her to continue mountaineering. She scaled many peaks earlier and stayed in touch with the mountaineers of various origins. Now, she’s the first Punjabi to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.” Rai added that Priyanka’s family had been living in the house of my uncle, retired JCO Preetam Singh Aujla and his wife Daso Bua in Moranwali village taking care of them and their house as their daughters have been married abroad.
After the death of couple, they have been in regular touch with their sons and daughters in Canada and England. When Priyanka got an invitation to go for Kilimanjaro expedition, arranging the expenses (around Rs 3 lakh) of the expedition was the biggest hurdle. “Our club came forward to support her and also major assistance was provided by Preetam Singh Aujla’s daughters Rajinder Kaur from Canada and Kulwinder Kaur from England and other family members to fulfil her dream,” said Rai. He said Priyanka would be returning home on August 19 and they were planning to throw a warm welcome to her. “We are proud that an Indian girl has earned such a huge success,” said Rai.
