Padma Shri Major HPS Ahluwalia (retd) dies at 85

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New Delhi, January 15

Major HPS Ahluwalia (retd), a key member of the first Indian mountaineering team to have successfully summitted Mount Everest in May 1965, died here.

He was 85 years of age. He was chairman of the Indian Spinal Centre in the national capital. He was paralysed after being shot at during the Indo-Pak war in Sept 1965.

He had written several books, including two on Everest —“Higher than Everest” and “Faces of Everest”.

In 1965, the Indian expedition was led by Commander MS Kohli (retd) as leader when Maj Ahluwalia reached the top of the peak, the highest in the world.

Maj Ahluwalia, despite being wheelchair-bound since 1965, contributed to fields of adventure, sports, environment, disability and social work.

Maj Ahluwalia had also remained president of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and the Delhi Mountaineering Association. He was honoured with the country’s most prestigious awards — Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award. He also received the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.

He was born and raised in Shimla. His father worked for the Central Public Works Department as a Civil Engineer.

Maj Ahluwalia received advanced training in mountaineering at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling.

He climbed extensively in Sikkim and Nepal. He is survived by his wife Bholi Ahluwalia and daughter Sugandh Ahluwalia.

Scaled Everest in 1965

• Major HPS Ahluwalia (retd) was a trained mountaineer, author and social worker
• He was a key member of the first Indian mountaineering team to have successfully summitted Mount Everest in May 1965
• He was honoured with the country’s most prestigious awards — Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award. He also received the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award