C P Vohra- The Summit Within

In May 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquered Mount Everest marking a historic milestone. Following their triumph Tenzing a native of Nepal accepted Indian citizenship from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and entered the annals of history as one of the first Indians to summit Everest. This spurred further conquests by British and American climbers yet the desire to be recognized as the first Indian-born climbers to reach the peak persisted fervently. This ambition was fulfilled in 1965 by a spirited team under the leadership of Captain M. S. Kohli. Though Captain Kohli did not summit himself his indomitable spirit guided nine climbers to the peak achieving multiple ascents in a single day. The climbers who reached the summit were Captain Avtar Singh Cheema Sonam Gyatso Sonam Wangyal Nawang Gombu C. P. Vohra Ang Kami Harish Chandra Singh Rawat Phu Dorjee and Mohan Singh Kohli. C. P. Vohra a geologist and the only civilian among trained military personnel distinguished himself with his unique background and resilience. Displaced from his home in Akhnoor now in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during the 1948 Kashmir conflict Vohra believed that true recognition is earned through deeds that resonate far beyond one's homeland. His ascent is not just a story of reaching a physical summit but also a metaphor for surmounting life's adversities through courage and determination. His legacy teaches us that it is not the land that defines us but our actions that carve our identity in the world—a powerful message of triumph and enduring inspiration.