In a remarkable tale of determination and resilience, Malavath Poorna, a young Indian girl raised in a small tribal village by farm worker parents, defied all odds to become the youngest person to conquer the treacherous heights of Mount Everest at the age of 13.
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On May 25th, 2014, as reported by the BBC, Poorna completed the perilous Himalayan mountaineering journey at the age of 13 years and 11 months, surpassing the previous record held by an American boy who summited Everest in 2010.
In her own words, as quoted by PEOPLE magazine, Poorna described the overwhelming emotions she felt upon reaching the summit: "When I reached the top, I felt too much emotion, too much joy. All around me, beauty – mountains, sunshine, clouds. I could feel God there. I was grateful and too happy."
Poorna's ascent was not without its challenges. While the cold and discomfort were expected, she revealed her distaste for the packaged food they had to consume. "I did not like its smell or taste," she explained. "I [wanted] to go home and eat my mother's food."
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Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of her climb was encountering the remains of those who had lost their lives on the mountain. "I saw six dead bodies," she told reporters at a press conference in New Delhi, as reported by PEOPLE. "I was shocked. Oh, my god!"
However, Poorna's unwavering courage and the support of her loved ones propelled her forward. "I got some fear and immediately I remember my secretary, my parents and I got my courage and strength, energy," she said.
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Poorna's remarkable journey began at her school, a part of the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions, where she and several other students from her region were trained for the Everest climb, according to Wikipedia.
Her plans for the future were equally inspiring. Upon her return home, Poorna aimed to catch up on her missed schoolwork and eventually join law enforcement, inspired by the retired policeman who introduced her to mountaineering.
In an interview with Travel + Leisure India, Poorna shared her journey from rock climbing to scaling Everest. "It all started with an opportunity [to try] rock climbing at an academy in Bongir, located 48 kilometres from Hyderabad," she said. "After undergoing basic and advanced mountaineering courses, and a winter expedition course over three months, I learnt I had been selected for an expedition to Mt. Everest."
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