Souvenir: 1st North East India on top of the world (Mt. Everest) Expedition
- Date: 20th March, 2013 -
- at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi

Mount Everest:

Mount Everest was formed about 600 million years ago. The elevation of Mount Everest is 29, 035 feet (8848 meters). Mt. Everest is named after Sir George Everest in 1865, the British Surveyor- general of India. Prior to naming the Mt. Everest, it was known as Peak 15. Mt. Everest has the distinction of bring the mountain with the highest altitude. The summit of Everest is the point at which the Earth's surface reaches the greatest distance above sea level.

The First Summit:

On May 28, 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were left behind by their companions. They hoped to be the first to climb the world's highest mountain. The next day they became the first people in the world to climb Mount Everest. They were only on the crown of the world for fifteen minutes before they had to step off the highest perch on earth. Sir Edmund P. Hillary was a beekeeper from New Zealand. He was born in Auckland. His first attempt to climb Mt. Everest was in 1951 and 1952. The next year he reached the summit. Queen Elizabeth II knighted Hillary for his great achievement.

Significance of Mt. Everest Summit:

It is the dream of every mountaineer in the world to scale the Mt. Everest in their life. It is the goal one wants to attain in their lifetime as a mountaineer. Proposed Mission- 1st North East India on top of the world (Mt. Everest) Expedition;

This will be the first ever Mt. Everest expedition comprising of team members from North East India. The team members comprises resident of all the 8 states of North East India. This mission is to be funded by NEC, Shillong under the able guidance of Planning Department, Government of Manipur and executed under the leadership and command of Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA), Manipur.

This expedition will be scripted in the history of India as the first expedition of North East India to Mt. Everest under the leadership of Govt, of Manipur and MMTA.

Objective of the Mission:

The main objective of the Mount Everest Expedition to share the experiences of Adventure-sports to the youths is to foster amongst them a spirit of risk taking, co-operative team work and the capacity of ready and vital response and alertness to challenging situations and especially the quality of 'Endurance'. While all young person's will get the opportunity to avail themselves of adventure facilities, this scheme of training them includes serving the first generation learners (students and non-students alike) of both rural and urban areas with particular thrust on student community. And this will strengthen institutional structures to support adventure programmes.

It will also enhance the leadership qualities to our youths and will get a lot of knowledge through vast natural environment as part of outdoor education and hence a desire for conserving the natural resources and preserving the cultural heritage will be created among the youths with National Integration.

Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA), Manipur: (Website: www.mmtamanipur.com)

Manipur Mountaineering Trekking Association (MMTA) was established on 21st September 1980 by a group of sports enthusiasts of the state. The main focus area is mountaineering and adventure sports. Today the MMTA comprises the Manipur Mountaineering Institute (MMI), Lamdan. The MMI imparts training in various adventure sports. MMTA and MMI were recognised by Govt, of Manipur as State Adventure of Tourism in the year 1992. In the year 1985, Sir Tenzing Norgay- the first person to scale the Mt. Everest along with Sir Edmund Hillary laid the Foundation Stone of MMI at Lamdan (Ramtan) of Manipur.

MMTA and MMI conduct various adventure activities such as:-

Manipur Mountaineering Trekking Association (MMTA) was established on 21st September 1980 by a group of sports enthusiasts of the state. The main focus area is mountaineering and adventure sports. Today the MMTA comprises the Manipur Mountaineering Institute (MMI), Lamdan. The MMI imparts training in various adventure sports. MMTA and MMI were recognised by Govt, of Manipur as State Adventure of Tourism in the year 1992. In the year 1985, Sir Tenzing Norgay-the first person to scale the Mt. Everest along with Sir Edmund Hillary laid the Foundation Stone of MMI at Lamdan (Ramtan) of Manipur.

MMTA and MMI conduct various adventure activities such as:- Adventure Course, Mountaineering Trekking, Scientific Expedition to the Nature, Himalayan Expedition, Everest Base Camp Trekking Expedition, Foreign Expedition, Rafting, waterman ship, Para sailing, Para-Gliding, Power-gliding, Ballooning, Rafting, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing in Natural and Artificial walls. MMTA have hosted North East Zone Sports Climbing Competition for 13th times at the Kangla Rock and Sports Climbing Wall, Minuthong, Imphal.

Some of our pioneers in the field of Mountaineering are Shri Th. Thambou, Smt. B. Umeshowri Devi, Smt. M. Jamini Devi and Smt. Kh. Bedamani Devi. From amongst its MMTA and MMI produced Mrs. G. Anita Devi Everester in 1993, May 5, she got National Adventure Award in 1994 and also the first North East Lady conferred Padmashree in 2004 by the President of India in the field of Adventure & Mountaineering Activities. Mr. Nongmaithem Suraj Singh is the Ist Manipuri on the top of Mt. Everest in 2008, May 22, through SGMI -Gangtok-Sikkim.

MMTA is credited as the first voluntary organisation in the country to impart training to the Indian Army in Pre- Basic Mountaineering Course at its Institute. Till date, keeping the spirit of adventure sports alive, MMTA has been able to successfully undertake various courses in the field of adventure sports and mountaineering related activities.

Highlights of the proposed expedition:

- This is the first Expedition comprising exclusively of the Mountaineers of North East India.
- Mrs. Anshu Jamsenpa, the first lady from Arunachal Pradesh, who has scaled Mt. Everest twice in the history is part of the climber Team to create history for the third time.
- Mr. N. Chinkheinganba, 16 year old boy, on completion of the expedition will be the youngest to scale the Mt.Everest.
- First expedition to be executed under the leadership of a State Government.

SI. No. Name Designation
1 Shri Okram Ibobi Singh Hon'ble Chief Minister of Manipur Chief Patron
2 Shri Tarun Gogoi Hon'ble Chief Minister Assam Patron
3 Shri Nabam Tuki, Hon'ble Chief Minister Arunachal Pradesh Patron
4 Dr. Mukul Sangma, Hon'ble Chief Minister Meghalaya Patron
5 Shri. Neiphiu Rio, Hon'ble Chief Minister Nagaland Patron
6 Dr. Pawan Chamling, Hon'ble Chief Minister Sikkim Patron
7 Shri Zodintluanga Hon'ble Minister Sports and Youth Services Govt, of Mizoram, Aizwal Patron
8 Secretary NEC, Govt, of India -Shillong Patron
9 Shri D S Poonia -IAS, Chief Secretary Manipur Chef-De-Mission
10 Shri Pradip Phanjoubam, ( Sr. Member MMTA) Editor- The Imphal Free Press Editor Souvenir
11 Shri Ph. Chandrakumar Sharma. Hony. Secy. MMTA Support Backup
12 Shri Ng. Pobitro, Treasurer MMTA Finance
13 Santosh Shekhar (Member-MMTA) Communication i/c
14 Dr. L. Surjit Singh, President MMTA ( Organiser of this Expedition) Leader of the Expedition (Technical)

SOUVENIR

To commemorate this event, a multicolour Souvenir will be produced with around 2000 copies. The proposed Souvenir will incorporate articles from renowned personalities of North East on emergence of North East, Mountaineering and Eco- Adventure Tourism Potential, moreover the Souvenir will also have message from the His Excellency the President of India, Honourable Prime Minister of India, and Governors and Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States.

Considering the unique nature of the venture the Souvenir will be released by His Excellency the President of India alongside the flagging off ceremony of this maiden venture at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on 20th March, 2013 in the presence of high level of dignitaries & luminaries. The proposed" Souvenir will be widely circulated amongst the various high level officials, Embassies, Corporate Houses and Head of Different North East States.