IMF 21st Anniversary
Indian Maritime Foundation, Pune celebrated its 21st Anniversary on 21st December 2014. On this occasion, IMF had invited Dr Murad Lala, who was the first Indian doctor to summit Mount Everest on 19th May 2013 to give a lecture and share his experiences. By achieving the feat, he is now part of ‘league of extraordinary gentlemen’ that has succeeded in conquering the world’s highest peak!
Dr. Lala is consultant onco-surgeon at P D Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre Mumbai. A lover of adventure sports, Dr Lala has indulged in various adventure sports such as trekking, mountaineering, car rallies, scuba diving and bungee jumping for several years. He participated in the Himalayan Car Rally for three years (from 2007 to 2009) and in 2009 stood third with his wife Dr Mamatha Lala, who was the navigator that year.
Talk by Dr Murad Lala
Dr. Lala shared his journey which he calls from scalpel to summit and stated that limitations exist only in the mind. To prepare for his trip with the 5 member Canadian team, he went for a 4 week acclimatization trip to three peaks => Pokhulde, Lobuche East and Island. This was followed by a strict regime at a gym that simulates air pressure found at high altitudes, cycling and treadmill. He quietly states that “However much you train, the Everest still makes you feel inadequate as it is a lonely battle between you and the raw elements at that time”. Preceding the momentous summit date of 19th May 2013, was four weeks of training, one month of acclimatization and 19 days to reach the summit.
The real climb began in May, since most of April was spent in acclimatization. “We’d get to base camp, and return. Then head to Camp 2 and return.” It was an arduous process. In May, after having figured the best days for summiting — Dr Lala says there’s only a four-day window in which the weather is suitable — the team set off. “The first feeling when you reach the top is of relief: you have made it. No more climbing. But you immediately start calculating. The weather changes every moment. You don’t stay longer than 10 minutes. Also, most deaths occur during the descent. That also played on my mind.”
Dr. Lala’s narrative along with a visual presentation, encounters with blizzards and jet streams made the whole journey with its risks & twists come alive for the audience. He also stated that the Govt. of Nepal is very strict in environmental vigilance where all climbers have to pay a garbage deposit. This is only returned on the way down after the Vigilance Officer runs through a checklist of items.
He ended his presentation by say “The miracle is not that I summitted, but that I had the courage to take the first step”. In closing, he urged everyone to do that ‘something’ that takes you out of the comfort zone, challenges you and lets you dream that extraordinary dream”.
At the start, invocation was recited by Karn Ragade, IMF Council Member and two buglers from the Pune unit of Sea Cadet Corps played the “Last Post”. IMF President Cmde Rajan Vir gave the welcome address and spoke about some of the many important events that IMF had held during 2014, such as :
- Seminar on Security Management of India’s Seaborne Traffic & Offshore Installations
- Installation & Inauguration of the Maritime Museum & Library
- Screening of the Award winning film “All Quiet on the Western Front” to commemorate the centenary of World War 1
