Question

Why do people climb mountains?

Answer 1

Hint: This question is from a chapter called ‘The Summit Within’, written by Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia. He was one of the members of the Indian expedition to Mount Everest and shares his experience in this chapter. He wrote this book after climbing Mount Everest in 1965.

Complete answer:
The chapter ‘The Summit Within’ is a narration by Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia, and is about his experiences and feelings of climbing Mount Everest and standing on its summit. He experienced a mixed emotion as he stood on the peak. He was happy and joyful that he had scaled the highest peak in the world. He was humbled at the sight of all the beautiful mountains around him. But he was also sad because this was the peak of the earth and there was no higher peak to experience this feeling again.
On reaching the peak, Ahluwalia bowed down to God and thanked him for helping him achieve his dream. He also left a picture of Guru Nanak at the peak.

According to the author, people climb mountains because it is an extremely difficult task and they find pleasure in overcoming obstacles. In the case of climbing mountains, these obstacles are physical, and one requires a significant amount of endurance, persistence and willpower to overcome them in order to reach the summit.

Note: Through this chapter, the author wants to relate reaching the mountain summit to the summit and obstacles in our minds and personal lives. The three qualities that he mentions are required for climbing a mountain, are also the same qualities that would help every person in achieving their goal or summit in life.