5th Rock Climbing Course of Himalayan Association of Kolkata, West Bengal

It was 46 years back I was a college student of Bangabasi College, Kolkata. A cadet of  National Cadet Corp (NCC)  of senior division, army wing. My Battalion was 18^th Bengal Battalion NCC. I was looking forward to undergo Rock climbing course, a senior trekker of central Kolkata of Council of Himalyan Exploration of Central Kolkata, Creek Row. He was active member of a library, he advised me that he will arrange for my rock climbing training when their organisation will arrange the same.  I arranged a reception at NCC Club House for their team member who went to climb an unnamed peak in Uttrakhand. Till to day they have not organised any rock climbing course. I saw a news published in daily paper of Kolkata and came to know that Himalayan Association (HA) of 89 Mahatma Gandhi Road, (College Square), Kolkata organising their 5^th Rock Climbing Course at Sushunia Hill, Bankura.

I approached my College Vice Principal,  Late Sudeb Ghosh, a spirited sports man. He sanctioned an amount for joining my course.

My Rope Instructor was Mr Shymal  Chakraborty, Sherpa Da Namgyal of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)  was one of our Instructor. Mr. Chanchal Kumar Mitra, was then Secretary of the HA. Mr Manik Banerjee and Ms Deepali Sinha were among the Instructors.

Our Graduation ceremony was held at Kolkata Information Center, Kolkata, the H’ble Governor of West Bengal Mr Dharma Vira. 

Maharajpur (Jharkhand) to Behrampore (West Bengal) on Ganga
Maharajpur (Jharkhand) to Behrampore (West Bengal)





Maharpur to Kolkata

WSIS Knowledge Communities: Sushanta De's blog

WSIS Knowledge Communities: Sushanta De's blog

4th National CR Sammelan: Session on Peer Review

Memory on reception at SBI Kulu, Himachal Pradesh, Branch in 1972 for the mountaineers of Kolkata, Bengal Circle

I was a then-college student, we formed a mountaineering organisation at Kolkata. Among us was  SBI staff who was serious mountaineer of our Country, He was Sanatan Bhattacharya, he was posted at Netaji Subash Road Branch. We organised a mountaineering expedition to Central (20620 ft) & Lion (20100 ft) peaks in Lahul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. These peaks were climbed by British climbers in 1962, they published a book titled “Four miles high’ by Joseph Scar. We took this publication from British Council Library from Kolkata on loan. Sanatan Bhattacharya was the leader of this expedition. We were 12 members among us, Mr. Nitai Roy, a Supervising staff of Bengal Circle was an adviser for this expedition. He along with other members and high altitude porters of the expedition climbed both the peaks. National Cadet Corps (NCC), Ministry of Defence was main sponsor of this expedition. This was the first time both the peaks were accented by the Indians.

We had faced quite a few mountain hazards during our expeditions. One was while crossing a nullah,  named ‘Karacha’ near Batal. There was an accident in 1970 on this nullah where 2 lady mountaineers were dead while they were crossing the same. They were from Kolkata.

We had a requirement of cash for the payment of High altitude porters at Manali, we had to take money from the Bank. The SBI was having a pay office at Manali. There was a limitation to draw money from there, we moved to Kulu, the district Headquarter and of course a SBI Branch. We left Manali it was pouring rain heavily, we had no umbrella only wind chitter was not effective. We called on Branch Manager’s residence for Banking service, he offered tea & breakfast for three of us and arranged the cash of our requirement. We went to Kulu by bus but for return to Manali we had to climb a mountain to follow the track, it was not that difficult for us but the problem for seniors, ladies, and children. A warm reception was accorded to us by the staff members of our Kulu Branch which we still carry this memory.

Next day we arranged a truck to cross the river Beas and follow the road other side of the river and reached Chandigarh for catch train from there.

Sanatan Bhattacharya, expired at Kolkata, Mr. Nitai Roy, a pensioner of SBI settled at West Bengal.

Additional Secretary, I&B Shri J S Mathur on 4th Community Radio Nationa...

Calendar | Imperial War Museums

Calendar | Imperial War Museums