Patriotism isn’t just displayed on battlefields—it shines from the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas too. Indian Army’s valiant Subedar Ankur Rawat, along with fellow mountaineers and NCC cadets, once again proved this by summiting Mount Everest on May 18, 2025, at 3:05 AM and proudly hoisting the tricolour. This remarkable feat was not merely a climb—it was a story of courage, leadership, and unshakable commitment, setting a benchmark for generations to come. Hailing from Pipla-Surlagaon in Pauri Garhwal and currently residing in Vinit Nagar, Roorkee, Rawat brought immense pride to both Uttarakhand and the entire nation.
The Everest journey began in 2024 when Subedar Rawat was inducted into the NCC Everest Expedition’s core team by the Indian Army’s Adventure Wing. He trained cadets on the icy grounds of Siachen and gave them real-time experience by leading an ascent of Mount Abi Gamin. The main expedition unfolded as follows:
- April 3, 2025: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the team from Delhi.
- April 10: The team began trekking in Nepal.
- April 18: Reached Everest Base Camp.
- April 23: Successfully summited Mount Lobuche (6119m) and hoisted the national flag.
- April 25 – May 5: Completed acclimatization rotations up to Camp 3.
- May 15–18: Final summit push began; Rawat reached Everest’s peak on May 18.
The mission included a 38-member team that ascended via the South Col Route, with support from experienced Sherpa guides. Key climbers in the team were Subedar Ankur Rawat, Rajneesh Joshi, Balkar Singh, Jogmaith Namgyal, Deepak Kumar, Dawa Tseten Bhutia, Rigzin Dorjai, Kritika Sharma, Pratima Rai, Refines Warjari, Monika, Abida Afreen, Mohit Kanathia, Padma Namgyal, Mukul Bangwal, Virendra Singh Samant, and Sachin Kumar.
Subedar Rawat had already summited Everest once before, in 2016, and went on to conquer the perilous Mount Makalu in 2019. With this expedition, he has now proudly unfurled the tricolour on 27 peaks, proving that real heroes are those who break every limit with their grit and passion.
Beyond climbing, Rawat played the role of a mentor and leader for 10 NCC cadets (five boys and five girls), turning their trek into a life-changing experience. With this achievement, he became the first person from Haridwar district and Pauri Garhwal to summit Everest twice, reinforcing the truth that individuals from small towns and remote villages can indeed achieve international glory.
This is the story of a son of the soil who made even the Himalayas bow to his resolve. It’s also the story of young cadets who learnt that patriotism isn’t just written in books—it can be lived atop the world’s tallest peaks. And it’s a shining example of a rising India, ready to scale every height, powered by heroes like Subedar Ankur Rawat.
