Bokaro: A mountaineer from Jharkhand, Shashi Shekhar, brought honour to India by raising the national flag atop Mount Aconcagua, South America’s highest summit, on January 13 at 4pm.Mount Aconcagua stands at 6,961 metres (22,837 feet) in Argentina, holding the distinction of being the highest peak in South America and the loftiest summit outside Asia and the Southern Hemisphere.
Originally from Padi village in Bokaro’s Gomia Block, Shekhar is the second son of former AJSU Party MLA Lambodar Mahto. He studied at Vikas Vidyalaya, Ranchi, for his intermediate education before obtaining a B.Tech in Automobile Engineering from Sharda University, Delhi.
Since his early years, he has been drawn to mountaineering.The expedition presented numerous challenges, including severe snowfall, zero visibility conditions, and blizzards. Temperatures dropped below -20°C, accompanied by strong winds. Shekhar said, “The whiteout, where visibility dropped to zero, was the toughest challenge. However, my confidence and the unwavering support of my parents gave me the strength to overcome it.”
Ranchi-based Lambada Adventure supported Shekhar’s expedition through sponsorship, technical assistance, and expert guidance.
The organisation, known for coordinating challenging mountaineering expeditions, ensured Shekhar’s readiness for this significant achievement.Shekhar’s mountaineering achievements include scaling Europe’s highest peak, Mount Elbrus (5,642 metres), reaching Mount Everest’s balcony area (8,430 metres), climbing Mount Lobuche East (6,119 metres) in Nepal, and reaching Mount Manirang’s summit camp (5,500 metres) in Himachal Pradesh, India.
After conquering Mount Aconcagua and Mount Elbrus, Shekhar aims to scale the highest peaks of the remaining five continents and all recognised peaks above 8,000 metres.
He aspires to plant the Indian flag on these summits.Shekhar expressed, “I am deeply thankful to my mother, social worker Kaushalya Devi, my father, Lambada Adventure, and everyone who believed in me.
Their encouragement motivates me to pursue my dreams tirelessly.”Former MLA of AJSU-P Lambodar Mahto, Shekhar’s father said, “My son Shashi has always been passionate about mountaineering, and his determination has made him achieve this remarkable feat.
As a father, I feel immense pride in his success and the recognition he has brought to Jharkhand and the entire nation.”
