Where even eagles dare to go, the twin sisters of Tashi and Nungshi Malik, have gone not once but seven times.
By the age of 25, they have conquered the seven summits of Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Puncak Jaya and Vinson.
They were here to interact with students of Sri Prakash Vidyaniketan, as part of the school’s 16th annual day celebrations.
The twins already hold a number of world and national records such as first female twins to scale Mt Everest at a young age of 21 years, first siblings and twins to climb ‘Seven Summits’, first twins to reach South Pole on skis, youngest South Asians to scale the ‘Seven Summits’ and first Indian women to climb all ‘Seven Summits’ in first attempt.
Interacting with the students, the twins said that they had taken up the adventure sport to highlight women empowerment.
Daughters of Indian Army officer, Col Virendra Singh Malik (retired) and Anju Malik, the twins took up mountaineering during the summer break after their tenth examination.
“We were sitting idle and our father put us in mountaineering course. And that set us ticking, as they were only 10 girls and about 60 boys in the camp,” said the sisters.
Now settled in the Himalayan town of Dehradun, the sisters hold a degree in mass communication and journalism.
According to them, job is not the ultimate goal in life. Accomplishing something is more important and that is why we have started the Tashi and Nungshi Foundation to train women in empowerment, how to avail job opportunity and mountaineering.
Gender bias is prevalent in our country in every nook and corner, including in families. Our goal is to break the stereotype, they said.
Brand ambassadors of “Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao” campaign of Uttarakhand Governement and the first South Asians to complete the “Adventurers Grand Slam”, their focus is now on strengthening the foundation.
The students of Sri Prakash displayed the seven kandas of Ramayana through 36 paintings as part of the show and it appealed to the twin sisters.
School Director, Chitturi Vasu Prakash, and others were present.
A colourful show highlighting the culture and tradition of India and Andra Pradesh was presented by the students.
