It seems as if Mount Everest has ceased to be a daunting obstacle for Maharashtra’s police personnel.
Barely days after Suhail Sharma, a Punjabi-speaking Maharashtra cadre Indian Police Service officer (the first one to do so) and Rafiq Shaikh, a humble constable from drought-racked Aurangabad district scaled the monster peak, a police husband-wife duo from Pune have made the country proud by setting a record of being the first Indian couple to reach the summit of the 8,848 metre Mt. Everest.
Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod (both aged 30), who entered nuptial bliss in 2008, are stationed at the Shivajinagar Police Headquartes in Pune. Bound by shared dreams and common pursuits, they entered the Police service in 2006. Surmounting the Everest has been their goal since their marriage, said the couple.
Known affectionately in police circles by the moniker of the ‘adventure couple’, the Rathods also became the first security personnel couple to best the White Ogre. On reaching the summit, Mr. Rathod proudly displayed the cerulean deep blue emblem-flag of the Maharashtra police.
“Our dreams have been realized,” gushed the jubilant Rathods, commenting on their achievement and adding they were “immensely pleased” and “overjoyed”.
At the same time, the Rathods’ tempered the joy of their achievement by a sobering remembrance of the three Indian nationals from West Bengal who were killed while attempting to scale the peak this season.
Such was their single-minded dedication in conquering the World’s highest peak, that they even put-off having a child until they had surmounted the challenge. While they had embarked on the Everest adventure last year, they were forced to postpone it owing to the Nepal earthquake.
“With pride now, we want to become parents. Our love and my husband’s dedication has made this achievement possible,” said Ms. Tarakeshwari Rathod.
Subjecting themselves to a punishing regimen spurred on by a thirst for high adventure, the duo had earlier scaled Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. Besides, they continually participated in a number of mountaineering expeditions as a prelude to sensitize themselves to the rigours of clambering Mount Everest.
Along with the police couple, two Nepali sherpas acing as their guides - Furba and Fushemba - reached the summit. The trip was organised Makalu adventure.
Over 70 Indian nationals have successfully scaled the peak this season, said organizers at Makalu adventure, remarking that such expeditions helped strengthen the bond between India and Nepal.
