Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards Announced

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards Announced Government of India instituted the National Adventure Awards (renamed as Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards) in 1993, with the aim of promoting adventure activities on Land, Air and Water. These Awards are at par with the Arjuna Awards and carry a cash Award of Rs. 3.00 lakhs, a bronze statue and a scroll of honour. Up to the year 2004, 63 Adventure Awards have been given:- The objectives of the Awards are:- I. To recognize the achievements of persons in the fields of adventure. II. To encourage young people to develop the spirit of endurance, risk taking, cooperative teamwork and quick, ready and effective reflexes in challenging situations. III. To provide incentive to the young people for getting exposed to the adventure activities. For consideration of Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for 2005 nominations were called for from the State Government, Adventure wings of Army, Navy, Airforce, ITBP and other reputed Adventure Institutions. 24 nominations were received by the Government for the above awards. The Members of the Central Selection Committee for the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2005 met on 11.8.2006 to select the Awardees. The following persons have been selected for conferment of Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for the year 2005:- 2005 1. Sub. Chhering Norbu Bodh (Land Adventure) 2. Ms. Shital Kamalakar Mahajan (Air Adventure) 3. Comdr. Mukul Asthana (Water Adventure) 4. Shri Nawang Gombu (Life Time Achivement) Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards, along with the Arjuna Awards and other Sports awards, will be given away by the President of India in a function at Rasthrapati Bhawan on 29th August, 2006. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards, 2005 Sub. Chhering Norbu Bodh Sub. Chhering Norbu Bodh (Born: May, 1969), of the Indian Army, has attained an outstanding position in the field of mountaineering as summiteer of Mt. Mana (7273m) in 2000, Mt. Everest (8848m) in 2001, Annapurna I (8091m) in 2002, Lhotse(8516m) in 2003 and Kanchenjunga (8586m) in 2004. He is the first Indian to scale four peaks of more than 8000 M. He also contributed immensely to the success of Army Women Everest Expedition in 2005. He is a recipient of Shaurya Chakra in May, 2001. Sub. Chhering Norbu Bodh has displayed exceptional skill, leadership, team spirit, courage and dedication in pursuit of adventure and is a source of inspiration to the younger generation of the country. Ms. Shital Kamalakar Mahajan Ms. Shital Kamalakar Mahajan (Born: September, 1982), has displayed outstanding spirit of adventure, determination, endurance, courage and risk-taking capacity by undertaking the daunting feat of static line parachute jump over the Geographic North Pole on 18th April, 2004, from 2400 feet, in minus 37 degree celsius, temperature condition, as a member of the Expedition “Arctic-2004” Team. She was awarded the Shivchhatrapati State Sports Award in 2004-05 by Government of Maharashtra. Her spectacular achievement would serve as a source of inspiration to the younger generation in the country. Comdr. Mukul Asthana Commander Mukul Asthana (Born: October, 1962), commanded the INS Tarangini from February 2004 to July 2006 during the first ever circumnavigation voyage undertaken by the Indian Navy. During his period of command, the ship spent 384 days at sea, traversing over 40,000 miles through the challenging waters and waterways of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, the Arabian sea, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, the perpetually rough English Channel, Bay of Biscay and the North Sea, and negotiated rough seas with wave heights of 8 to 10 metres and wind speeds in excess of 65 knots. Under his command the ship also participated in the International Tall Ships