Hello and welcome to the Witness History Podcast from the BBC World Service, with me,

Jane Wilkinson. It's May the 23rd in 1984, and Bachenry

Powell is at the top of the world, literally. She's become the first Indian woman to reach

the summit of Mount Everest. And every step of the way has been the result of grit, determination

and lessons learnt. Mounted any give your opportunity to look into yourself, who you are,

what stuff you are made of, what is your limitations, what is your strength.

But as a child, Bachenry had never dreamt of conquering mountains. She was born in 1954 to a

working-class family in rural Northern India. Her father earned a living as a board of tradesmen,

transporting flour and rice by horse and mule. My parents, they were very poor and were five

brothers and sisters. Always priority was given to the brothers. Parents used to think that

girls they have to get married, but I was a great dreamer. I wanted to be independent.

Education proved the key to that independence. Bachenry was bright, the first girl in her village

to graduate. And after securing a degree in education, her family hoped that she'd become a teacher.

But a chance meeting with the head of the Nehru Institute of Mountain Earing changed the

entire direction of her life. He was very impressed. So he motivated me, why don't you go for

mountaineering course? But I didn't know much about mountaineering. So there was no role model

also to look up to. And I was a simple village girl, but I was a good sportsperson. So

I listened and I get motivated. And the very same year, I applied for mountaineering course.

The course proved the perfect fit for Bachenry's athletic talents and her ambitions. By the end,

she secured the highest grade. And then a letter arrived. It was from Indian Mountain Earing

Foundation, which is the apex of mountaineering body of India, that you have been selected for

pre-evreased selection expedition. I could not understand what is this. How can I think of

...