Changabang: Confessions Clarifications and Conclusions

Confessions:

1. I first read "Shining Mountain" in 1982, a second hand copy bought for Rs.5/- from the side walks of this city.
2. I still find climbs like these more fascinating than "guided" 8K climbs.
3. I have always believed that "how you climb" is more important than "how far you climb".
4. I am aware ,and reasonably sure ,why the Nanda Devi Sanctuary is a no-entry zone.

Clarifications:

1. The above are the reasons why I was interested in this particular attempt on Changabang.
2. I have never met Basanta Babu. In fact I have never met any Everesteer from W.B., other than the one who these Everesteers say did not summit Everest.
3. I do not, repeat DO NOT, hold any personal grudge or animosity towards Basanta Babu.
4. I understand that my posts have been widely discussed on social media.

Conclusions:

1. Many like me, or at least some, would dearly like to go inside the Sanctuary.
2. So we would like to know if Basanta Babu had permission to do so; because in both his pre and post expedition interviews he describes a route well inside the restricted no entry zone.
3. If he had permission then that is great news.
4. If he did not have it,then he was either
   1. doing something illegal, or
   2. he was not aware of his route, both of which are very strange.

Find appended below my correspondence with Mr. Vinod Chauhan of the IMF.

I await some logical explanation to finally bring a closure to this episode of "Changabang pe Charcha", with or without Chai.

Rupak Bhattacharya

Doctor

rupakb55@gmail.com

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