First Indians To enter the “hall of fame” for mountaineers – “The Seven Summits Club”.

Meet the 23 year old twin sistersfrom Dehradun – Nungashi and Tashi Malik, who are so much passionate about mountaineering that that took the challenge of climbing the 7 sumits on the seven continents.

They aren’t just the only Indians to have completed the Explorer Grand Slam BUT, are also the first South Asians to have completed it. Not to mention that they also happen to be the youngest to do so.

The Grand Slam is an adventurers challenge to reach the North and the South Pole and climb the 7 summits in all the seven continents.

They achieved this distinction by successfully climbing Mt Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, on Wednesday. The twins had begun their joint expedition in 2012.

And Yes,  Nungashi and Tashi Malik have successfully reached the top of Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt Everest (Asia), Mt Elbrus (Europe), Mt Aconcagua (South America), Mt Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania), Mt McKinley (North America), and finally Mt Vinson Massif (Antarctica). 

What could have stopped them from achieving their goal?
Obviously nothing.

The Maliks reside in Johri village, in Dehradun. The duo are the first mountaineers in their family.

The story started back in 2009 , After a suggestion from their father, Colonel (Retd) V.S. Malik, the twins decided to attend the basic mountaineering course at the Uttarkashi-based Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM).

But they went back again in 2010 for an advanced course and climbed Mt. Rudugaira. They soon set their eyes on the highest peak – Mt. Everest.  But the sisters had to face obstacles too. Their mother was reluctant of their passion and would go up to the instructors and tell them to fail the sisters. But they weren’t ones to fail.

By 2012, They had aced their exams and had proved that they were officially ready. But with no sponsors, their once reluctant mother took a loan and their father, put in all his savings to fund this dream. And it was a risk worth taking after all. The twins climbed the Everest on 19th May 2013.

The Malik sisters have now set sight on the “explorers’ grand slam” by skiing to both the North and South Pole. They will also pursue a course in sports as they have been awarded the first-ever New Zealand-India Sports Scholarships.

The sisters finished their schooling from the Guru Nanak Fifth Centenary School in Mussoorie and are now into advanced studies through distance education.

With the successful climb of Mt Vinson, the twins have entered the “hall of fame” for mountaineers – “The Seven Summits Club”. The duo has found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s first twin sisters to step together on the seven summits of the world.

Ask the 22-year-olds about what keeps them going and they reply in unison, “When the body says ‘give up’ we have trained the mind to say ‘get up’! Perseverance eventually does pay.”

Their achievement wasn’t just one for the passion but also to raise awareness against female feticide. These young inspirations are now ambassadors of the Beti Bachao campaign and are out and about delivering motivational speeches to schoolgirls.

They have not only set the path for the youth of the nation, but have proved it to our not so women encouraging society that Women cannot be left behind. The are the living legend that has proved that we should not only just speak of Women Empowerment, but we should take measure to empower women so much so that they wont need the empowerment one day. Their story is an example that nothing is impossible. All it takes is the belief, passion and hard work.

At filmy mantra, we salute you for all that you have done for the nation, for the Women.
keep doing the good work.