All-time High

AMGOTH TUKARAM RECENTLY CLIMBED MT. ACONCAGUA, THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAK IN SOUTH AMERICA, BECOMING THE YOUNGEST INDIAN TO SCALE THREE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS OF THE WORLD WITHIN JUST NINE MONTHS

How many of us have heard someone celebrating India’s Republic Day atop the highest mountain peak in South America? Amgoth Tukaram

(22), Telangana’s young mountaineering sensation, had just done that. He scaled Mt. Aconcagua on January 26, and hoisted the tricolour and sang the National anthem amidst spine chilling cold. “I am glad that things turned out as planned, and it was a moment of gratification, joy and pride,” replies Tukaram, adding that the expedition was a challenging one.

“Mt. Aconcagua is one of the toughest and dangerous expeditions because of its rocky topography. Also, there were several landslides and fortunately I managed to escape a few,” explains Tukaram, revealing that despite all odds — inclement weather and incessant rains — he completed the expedition in 15 days.

Tukaram had earlier successfully scaled Mount Kilimanjaro (July 2018), Mount Elbrus (July

2019), Mount Everest (May 2019), the world’s highest peak and now Mt. Aconcagua (January 2020).

MAN ON A MISSION

In the process, he became the first and the youngest Indian to scale three highest mountain peaks of world within just nine months. “That’s very heartening to learn because this feat is part of my adventure tryst to summit seven mountain peaks in seven continents; I’m grateful to all my well wishers, supporters and also Chinna Jeeyar Swami who sponsored for my expeditions,” expresses Tukaram, a native of Tekulapally hamlet in Ranga Reddy District. Soon after the expedition, he had the opportunity to try his hand at another adventure sport, Skydiving, in Mandoza, Argentina. “I was exhausted after the expedition,

but then I know that Skydiving is a rare opportunity that I get to do so I gave it a shot; it was a amazing experience,” describes the proud mountaineer who adds that every expedition of his has a cause and a social message.

“My trip to Mt. Aconcagua was against global warming; my earlier summits to Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Elbrus and Mt Everest were about creating awareness about the environment, human trafficking, and women safety respectively,” says Tukaram who pursued BA in Political Science from Noble Degree and PG College, Hyderabad.

CHALLENGES GALORE

In his quest, Tukaram says that he realised scaling every mountain peak has it’s own challenges. The challenge lies in getting acclimatised to the fluctuating harsh weather conditions. “While scaling Mt Everest I narrowly escaped death because of a huge traffic jam atop; similarly I suffered from dehydration when summiting Mt Elbrus, so these instances have only made me tough in real life,” he reveals, adding, “This adaptability factor has rubbed off on my personality too; it gave me the larger perspective of life and to embrace challenges.”

He further shares that it was a mix of ambition, patriotism and personal goals that constantly push him to do well. “Passion is the key to your pursuit; if you are not passionate about what you do, you cannot set higher standards,” he states, adding that all the accomplishments only made him to thrive on excellence.

Passion is the key to your pursuit; if you are not passionate about what you do, you cannot set higher standards.” — Amgoth Tukaram, mountaineer