Born Again on the Mountain: Arunima Sinha , Penguin Books, 2014

Born Again on the Mountain

Arunima Sinha

Penguin Books India 2014

No of pages 217

Rs. 299

“At 10.55 a.m. on 21 May2013, I was on top of the world.

I felt like dancing, crying and laughing at the same time. My mind was a kaleidoscope of emotions. I knelt down, utterly exhausted. I felt like shouting, announcing my arrival to the world. Everyone has a reason to be alive, a role to fulfil. Maybe this was mine.”(192)

In the recent spurt of news headlines locating the adventures of mountaineers and the tragic death that many have across in their adventurous conquests, Arunima Sinha’s “Born Again on a Mountain” brings in a breath of fresh air and hope for all adventure lovers. It would be wrong to be prejudiced that this book is only for a certain section of people, it is an inspirational journey that will motivate all human beings. The book is autobiographical in nature and the narrative simple. There is no affluence of words and incidents narrated are at the same time heart-rending and real. However, the narrator does not crave for sympathy and the very purpose of the book betrays a noble cause – that of establishing a Sports Academy for the Handicapped. It is a palimpsest that hopes to bring out the best in man.

The title foretells that a new birth, here beginning, of being reborn again has taken place on a mountain, and a mountain means a hurdle and a huge hurdle in that sense. Arunima Sinha, a bubbly 24 year old national level volleyball player travels on a train to rectify a wrong information in her interview letter for a job only to be accosted by chain –snatchers. She is pushed out from the train in a shuffle with the chain-snatchers as the passengers keep silent. The same train she is travelling runs over her, her left leg is chopped off and the right injured for life. Through the night with rodents eating away her raw flesh Arunima awaits dawn. Then it is a long saga of pain, suffering and endurance. Even as she recovers, Arunima does not lose her vision and hope for a better life.” It was true that I suffered from a handicap but then I wasn’t there to gain sympathy. I was here to accomplish a mission”(112); with the unconditional support of her family members, particularly Sahib, her brother-in-law she dreams to climb the highest mountain peak in the world Mt. Everest. Arunima, with her endless strive, courage and determination conquers Mt. Everest and becomes the first female amputee to achieve this rare feat.

This simple tale of a young girl’s achievements even in the face of odds will shake even the gravest pessimist. The task was difficult; experience little but the dream intense and passionate. In this book particularly interesting is Arunima’s description of the role played by media, the help she got from different politicians and especially to Bachendri Pal, the first women to conquer Mt. Everest and the Tata’s to whom this book has been dedicated. She does not hesitate from commenting on the red-tape in governmental policies and the strictures in mountaineering institutes which many a time is not cordial to the handicapped. While on the one hand, a surge of humanity looks on as she is thrown out of the train, a similar surge of humanity takes her to the hospital and saves her life. Arunima does not lose her faith in the basic goodness of human beings and expresses her gratitude and solidarity. However, she voices her dissent on the gender-stereotypes, the patriarchal and feudal nature of society which has labeled only specific roles for women and encourages women to bring their hypothetical roles into actuality. “Despite girls having invaded several so –called male frontiers, they are still seen and even referred to as the ‘weaker sex’…a woman might be physically weak , but what about mental strength?”(8) or when she says “there are women boxers, athletes, cricketers and gymnasts. Women are making a mark as painters, authors, film makers. Still women are considered second to men. That hurts. This should change and for this women have to be bold. I am advocating not bra-burning feminism but the need to get girls to make educated and informed choices. This change can come only through education.”(102)

This motivational book is a must read for someone who wants to move out of negativity into newer horizons of hope. I would recommend the book for a joyous discovery of one’s true self. There is more to life than merely mountains. One can be “Born Again on the Mountain”.