Love for scaling peaks wins over corporate binding

Kolkata: Satyarup Siddhanta, the noted Kolkata mountaineer has left his job of software engineer in Bengaluru to concentrate fully on scaling challenging mountain peaks. Satyarup has made us proud by becoming the youngest man in the world to have scaled seven highest peaks and volcanic summits across continents when he conquered Antarctica's highest point Mount Sidley is embarking on an expedition to the North Pole in April 2020.

"I will be skiing a distance of 111 km from 89 degree North to 90 degree North (1 degree which is equal to 111km). It is very challenging considering the inclement weather conditions, the presence of polar bears and the load of around 50 kg at the back which needs to be carried during the expedition. But I am optimistic in placing our national flag on the North Pole," said Satyarup, who is presently at Everest Base Camp for fitness preparation ahead of his trekking expedition. The expedition in mountaineering parlance is known as the "North Pole Last Degree Skiing Expedition." Satyarup will be the third in the world and the first in the country to have achieved the feat of seven summits, seven volcanic summits and both south and north pole skiing, if he succeeds in his venture. Till date two Russians have been successful in all the three ventures.

Satyarup, who originally hails from Haridevpur in south Kolkata, holds an illustrious record of conquering several treacherous summits such as the Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt Elbrus in Europe, Mt Denali in Alaska and Mt Monc Blanc in France.

"I have been thinking of leaving my job for a long time as I want to do something to promote adventure sports in the state. I have decided to visit schools and colleges and hold camps for encouraging students in adventure sports. Life skill is essential for the growth of a child besides his academic skills. It also helps in building their mental strength," he maintained.

Satyarup will be taking some students of IIT Kanpur to a mountain expedition in Purulia soon. Satyarup, an asthma kid could never even dream of scaling the mountains or other sports. But it was in 2008 when he went on trekking with his friends he decided to take on mountaineering. He went on scaling one peak after another and can now be regarded as the country's most successful mountaineer.