At 19, he conquered Kanchenjunga with Tenzing Norgay; Pradeep shares treasured photograph

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 'While climbing the snow-capped peak, the legend Tenzing Norgay was at my arm's length. He was a man of few words. "A smile of confidence on his face," says S. Pradeep, a native of Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. At the age of 19, Pradeep climbed Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world. Along with Tenzing Norgay, who first climbed Everest, and Sherpa Nawang Gombu, who climbed Everest twice for the first time. Pradeep, the first Malayali to climb Kanchenjunga with Tenzing, is today marking the 50th anniversary of his unique achievement.

Pradeep, who was a student, did not realise the value of meeting Tenzing at that time. Everyone would gather around a fire at night to protect themselves from polar bears. Tenzing would be at Pradeep's side. Pradeep has kept the photo taken with Tenzing after hoisting the national flag on top of the peak as a priceless treasure.

Pradeep, who had been active in sports and NCC since childhood, came to Darjeeling through the NCC to do a mountaineering course. In 1974, he went mountaineering in Manali. In 1975, while he was a final-year B.Sc. Mathematics student at S.N. College, Kollam, he got an opportunity to climb Kanchenjunga through the Himalayan Mountain Institute in Darjeeling. Pradeep was the only Malayali in a group of 37 people along with ITBP, Air Force, and Army. The journey lasted for about a month and a half. Only seven people, including Pradeep, reached the final stage of the journey. In 1976, he also went on an expedition to a place called Manikaran above Manali. Later, he graduated in civil engineering and went to the Gulf.

Secret journeys

He stayed in the hostel of S.N. College. Since mountaineering was dangerous, he did not tell his family about what he did. He learnt about it through newspaper reports.

Pradeep is currently running a construction company. He is also interested in painting. He is the Chief Administrator of Lions District 318A.

Wife: Shirley, a housewife. Children: Aparna (Structural Engineer), Arjun. Daughter-in-law: Swapna (US).