There is need of encouraging and inculcating a spirit of adventure sports among youth in the state, feels Mohammad Yousuf
Why do you go to climb Everest, was once asked from Late Mallory and his precise reply was “because it is there”. Another noted hiker remarks that “once you get out of the bustle of the city the more you go the more peaks will call”. But today these sayings go vice verse. Some people think if they go to mountains they will be caught to high risks and exposed to strenuous work. There is no one who could encourage a spirit of adventure among youth in the right direction.
The Govt. and Voluntary organizations have lost their interest in Mountain Sports. Sports Administrators today give much impetus to whistle games which attract a large crowd and VIPs to the decorated play-fields unaware of the fact that adventure sports are job oriented and have tremendous scope in tourist industry. Adventure sports are usually conducted in deep seas and high mountains where no spectator could be invited to watch. There is urgency of encouraging and inculcating spirit of adventure in youth. Ministers talk high about promoting adventure in the state but the heads of the concerned departments turn deaf ear and discourage youth to take up to these sports. The Govt. and N.G.Os could act as factories and produce trained manpower for tourist industry. As much importance is attached to studies as to life outdoors. Young people learn to be generous, charitable and sympathetic, and ideologies do not cross their minds.
Adventure is nothing but a hidden power inside human that leads him to undertake any risk in his life. It needs to be exploited in a proper way. Extreme Sports are perhaps the best to utilize the surplus energy of youth and release their ambition in a better way. Some are seen misusing this inner power by undertaking different types of misadventures that puts not only him but the entire national in a trouble.
Adventure sports in fact develop eight best traits of personality that is camaraderie, character, confidence, courage, coordination, cooperation, competence and of course spirit of competition among youth but misadventure brings displeasure and destruction. Youngman learn to face hardships, hard-working and hazards. For last two decades the spirit of adventure sports is seen considerably declining in youth. The reason behind it could be perhaps inadequate facilities. We lack infrastructure, guidance and the best training institutes here. These sports have lost its popularity in Kashmir where nothing but Burf, Pani and Pahar (snow, water and mountains) are in abundance. Great credit goes to Mr. Farooq Shah, Director Tourism who conducts one or the other adventure activity frequently. It may be running rivers, zooming down snowy slopes or launching awareness campaign against water pollution on river Jhelum. The Chief Minister, being himself an avid adventurer, is very keen to develop adventure sports in the state for which natural facilities are available here. It is highly appreciating that he recently raft down a treacherous stretch of + 4 grade from Sonamarg to Shutkari village with a local rafting team during inaugural function of International Rafting Championship. He stressed the need of popularizing the adventure sports among local youth but alas! Nobody is here to listen his orders.
It is mentionable that there are hundreds of adventure Clubs in West Bengal but alas here we just have a few, which too are non-functional for last many years. This is most unfortunate that Kashmir could not give birth to any Everester, though we are born in mountains. Mountaineering came to Kashmir during British Raj, who set up a mountaineering Club under the name and style “Cashmere Climbing Club” here sometime in 1934 which was later renamed as J&K Mountaineering and Hiking Club. 1970s was a golden period for the club when it was revived and hundreds of boys were trained to Mountaineering including the writer but unfortunately today it is dying slow death. It lies defunct for last many years. The whereabouts of its assets is not known and records are not available. It is stunning that the office bearers of JKMHC don’t remember that 2009 is the 75th year of the Club which should have been celebrated in a big way. Pertinently the club gave bread and butter to many of its members and some rose to high positions with its help. It is now time for them to wake up and infuse fresh enthusiasm to this historic Club.
Climbing was popular in Kashmir during 1940-50 when many foreign teams used to come to Kashmir to attempt our lofty peaks. Kashmir was base for Nanga Parbat and many other Karakorum peaks those days. Not many know that Kashmir has given birth to an unsung hero, Late Abdul Rehman, who regularly accompanied German Expeditions to Mount Nanga Parbat as Cook during late 1940s. His regular attempts to Nanga Parbat gave him nick name of “Rehman Nanga”. He has played a vital role in the success of Germans to climb Nanga Parbat popularly known as “Killer Mountain”.
After JKMHC the J&K Ski and Mountaineering Association has done commendable job in exploring new areas, introducing new adventure sports and training hundreds of people to different adventure sports. It is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. The JKSMA was formed by three renowned explorers, Rauf Ahmad Tramboo, Mehraj-Ud-Din and this writer. It is a registered society and has conducted several ski, climbing, Paragliding, and rafting expeditions at state, national and international levels since its inception. It has many Firsts at its credit like first International ski-touring expedition to Lidder valley, first water ski expedition on river Jhelum, first paragliding course in Kashmir, first ski expedition to Mount Mahadev and first winter climb to Mount Kolahoi. It fielded largest contingent in first National Ski championship in 1984. The Association has also undertaken many environmental protection programs. One of its ski expeditions sighted snow leopard in Sekiwas in 1986, which confirmed the existence of this endangered species in Lidder valley for the first time. It also reported about water pollution in Jhelum and Wular Lake in 1988. Due to bleak financial position JKSMA remained dormant for quite some time.
For celebrating its Silver Jubilee the association has chalked out many innovative programs for the year 2009/10 which include Summer skiing in Zanaskar, Rafting expeditions on river Kishenganga, rock-climbing championship, ski touring expedition to Lidder valley, climbing expeditions in Sonamarg, first-aid and crisis management courses, Water ski expedition on river Jhelum, trekking from Harwan to Kulun, paragliding course, mountain biking expedition from Bandipora to Drass via Gurez and Roller Skating championship. Besides, environmental awareness campaigns would also be launched. The Association also plans to hold an International Seminar on “Adventure develops personality traits”. Some world celebrity mountaineers and skiers like Lincoln Hall and Peter Hillary etc. are expected to take part. Silver Jubilee celebration by JKSMA would go a long way in reviving adventure tourism in J&K. It would also coincide with the celebration of International Health Year.
Published in Rising Kashmir on 13th August, 2009
