Arunima Sinha – Keynote Speaker

Arunima Sinha is the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest. She was a national level volleyball players who in 2011, aged just 24, was thrown from a moving train by some thugs for refusing to hand over the gold chain she was wearing. She was run over by a passing train and her resulting injuries led to her leg being amputated below the knee.

It was while still being treated in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, that Arunima resolved to climb Mount Everest. She was deeply inspired by the cricketer, Yuvraj Singh, who had successfully battled cancer and she resolved to do something with her life. She excelled in the basic mountaineering course from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi. This was followed by 18 months of rigorous training.  On 21^st May 2013, Arunima reached the summit of Everest as part of the Tata Group Sponsored Eco Everest Expedition, becoming the first female amputee to scale the famous mountain.

Her dream is to climb the highest peaks in each continent around the world. She has so far scaled Everest in Asia, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Kosciuszko in Australia and Aconcagua in South America.

Arunima Sinha currently runs a non-profit school for underprivileged handicapped children.

In 2014, Arunima’s book, ‘Born Again on the Mountain’ was published, the launch was attended by the Prime Minister of India, Narenda Modi.

In 2015, she was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India. She is also the recipient of the Tenzing Norgay Highest Mountaineering Award in India.