Introduction
Arunima Sinha Biography: Arunima Sinha is an Indian mountaineer, motivational speaker and former national level volleyball player who made history in 2013 by becoming the first female amputee to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Born in Uttar Pradesh, Arunima was an accomplished volleyball player who represented her state at the national level. However, tragedy struck in 2011 when she was pushed from a moving train by thieves and lost her left leg below the knee. Despite this immense setback, Arunima resolved to prove herself by achieving the extraordinary. After a grueling recovery, she trained intensely with Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Everest. On May 21, 2013, wearing a prosthetic leg, Arunima finally reached the 29,029 ft summit after a difficult 52 day climb. Her incredible achievement made her a symbol of grit and determination for women around the world. Despite losing a leg, she proved that with courage and perseverance, we can overcome any obstacle. Arunima continues to inspire others through her motivational speaking and social work
Early Life and Education
Arunima Sinha was born on July 20, 1988 in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. Born into a lower-middle class family, she spent her childhood in rural India. Even as a young girl, Arunima was an active and adventurous spirit. She excelled at sports and started playing volleyball during her school years. Her passion and perseverance made her stand out, and she went on to represent Uttar Pradesh at the national level in volleyball championships.
After finishing high school, Arunima enrolled at the Tilak Degree College in Lucknow to pursue her bachelor’s degree. She continued playing volleyball professionally while studying. She had dreams of becoming a national volleyball captain one day. However, Arunima’s family had limited means, and she faced financial challenges in continuing her education. To fund her tuition and living expenses, she started working multiple jobs during college. Her grit and determination to be self-reliant exemplified her fighting spirit even in her youth.
In addition to her busy schedule balancing studies, volleyball and work, Arunima made time for adventure activities like trekking and mountain climbing. She went on small hiking and climbing trips around Uttar Pradesh. Little did she know then that this passion for the mountains would one day lead her to the highest peak on earth. Arunima’s early life was marked by hardship, but also by a strong resolve and enthusiasm for sports and adventure. These qualities paved the way for the extraordinary achievements in mountaineering she would accomplish later
Quick Information
Name: Arunima Sinha
Real Name: Sonu Sinha
Date of Birth: 20 July 1988
Age: 36 Years (in 2024)
Birth Place: Shahjadpur, Akbarpur, UP, India
Height: 5 feet 2 inches /158 cm.
Weight: 60 Kg. /132 Lbs.
Nationality: Indian
Religion: Hinduism
Caste: Kayastha
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Marital Status: Married
Husband/Spouse:
- First Husband- Name Not Known
- Second Husband- Gaurav Singh (Paralympian)
Parents:
- Father – N/A
- Mother – N/A
Home Town: Panda Tola, Shahjadpur, Akbarpur, Ambedkar Nagar, UP
School:
- Government Girls Inter College, Akbarpur, UP
College/University:
- Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
Academic Qualification:
- MA in Sociology
- LLB
- Mountaineering Course
- Honorary Doctorate from University of Strathclyde
Profession: Mountaineer, Motivational Speaker, Volleyball Player
Famous For: World’s first female amputee to climb the Mount Everest
Political Party: N/A
Hobbies: Sketching, Gardening, Yoga, Travelling, Music
Net Worth (Approx.) $ 1-5 millions:
Contact Number: N/A
Email: [email protected]
Social Contacts:
Peaks Conquered:
- Everest (Nepal), Height- 8,848m. (From 02/04/2013 To 21/05/2013)
- Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Height- 5,895m. (From 01/05/2014 To 11/05/2014)
- Elbrus (Russia), Height- 5,642m. (From 15/07/2014 To 25/07/2014)
- Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), Height- 2,228m. (From 12/04/2015 To 20/04/2015)
- Mendoza (Argentina), Height- 6,962m. (From 12/12/2015 To 25/12/2015)
- Carstensz (Indonesia), Height- 4,884m. (From 07/07/2016 To 08/07/2015)
- Vinson Massif (Antarctica), Height- 4,892m. (04/01/2019)
Awards & Honours:
- Aspire Young Achiever Award (2012)
- Salaam India Gallantry Award by India TV (2013)
- Amazing India Award (2014)
- Padma Shri (2015)
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (2015)
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (2016)
- People of the Year, Limca Book of Records (2016)
- First Lady Award (2016)
- Ambedkar Ratna Award (2016)
- Sultanpur Ratna Award, Sultanpur (2016)
- Malala Award
- Yash Bharti Award, Govt. of UP
- Rani Laxmi Bai Award
Fateful Train Accident and Aftermath
On April 12, 2011, Arunima was travelling on a train to Delhi to take an exam for a job with the CISF. Near Bareilly, a group of robbers boarded the general compartment she was in and started snatching belongings from passengers. When Arunima bravely resisted the thieves, they assaulted her and heartlessly threw her from the moving train. She was tossed onto the opposite track, where another speeding train crushed her left leg below the knee. The compound fracture was so severe that doctors had no choice but to amputate part of her leg to save her life.
After the horrific accident, Arunima spent nearly 3 grueling months recovering in the hospital and went through several complex surgeries. The intensive medical procedures and slow healing process involved immense pain and hardship. She was eventually fitted with a prosthetic leg and had to slowly learn how to walk again during rehabilitation. The road to recovery tested her resilience and willpower.
Though the incident left her permanently disabled at the young age of 24, Arunima resolved to not let it defeat her dreams. The brave national level volleyball player was determined to bounce back, make a comeback, and prove herself against all odds. She knew she could channel her fighting spirit into achieving something extraordinary. This attitude paved the way for her record-breaking climbing as the first female amputee to successfully scale the intimidating heights of Mount Everest. Arunima demonstrated that disability and loss need not spell the end of one’s ambitions. Her journey embodies the human capacity for courage, perseverance and resilience in the face of life’s unthinkable tragedies.
Journey Towards the Mountaineering Record
After her accident, Arunima Sinha resolved to prove herself by achieving something extraordinary. She set her sights on the scary goal of reaching the summit of Mount Everest. This required extensive training and preparation to build her physical strength, stamina, and mountain climbing skills.
In 2012, Arunima qualified as a head constable in CISF, becoming the first female amputee to join a paramilitary force. That same year, she was deeply inspired after meeting cricketer Yuvraj Singh and learning how he overcame cancer. She decided to push past her disability just as he had defeated his illness.
Arunima began rigorous mountaineering training at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi under the guidance of Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Everest. She spent months building her endurance, learning essential climbing techniques, and acclimatizing her body to high altitudes. She also scaled smaller peaks in the Himalayas as part of her training.
Finally in 2013, Arunima was ready to make her ambitious Everest attempt. She was chosen by TATA Steel Adventure Foundation and inducted into their 10-member expedition. On April 1, she embarked on the challenging climb from the Nepal side accompanied by sherpas and climbing experts. Trudging through icy slopes in freezing temperatures, Arunima battled immense mental and physical difficulties during her 52-day journey to the top. She persevered through life-threatening situations like avalanches and oxygen deficiency.
On May 21, after overcoming vicious storms and grueling climbs up the deadly Khumbu Icefall, Arunima finally stood atop the 29,029 ft summit. In doing so, she became the first female amputee in the world to reach Everest’s peak. It was a monumental achievement for someone with a prosthetic leg. Arunima conquered her disability and adverse circumstances through sheer willpower. Her extraordinary feat proved that with courage and determination, no goal is truly insurmountable.
Arunima continues to scale lofty peaks, setting records as the first Indian amputee to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Kosciuszko, Aconcagua, Carstensz Pyramid and Vinson Massif. She established the Arunima Foundation to train differently-abled individuals in mountaineering and sports. Her incredible journey demonstrates how we can overcome any obstacle if we believe in ourselves.
Motivational Speaking and Advocacy
After becoming the first female amputee to scale Mount Everest, Arunima Sinha emerged as an inspirational figure and prominent motivational speaker. She travels extensively across India and the world to share her incredible story and empower others. Arunima urges people to challenge their limitations, dream big, and never give up on themselves. She speaks passionately about turning disabilities into opportunities, overcoming insurmountable odds, and achieving one’s highest potential.
Arunima also advocates for the differently-abled community. She aims to sensitize society about equal rights and inclusion for people with disabilities. In 2015, she launched the Arunima Foundation which provides free training in mountaineering, sports and vocational skills for amputees and underprivileged youth. Through public speaking and welfare initiatives, Arunima continues to inspire lives and transform mindsets. Her indomitable spirit serves as a powerful reminder that we can accomplish anything with courage and conviction.
Challenges and Controversies
Arunima Sinha’s road to becoming the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest was filled with immense challenges. After her tragic accident, she had to battle depression and regain the will to live. Learning to walk again with an artificial leg tested her grit. During her Everest expedition, she faced life-threatening situations like avalanches, altitude sickness, freezing temperatures and oxygen deficiency. However, Arunima overcame each obstacle with singular focus and perseverance.
Her achievement was mired in some controversy as well. The Nepal Mountaineering Association initially disputed her summit, demanding more photographic proof. Some critics also questioned if she had climbed all the way given her disability. However, her expedition organizers and team vehemently vouched for her successful summit. These needless controversies hurt Arunima but did not deter her spirits.
In 2015, she had to fight a legal case when the Railways refused compensation for her accident, arguing she was travelling ‘illegally’ in the general compartment. After a long battle, the court ruled in her favor.
Through all the challenges and controversies, Arunima has emerged stronger, using adversity to fuel her ambitions. In 2021, she faced a major setback when she was diagnosed with cancer. However, she has bravely endured multiple surgeries and chemotherapy sessions, drawing inspiration from her past resilience. Despite the hurdles, Arunima Sinha continues to soar to new heights, solidifying her status as an embodiment of courage and perseverance.
Recognition and Awards
Arunima Sinha’s awe-inspiring achievement of becoming the first female amputee to scale Mount Everest earned her well-deserved recognition across India and beyond. She was honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 2014 for her inspirational contribution to Indian mountaineering. This was a proud moment for Arunima and a celebration of her monumental climb.
The Limca Book of Records hailed her feat by awarding her the ‘Person of the Year’ title in 2013. She was also named the ‘National Role Model’ the same year by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in acknowledgement of her outstanding accomplishment.
Arunima received the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2015 for her courage and perseverance. This award is the highest recognition for outstanding achievements in adventure sports in India. She was also conferred the Freedom of the City of London award in 2021 in recognition of her indomitable spirit. This rare honour from the city of London underscored how Arunima’s story of resilience had inspired people worldwide.
Among her other accolades are the Bachendri Pal Award for outstanding contribution to mountaineering (2013), the Zee Astitva Award for superwomen (2013) for her resilience and success against odds, and the Bharat Gaurav award for achievement in mountaineering (2021) for her stellar climbing records.
She has been widely feted across media platforms as well. Arunima was named the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year for overcoming adversity in 2013. BBC 100 Women recognized her as one of the most inspirational and influential women from around the world in 2020, highlighting her resolve and achievement.
The Khel Ratna award from the Odisha state government (2021) and the Yash Bharti Award from the Uttar Pradesh government (2022) are some of her other prominent honours recognizing her sporting excellence and inspirational journey.
Arunima continues to earn laurels for her gutsy summits, social work and motivational speaking. She serves as an inspiration for women, sportspeople and the physically challenged. Her success story underscores how sheer resilience and single-minded dedication can help one conquer seemingly insurmountable feats. Through her awards and recognition, Arunima Sinha reminds us that human potential is limitless if we decide to push boundaries.
Personal Life and Relationships
Despite her stupendous achievements, Arunima Sinha remains grounded and committed to her loved ones. She credits her family, especially her brother, for motivating her during the low phases after her accident. Even at the Everest base camp, thoughts of her brother kept her determined to succeed. She has described her mother as her role model for inner strength.
Arunima’s first marriage was not successful. So, she married Gaurav Singh for the second time in 2018. Gaurav Singh, a Paralympian who has been a pillar of support in her adventures.
Arunima has revealed that her disability made her hesitant about relationships initially. However, her husband gave her the confidence to overcome her reservations. In 2021, the couple was blessed with twin boys, owing to which Arunima paused her expeditions temporarily. However, she remains eager to eventually get back on the mountains with her family and instill the spirit of adventure in her children.
Despite her fame, Arunima remains strongly rooted in family values and relationships. She considers the support of loved ones as vital accompaniments on the path to fulfilling her dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How did Arunima Sinha lose her leg?
- In 2011, while Arunima was travelling on a train, some robbers assaulted her and threw her off the moving train, leading to a leg amputation below her left knee to save her life.
- When did Arunima Sinha climb Mount Everest?
- On 21st May 2013, Arunima Sinha created history by becoming the first female amputee to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
- What records does Arunima Sinha hold?
- Arunima Sinha is the first Indian amputee to scale Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, Mount Kosciuszko, Mount Aconcagua, Mount Carstensz Pyramid and Mount Vinson.
- Why is Arunima Sinha famous?
- Arunima is renowned for being the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest despite losing a leg. She is an inspirational figure for her extraordinary achievements in mountaineering after being disabled.
- What awards has Arunima Sinha received?
- Arunima Sinha has received prestigious awards like the Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, CNN-IBN Indian of the Year for overcoming adversity.
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