A new safety regulation in climbing means the Himalayas in Nepal, including the mighty Mount Everest, is off limits for solo climbers, double amputee and blind climbers. The law has apparently been revised with safety in mind and in a bid to decrease the deaths during climbing. Double amputee above knee and former Gurkha veteran, Hari Budha Magar who climbed Mera Peak in September, 2017 has spoken against the new regulation branding it discriminatory to people with disability and their human rights.
Hari, who hopes to climb Mount Everest in 2018 is currently in Nepal training in Thorung La Pass. The enthusiastic adventure-seeker remortgaged his property in the UK to help him fund his passion of climbing. Hari aspires to make a difference by leading as an example and showcasing what a person with disability can accomplish. He hopes that by seeing him, people get up and become more active as well as conquering their dream. Magar wrote a statement on the Conquering Dreams Facebook regarding the new regulation that bars double amputees from climbing in Nepal, full text below:
“I have given 6 interviews tonight, It’s 1:30am in Jomsom, Nepal and this is what I said to the media.
The rules of banning disable people to climb mountains is unfair. This rule is discrimination against disable people and against the human rights.
The Nepal government should encourage disable people to come out of their comfort zone, explore themselves and reach their maximum potential But not banning them from doing things which discourages us. We disable people are also humans. We may just look different and do the things differently but we have human heart and mind.
I hold World Record on First Double Amputee Above Knee to climb over 6000m which was Mera Peak 6476m. Has anybody believed that? No, the most of you didn’t believe me that I could climb but I did it. Now, a lots of you believe me that I can climb the Mt Everest. I have been training to climb Mt Everest since 18 months. I trained in Gosainkunda in Nepal, Ben Nevis in Scotland, Mont Blanc in France, Mera Peak and currently I am training on Thorung La Pass in Muktinath area in Nepal.
I also hold the world record of one of the first amputee to kayak around Isle of Wight and first disable person to ski in Nepal. I am here to make Nepal and Nepali proud and make good publicity of Nepal around the world. It’s same that Nepal is banning me for doing such a good things for Nepal. I know I can give so much to Nepal.
These all things I am doing, this is not just for me and disable people, it’s for people who want to achieve their dreams. Life is all about adaptation whether physical, mental, different situation or time. If you can adapt your life, you can achieve your dream. Nothing is impossible.
Why I want to climb Mount Everest?
1. Inspire and encourage the people around the world never give up and follow their dreams, Nothing is Impossible.
2. Help disable people in Nepal and around the world by inspiring, motivating, encouraging and empowering.
3. Helping my fellow veterans and their families who sacrificed for our freedom.
My expedition is not just me climbing, It’s also about;
4. Finding better safety and rescue system on the mountain which I have already sponsored from Sweden.
5. Helping science and technology to research, develop and invent future prosthetic legs.
6. Giving companies to showcase their products on the top of the world.
I am confident that I will be climbing but I need your help and support to inspire others.
Thank you”
Hari Budha Magar
Conquering Dreams
Jomsom, Nepal