IMF Indian Mountaineering Foundation Meetup 2018

Instead of attending the 2018 Auto Expo, I attended the IMF Mountain Film Festival and I daresay, it was time well-spent. Attending the adventure film fest filled me with awe and wonder at what the people of our age (and more) are achieving by channelising and focusing their energy into their passion. A 50 year + Ashutosh Chopra films his and his newly climbing-certified 26 year son summiting Mount Trishul over a 26 day period; and mind you he is no lean and fit youngster and yet he accomplishes what he wants to achieve. A young Kopal Goyal archives her journey of capturing Abhishek rock climbing the Ganesha 8b+ route, considered as India's hardest sports climbing route when they didn't even have enough funds to eat and stay in Badami Hills, Karnataka or having a support person to help in the climbing or videography. Likewise, a young and shy Arpita Roy shows us the "The Journey of a Mountaineer" by capturing the mountaineering course of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI, Darjeeling) shot over the course of 5 basic courses and 1 advance course in the snowy summits of NE Himalayas. Meanwhile, the wonderful Anurag Jetly showcases how mesmerizing the North East can be through a 5 min. timelapse covering the refreshing trendy essence of the NE including Arunachal, Meghalaya, Assam and Dzukou Valley of Nagaland over two short films - "The North East Charter" and "Prayer Flags - Monsoon Clouds in North East", captured over a period of 70 days and with over 150kg weigh of videography equipments. I was teary eyed watching what Mukti Datta achieved with her "Mandakini women weavers of the Himalayas" when she was imparting skill based handicraft training to the Panchauli Women Weavers Collective which effectively gave way to the Mandakini Women Weavers in the wake of the 2013 flashfloods which became a self-sustaining enterprise providing women, many of whom lost generations of male relatives and family breadwinners in the 2013 flood, with livelihoods linked to global markets. The success catalyzed a new hub for the handloom industry across the Himalayas and the outlet which was provided to these rural women who had shut themselves up after the tragedy is no less than a tribute to humanity.

Witnessing the journey of these people rise above their challenges, be it shortage of funds, time management, physical and medical aspect, etc. and yet achieve their goal in a stupendously beautiful way fills one with inspiration. What's life, if it can't be used to inspire others and fill them with that feeling of awe and wonder. The circle moves on. You got one life, make it count!