Journey of self-discovery and Mindfulness
Hemanshu Parekh, EMBA 2010
What motivated you to embark on the Everest Base Camp trek?
“Because it’s there,” said British climber George Mallory famously in 1923 in reply to a reporter’s question about why he wanted to climb Everest.
This trek commemorated the 8th anniversary of my volunteering journey with the Singapore Armed Forces. Attempting to trek the world’s most famous mountain is a journey of self-discovery. You trek for hours and days, sometimes appreciating the value of life, at other times singing with friends, and all the while soaking in the immense beauty of the majestic Himalayas. You realise how tiny you are and how puny your problems seem.
With each step was labour in breathing and gradually trekking the Himalayan flats, the 3 Fs kept us 19 going:
Faith: Experienced trekkers said it’s tough, friends said you are not fit, well-wishers said you need to train harder, the body said you wish it were younger, seniors said you could get a horse—it will still count. You have done it. Amongst all the challenges that kept me going was the faith that I could and would do it. If I can’t go fast, I will slide; if I can’t trek, I will crawl—but finish, I will!
Friendship: What kept the 19 of us going was one another. I don’t know if it was magical, but while simply walking was an ordeal, singing and walking somehow charged us up and gave us an extra boost of energy. We sang, danced, joked, and laughed like fresh college guys—wow, our fun was unprecedented.
Fearlessness: We saw the superhuman sherpas on the way who carried huge weights on the back and zoomed past us in bare clothing as if they were taking a stroll in the park. Our guides told us stories of Gurkha warriors, the original inhabitants of Nepal – Gurkhas are some of the best soldiers. India and the United Kingdom both have their own Gurkha regiment. In Singapore too, Gurkhas enjoy the most coveted position in the force. I asked what makes them so special; is it genetics? My guide replied that, of course, eugenics, but there is one more thing that makes them special: Gurkhas are fearless – they are not afraid of dying in line of duty. And this fearlessness is worth living.
I remembered what Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw said about another warrior mountain community, the Garhwalis: If a Garhwali tells you he is afraid of dying, he is either lying or not a Garhwali.
To my urban eyes, the local’s lives were full of contradictions; they lead unparalleled struggles, carrying huge weights at high altitude for a meagre remuneration, staying away from family and in less than safe conditions – but yet are ever smiling with cheerful disposition, always willing to help in seeming surreal and genuine selflessness. I recalled an old couple;
Is duniya mein Hazaaron gum hain,
Shukar hai, mera gum sabse kam hai.
(Translation- The world is full of sorrows, and God, my sorrow is the smallest of them all.)
This made me forget the multitude of problems we so very often surround ourselves with and appreciate what truly matters in life. I decided to retrain myself to be simpler, mindful, and fearless. I would make simpler life decisions, be mindful of how I spend my time, stay away from time blackholes, and be fearless, without fear or favour, to have the courage for what is right!
The best management technique I learned during my EMBA journey, which I applied while trekking to Everest Base Camp, was staying calm and joyful, helping others, sharing your things and asking for help, and cheering everyone up. Also, you should take one step at a time, discover your own pace, and trust the person in charge (in this case, the tour leader).
About the author-
Hemanshu Parekh is an EMBA graduate, a passionate financial crimes investigator, a Leader, and a trained coach in Finance, Law, Taxation, Audit, and Marketing. He is currently working as an Executive Director of Financial Crimes Surveillance Operations, Thematics, and BTL at Standard Chartered Bank.
