Jamshedpur : President of India Pranab Mukherjee, on the occasion of Children’s Day celebration at Rashtrapathi Bhavan, today met and congratulated 5 year 11 months old world record holder Harshit Saumitra. The President also wished Harshit a very bright future during their interaction.
India’s 5 year and 11 months old mountaineering wonder ‘Harshit Saumitra’, a Grade 1 student of G.D Goenka, Model Town New Delhi (India), set a new world record by becoming the ‘Youngest Climber’ to have scaled ‘Kala Patthar (5550 meter) Peak” and Mount Everest base camp. Making both India and Nepal proud, Harshit completed the mission by placing the Indian Flag on the peak and roaring an emphatic ‘Jai Hind’ on 17th October 2014.
Climbing is in Harshit’s DNA and he gained his passion from his father “Rajeev Saumitra” who himself is world’s renowned mountaineer and famous geography teacher. Having started his training at an early age of 2-and-a-half years, Harshit has consistently demonstrated the confidence and ability to learn and perform, and to understand the instructions. The ability to undertake long practice sessions and the immense patience demonstrated by him at such a tender age, are also amongst the key reason for his achievement.
After meeting the president highly elated Harshit said; “Meeting the President of India is a really proud moment for me. It would not be possible to have made this achievement without the help and immense support of my parents. Now I plan to focus on my studies again before getting back to mountaineering in the summer.
“India is a great country and im proud of being its citizen. Jai Hind,” concluded Harshit.
With a view of making the momentous occasion even more momentous, Harshit’s father Mr.Rajeev Saumitra, announced: “We are extremely proud of Harshit’s achievement and we would all like to share this happiness with the lesser privileged and kids from the weaker sections of society. To that effect am happy to announce the formation of ‘Harshit Foundation’ which would focus on supporting students, from these sections, when it comes to Education, Sports and Health.
“Harshit Foundation’s motto would be “Hope for Education, Health and Happiness” (especially through sports),” added Mr. Saumitra.
Harshit Foundation would be funded by Rajeev Saumitra and will not seek any grant and financial support from government at this point.