In the past few decades, rock climbing has become a popular sport among high school and college students in Calcutta, its suburbs and other metro cities of India. Come winter months, you’ll find groups of local climbers heading for hilly terrain — Susunia in Bankura, Mathaburu, Joychandi and Bero in Purulia, and Tenzing and Gombu rock in Darjeeling.

Some of the climbers mature into mountaineers while others continue it as a hobby or workout. The sport also helps youngsters learn to socialise and pick up problem-solving skills. Moreover, the inclusion of sport climbing, a form of rock climbing that relies on anchors (or bolts) embedded in artificial walls, in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has enhanced the popularity of the sport among students.

The Kamarhati Trekkers Association (KTA) has groomed hundreds of climbers since its inception 35 years ago. At its 44-feet high artificial wall in Kamarhati, on the northern fringe of Calcutta, students practise their climbing skills. “This is one of the highest and oldest climbing walls in the state, and was inaugurated for East Zone Competition of Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) in 2008,” says Shyamal Acharya, founder member of KTA. IMF is the apex national body for mountaineering and allied sports.

“Around 40 students regularly practise here thrice a week. In addition, we conduct rock climbing courses in Purulia and Bankura,” he added. KTA has also been organising the All India Sport Climbing Competition since 2011.

Mrigana Bhattacharya, a student at Barrackpore’s Central Model School, comes from Shyamnagar, 28 kilometres from Kamarhati. She says, “I started rock climbing when I was in Class VII. I did a basic mountaineering course at Manali in 2022.” While climbing is her hobby, she wants to pursue a career in technology. However, she wishes to do an advanced course in “search and rescue” techniques. Such training helps rescue stranded or injured climbers.

Suraj Singh, a 22-year-old undergraduate student of Charuchandra College in Calcutta, trained under mountaineer Mahua Biswas in 2008. Suraj comes from a family with limited financial means. His father lost his job in the pandemic. Now he works as a carpenter with no regular income. Suraj has been passionate about rock climbing since he was eight. He says, “I wish to be a professional climber and represent India in sport climbing in the next Olympic Games in Paris.” To qualify, he’s been competing in various championships in Singapore, Nepal, Indonesia and Italy. He says that getting sponsorships is “a stiffer challenge compared to climbing icy mountain peaks”.

Trainer Mahua, a former state-level footballer as well as a national-level cricketer, was bitten by the “climbing bug” when she was a student in Banipur Mahila Mahavidyalaya in Habra, North 24-Parganas. She says, “Our PT teacher advised me to take a rock climbing course at Susunia.”

The 35-year-old has participated in national sport climbing championships many times and won gold medals in 2016 and 2022. She also took a basic course in mountaineering at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling and an advanced course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi in 2011.

Mahua says, “Since 2008, I have participated in 11 mountaineering expeditions.” She conquered nine peaks, including Mt Manirang (6,593 metres) Mt Nanda Ghunti (6,309 metres) and Mt Tinchenkang (6,010 metres) in the Himalayas. She is not a professional mountaineer but an employee of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

According to Mahua, students must learn sport climbing, rock climbing and mountaineering for life skills. She says, “Climbing artificial walls is a sport; it grooms a spirit of competition. But mountaineering is tougher and requires harder work, perseverance and a tougher discipline.”

Piyali Basak, a teacher at Chandernagore’s Kanailal Vidyamandir, conquered Mt Everest last year. She has summited five other 8,000-metre peaks, including Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167 metres) that she climbed in 2021 without oxygen support. According to her, mountaineering teaches one to move forward in adverse situations and raises tolerance.

Debasish Biswas is one of the most accomplished mountaineers in India and has summited seven 8,000-metre peaks in the Himalayas. He says, “Youngsters can pursue courses in mountaineering, join expeditions and turn into professional mountaineers. They can work as a guide or a manager in expeditions, trekking or hiking tours at a high altitude. Many mountaineers run their own agencies, such as some famous Sherpas in Nepal.” He adds, “Even if one doesn’t pursue a professional career, youngsters can take up this sport to be better human beings. It instils a sense of altruism.”