They say that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a small step. But for 6-year-old Teghbir Singh, the small steps helped him summit Europe’s highest peak, Mount Elbrus, located at an altitude of 18,510 feet. With a world record under his belt, the child prodigy is now eyeing his next destination, Mount Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in Australia.
A determined class 2 student, Teghbir’s sheer courage and focused attitude have helped him in achieving milestones with ease, which many adults can only dream of but couldn’t dare to attempt. Before reaching the age of 6, the wonder boy had already scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa (19,341 ft), Mount Everest Base Camp, and was awarded the youngest Asian to scale Mt Kilimanjaro.
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Visiting his home located in the quiet bylanes of Ropar, in Punjab, The Statesman was received by an eager Teghbir who was running along, leading the way to his home. Accompanied by his father, Sukhinder Singh, a hospital administrator, one could see the calmness and the bond Teghbir shared with his father, his companion on the arduous treks. Once inside, one could see the display of Teghbir’s achievements in the form of certificates, medals, and photographs.
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On being asked how he felt about his achievements, Teghbir coyly admits, “Good.”
It was the curiosity of accompanying his father on the latter’s routine Sunday short treks to nearby ranges that got Teghbir hooked on trekking and mountaineering. “I used to go for Sunday hikes to ranges located around Ropar. Teghbir was 3 years old at that time. He pestered me to take him along with me. On the first trek itself, he walked the entire trail without complaining even once. It happened again on a couple of treks. It was then that Bikramjit Singh Ghuman, a handball coach, realized Teghbir’s potential and decided to train him for the professional climbs,” Sukhinder disclosed.
Sharing the best moments from his Mt Elbrus summit, the six-year-old said that it was the last section that was covered in snow. “I wanted to play in the snow, but then the guide asked me to summit first. During the descent, I played in the snow and made a snowman with my father. It was the best time,” said Teghbir, quite unaware of the magnitude of his achievement.
Expressing concern over the negative comments floating on social media regarding the health and well being of Teghbir, his mother, Dr Manpreet Kaur, a gynecologist, said that initially it used to bother them as parents, but not anymore. “We come from a land which has given birth and seen the sacrifice of Chaar Sahibzadas. For us, bravery and courage are not defined by age. We take complete care of Teghbir’s physical requirements and mental health. As parents, we will never push our child to do something that would be harmful to him. He enjoys the climbs, and if that started at an early age, as parents, we should nurture it with proper guidance and care,” she said.
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