HT Correspondent
ITANAGAR, Aug 11: Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Lt General KT Parnaik, (Retd) on Monday felicitated Colonel RS Jamwal, Director of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, with the prestigious ‘Governor’s Medallion for Excellence’ in recognition of his exceptional contributions to promoting adventure activities in the State.
According to an official statement, Col Jamwal called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan, where he briefed him on the institute’s recent landmark achievements, notably the Brahmaputra River Rafting Expedition and the Mount Kanchenjunga Expedition.
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The Governor lauded these accomplishments, describing them as extraordinary feats that reflect not only physical endurance and skill but also meticulous planning and team spirit.
Commending the NIMAS Director for leading two challenging expeditions to remarkable success, the Governor expressed confidence that such milestones would inspire the youth of Arunachal Pradesh to explore their own potential in adventure sports.
He urged NIMAS to expand its outreach and create more opportunities for local youth to engage in mountaineering, river rafting, trekking, and other challenging pursuits that test courage and resilience.
Highlighting the growing list of achievements by the State’s mountaineers, including several who have summited Mount Everest, Lt Gen Parnaik remarked that Arunachal Pradesh is home to immense untapped talent.
“Our youth need the right exposure, mentorship, and opportunities to shine. With proper guidance, they can make the State and the Nation proud on the global stage,” he said, adding that adventure sports can be a platform for building character, discipline, and leadership qualities among young people.
The Governor also took note of the details shared by Col Jamwal about NIMAS’s recent undertakings.
The Brahmaputra River Rafting Expedition, the Director informed, covered the entire Indian stretch of the mighty Brahmaputra (Siang) River — from Gelling in Arunachal Pradesh to Hatsingimari in Assam — a distance of approximately 1,040 km.
Over the course of 28 days, the team navigated 63 challenging rapids, making it one of the most demanding river expeditions in the country.
Equally notable was NIMAS’s successful summit of Mount Kanchenjunga, India’s highest peak and the world’s third-highest mountain, a feat requiring exceptional stamina, technical expertise, and determination.
These achievements, the Governor noted, set new benchmarks for adventure sports in the State and underscore NIMAS’s role as a leading institution in promoting outdoor leadership and extreme sports training in India.
According to the official statement, the Governor expressed his hope that such ventures would continue to motivate Arunachal’s youth to dream big, aim high, and push the boundaries of what is possible, both in adventure sports and in life.
