Gurdial Singh (mountaineer)
Gurdial Singh (1 January 1924 – 30 May 2023) was an Indian schoolteacher and mountaineer who led the first mountaineering expedition of independent India to Trisul (7,120 metres) in 1951. In 1958, he led the team that made the first ascent of Mrigthuni (6,855 metres). In 1965, he was a member of the first successful Indian expedition team to climb Mount Everest.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Main discipline | Mountaineer |
| Born | 1 January 1924 |
| Died | 30 May 2023 (aged 99) Chandigarh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Career | |
| Notable ascents | - Led the first Indian expedition to Trisul (1951) - First ascent of Mrigthuni (1958) - Member of the first Indian expedition to Mount Everest (1965) |
Singh also led many expeditions at The Doon School, where he was a geography teacher, and along with other Doon masters and students was instrumental in establishing a mountaineering culture in post-Independence India. Singh has been described as "the first true Indian mountaineer", and in 2020, the Himalayan Journal noted "Gurdial climbed for pleasure, to enjoy the mountains in the company of friends, to savour the beauty and grandeur of the high ranges, not to find fame or bag summits."