Padma Bhushan M.S. Kohli - Sikhs The Supreme

Recipient of Nation's top awards, PADMA BHUSHAN, ATI VISHIST SEVA MEDAL, ARJUNA AWARD AND ORDER OF THE KHALSA, a former President of Indian Mountaineering Foundation; Captain of Indian Navy; Commander and Advisor of Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Former Regional Director of Air India, M.S. Kohli has the distinction of being the LEADER of India's FIRST successful expedition to Mt. Everest, which scaled the peak in May 1965. Earlier two expeditions, one in 1960 under the leadership of Brig. Gyan Singh and the other in 1962 under the leadership of Major John Dias had failed. This 19-member expedition setup a world record by making four successful assaults on the highest peak in the world putting nine climbers on top.

This 19-member team included six turbaned Sikhs – Capt. M.S. Kohli (Commander of the team), Major H.P.S. The Mighty Sikhs / 143 Ahluwalia who scaled the peak on May 29, 1965, Mr. C.S. Vohra (Later on became the leader of India's FIRST ever expedition to Antarctica), who set his foot on the peak on May 24, 1965; Major B.P. Singh; Col. Avtar Singh Cheema who climbed the Everest on May 20, 1965 became the FIRST Indian amateur to conquer the peak and wireless officer G.S. Bhangu. Col. A.S. Cheema was a captain in the 7th battalion of the Parachute Regiment then and later promoted to this rank of Colonel. He was awarded the Arjuna Award & Padma Shri for his superb achievement.

When Capt. M.S. Kohli landed at Palam Airport, Gulzari Lal Nanda, the then acting Prime Minister, was there to felicitate him and his team. The VESUVIUS of Indian mountaineering had 14 major expeditions to his credit and 17 narrow encounters with death. The Indian Navy's ascents of Nandakot in 1959 and of Annapurna III in 1961 met with success under this 'CLIMBING SIKH'S' dynamic leadership. He also led the India's FIRST ever expedition to the Saser Kangri in Korakoram. During his tenure with Air India, he became the FIRST MAN IN THE WORLD TO INTRODUCE TREKKING IN THE HIMALAYAS and wrote the FIRST EVER book on the subject. After returning from Everest expedition, he was picked up by the Govt. of India to lead an Indo-American expedition to Nanda Devi and Nandakot summits to install nuclear sensors for monitoring the missile launches in China and to detect their movements in the region. He authored 22 books. His book "Miracles of Ardaas" has been widely acclaimed.

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