Shillong, June 21: Cadet Refiiness Warjri, the third woman from Meghalaya to conquer Mount Everest, received a triumphant welcome on Saturday upon her arrival at Shillong Airport in Umroi. Her return marks the culmination of an extraordinary journey that saw the young woman from a small village ascend to the “top of the world.”
Warjri summited Mount Everest (8,848.86 m) on the early morning of May 18, 2025, around 4:00 AM, enduring freezing winds, exhaustion, and the unforgiving altitude. “That moment was more than a personal victory – it was for the NCC, my state, my family, and for every girl or boy who dares to dream,” she shared, reflecting on her monumental achievement.
For Warjri, who is part of the 61 Meghalaya Girls Bn NCC, the Everest journey began with a “calling” and was deeply rooted in her involvement with the National Cadet Corps (NCC). She joined as a Junior Wing Cadet at Auxilium School and continued as a Senior Wing Cadet at St. Anthony’s College, crediting the NCC for grooming young people into leaders and instilling a sense of discipline and purpose.
Her path to Everest was forged through rigorous training, including a Pre-Everest Expedition to Mount Abi Garmin (7,355 m) and a Basic Mountaineering Course at HMI Darjeeling, where she honed skills in rock craft, ice climbing, and rescue techniques. The ultimate test of endurance came during winter training at Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, where she faced temperatures of -40°C and learned to survive in snow caves.
Successful climbs of Renok Peak (16,500 ft) in Sikkim and Lobuche Peak (6,199 m) in Nepal further tested her limits. Warjri recounts Lobuche as particularly challenging, battling intense pain and fear throughout an all-night ascent, but her unwavering focus on the goal prevented her from giving up. From 17 lakh cadets nationwide, only 10 (five girls and five boys) were ultimately selected for the Everest expedition, with Warjri proudly among them.
The final ascent began on April 11, 2025, from Lukla, trekking through challenging terrain to reach Everest Base Camp (EBC) on April 19. The summit push commenced on May 14. Warjri described the “Death Zone” climb as terrifying, starting in darkness at 7 PM amidst silence and wind. She witnessed the harsh realities of the mountain, including multiple deceased climbers and one in their final breaths, and the desperate value of water in such extreme conditions.
At the summit, she captured a few photos, offered a prayer, and gazed at the horizon, realizing she was “above the clouds.” The most emotional moment came when she called her parents after the climb, crying as she declared, “I did it.” “It felt like I had brought pride to the Country and my state Meghalaya to the top of the world,” she expressed.
Warjri extended her deepest gratitude to the NCC for helping her realize her potential, acknowledging that she never imagined a girl from a small village with no mountaineering background could achieve such a feat. She lauded the officers and staff of the NCC, particularly those from 61 Meghalaya Girls Bn NCC under NCC Group HQ Shillong and NCC Directorate NER, for their unwavering belief and for “grooming and polishing us into the best versions of ourselves.”
She also thanked her expedition leaders, Col. Amit Bisht and Col. Rajneesh Joshi, her teammates, the brave Sherpas, her supportive parents, and God.
In her message to the youth of Meghalaya, Warjri said, “Never be afraid to dream big. Focus on that dream with all your heart, and work tirelessly to make it a reality. No matter where you come from, your dreams are valid, and your potential is limitless. With determination, discipline, and faith, there is no summit too high, no dream too big for us to achieve.”
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