Savadia stamps Jamaica’s name on Mount Everest for new year
Published:Monday | January 1, 2024 | 12:08 AMDave Rodney and Anthony Turner/Gleaner Writers
Naturalised Jamaican citizen Dushyant Savadia on New Year’s Eve fulfilled a lifelong dream when he arrived at the camp base of Mount Everest in the Himalayas and engraved Jamaica’s name at 18,500 feet on the world’s highest mountain range.
“Yes, I made it. Jamaica made it,” Savadia calmly declared as he engraved the word ‘Jamaica’ into the rocky, perilous terrain of Mount Everest.
Born in India, the world-class hiker is founder and CEO of Jamaican technology conglomerate Amber Group, which specialises in developing innovative solutions for a wide range of industries.
Ahead of his latest adventure, Savadia was passionate about planting Jamaica’s name at the base of Mount Everest, despite being aware of the foreboding trip that was fraught with danger. One of his videos along the slippery, icy and rocky hike route that he shared with friends and supporters zoomed in on a mountain top cemetery with monuments to fallen climbers of several nationalities.
During the 2023 season alone, a total of 17 climbers died going to or coming from the summit.
For Savadia and others who have climbed Everest, frequent hurdles include bone-piercing freezing temperatures, oxygen depletion at high altitudes and breathing issues. At points along the trip, temperatures fall as low as minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ascent to the Mount Everest base camp lasted over a week and, despite the challenges, there were many awe-inspiring vistas along the way, including a journey through the beautiful Khumbu Valley in northeastern Nepal with its iridescent and magnificent glaciers.
Mount Everest peaks at 29,032 feet and is considered to be the highest point on Earth. A continued hike beyond the base camp necessitates specialised equipment and oxygen.
“This hike has changed my life,” Savadia declared from Mount Everest. “I have looked around and there has never been a Jamaican sign here so I am very proud. Here is Jamaica to the whole world on Mount Everest.”
Though Savadia said he did not see a Jamaican sign on his arrival, Jamaica-born climber Rohan Freeman previously made it to the peak of Mount Everest in May 2009.
Yesterday Savadia also took the opportunity to wish for Jamaicans “a happy new year overflowing with success, prosperity and health”.
After Jamaica was engraved in the mountain, Savadia, who is sometimes described as a technology disruptor, did his descent by private helicopter.