Kangchenjunga Ascent from the East

KANGCHENJUNGA ASCENT FROM EAST. Indo-Japanese Venture. By Hukam Singh. Pp. 268, 50 colour and 100 b/w illustrations, 3 maps, 1994. (The Offsetters, New Delhi, Rs. 548).

Paul Bauer in the pre-war years attempted Kangchenjunga from its eastern approaches. These earlier attempts were a class in themselves with a small team. His intended route was from the east face to the northeast ridge. Their attempts failed. This route was completed, first in 1977 and since then it has been repeated a few times.

The present book is about an Indo-Japanese expedition to this route. The author Hukam Singh is a serving officer in the Indo-Tibet Border Police and is known for leading several expeditions, particularly jointly with the Japanese, who were also his partners in this venture. The book gives many black and white photographs and a detailed description of the route with details of the members. Thus a complete record of the route and the team is available. Though the photographs could have been better, they are in plenty and give the book a good reference value. Of course, quite a few pictures show flags of sponsors and members with several politicians and have no place in such a book.

HARISH KAPADIA