Ajeet Bajaj

2021-06-28T11:31:31Z

171.79.61.227:

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Ajeet Bajaj
| image = To wiki.JPG
| image_size = 300 px
| caption = At South Pole
| birth_date = 17 September 1965
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = [[Adventure sports]]
| spouse = Shirly Thomas Bajaj
| parents = Jai Dev Bajaj and Satya Bajaj
| children = [[Deeya Suzannah Bajaj]] and Meghna Ann Bajaj
}}

'''Ajeet Bajaj''' (born 1965) is the first Indian to ski to the [[North Pole]] and complete the polar trilogy which entails skiing to the North Pole, South Pole and across the Greenland icecap. Bajaj and his daughter [[Deeya Suzannah Bajaj|Deeya Bajaj]] were the first Indian father daughter team to climb Mt. Everest.

==Early life==
Bajaj (also affectionately known as "Bagage") completed his schooling at [[The Lawrence School, Sanawar]].<ref>[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=181504 Ajeet Bajaj says the school motto kept him going] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917181548/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=181504 |date=17 September 2009 }} at expressindia.com</ref> At the age of twelve he climbed the {{convert|17353|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} Friendship Peak near [[Kullu]]. He graduated from [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]].<ref name="blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com">https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/author/ajeetbajaj</ref>

== Adventure ==
Bajaj is the first Indian to have skied to both the North Pole<ref>{{cite news |title=Honoured for conquering North Pole |author=Bindu Shajan Perappadan |date=7 May 2005 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/07/stories/2006050714960300.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905061820/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/07/stories/2006050714960300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 September 2012 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2011-11-07}}</ref> and the South Pole. He has also traveled multiple countries spanning all seven continents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.snowleopardadventures.com/about-us/the-beginning/|title=Ajeet Bajaj, Adventure in India, Adventure Tourism - Snow Leopard Adventures: The Beginning {{!}} Snow Leopard Adventures|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref> In July 2008 he kayaked along the coast of Greenland as part of an Indo-American team. The expedition's aim was to create awareness about the effect of global warming on glaciers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/the-formidable-challenge-of-scaling-the-everest/article24077185.ece|title=The formidable challenge of scaling the Everest|last=Kullar|first=Gagan Dhillon|date=2018-06-04|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-09|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Bajaj won a bronze medal in the national games for kayaking. He has received a silver and two bronze medals in international rafting competitions in Switzerland and Siberia, Russia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.coca-colaindia.com/stories/lbr-2019-first-indian-to-ski-to-the-north-pole|title=First Indian to ski to the North Pole|website=The Coca-Cola Company|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref> He has captained an international team for world white water championships in Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-dna-mumbai-anniversary-ajeet-bajaj-father-of-indian-adventure-tourism-2642838|title=DNA Mumbai Anniversary: Ajeet Bajaj - Father of Indian adventure tourism|last=Basu|first=Dyuti|date=2018-07-29|website=Daily News and Analysis|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>

Bajaj qualified as a climbing instructor at the French National School of Alpinism and Skiing and has experience in a host of other adventure sports including skiing, rock climbing, snorkeling, sea kayaking, scuba diving, bungee jumping and canyoning.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bajajs-become-first-father-daughter-duo-to-scale-the-mount-everest/article23905889.ece|title=Bajajs become first father-daughter duo to scale the Mount Everest|last=Kumar|first=Ashok|date=2018-05-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-09|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

He is a Fellow of the [[Royal Geographical Society]] and is former President of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India.<ref name="blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/>

Bajaj along with his daughter Deeya climbed Mount Everest on 16 May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sunday-chronicle/headliners/030618/like-father-like-daughter-1.html|title=Like father, like daughter|last=Kapil|first=Shagun|date=2018-06-03|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref> This made them the first father - daughter duo to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/author/ajeet-bajaj-and-deeya-bajaj/?source=app|title=Ajeet Bajaj and Deeya Bajaj Blog|website=Economic Times Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/adventure-is-a-way-of-life-indias-first-father-daughter-duo-who-climbed-mount-everest-1856863|title="Adventure Is A Way of Life": India's First Father-Daughter Duo Who Climbed Mount Everest|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>

==Achievements==
{{prose|section|date=October 2019}}
* Chief Instructor for kayaking course conducted for instructors of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.adventuretravelnews.com/13412|title=Ajeet Bajaj Awarded Prestigious Honor by President of India for Work in Adventure Tourism|website=AdventureTravelNews|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>
* Course director for River Running courses conducted for the National Institute of Water Sports, Goa, India.<ref name=":1" />
* Leader of first descent expeditions on the Nubra, Shyok, Ravi and Beas rivers in India.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://outstandingspeakersbureau.in/Speakers/ajeet-bajaj/|title=Ajeet Bajaj – TOSB|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>
* Leader of rafting expeditions on Indus, Zanskar, Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers for the Indian Army. First descent by Kayak of upper Yamuna.<ref name=":0" />
* Expedition leader and chief instructor for forty-five river running courses and expeditions for the Indian Armed Forces. Many of these expeditions were on uncharted rivers in the Himalayas.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/author/ajeetbajaj/|title=Ajeet Bajaj Blog|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>
* Joint leader of Indo-U.S. Kali-Sarda River Expedition (first descent) – 1987.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
* Technical Director for Four Square International White Water Challenge 2001, India.
* Former President, Indian Association of Professional Rafting Outfitters of India.
* Member of executive committee Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.
* Awarded [[Padma Shri]] in 2012<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=79881|title= Padma Awards|publisher=pib|date= 27 January 2013 |accessdate= 27 January 2013 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Indian summiters of Mount Everest - Year wise]]
*[[List of Mount Everest summiters by number of times to the summit]]
*[[List of Mount Everest records of India]]
*[[List of Mount Everest records]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.snowleopardadventures.com Snow Leopard Adventures Website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajaj, Ajeet}}
[[Category:Indian male skiers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lawrence School, Sanawar alumni]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society]]
[[Category:Indian mountain climbers]]
[[Category:Indian summiters of Mount Everest]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:1965 births]]

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Ajeet Bajaj