Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia was an Indian mountaineer , author , social worker and retired army officer who contributed immensely to adventure , sports , environment and disability. His love for mountains made him the first Indian and twenty-first man in the world to scale Mount Everest in 1965. A bullet injury in his spine during the 1965 Indo Pak war confined him to a wheelchair, relieving him early from the Indian Army with the honorary rank of major in 1968.

HIS Contribution to Healthcare Landscape in India ;

Undeterred by his confinement to a wheelchair at 26, Major Ahluwalia organised the first Ski Expedition to Mount Trisul, the first Trans-Himalaya Motor Expedition and Central Asia Cultural Expedition via Silk and Marco Polo route. To treat all kinds of spinal disorders he set up a world-class Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi in 1993

Change-Making Positions Held ;

* Set up a Worldclass Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi.
* Was President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation & Delhi Mountaineering
Association.
* Wrote 13 books like The Everest Within, Higher than Everest.
* His award-winning serial, Beyond Himalaya, was telecast on Discovery and National Geographic Channel worldwide.
* Was Chairman of Special Ability Trust, Youth Exploring Society, Rehabilitation Council of India and Planning Committee of Persons with Disability of 12 years plan

Laurels Brought to Major H. P. S. Ahluwalia ;

* Conferred Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1966.
* Conferred Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2002.
* The Government of India honoured him with Arjuna Award in 1965.
* World Health Initiative for Peace Award.
* Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society -UK.
* CONDOR-DE-ORO- A high Argentinian honour for contribution in adventure writing Adventure Sports.

Impact Brought in the Lives of Common Indians ;

The experiences of Major Ahluwalia have appeared in school books inspiring generations not to give up against any odds in life. His legacy made Adventure sports, Rock-climbing and Mountaineering were very common amongst youths.