https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Shaikh Hassan Khan: The Malayali Who Conquered the World’s Highest Peaks

A Kerala government engineer, a borrowed Rs 45 lakh, and the world’s highest peaks—Shaikh Hassan Khan’s Seven Summits journey is as daring as it is inspiring.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Shaikh Hassan’s story is not one of conventional success. It is a tale of relentless pursuit, of risk, adventure, and pushing human limits beyond the imaginable. Born with dreams of serving the nation through civil services, Hassan dedicated years to preparing for the exams, attempting the challenge for over three decades. But fate had other plans. His real test wasn’t in exam halls but on the world’s highest peaks, where nature was the invigilator, and survival was the ultimate reward.

“I spent years preparing for something that never materialized. But in the process, I traveled across North India, and that’s where I discovered my real passion—mountaineering,” he recalls.

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, he shared details about the same.

A NEW CALLING IN THE HIMALAYAS

While exploring the mountains during his travels, Hassan stumbled upon the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi. It was there that his journey as a mountaineer truly began. Enrolling in a basic mountaineering course, he found himself drawn to the thrill of climbing, the struggle against extreme conditions, and the breathtaking beauty of high-altitude landscapes.

His ambitions grew rapidly. Soon, he set his sights on the highest peaks in the world. His most ambitious mission? Scaling Mount Everest with a 30×20 feet national flag to mark India’s 75th year of independence.

THE EVEREST EXPEDITION: A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

In 2022, Hassan embarked on his Everest expedition, but it was anything but smooth. Financial constraints made it a daunting challenge even before he stepped foot on the mountain. He borrowed ₹30 lakhs, received ₹10 lakhs from friends, and mortgaged valuables to make his dream possible. But the mountain doesn’t respect effort—it only bows to endurance.

During his climb, at an altitude where the body starts shutting down, Hassan suffered from pulmonary edema, a life-threatening condition where the lungs fill with fluid. Forced to descend to Namche Bazaar, he spent 12 days recovering in a monastery before making another attempt.

“Climbing Everest isn’t just about strength; it’s about patience. The mountain decides if you’re worthy,” he shared with Indian Masterminds .

His second attempt was just as treacherous. As he neared the summit, his oxygen cylinder malfunctioned, leaving him gasping for breath in the death zone. For 15 minutes, he teetered on the edge of life and death. A Sherpa, seeing his dire state, shared his own oxygen supply, saving Hassan from what could have been his final climb.

Even then, adversity didn’t relent. Near the summit, his crampon—the vital spike attachment for grip—fell off. With only one crampon, he continued the climb, dragging one foot while balancing on ice with the other.

“The only thought in my mind was: Keep moving. Just keep moving.”

And he did. On May 14, he stood on the top of the world, holding the Indian flag high above Everest.

CONQUERING THE SEVEN SUMMITS

Everest was just the beginning. Having tasted the thrill of extreme mountaineering, Hassan aimed for the Seven Summits—climbing the highest peaks on each continent. He conquered Denali (North America’s highest peak), Mount Elbrus (Europe’s tallest mountain), and the ice-capped Mount Vinson in Antarctica, where he suffered severe frostbite from removing his gloves for mere seconds in sub-zero temperatures.

“The cold in Antarctica isn’t something you feel—it’s something that consumes you,” he recounts.

Despite injuries and financial hurdles, Hassan pressed on. He summited Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia, marking the completion of his Seven Summits dream in December.

THE LEGACY OF A MAN WHO NEVER STOPPED

Hassan’s journey is one of reinvention. He started as a civil services aspirant but found his destiny in the world’s most dangerous terrains. His story isn’t about winning or losing—it’s about answering the call of adventure and pushing the limits of what the human spirit can endure.

“People think success is a straight road. But sometimes, the road takes you to places you never imagined. And sometimes, those places are at 29,000 feet above sea level,” he told Indian Masterminds with a smile.

From a man with a dream of serving the nation in bureaucracy to one who carried its flag to the highest peaks in the world—Shaikh Hassan’s story is nothing short of extraordinary.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
Cadre Mismanagement Hits Uttarakhand Forest Department Amid Acute IFS Shortage - Know the Matter
Uttar Pradesh Police (UP)_resized
28 DSPs Reshuffled in Uttar Pradesh, Anshu Jain Transferred to Bagpat District - Check Official Order
Karnataka-govt-announces-state-wide-close-down-for-14-days
2019 Phone Tapping Case: Karnataka Govt's Fresh Inquiry Against IPS Alok Kumar Stayed by CAT
CVO
Centre Extends Tenure of Three PSU CVOs; Additional Charges Also Prolonged
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd
GRSE to Boost Shipbuilding Capacity to 28 Vessels by 2025, Eyes Greenfield Facility for Commercial Expansion
delhi-government-resized
Delhi Government to Set Up Mini Secretariats in All 11 Revenue Districts - All Details Mentioned Here
NHPC Awards
NHPC Honored with “GEEF Global Environmental Excellence Company of the Year 2025” Award in Power Sector
laxmi-singh-1200-1
UP: Traffic Chaos in Gautam Budh Nagar, ACP Suspended, DCP Served Notice - Know More About Commissioner Laxmi Singh's Action
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
From Gwalior to the Top 20: What Drove Finance Pro Madhav Agarwal to Crack UPSC CSE 2024 with AIR 16? | Exclusive
Dr Rajeev Narain Mishra
Meet The Star IPS Officer Dr Rajeev Narain Mishra | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Anjali Sondhiya UPSC IFS 2024
Engaged in 10th, 8 Years of Preparation, How This IFS Topper Cracked the UPSC: Anjali Sondhiya’s Journey - A Lesson For Every Girl
Anjali Sondhiya defied early engagement and societal pressure to crack UPSC’s IFS exam-2024 with AIR...
Kanika Anabh
Kanika Anabh: How This JNU Graduate Beat the Odds to Become India’s Forest Service-2024 Topper
Kanika Anabh from Ranchi overcame three UPSC failures with disciplined study and smart strategies to...
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Abhishek Singh, UPSC CSE 2024 Rank 78, shares his journey: from IIT Hyderabad to civil services. He discusses...
Social Media
UPSC Latest IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Tomorrow: ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Last-Minute Motivation for Aspirants
His five-post thread offers encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support - not just for those...
Anupam Sharma IFS
#BoycottTurkey: IFS Officer Anupam Sharma Sparks Nationalist Call to Action
IFS Sharma urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports
Vikram Misri IFS
United Front Against "Nameless" Trolls! After IAS, IPS, & IFoS Officers, Nation's Top Diplomats Rally in Support of Foreign Secy Vikram Misri
The trolling, coming from “nameless, faceless” sources, has sparked widespread condemnation, especially...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
Cadre Mismanagement Hits Uttarakhand Forest Department Amid Acute IFS Shortage - Know the Matter
Uttar Pradesh Police (UP)_resized
28 DSPs Reshuffled in Uttar Pradesh, Anshu Jain Transferred to Bagpat District - Check Official Order
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
Dr Rajeev Narain Mishra
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT