Premlata Agarwal on Island Peak in Nepal during an acclimatisation programme for her Everest conquest in the first week of April. Telegraph picture

Jamshedpur, May 20: A child is, well, the mother of woman. Premlata Agarwal was born in a large happy Marwari family in Darjeeling, and mountains were her first love.

Among the 12 children of the Garg family originally based in Darjeeling, Premlata, the second eldest of seven daughters was passionate about trekking since childhood, recalled her father, businessman Ramawtar Garg (76) on phone from Siliguri, Bengal, where he now lives with wife Sarda Devi (70).

“I very well remember Premlata would often pack her bags for a short stint in the hills during our stay in the Sukia Pokhri district of Darjeeling. She has been to Tiger Hill for trekking on more than one occasion. She always made regular forays to the mountains,” Garg said.

After marriage, Premlata settled on the plains of Jamshedpur, but habits, as they say, are as old as hills. “My daughter was very sporty,” recalled mother Sarda. “She was also very plucky since childhood. Woh abhi bhi bahut bahadur hai. Hum logon ko uss pe naaz hai (Even now, she is very courageous. We are all very proud of her),” she said.

For its time, the Garg family was quite progressive. “All my 12 children, both sons and daughters, were interested in sports and we encouraged them. Table tennis, football, cricket, badminton, you name it, and they played it,” said the proud father. “The family courtyard would always be bustling with their games,” he said.

But for Premlata, the hills had a special fascination. And her father said some of his teachings helped her in her arduous climb to the tallest peak in the world. “I told my kids to stick to a decision. Don’t reverse it, don’t go back on something you’re committed to,” he said.

So when bad weather last week forced Premlata back to the base camp, she must have recalled her dad’s words, shrugged off the disappointment and prepared to ascend again.

“I am ecstatic that my daughter has dome something out of the ordinary. Meri beti ne Everest ko fateh kar liya. Main hamesha apne bacchon se kahta tha apne pairon par khada ho (My daughter has conquered the Everest. I told my children to carve their identity),” said the father.

Premlata’s elder brother Brij Mohan Garg, who owns a multiplex in Darjeeling, also couldn’t control his excitement over the phone. “I’ve been trying to keep track of her expedition from the wee hours today. I went mad with joy after getting the news (that Premlata scaled the peak). It’s a huge achievement, especially for a woman with two grown-up daughters. I don’t have words to describe my feelings,” he said from Darjeeling.

Brij Mohan, who used to be a fine shuttler in his heydays, recalled that Premlata was a born climber. “She would lug heavy bags and nimbly trek up and down the hills of Darjeeling. Mountains and adventure always attracted her,” he said.

The Garg family can’t wait to speak to Premlata once she returns to the base camp. “It’s been a while since we heard her voice,” said the doting dad.