Premlata Agarwal inaugurates Voices of Children at Jamshedpur Women’s College on Wednesday. (Bhola Prasad)

Kya gareeb bachche mountaineering kar sakte hai (Can poor children become mountaineers)? The thought-provoking question was lobbed at Everester Premlata Agarwal by eighth grader Rani Godsera of Nandup middle school.

“Sure they can. We wear same clothes and eat same food; nobody is rich or poor; it is our qualities that decide who we are. If you wish to make the ascent, learn to take one step at a time. The rest will follow,” the mountain queen replied.

Premlata was hearing out Voices of Children, an interactive session with cub reporters organised by Unicef and NGO Adarsh Seva Sansthan at Jamshedpur Women’s College on Wednesday.

The programme marked the UN’s adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989.

A mother of two, Premlata — who has aced all the seven summits of the world — told her 50-odd curious listeners how hard work and determination had helped her conquer peak after peak. “Take adversities in your stride and you are a winner,” she advised.

“I realised my potential very late and will always be indebted to my mentor Bachendri Pal for the mountaineer she made out of me. But, you are all young; you have lot more energy. Just focus... put in your hundred per cent,” the 49-year-old added.

Young, ignited minds are not easily satisfied and questions kept pouring for the celebrity climber.

“Did your family support you?” asked Suhagi Hansda of Class VIII, Godratola middle school. Said Premlata: “My two daughters have always been my pillars of strength. Since my dream involved risks, my husband and in-laws were initially sceptical. But, once I was adjudged the best trainee in the mountaineering course, they supported me.”

Class VIII student Geetamani Kumari of Surgadu School, Musaboni, wanted to know how challenging the Everest climb was. “Very,” said Premlata.

“First, there was bad weather; then I suffered from dehydration; I had even made up my mind to give up, my mentor (Bachendri) spoke to me over phone and instilled in me fresh confidence,” she added.

How did you feel once you were on the peak? The question came from Harsh Kumar of Class VI, Laxminagar High School, Jamshedpur. “The first few seconds were spent in disbelief. When realisation dawned that I was on the top of Mount Everest, I thanked God and wished my whole family were there,” replied the mountaineer mom.

Binay Pattanayak, education specialist of Unicef (Jharkhand), said Premlata had been a great source of inspiration for the cub reporters.

“Our Bal Patrakaar programme generates a lot of awareness among schoolchildren. There have been exemplary cases of busting myths and stemming social evils. This is a platform where children can dream of anything and everything, and also realise them,” Pattanayak said.

Dream? Yes, they did.

“Born in a village, I always thought women who take care of their families cannot do anything else. I was wrong. I want to take up challenges. I would like to be the SP of my district,” Babita Mahto, Class VIII, Kamarigoda middle school, summed up a day of immense motivation.