Shillong, Mar 8: Rifiness Warjri has scaled incredible heights, literally. She was the third woman (and fourth person overall) from Meghalaya to climb Mt Everest and the youngest at just 20 years old when she accomplished this feat in May 2025.
She has become a household name in Meghalaya since then and a great source of encouragement and inspiration to other youth. But the expedition almost did not happen for her.
Rifiness suffered a leg injury before the state-level selection camp here in Happy Valley and consequently only made it on to the reserve list.
She had a lifeline thrown to her, though, as one of the selected climbers dropped out and that paved the way for Rifiness to secure a place in the North East regional selection camp in Guwahati. She resolved to put in an extra effort and went from strength to strength, getting selected for the all-India camp in Delhi by demonstrating that she was physically as well as mentally capable for the task. The cadets were then put through their paces in Uttarakhand and Siachen, the latter in -30 degree Celsius temperatures.
From around 17 lakh cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) across the country, Warjri made it to the last few who headed out to Mt Everest in Nepal. In the end, 10 NCC cadets set off from Everest base camp, dodging bad weather as they did so, with their guides and Army climbers.
Everest may see hundreds of climbers every year but it is still a treacherous experience and fatalities are common. The top of the mountain lies above 8,000 metres – the Death Zone – where there is insufficient oxygen. Freezing cold temperatures carry the risk of frostbite and hidden crevasses and other dangers mean that one false step could prove disastrous.
“When I finally reached the summit, it was a very emotional moment. I realised that the climb was not just about reaching the top – it was about the sacrifices, courage and challenges faced along the way. Every step on the mountain tested my strength and determination,” she explained. “Standing at the top, I felt proud to bring honour to India and especially to represent the North East and Meghalaya. Above all, I thanked God for guiding and protecting me throughout the journey.”
There was little to suggest that Mt Everest was in Rifiness’s future growing up. Having lived in Nongthymmai and Laitkor, hills have always surrounded her but no real mountains. Joining the NCC was a turning point as one of her instructors was Dolyne Kharbhih, the second woman from the state to climb Everest, and from there her love of mountaineering grew.
It was a seminal moment for the youngster that changed the Botany undergraduate’s life.
“The experience changed my life in many ways. Before Everest, I was someone who had big dreams but also many doubts and fears,” she said. “The journey to the summit taught me discipline, patience, resilience and mental strength. Climbing Mt Everest showed me that success does not come easily. It requires years of preparation, sacrifices and the courage to face extreme challenges.”
Rifiness is the third of five children of Shlurbor Kharmyndai and Diamondsea Warjri and she credits her parents, family, teachers, instructors and the Almighty in getting her where she is today. “My parents were the first people to know that I had been selected for the expedition. They were extremely happy and emotional. For them, it was not just a selection but a big responsibility and a dream coming true.”
Hers is not a well-off family and going through the NCC was essential in helping her cover the expedition’s costs, which are considerable – equipment, training, travel and the permits that Nepal charges for.
While focused on getter her Bachelor’s degree, Rifiness is hopeful of continued financial support as she seeks to carry forward her love of mountaineering.
“One of my biggest dreams is to complete the Seven Summits, which means climbing the highest mountains on all seven continents. This would be another great challenge and a meaningful journey for me as a mountaineer,” she said.
“I hope that in the future, with the right opportunities and support, I will be able to continue my climbing journey and represent Meghalaya, the North East and India on the global stage. Support from the government, organisations and sponsors would be very helpful in making this dream possible,” Rifiness concluded.