(By Ibalarishisha Syiem)
In an extraordinary feat of courage and perseverance, 20-year-old Rifiness Warjri, fondly known as Glory, from Meghalaya scripted history by summiting Mount Everest on May 18, becoming the youngest from the state and the third Khasi woman to conquer the world’s highest peak.
From NCC Cadet to Everest Summiteer
Her passion for mountaineering began back in Class 8, when she was a student at Auxilium Convent and joined the NCC. During a camp at NEPA, she heard the story of her instructor, Dolyne Kharbhih, who had scaled Everest in 2016. That story, Glory says, stayed with her.
Years later, when the selection for the Everest team was announced in college, she decided to give it her all. She almost didn’t make it, first placed on a reserve list due to a leg injury. But a last-minute call gave her a second chance, and she didn’t look back. The team underwent rigorous training across Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), and Siachen.
The Grueling Climb: Icefalls, Death Zone, and a Corpse
The journey to Everest Base Camp started in Kathmandu, continued with a risky flight to Lukla, and then days of trekking through remote Himalayan villages.
From base camp, the team crossed the dangerous Khumbu Icefall, a constantly shifting glacier with deep crevasses and unstable ladders. The final push to the summit began from Camp 4, in what climbers call the death zone, over 8,000 meters above sea level. “There was fear,” she admitted, especially after seeing the body of a climber who had died just days before. “But I had to stay focused. I couldn’t let it stop me.”
Her most harrowing moment came during acclimatization at Lobuche, where a severe headache nearly derailed her mission. “I thought, if I can’t handle this, how will I survive Everest?” Yet, with unwavering support from her team and Sherpa who guided her, she pushed forward. On summit night, battling strong winds, she relied on prayer and sheer willpower.
Climbing through the night from 6:00 pm, she reached the summit just after 4:00 AM on May 18.
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A Family’s Prayer and a State’s Pride
Back home, her parents, Diamondcy Warjri and Shlurbor Kharmydai, waited anxiously for updates. They relied on prayer and short calls whenever possible. Her mother said, “I told her, if you feel you can’t continue, it’s okay. But she told us she didn’t want to give up.” Her father added, “She had faith in God, and we had faith in her.”
Aside from mountaineering, Glory is also an accomplished martial artist. She has trained in mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and wushu since 2008, under coaches Ferdinand Suting, Sam Lyngdoh, and Lam Kharkongor. She has won multiple medals in state and regional competitions. She says sports have helped her stay focused and healthy, both physically and mentally.
Legacy and Recognition
Glory now joins an elite trio of Khasi women Everest summiteers, including Wansuk Myrthong (2013) and Dolyne Kharbhih (2016). As Meghalaya celebrates its youngest hero, Glory’s eyes are set on new horizons. For a girl who once balanced studies, martial arts, and helping at her parents’ shop, Rifiness Warjri’s triumph proves one undeniable truth: with heart and grit, even the sky is no limit.
To other young people, she says: “If you have a dream, chase it with your heart. Don’t give up halfway. Trust yourself and trust God.”
