Tribute to Mangesh Deshpande

Mangesh Deshpande:

Many close to Mangesh can write many things on Mangesh as a person and as a trekker. I thought of sharing few of my experience with him, as, somewhere I give credit to Mangesh for all the treks I had done till date. As I always say, “Looking into the mirror, I stand 5’ feet tall, thin. I never thought I will be doing trekking or for that matter rock climbing and other adventures I had done till date. It was just because of Mangesh who encouraged me to do all impossible.”

It’s been one year since that accident took Mangesh and Sada's life. I still remember Parag Thorat calling me on Wednesday morning on 21th October 2009 to give me the shocking news that Mangesh and Sada got killed while descending down the wall after summit - one of his many Himalaya Expeditions on 19th October 2010. Disbelief – Anger – Shocked – Protest - Tears went through all but yet to accept it as Harsh Truth. Those who know Mangesh will agree that he has got tremendous stamina & strength to survive in extreme conditions and so somewhere in my heart, I believe he is still alive. Atleast he is 100% alive in all trekkers heart. Those in Chakram Hikers and everyone in trekking / adventure world know Mangesh as one of the best trekker in India. The fit person I know. For many he is like the ‘Father figure’ in trekking. He has encouraged many to start trekking and reach the height they have achieved today. How can I be different?

Mangesh has inspired me to do all impossible. It was Mangesh who believed in me and took me to ‘khechi treks’. I am here sharing few of my memories with Mangesh.

My first encounter with Mangesh: A tall, dark and bald person. Fit looking with expressive eyes. Listening to everyone and talking little, cracking jokes @ places. In bus, took the first seat, not singing and doing awaligiri like us. When forced to sing, sang some nursery rhymes from his daughter Rama’s book and A,B,C in reversed way. In my first encounter with Mangesh some 12years back, I tend to look at his old black-n-white photo taken some 10yrs ago. In photo, he was a college going young guy having lots of hair. With good humour he said, “Don’t go with my today’s bald look. And this photo is not that old, it’s taken just 2 years ago, when I was of your age”.

Ulhas Valley: There was something different in Mangesh. With him, one used to feel a positive energy. Knowing, unknowingly he used to spread tremendous positive vibes in the trekking group. One incident of ‘Ulhas valley’ would like to share. Ulhas valley is one of my favourite trek spot. ‘A’ grade trek, only for experienced trekkers. It was my 2^nd Ulhas valley trek with Mangesh. After climbing down the valley, stands a huge waterfall, with tremendous force. I remember Mangya standing inside that very waterfall. Even the drizzle of it used to cause lot of pain. I wanted to try it once, not the same waterfall but some 10% less forceful waterfall. I told Mangya my desire and he quickly said, “Chal ki mag!” (Come let’s go). Holding his hand tightly I went inside, just to realize that it’s just out of my capacity to withhold it for too long. I asked Mangesh to pull me out. This did not fell on his deaf ears. I thought due to crushing noise he was unable to hear my words. So I yelled. Yelled, yelled and yelled. But Mangesh was holding me tight. Unable to move, unable to breathe properly, I thought I was finished. Finally when I had no energy left to yell, Mangesh pulled me out. After taking deep breath I yelled at him, “Mangya are yaar, me mele aste” (I would have died). He said, “Till the time you had energy to yell, you had energy to stand inside that waterfall. When you stopped yelling I pulled you out”. He was awali in his own way. Next generation will miss a leader like him.

BhimaShankar Shidi Ghat: Again a challenging trek. After 2^nd shidi (ladder) there is a traverse (a rock patch wherein one need to go from one end to another, other end not visible. Below is the huge valley). Mangesh took the lead, helping everyone to cross the traverse. One need to hold a small ditch / pit naturally created in the rocks with hands and then there is a small ditch for your feet, so that holding the pit firmly with your hands one can walk / pull oneself by taking support of the ditch where one can place your feet (rather a small ditch to place your toe fingers). With my height, after holding a ditch with my hands, I was not able to reach till the ditch to stand even after stretching myself to fullest. I told this to Mangesh. He asked me to grab the ditch only with my hands and asked me to swing and pull myself over. Not forgetting to tell me not to look down the valley even once. I did it, just because Mangesh asked me too and because I too had tremendous faith in him. I did it successfully just to realise that my height is too short to land my foot at the end of traverse. I was hanging there, at some 2500ft. Not looking down. Just hanging. I tried hard to pull over, but was scared to lose my grip. Mangesh once again came to my rescue. He took the support of the tree and leaned towards me. With just one hand he lifted me like a doll and there I was standing near Mangesh looking at the 2500 ft valley with success. With joy I yelled, “Mangesh, I don’t believe, I did it”. He looked at me n said, “Mag!” After that I did BhimaShankar Shidi Ghat one more time, but made sure Mangesh is gonna come along. I seriously don’t think, I trust any other firm hand in those ghats. Somewhere inside I know without Mangesh I won’t be doing Shidi ghat again.

Rock climbing: My impossible dream. I just stared going to Mumbra for rock climbing practice every Sunday morning. Once Mangesh was in Mumbai on Sunday morning and so he joined us to Mumbra rock climbing practice. It was rear after he shifted to Pune. I was trying to climb a huge rock. For me it was one of the difficult climbing techniques. After trying it for some 10 times with Vilas helping me in between, I was able to climb it all by myself. Once down, I told Mangesh that due to short height I got limitations in climbing. I can’t take grip which are beyond my height. Mangesh, pulling my leg and with naughty smile said, “amhi pan amcha height cha evadhyach grip ghetto” (we also too take grip which are in our capacity). He then gave the biggest certificate to me by saying, “Tu height ni short ahes mhanun jasta technique use karun, technically climbing karte. Jyanchi height jasta aste amcha sarkhi te height cha wapar karun climbing kartat rather than technique. Tu climbing kartana, khalun bhagaila chan vatta karan chooti chooti pawala gheun tu efficiently climb kartes, whereas sometime amhi climb kartana haat-pai marlya sarkhe vattat”. (Being short in height, you do rock climbing using all climbing techniques. Whereas sometime we just use our height to take the grip instead of technique. Your climbing look more professional and look good while watching you doing climbing.) His words I remember as it is. It was like the biggest certificate for me.

Dhene-Ratan: Mangesh being father figure to many was not all that perfect. He too like other human being had some flaws. Mangesh liked challenging himself. If he had climbed any mountain in say 8hrs, next time he will try to climb it in 5hrs. I still remember Dhene-Ratan trek. Refusing few other girls he took me for the trek, which itself was a big thing for me. We all started with myself (Sharvani Khare), Mangesh Deshpande, Anju Paniculam, MB (Mahesh Bhalerao), Ameya Gokhale, Sudeep Barve, Aniket Chaudhari, Rupali Bhagwat, Ashwinikumar, Annie and Jyotsna Kanekar. For Mangesh, Aniket and Sudeep it was a load ferry trek (Packing bag with heavy load for the trek). It was their practice trek before Himalaya Expedition. It was a stretched trek, what we call it as kechi trek. Annie and Jyotsna got stressed out and decided to return. Aniket too got a bad cramp in his leg and was unable to walk. Mangesh told him not to stretch himself and stay fit for Himalaya expedition instead. Thus Aniket and two girls decided to return back. While climbing up, it all went fine. All tired but was excited to do the khechi trek. Next morning after breakfast at 4.00am we started to descend. Mangesh in challenging his own capacity forgot the meeting spot and went far ahead with Anju. We all remaining trekkers gathered at the meeting spot for the lunch waiting for Mangesh and Anju. To our distress, we kept all our lunch packets in Mangesh’s bag. Being forest area we got worried when we waited for them for more than 2hrs. It was then decided that me along with Rupali, her friend Ashwinikumar and Watadya should move ahead, and MB, Ameya and Sudeep will go inside the forest to search them both. Me, Rupali & Ashwinikumar followed watadya walking slow and marked every junction for MB, Ameya & Sudeep’s convenience. Watadya shared his apple with us, each of us getting one piece. Late at night when we reached the village we saw Mangesh & Anju waiting for us with our lunch pack. We had our lunch pack @ around 8.00pm as dinner. There was a little anger roar, little burst, but all well that’s ends well. And what we say, “Treks me aaise chooti chooti bate hoti rahati hey!” (such small things do happens in treks). For me I never thought I can do such khechi trek only on a single price of apple. When you look at some person as perfectionist, little mistakes do count. Mangesh too realised his mistake and shared a big amras can he kept especially for us. So it was all-together Happy ending.

Lobhi – Lonawala Bhimashankar: It’s called trekkers trek. I once told Mangesh my desire to do this trek and without thinking he said, "kar ki mag" (Go, do it!). I asked him, mala jamel ka? (Will I be able to do it?) And he said, "Jamel ki" (why not, sure you can do it). This attitude I have never seen in any other trekker. Just for Mangesh I tried Lobhi this year (2010). But due to my bad knee I was not able to finish it till the end. Moreover, with lots of heavy rains even others were not able to cross the river and had to return half way. I once again will do this khechi trek and once finished wanna dedicate it to Mangesh.

Few good and few bad memories of Mangesh, I will always cherish throughout my life. I won’t say I miss him; he is always with us in our every treks. I thank him to be there and for encouraging me to do all impossible.

-Sharvani Khare

19th October 2010