PURI: In 2008, on this day, she was at the peak of her glory, literally. Kalpana Dash became the first Oriya woman to scale Mount Everest after years of painful fund-raising.
Today, exactly after three years, she began another mission for survival. Fed up with unkept promises made by the Government to provide her a job, Kalpana began begging at the Puri Jagannath temple.
With oxygen cylinder, spikes and other mountaineering gear by her side, Kalpana sat all alone in front of the temple main gate under the scorching sun and begged before the visitors to donate for her sustenance. “For the last three years, I had approached all who were concerned, for a job, but it seems they were bent upon breaking their promise,” she said.
“I am tired of running from pillar to post for getting a job. After all my efforts failed, I came to Lord Jagannath,” she lamented. A large number of residents and visitors, expressed their solidarity.