By Satish Aparajit
“If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.” Few lives embodied this saying more completely than that of Nirmal “Nims Dai” Purja, the legendary Nepali mountaineer who tragically lost his life in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan on 30 July 2026.
Born into a proud Gurkha family, Purja served for 16 years in the British Army, becoming the first Nepali to join the elite Special Boat Service (SBS) of the Royal Navy. Yet his greatest battles were fought not on the battlefield, but on the world’s highest peaks.
Driven by his belief that “Nothing is Impossible”, Purja resigned from the military, gave up his pension and sold his home to finance Project Possible—his audacious mission to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks. In 2019, he achieved the unimaginable, completing the feat in just 189 days, shattering every previous record. His extraordinary journey inspired millions through the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.”
A recipient of the MBE for his military service and mountaineering achievements, Purja continued to redefine the limits of human endurance. He became one of the very few climbers to summit all 14 eight-thousanders twice and was among the elite who conquered the formidable K2 in winter, long regarded as mountaineering’s greatest challenge.
The mountains of Pakistan are beautiful but unforgiving. Their short climbing season and unpredictable weather make every expedition perilous. Purja knew these risks better than anyone, yet the irresistible call of the mountains always drew him back.
Despite his extraordinary achievements, Nims Dai remained remarkably humble, generous and compassionate, often risking his own safety to help fellow climbers. His courage inspired thousands, but it was his humanity that earned him universal respect.
The mountaineering world has lost one of its brightest stars. And perhaps, for the first time, even the mountains will feel a little emptier.
Rest in peace, Nims Dai. Your legacy will continue to inspire generations to dream bigger, climb higher and believe that nothing is impossible.
(Satish Aparajit is a retired Wing Commander of the Air Force and a Shaurya Chakra
awardee.)
