BMHRC Celebrates Women’s Day, Everest Conqueror Jyoti Ratre Shares Her Story

Bhopal

The Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) hosted the “Ahilya Cultural Fair” on Friday to mark International Women’s Day. Everest summiteer Jyoti Ratre, the country’s oldest woman to achieve the feat, shared her journey of courage and resilience. Mayor Malti Rai and BMHRC’s acting director Dr Manisha Srivastava inaugurated the fair, which featured stalls by hospital employees and their families, offering traditional sweets, food, and handcrafted items. The mayor toured the fair and praised Dr Srivastava for organising the event.

Jyoti Ratre described Everest as a test of physical and mental endurance, emphasising that returning safely is as crucial as reaching the summit. She recounted the challenges of trekking 10 km from the base camp to the low camp, dragging a 25 kg sled, and carrying a 15 kg backpack. Her story left the audience inspired.

During a ceremony at the auditorium, BMHRC honoured Mayor Rai and Jyoti Ratre with certificates of recognition. The mayor said that while Women’s Day is celebrated internationally on a single day, Indian culture honours women every day. She noted how traditions worship Goddess Saraswati for wisdom, Goddess Lakshmi for wealth, and Goddess Durga for strength. She stressed the need to eliminate gender discrimination and teach boys to respect every woman as their sister, a mindset she believes will help end crimes against women.

Welcoming the mayor, Dr Manisha Srivastava praised her commitment to Bhopal’s development. On Saturday, March 8, BMHRC will honour accomplished women. Madhya Pradesh’s Minister of State Krishna Gaur will be the chief guest and will inaugurate a refrigerated centrifuge machine at the hospital’s transfusion medicine department.