‘My idea of writing the book is to empower women to explore beyond comfort zones’

The book is about the story of a young woman’s journey to the Everest Base Camp despite limited trekking experience that will inspire even the hoi polloi to realize impossible dreams and prove that limitations exist only in the mind. Despite limited trekking experience, Saachi sets her sights high and embarks on a 130-km long maiden trek through a region of outstanding natural beauty.

Excerpts

Q.What inspired you to write this book?
A. The title itself gives a good idea of what the book is about. Being an inquisitive child, I started writing at a very young age. I am a travel writer and have been writing short stories and articles about my travels for 6 years now. My travel stories have been published in leading dailies in India and abroad. Generally, they are about a new place I visit or some unique experiences. My experience on the Everest Base Camp Trek inspired me to write Dreaming of Everest. The idea behind the book is to inspire people, especially women, to come out of their comfort zones and explore, whether it is travelling to a new place or exploring a new profession. Dreaming of Everest inspires people to chase their dreams by working towards them. As my father said, “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” And that is the story of this book.

Q.How was it meeting Peter Hillary? Share your experience with us.
A. I met Peter Hillary the same year I went on the Everest Base Camp Trek. It was the 100th birth anniversary of his father, the great mountaineer Edmund Hillary. We talked about his father’s efforts in his lifetime.

Q. Your book has foreword by Peter Hillary, renowned mountaineer, speaker, and son of Sir Edmund Hillary. What were his views about it?
A. He said, we need more young adventurers like Saachi Dhillon. People prepared to head out into what is for them the unknown. We all have ‘unknowns’ that can only be known by being bold and taking the first step, and then another and another. The process is exhilarating and with every step, we learn about the challenge and what will be required of us, but also, we learn about ourselves. Perhaps that is the most important learning of all. He remarked, “As Saachi says herself the journey highlights just how much “baggage all of us carry in our lives.” And how in the end you can “emerge lighter as your inhibitions float away into the thin air. I think that realisation is delightful and a fine reason to trudge up the trails of the Himalayas to Everest Basecamp at 5360 metres altitude and the foot of the world’s highest mountain”.

Q. How long did it take to write this book?
A. I wrote the first draft of this book as a project for my creative writing course in 2019.
When it came out right, my professors also encouraged me to write it. Since I had the structure ready, I thought to write in the form of a narrative. There were many drafts in the process and finally, I landed on the right one, which got published.
Tell us something about your book launches. All book launches have been very special to me. I have received positive feedback not only from people who know me, but also from those who don’t know me and have read the book.

Q. What are your views on taking the chance and making the best out of it?
A. I believe in trusting the gut. I like to encourage people to follow their gut. If they believe they should do a certain thing or something is right, then I would say trust that instinct of yours.

Q. There is a phrase in the book “Baggage all of us carry in our lives.” We all carry some kind of burden in our lives. Is there anything personal you want to share with us?
A. Yes, we all have some mental baggage that we carry. When I was on the Everest Base Camp Trek, I had a lot of time to myself. It was more about looking at these magnificent white mountains around me. I realised how small I was as compared to Mother Nature. While I was walking, I got a chance to reflect upon whatever was happening in my own life and my future goals. When you read this book, you will see that while I am going on this journey, it helps to relieve a lot of mental baggage. Through that experience, I want to inspire people to travel light, both mentally as well as physically.

Q. Did you have any hard times during the publication of Dreaming of Everest?
A. It is really difficult to get a publisher for a book, if you are not a celebrity or someone with a huge following. It took me almost a year to get a publisher and I am very happy with my choice.

Q. Does the book turn out as you thought it would be?
A. It’s a journey I wanted to take people on. I have managed to achieve that. Since I am getting so many messages that people are feeling they are alongside me. People are taking lessons which I wanted them to give. It turned exactly the way I wanted it to be.