Powerful. If i need to describe this book in just one word, that is the one i would pick. The story of one man who dared to dream a better life for people living in the most neglected parts of our world, and made it his life's mission to achieve that dream. A typical fictional hero, right? Just that in this case it is real. The life journey of an American mountain climber who fell in love with a remote village in Karakoram and committed himself to the upliftment of that region.
It is an old book, first published in 2006, and apparently a best seller. I picked it up from my local library book sale almost a year ago. A year is a long time to keep a book unread. There are reasons though - I have often found non-fictions, which are autobiographical in nature to be preachy, and second, I admit I was kind of skeptical if i will like the book even before reading. I am from India, and India and Pakistan are in state of conflict since their independence in 1947, so to read a book set in a region, Baltistan (Kashmir) which is cause of whole conflict between two countries, I was skeptical.
The book follows the story of Greg Mortenson, a mountain-climber, who fell in love with a beautiful village called Korphe and its people, who took care of him after his failed attempt to climb K2. To repay he committed to build a school in Khorpe. The first half of the book is about the difficulties Greg Mortenson faced, his mistakes and hardships in raising capital for the school and setting up of Central Asia Institute (CAI). His interactions with people of Khorpe, Haji Ali, many good and some not-so-good people are touching and thoughtful. His travels to the remotest areas in northwest Pakistan through forbidding terrain makes for an interesting read. The second half is where he expands CAI's vision to open schools in many other villages in Baltistan region and then target war ravaged Afghanistan. The fame reaches his doorstep and he uses it to benefit CAI.
It is an fascinating story and even if I consider it to be somewhat true - many lives changed for good just because one person dared to dream.
The book was published in 2006 so I was curious enough to search what happened to Greg Mortenson, CAI, Khorpe since then. What i found was kind of disheartening. In 2011, a TV report and e-book (Three cups of deceit) alleged that not all the stories in book are true and also alleged Greg Mortenson of mismanaging CAI funds, which led Montana attorney general to launch an investigation. Greg Mortenson was later ordered to pay 1 million $ to CAI in 2012. After fighting allegations for four years in which CAI fortunes dwindled, Greg Mortenson finally announced his retirement from charity in end of 2015.
It was disappointing to read those articles. I still think he is a hero. I think most of us would find our life fulfilled if we were able to get just one school built and he built hundreds in most neglected parts of the world and kept going.
And before i finish this piece which has become more than a book review - something about Balti people - Balti people are from Tibetan descent and their ancestors practised Buddhism. Even today they still retain many rituals, even though most of them are Muslim. What i realized after reading this book is that life of these people are very much like my own people (Yes!) living in small villages lower ranges of Himalayas. We follow Hinduism but just like them have many rituals from Tibetan culture. Subsistence farming , tough terrain to travel - so similar. And then there is paiyu cha. We have a different name for it - Mar jya, but essentially it is the same butter tea which is staple for my people in winter.
Guess i need to read more about Balti people. Maybe we have common ancestry.
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