Neurosurgeon from Kolkata scales Mount Kilimanjaro and returns to surgery

Kolkata: While neurosurgery is his first love, Ajay Agarwal escapes to his other love, too, the mountains. The 61-year-old doctor is back in Kolkata after scaling Mount Kilimanjaro recently, back on his toes again in the OT, conducting a series of neurosurgeries.

The neurosurgeon at Woodlands Multispecialty Hospital was introduced to trekking by a friend 12 years ago. Even though the Park Circus resident does not have any formal training in mountaineering, his love for the mountains made him take up several sporting activities like swimming and marathons in preparation to summit peaks.

"For the past 12 years, I have been escaping to the mountains once every year. I did a good number of high-altitude treks and also the Everest Base Camp five years ago before the Kilimanjaro summit," said Agarwal, who completed his neurosurgery course from AIIMS Delhi after graduating from NRS Medical College.

Among the high-altitude trekking terrains the neurosurgeon completed are Stok Kangri, about 20,180 feet, 21,000 feet Kang Yatse in Ladakh, and the Annapurna Circuit.

For Africa's highest peak, Agarwal had five others in the team arranged by trek operators, including another doctor from Kolkata, C L Rajak, a radiologist. At 19,340 feet, Kilimanjaro is one of the seven summits and also the world's largest free-standing mountain, composed of three volcanic cones.

The doctor, with the team, trekked over six days through the breathtaking landscape to reach the summit on the sixth day.

Already a senior citizen, when many start to hang up their boots, Agarwal is busy with activities like competitive swimming and marathon races to keep himself fit in preparation for his next trip to the mountains. His next target is Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia and Europe.

"Neurosurgery is my first love, and each successful surgery gives me immense satisfaction. High-altitude trekking is a different kind of challenge that gives me a lot of zing. Each time I come back to the hospital after such trekking, it gives me oodles of energy in taking care of patients," said Agarwal.