NCC cadet Rifiness Warjri came back to the state on Saturday after scaling Mount Everest. She was given a hero’s welcome at the Shillong airport in Umroi by the 61 Meghalaya Girls Battalion NCC and family members.
Warjri was the only cadet from the Northeast selected to be part of the prestigious NCC Mount Everest Expedition 2025.
Speaking to reporters outside the airport, Warjri who was visibly in tears, expressed joy and pride to bring glory to the state and the country. “The happiest moment for me was taking the Indian flag on top of the world. It is the most glorious thing that I’ve ever had.”
She attributed her success to the NCC for grooming and polishing her into her best version and her parents and family for the support and sacrifices made.
Climbing Mount Everest is not an easy feat—it’s extremely difficult and filled with challenges,” she said.
As a role model and inspiration to young people, Rifiness urged youth to believe in their potential. “There is nothing we cannot achieve if we have true dedication and self-sacrifice,” she said, adding, “With genuine passion and support from our families, we can reach any goal we aspire to in life.”
The 20-year old cadet is the youngest and third woman from Meghalaya to have conquered the highest peak in the world.
Gary Jarman Lamare, a photographer with Discovery Channel became the first person from Meghalaya to summit it in 2012, followed by Wansuk Myrthong a police constable in 2013 and Dolyne Kharbhih, also a former NCC cadet from Ri Bhoi district, who scaled it in 2016.
61 Meghalaya Girls Battalion NCC Major AG Warjri, who was present to welcome the cadet said, “Rifiness is a beacon of hope for every child from the state to dream big.”
She said the region has potentials which require grooming at a young age. “Our children are good but we have latent potential that requires to be identified. Hence the NCC plays an important role in shaping and building youth leaders and parents to shape their dreams and be their wings.”
