ExclusiveEthos And Oris Sign On Indian Father-Daughter Duo Who Scaled Everest As Friends Of The Brand
The two adventurers, who recently climbed Mt Everest, becoming the first father-daughter duo from India to achieve the feat, join the Oris family as friends of the brand, with whom they share the values of pushing the boundaries to accomplish peaks of success. We sat down with Ajeet and Deeya, who regaled us with tales from their fascinating journey, and spoke of their admiration for Oris watches
May We Recommend
The Spirit Of Adventure
“My father introduced me to the great outdoors when I was seven or eight. We went to Kashmir. It was wonderful and magical. When I went to school, I started climbing, and I knew that I loved every minute of it,” states Ajeet Bajaj, adventurer and mountain climber. Ajeet’s tryst with adventure hasn’t been restricted to hiking and climbing though. “I have done a lot of white water rafting and kayaking all over the world—in all six continents. There have been some very challenging rivers—the upper Amazon, the Zambezi in Africa, the Alsek in Alaska, the Çoruh in Turkey…” he explains. And just like it was Ajeet’s father who introduced him to adventure, Ajeet didn’t hold back when it came to his daughters. “Growing up, adventure was never really an option for both my younger sister and myself,” says Deeya Bajaj, Ajeet’s older daughter. “During all of our family holidays, we’d be doing something crazy, whether it was kayaking, skiing, hiking or horse-riding. Somewhere down the line, I realised that I really enjoyed it and that it was something I did want to pursue. We went on this sea-kayaking expedition when I was 14. I think that was one of the first major expeditions we did, and I loved it. And we kept doing it and never looked back.”
And that’s how it all began for the inspiring partnership between father and daughter. It was the start of what would eventually be the reason for their association with Oris watches. “Ajeet and Deeya are born adventurers, and they symbolise the spirit of pushing to the extreme,” says Yashovardhan Saboo, managing director of Ethos Watch Boutiques, which serves as the exclusive destination for Oris in India.
The Mountaineering Cycle
Climbing mountains was just a natural progression of what was already in their blood, for Ajeet and Deeya. “I still remember my first climb. I was 13, and a few of us—boys and girls—from school (the Lawrence School, Sanawar, Himachal Pradesh) climbed a mountain called Friendship Peak, about 17,000ft high,” reminisces Ajeet. “It was just a fantastic experience being out there. I think I was hooked. I was addicted to adventure, climbing and the adrenaline buzz.” Among all the other adventure activities that Ajeet has engaged in, climbing has a special place for him. “I think I started off with climbing. And you have this so-called mountaineering cycle. You know, you get onto a mountaineering expedition, you face extreme hardships, and you long to get back home, and then you actually get to the summit,” he explains. “You come back home, and you think of only the good times on the mountain and you forget all the hardships, and the cycle starts all over again.”
The cycle also includes an adjustment period—as one would expect—switching off from urban life and then having to get back to it. “I think, before going for expeditions, we make an effort to meet a lot of friends and family before going. Because when you’re out there, it’s just the two of us. It can get pretty lonely and pretty tough,” elaborates Deeya. “Coming back, especially after the longer expeditions, it can get very overwhelming, to go from being on top of the world, with absolutely nothing around, no stimulus whatsoever, and then coming back to Delhi, having millions of people around you.” Yet, it’s always a good feeling to return home, they say. “A lot of family and friends show up at the airport to receive us. They give us such a warm welcome. That, after being isolated on a mountain, it feels wonderful,” Ajeet adds.
Their Everest
Everest especially required some serious adjustment, going to and returning from there. It all started as a dream, of course, for Ajeet and Deeya. “I had the proud privilege of going white water rafting with Sir Edmund Hillary. And I did think about climbing Everest way back,” says Ajeet. “But I guess it was only when I started going out on these wild adventures—skiing across the Greenland ice caps, kayaking down rivers, scuba diving with my daughter—that’s when I think it really became a mission for both of us. That’s when we decided we really wanted to do it.” Preparing for it, as one would imagine, was a Herculean task, but more than anything, it was all-consuming. “I think for a year, we ate, slept, and breathed Everest. We trained and did a lot of research in terms of the equipment we should have,” Deeya elucidates. “You need to make so many decisions—which company to go with, which evacuation scheme to get, etc. And then the training itself … We did four practice expeditions. And while we were in Delhi, we did at least four hours of training everyday—some kind of cardio and strength training. It was a lot of training. Yes. I think that’s the best way. But I think you can never be too prepared for the mountain.”
It’s also got a lot to do with not taking things for granted. “Before each and every expedition, you have to prepare hard, and you’ve got to go for it like it’s your first,” Ajeet states. “You’ve got to approach every adventure with a lot of humility and respect for nature, and whatever you’re going to do.” These are values even Deeya has imbibed. “One of the things we’ve always spoken about is being humble and respectful,” she explains. “You know, it’s never about thinking of it as conquering a mountain, or that we have more control over nature. Dad has always taught me that.”
For The Team, For The Family
It’s not surprising that being family, the partnership Ajeet and Deeya share means more than any other could. “I feel very proud and happy,” states Ajeet. “Of course, as a dad, I must admit that there are times when I am nervous, especially when I’m in my tent, wondering why I’m doing this, even exposing my daughter to this risk. But each time when I see her on the mountain, when I see her climbing, I feel really happy and proud looking at her go strongly. I think it’s a great partnership. I just love being on the mountain with her. She’s rock-solid always. And she’s got a crazy sense of humour. She’s a happy camper and that is one of the many reasons why it makes all adventures with her special.” None of it is possible though without the support of the family back home. “It’s very tough for my mom, my younger sister, and my grandparents,” Deeya says. “Especially when we go for the more extreme expeditions, where there isn’t enough connectivity, and they don’t know when they’re going to get the next call from us. Especially for my mom, I think it was tough for her to first be okay with sending dad out, and then for me to join him. It’s half of our family. I know emotionally, it does take quite a toll on her. She’s always been very supportive and strong. And she’s always encouraged us both to follow our passion.”
On The Top Of The World
Accomplishing what people worldwide regard as an almost impossible task naturally comes with an emotional response. “I think climbing Everest was, of course, a life-changing experience. It was one of the most amazing, difficult, but fun and you know, most intense, and challenging expeditions I’ve ever done,” expresses Deeya. For Ajeet, it’s also about taking advantage of the attention they’ve been getting to inspire people. “I think it was definitely a fantastic feeling, having fulfilled a personal dream for both of us,” he says. “Since we’ve come back, a lot of people want to listen to us. And I think it’s important to be a force for good. We want to try and motivate people to follow their dreams. Despite hardships, if you’re steadfast in your resolve, there is no challenge too big.” It’s also about using their voice for a greater good. “Having climbed Mt Everest with my daughter, both of us are very keen to get a very strong message out there to say that look, we have to nurture our girls. We have to let them follow their dreams, and we’ve got to help them, and give them all the love, affection and support possible,” Ajeet declares. To this, Deeya adds, “Us girls can achieve a whole lot, but I think we can achieve a whole lot more if we have our families supporting us, and lifting us up as opposed to dragging us down. Indian families seem to be more concerned about getting their girls married, and the truth is that girls can do a whole bunch of things. We shouldn’t be restricted from any heights.”
When on an expedition itself, the experiences they go through are heightened because of the special connections, and especially the one with nature. “I think in today’s technology-driven world, you’re on your phones or laptops. There’s this essential part of human existence that just sort of goes under, or it stops being so relevant. And when you go out there, living in a tent, and having to fight for basic survival, I think there’s something so beautiful about that,” Deeya expounds. “Then the experiences you have and the connections you make with people are so wonderful. Also, to share the experience with my father … Having someone that you can trust and rely on. That’s super-important when you’re out there doing these extreme adventures.” Ajeet also points out the value of being a team with his daughter. “The most fun part is being able to share my passion with my daughter—being in that pristine wilderness with her and facing those challenges together as a team.”
When Nature Dictates Time
Whether it’s Everest or any other summit, every expedition offers something unique. “Each experience is so different and so beautiful, and you learn so much from it,” Deeya explains. “I think every time you go outdoors, nature is stunning and surprising, and beautiful and unpredictable.” And unpredictable it definitely is, which is what makes timing so crucial in expeditions such as Everest. “Timing is most critical on summit day. We have a turnaround time. And if you don’t get to the summit by a certain time, you have to come back. Because up on the mountains, in the afternoon, the wind speed can pick up, conditions on the mountain can become unstable and volatile,” Ajeet enlightens. “You’ve got to be very careful about time on the mountain throughout, but especially on summit day.” Though the duo and their team did accomplish the Everest summit in one attempt. “We left around 9:00 p.m., and we reached by 4:30 a.m.,” Deeya informs. “You usually do reach by 6:30–7:00, but we were climbing constantly, and we made it in about seven and a half hours. So we made it in good time.”
As one would imagine, keeping time is extremely important. “On an expedition, both of us wear watches. Your entire life depends on time in so many ways. Timing is absolutely the most critical factor on the mountain,” Ajeet declares. “We wear something rugged and reliable, and watches with altimeters always work well.” Reliability is key. “You don’t want something that needs winding or recharging. You want something that you know is going to stay with you throughout the expedition,” asserts Deeya.
Aside from the essence of time, the duo also enjoy their watches when they’re not on a mountain. When it came to Oris, both father and daughter were quite enamoured by the wide collection we introduced them to. “We both looked at all those wonderful watches, and all of them are fantastic. Each one is better than the other,” gushed Ajeet, who particularly liked the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Calibre 114. “It looks great. It’s rugged, it has a time zone and power reserve indicator, so it’s got everything that I need.”
Deeya was also partial to a Big Crown timepiece. “I’m a big fan of rustic-looking watches. The brown leather with the bronze in this one—I really like it,” she said about the Big Crown Pointer Date in 36mm bronze. “I think it speaks to my aesthetic.”
In Collaboration With Oris and Ethos
Connecting with time and watches form a significant part of the Bajajes’ association with Oris. “They are fond of watches, and not only as functional instruments but because of the spirit of creativity and excellence they embody,” elucidates Saboo. “Oris embraces the spirit of exploration above and below the earth, and it was a natural match for the brand and the Bajajes to come together.” He adds that it’s also about the aspect of family that makes this a perfect partnership. “Oris and Ethos not only embrace the spirit of adventure, risk-taking and planning and execution to excellence, but equally the importance of a family discovering their values and togetherness,” he states. “The love of fine things and great experiences is something that binds generations just as it binds Oris and Ethos with Ajeet and Deeya.”
The association of Oris and Ethos with the twosome begins with a two-year stint, within which time, they will have completed their ‘Seven Summits’ mission—that includes scaling the highest peaks of all seven continents. With Everest and a few others done, the duo will complete the remaining peaks with support from Oris and Ethos. In fact, as I write this, they’re off in Antarctica to climb Mt Vinson there.
Climb Every Mountain
“It’ll be very cool,” Deeya said before they left India for Antarctica. “I’m very excited to see this beautiful and remote part of our planet and experience it for the first time.” Ajeet has been there before, but Mt Vinson will be a first for both. “It is the largest chunk of ice on our planet,” he says about the continent. “As you all know, the ice is melting because of global warming and climate change. One of the things we would like to come back and share is that it is a very fragile environment, and we need to do whatever we can as human beings to save Antarctica and to save this beautiful planet of ours.” After they return, they will be setting their sights on the Americas. “Of the seven summits, dad’s done five and I’ve done four,” Deeya tells us. “After this one in Antarctica, I am planning to head to South America to do Aconcagua, which would be my sixth. And then we’re planning to finish number seven together in May 2019. That’s Denali in Alaska, North America.” And what does one do once the seven peaks are in the rear-view mirror, I asked. “North Pole, South Pole … there are so many more adventures!” Deeya says enthusiastically. “I think adventure is still to come,” Ajeet ponders. “It’s a way of life for us. We just like being out there. Right now, we’re focused on the summits, but even after that, there will be adventures to come.”
As they continue on their expeditions, they continue with their inspiring attitude, without ever taking anything for granted, even if they have literally accomplished climbing Everest. “I think you know you still have to go through the same struggles, you still have to put in the hard work and effort for anything that you want to achieve,” says Deeya mindfully. “And not giving anything its due diligence, assuming it’s going to be easy is like setting yourself up for failure. You have to give everything its due diligence, no matter what you’ve done before. You have to practise, train, be positive and give your whole heart and soul, and then anything can be achieved,” she concludes.
Shop The Story
-
Oris Aviation
01 733 7705 4164-SET 8 23 19
-
Oris Aviation
01 114 7746 4063-SET 1 22 72FC
-
Oris Big Crown
01 754 7749 3167-07 5 17 66BR
-
Oris Culture
01 763 7723 4951-07 5 18 66FC
