In the article published in Hindustan times dated July 10, 2016 [https://goo.gl/ZjdoWV] saying that the photo of Pemba sherpa with the Indian flag atop the Annapurna has been morphed for the summit-certificate. The news has surfaced in the social media giving rise to speculations that the image has been possibly morphed and the authenticity of the summit of other two climbers Debasish Biswas and Basanta Singha Roy is also questioned. In this interview Debasish Biswas speaks up for the first time since the article had been published.
Q. Do you think that Pemba’s photo has been morphed?
A. Yes off course. Because if there would have been any such photo, then I would be definitely aware of it as I and Basanta Singha Ray were the only people to have clicked Pemba’s photo. I cannot recollect having clicked any such photo of Pemba with the Indian flag.
Q. You have been quoted by Hindustan Times as saying that Pemba hadn’t reached the summit of Annapurna successfully. Is it true?
A. No it is not possible. Pemba had clicked a photo of me and Basanta on the peak of Annapurna. So it is obvious that Pemba had reached the peak himself. Else he wouldn’t have been available to click our photo at that altitude.
Q. Did Pemba claim certificate on the basis of this photo?
A. We had clicked many photos of him but not with the flag. We climbed Annapurna on 20 th April and after a few days when reached Kathmandu, we had submitted those to Nepal Tourism Dept, on that basis we three had received certificate. Pemba is not the one to lie. He is a very honest man. It might be possible that his children could have done some mischief and edited the photos unknowingly.
Q. Which photos were shown to the Nepal government when Pemba went to claim the certificate?
A. I had clicked lots of photos and movies of Pemba and ours near the summit and we obtained certificates on the basis of those photos.
I have told them (HT) that I would bound to take legal action if they don’t tender an apology soon for misquoting me. All three of us had ascended Annapurna. We have genuine photos and movies to support our claims. We distributed our movies on all expeditions in public. If anything to hide, then obviously we did not do that. On the same day one American lady Cleo and Dawa Sherpa ( Seven Summit Trek's Mingma's brother) also climbed with us, they can also certify had Pemba climbed or not.
Hindustan Times July 10, 2016
"Pemba near summit" - Debasish Biswas
"At the top of Annapurna, me and Basanta in the pic taken by Pemba" - Debasish Biswas
