'Khangchendzonga: Sacred Summit' — Author Interview with Pema Wangchuk

For the third episode of Season 3, we return to Sikkim — continuing our series of in‑depth conversations with non‑fiction authors.
Senior journalist and documentary filmmaker Ranjit Monga talks to Pema Wangchuk ([email protected]), co‑author of Khangchendzonga: Sacred Summit.

In this episode, Pema takes us on a vivid journey through the early expeditions that attempted to climb Khangchendzonga (or Kanchenjunga) in the first half of the 20th century. He speaks about Alexander Mitchell Kellas, the chemist‑explorer whose pioneering ideas on high‑altitude physiology shaped the future of Himalayan mountaineering.

From 1905 to 1955, the sacred peak remained elusive — until, as Pema says, “it allowed” a team led by Charles Evans, deputy leader of the successful 1953 Everest expedition, to place four climbers just below the summit. They stopped six feet short of the actual peak, honoring their promise to the people of Sikkim that they would not step on the revered crown of the mountain.

Pema also brings alive the many stories surrounding these climbers:

• Aleister Crowley, the infamous “Beast” whose 1905 expedition ended in tragedy.
•  A. Z. Tombazi, whose sighting of the Abominable Snowman — the Yeti — remains the only officially accepted report to this day
•  The 1977 Indian expedition led by Col. Narendra “Bull” Kumar, which spent three gruelling months reaching the summit via the formidable North‑East route
• We also explore the artistic and spiritual legacy of Kanchenjunga’s admirers — Nicholas Roerich, Edward Lear, Yoshida Hiroshi, and others — whose paintings and writings continue to shape how the world imagines Sikkim and its sacred summit.

Links to all the books mentioned in the episode are included below.( These are affiliate links, which gets us a small commission if you order through the links)

Round Kangchenjunga by Douglas William Freshfield - https://amzn.to/4fpvRaN

Kangchenjunga: The Himalayan Giant by Doug Scott - https://amzn.to/4xey7rG

The Kangchenjunga Adventure by Frank Smythe - https://amzn.to/4erR1nG

Himalayan Journals by Dalton Hooker I - https://amzn.to/4fZ4zZ2

Himalayan Journals by Dalton Hooker II - https://amzn.to/3Qq86VR

Shambhala by Nicholas Roerich https://amzn.to/43XREiF

Himalayas - Abode of Life by Nicholas Roerich - https://amzn.to/3RNnE6B

Tibet - The Heart of Asia by Nicholas Roerich - https://amzn.to/4vSC44b

Altai Himalaya – A Travel Diary by Nicholas Roerich  https://amzn.to/4dVjceI

Kanchenjunga – small poster of painting by NicholasRoerich - https://amzn.to/4vwacCz

Morning of Darjeeling - Poster of wood block print by Yoshida Hiroshi - https://amzn.to/4vxxkAr

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Happy to share that Books and Us is celebrating its 3rd anniversary this month. It has been a meaningful and learning journey for us. For our 27th episode, we take a new step — we’ve recorded a video version of the podcast as well. If your listening platform supports video, you can watch the conversation too. Your feedback will mean a lot as we continue to grow and build conversations around books with non-fiction authors.

In this episode, we explore a powerful and universal theme —caregiving — through the lens of non‑fiction writing and lived experience. Our conversation centres on 'One Thousand Days - A Story of a Minute' by Dr. Rajiv Mathur (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rajiv-mathur/). The book is a deeply reflective memoir of the three years he spent caring for his father. The book opens up an intimate space to talk about love, loss, memory, and the emotional and spiritual terrain uncovered by long‑term caregiving.

One Thousand Days is both a personal narrative and a tribute to caregivers, to families navigating illness, and to the medical fraternity that quietly holds us during moments of crisis. Through Rajiv’s story, we explore how caregiving reshapes identity, relationships, and how we relate to the people and events in our lives during such times.  This episode will resonate with listeners seeking thoughtful non‑fiction and memoirs rooted in real life.

Rajiv also writes about the COVID experience and affirms that he learned a lot from the pandemic. " I not only learned lessons during that time, I am also proud to say that I am still following them," he says.

 Dr. Rajiv Mathur brings a rich professional and creative background to this dialogue. With a doctorate in Business Administration and over three decades in the industrial security sector, his sensitive, observant nature eventually led him to writing. His first book was Pocket Square. Recently, he also released the Hindi version of One Thousand Days. He is also the host of the YouTube channel Jaane‑Anjaane with Rajeev Mathur (https://www.youtube.com/@JaaneAnjaanewithRajivMathur/featured), where he documents life journeys and personal stories of people from diverse backgrounds.

Beyond writing, Rajiv serves as a Partner at MIGS Global Consulting, sits on the Advisory Board of OSPAs, and is the Vice Chairman (Training & Faculties) at ICISSM. He is also a Professor of Practice and visiting faculty at several universities. Rajiv also reflects on how writing was an outcome of the time he spent caring for his father and became an outlet for his own healing.

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Season 3 of 'Books and Us' begins in Sikkim, a region shaped by its diverse communities, layered history, and the sacred presence of Khangchendzonga ( or Kanchenjunga). In this episode, I revisit the landmark non-fiction book ‘Khangchendzonga – Sacred Summit' with its co-author, journalist Pema Wangchuk ( [email protected] ), to explore the cultural, historical, and spiritual stories that define the Eastern Himalayas. Pema's co-author was Mita Zulca.

In this interview, the non-fiction author takes us through Sikkim’s defining moments — the 14th‑century 'Treaty of Blood Brotherhood' between the Lepchas and Bhutias, the coronation of the first Chogyal, and the deep relationship between the people and their guardian mountain.

We also look at early explorer-writers like Joseph  Hooker (Himalayan Journals) and Douglas Freshfield (Round Khangchenjunga), and how their contrasting styles reveal two very different moments in British engagement in Sikkim and beyond.

In this conversation, Pema patiently guides us through Sikkim’s multi-layered and nuanced cultural and historical landscape and its deep, almost familial relationship with its sacred summit, Khangchendzonga, the highest peak in India, rising to 28,196 feet.

Pema has been reporting from Sikkim since 1994 and currently serves as Consulting Editor at Summit Times, Gangtok. He has also co-edited 'The Birds Have Lost Their Way', a collection of essays on hydel projects and climate change in the region.

 This conversation brings alive a Sikkim where myth, memory,and geography are inseparable. The book is a rich tapestry, bringing forth the many facets of this land — its mysteries, its ethereal beauty, and the stories that have inspired countless travellers over the past few centuries. It certainly calls for a second episode, one in which we will journey deeper into the great mountaineering expeditions, the Western travellers who tried to make sense of these high valleys, and of course, the enduring legend of the Yeti.

Stay Tuned

“If you’ve been to Sikkim, what memory or moment from your time there has stayed with you?”

Please send your answer to the email address below, and we will include your feedback in the next part.

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In the final episode of Season 2 of Books and Us, we welcome back author and conservation architect Anisha Shekhar Mukherji. Listeners will remember her from our earlier conversations on the 'Red Fort of Shahjahanabad'. This time, she joins us to discuss her remarkable book Jantar Mantar - Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh’s Observatory in Delhi — a work that uncovers the layered history and meaning of one of the capital’s most iconic landmarks.

Built in the early 18th century by Sawai Jai Singh of Amber, the Jantar Mantar has long been recognised as an observatory, yet its precise functions and architectural significance remained elusive. Anisha’s research brings clarity to these mysteries, revealing how the site embodies both scientific ingenuity and cultural symbolism.

Today, Jantar Mantar is not only a monument of astronomical heritage but also a living space in the heart of Delhi, often associated with civic gatherings and public memory.

As we close Season 2, this episode feels like a fitting finale — weaving together history, architecture, and storytelling. With three episodes this season featuring Anisha, her insights have truly shaped our journey.

In this episode of Books and Us, poet and essayist Sumana Roy ( Sumana Roy ), author of Provincials: Postcards from the Peripheries, joins us to explore the emotional and cultural landscapes of small-town life. Raised in Siliguri, Sumana reflects on what it truly means to be “provincial.”

We discuss:

• The quiet power of provincial geographies
• Literary lives shaped by small towns
• Whether cosmopolitanism and provinciality can coexist

Sumana’s book explores the desires, ambitions, and uniquecharacteristics of people from the provinces — those often overlooked geographies where creativity quietly flourishes. Through literary and personal reflections, she connects us to poets, writers, and artists from around the world who emerged from small towns and villages, carrying their landscapes within them.

Sumana’s other works include How I Became a Tree, VIP: Very Important Plant, and Out of Syllabus. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Granta, and in many other publications.

Tune in for a thought-provoking journey into the heart of the peripheries.

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In this episode, we enter a different kind ofconversation—one that blends financial understanding with practical steps to ensure a loving and smooth transfer of legacy.

We feature Let’s Talk Legacy: A Financial Planner forYour Loved Ones by Monika Halan (MonikaHalan – A trusted personal finance writer, speaker and television personality )  —a book that isn’t just read, butlived. As Monika reminds us, it’s a workbook you’ll return to again and again, revisiting the details of your financial life with growing awareness. It’s a companion, a gentle guide, and a sacred space for organising the information that often remains scattered or unspoken.

Monika Halan is one of India’s most trusted voices inpersonal finance. A certified financial planner, she holds a master’s in economics from the Delhi School of Economics and a master’s in journalism studies from Cardiff University, UK. Her career spans over three decades, during which she has worn many hats—journalist, podcaster, TV anchor,chairperson of SEBI’s Advisory Committee for Investor Protection and Education, and author of three widely translated books.

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In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Kruti S. Dhirwani,a consulting homeopath, clinical nutritionist, and author of Millets - The Trending Ancient Grains. With over 15 years of experience, she is a passionate advocate for including millets in the diet. She discloses that these simple cereals are nature’s answer to many of the world’s problems. Whether itis wholesome nutrition or sustainable agriculture, millets can take care of these quite well. Very systematically, she deals with the various types of millets and their benefits in her book and also gives many easy-to-make recipes. Listen to her give her favourite recipe in the podcast.

Dr. Kruti is the co-founder of Sunshine Homeopathy Clinic in Mumbai and the founder of wellness initiatives such as MagicOfMom.com and C.A.R.E., which focus on holistic women’s health. Her work bridges traditional wisdom and modern lifestyle through millets. . Learn more about her work at drkrutidhirwani.com, and follow her on  https://www.instagram.com/dr.krutidhirwani/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkruti/You can also check out her YouTube channel for more information on millets: https://youtu.be/ua6oxeon35k?feature=shared

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Welcome to the 20th episode of Books and Us—and the 8th of Season 2! Though technically it’s the 21st, as we also released a special episode earlier in July! We've also completed two years since launching this podcast, having crossed 1000 streams and downloads. It may be a modest number, but every listen motivates us to keep going and exploring more compelling topics in the nonfiction category. Thank you for being part of this journey.

In this episode, we take a different route. Rather than focusing on a single book, we’re diving into a cultural aspect that is perhaps long forgotten but has captivated me ever since I learned about it through my friend Sundip Sharma([email protected]), artist and promoter of miniature paintings based in Jaipur, Rajasthan. His father, Sumahendra (Mahendra Kumar Sharma), was a renowned Rajasthani painter who had also authored a book on the topic titled ‘Ragamala Chitra Parampara’ (Ragamala Painting Tradition). Sadly, that book is now out of print, but it led me to explore the vivid world of Ragamala paintings.

These exquisite miniatures—mostly created in the 17th and 18th centuries—are perhaps the only artworks in the world that visually interpret classical Indian music. Their name, Ragamala, literally means 'a garland of melodies', and the paintings themselves are an evocative blend of rhythm, emotion, and visual storytelling.

Joining us today are two remarkable guests who speak with deep knowledge. Ms Soma Ghosh ([email protected]), who works as a Librarian and Media Officer with the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, has authored several research papers and e-books and shares rich insights into the origins and significance of Ragamala Paintings.

We’re also joined by Dr Vijay Sharma ([email protected]), a master of the Pahari miniature tradition, who has created Ragamala paintings early in his career. He earlier worked at the Bhuri Singh Museum in Chamba. His understanding of visual form and heritage is a gift to this conversation.

So, dive into the world of Ragamala paintings with us as we explore their origins at the intersection of music, art, and poetry. We hope this episode offers a window to India's artistic legacy which enriches us.

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This special bonus episode is the first in a series of conversations with self-published authors. In this episode, we’re joined by the remarkable Vineet Kumar ( The Sunday Traveller – Bookmarked andBewildered ) - an author, army officer, and global explorer whose latest book 'Mayan Routes, Indian Roots', takes readers on a spellbinding journey across the ancient landscapes of Central America - Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama

Vineet recounts his recent adventure through these countries, which formed the area of the once-mighty Mayan civilization. Along the way, he uncovers surprising cultural and spiritual threads that tie the region to his own Indian heritage.

A lieutenant colonel in the Indian Army, Vineet is also atrained special operations instructor, a UN Peacekeeper, a theatre actor, scuba diver, yoga devotee, and polyglot—making him, quite literally, a storyteller with a thousand lenses.

“ The world is one,” he proposes as he narrates the different stories and philosophies he has uncovered during his journey. The episode is a rich blend of travel, geopolitics, history, and identity, seen through the eyes of a man who brings together ancient worlds with contemporary insight.

📚 Mayan Routes, Indian Roots is published by Walnut Publication ( Publish, print, and sell your booksin 140+ countries. | WalnutPublication )

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Dear listeners, welcome to the 19th episode of 'Books and Us'! This episode marks a significant milestone for us, as we celebrate two years since the launch of our podcast. Our journey began with the first episode on May 20, 2023, and it has been nothing short of sweet and enriching. Over the course of these two years, we have had the privilege of engaging with some truly learned authors in the non-fiction realm, gaining knowledge and insights that have transformed us along the way. Thank you to all our listeners for being part of this journey and for your unwavering support over the past two years. Here’s to many more enlightening episodes!

For this special episode, we cast aside the issues of the world and turn inward to explore the depths of our own emotions and feelings. This introspection is guided by the illuminating book 'Just Like Therapy: A DIY Guide To A Happier You' by Avanti Desai.

Avanti Desai ( https://www.instagram.com/avantidesai_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) is a renowned practitioner of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), whose work has impacted countless lives. With years of experience counseling individuals, she advocates therapeutic support to process feelings constructively. Desai warns that unaddressed negative emotions can have long-term effects on our overall well-being.

Her book has already garnered seven awards. Here she explores the complexities of emotions such as overthinking, anxiety, depression, love, and grief, offering practical strategies to manage and overcome these challenges. Her philosophy revolves around tackling the root causes of mental health struggles, empowering individuals to build resilience, and have fulfilling lives.

Beyond her work as a therapist, Desai is also an educator, speaker, and mental health advocate. Her contributions include drafting life skills curricula and equipping individuals with tools to navigate personal challenges effectively.

This episode is not just an exploration of Desai's book but a heartfelt journey into understanding ourselves better. We delve into her invaluable advice and reflect on the transformative impact of addressing emotions head-on.

We also take questions from a listener Eshani Jalota from Mumbai. If you have any queries, you can mail us at [email protected].

If you'd like to submit your questions and be part of upcoming episodes, join our Facebook community—link below!"

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