Beyond the Classroom: An IISC Professor's Ascent to the World's Volcanic Crowns

When we think of a university professor, images often conjure quiet studies, stacks of papers, perhaps a hushed lecture hall. But for Professor Arpita Patra, a brilliant mind at the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) in Bengaluru, her calling extends far beyond the academic. In truth, it reaches to the very rooftops of continents, specifically to their highest volcanic peaks. And what a journey it has been, a testament to sheer grit and an unyielding spirit.

You see, Professor Patra isn’t just teaching complex theories; she’s actively embodying the spirit of exploration and pushing the boundaries of human endurance. Over the past couple of years, between 2021 and 2023, she's quietly, yet spectacularly, summited the highest volcanic giants on no less than four different continents. Imagine that! From the sprawling savannas of Africa to the ancient landscapes of Asia, then across to the Americas and Europe, she’s literally touched the sky.

It all began, rather remarkably, when she was forty. Forty, mind you! Many of us might be settling into comfortable routines, but Arpita Patra decided that was precisely the right moment to strap on a backpack and look upwards, way upwards. Her journey has included the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, standing proud and formidable; the imposing Mount Damavand, Asia’s highest volcano, demanding every ounce of strength; then came the breathtaking Mount Pico de Orizaba in North America, a true test of acclimatization. And, not content with those, she also conquered Mount Elbrus in Europe, a peak known for its unforgiving weather.

This isn't just about physical prowess, though that is undeniable. It’s also deeply, profoundly, about mental resilience. As she herself has often hinted, the mountains challenge your mind just as much as your muscles. There are moments of doubt, certainly, when the cold bites deep or the air thins, threatening to steal your resolve. But it's in those very moments that true human spirit, a kind of fierce, quiet determination, shines brightest. It’s a battle, you could say, fought as much internally as it is on the icy slopes.

So, what drives someone to balance a rigorous academic life—the research, the students, the endless intellectual pursuits—with such extreme, often dangerous, adventures? Perhaps it’s a thirst for challenge, a need to experience life in its most vivid, raw form. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s a powerful message: that age is genuinely just a number, and our potential is limited only by the boundaries we set for ourselves. Professor Patra, for once, isn’t just inspiring her students in the lab; she's inspiring an entire generation to look beyond the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary.

And her adventure isn’t over. She's got her sights set on the remaining three continents, aiming to complete the full volcanic Seven Summits challenge. Honestly, it’s a story that compels you to rethink what's possible, reminding us all that the spirit of exploration, that deep human urge to discover, is very much alive and well, thriving even in the most unexpected corners of our world, and our universities.