Born in the shadows of patriarchy, raised by a soldier, and driven by something stronger than ambition—Ziddh—Tashi and Nungshi Malik defied not just gravity, but tradition.
In a country where girls are often told to stay low, they climbed Everest at 21.
Then they didn’t stop.
They went on to become the first twin sisters in the world to scale the Seven Summits, ski to both poles, and crush every stereotype laid before them.
Roots of Resistance
Tashi and Nungshi were born in 1991 in Haryana, India—one of the states known for its skewed gender ratio and conservative norms.
Their father, Retired Colonel Virender Singh Malik, believed in equality and raised his daughters like soldiers:
- Physical training from a young age
- Exposure to tough terrain and outdoor survival
- An education rooted in confidence and self-worth
But society wasn’t as kind.
People told our parents, ‘Why waste money on girls? They’ll get married and leave.
Instead of internalizing it, the sisters transformed it into fuel.
The Mountain That Called Them
In 2012, while studying in New Zealand, they took a mountaineering course. What started as a curiosity became an obsession.
They trained relentlessly.
Saved money.
Endured altitude sickness, frostbite, and fear.
And in May 2013, they stood together on the summit of Mount Everest, holding the Indian flag.
When we reached the top, we cried. Not from exhaustion, but from pride.
They became:
- The first twin sisters to scale Everest
- A national symbol of what Indian daughters could achieve
But they weren’t done.
World Records Built on Ziddh
Driven by their mission to promote girl empowerment, they took on the Explorers Grand Slam—a challenge that includes:
- Climbing the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on all seven continents)
- Skiing to the North and South Poles
By 2015, they became:
- The first siblings globally to complete the Grand Slam
- Among the youngest Indian women to ever ski to the Poles
The cold didn’t bother us. The warmth of purpose kept us going.
Beyond Mountains: Lifting Others
Realizing that summits alone aren’t enough, they founded the NungshiTashi Foundation, dedicated to:
- Promoting outdoor leadership among girls
- Conducting expeditions for underprivileged youth
- Hosting TEDx talks and school campaigns across India
They use their journey not just to inspire—but to equip.
We weren’t born to climb mountains. We were born to show that girls can rise, no matter how steep the world seems
You don’t need to climb Everest. Just climb out of what’s holding you back.
Awards and Recognition
Tashi and Nungshi have received:
- National Adventure Award (2015)
- Conferred by the President of India
- Featured in BBC 100 Women
- Global role models for ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ movement
They proved that Indian girls don’t need saving—they need summits to conquer.
The Ziddh Takeaway
The Malik twins are more than mountaineers.
They are movement-makers.
Their Ziddh isn’t just in reaching peaks—but in bringing girls up with them.
They don’t just climb for records—they climb to rewrite the record of what women can do.
