Nirmal Purja Receives Honorary Degree from UK's University
Published Date
Published Date
Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja honored with an honorary degree from UK's University for his contributions to mountaineering and military service.
⏱ 1 min read
Nirmal Purja, a renowned Nepalese mountaineer known as Nims Dai, has recently received an honorary degree from Loughborough University in England during Winter graduation ceremonies. Alongside Purja, five other individuals were bestowed with the same honorary degrees in recognition of their exceptional contributions to various fields.
These areas of expertise include military service, mountaineering, broadcasting, promoting inclusivity, sports, arts, mathematical and theoretical physics, and sustainability. As a record-breaking mountaineer, Purja's award falls under the categories of mountaineering and military service.
Nims first gained widespread attention in 2019 when he successfully ascended all 14 of the world's 'Death Zone' peaks within just six months and six days. His extraordinary journey was documented in the 2021 Netflix film '14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible'.
Also Read: Purja's 12th 8000-meters peak without oxygen
Throughout his distinguished 16-year military career, Nims spent six years serving as a Gurkha and ten years with the UK Special Forces. It was during this period that he cultivated a keen interest in mountaineering which blossomed into a fervent passion—an enthusiasm that led to an ever-expanding list of record-shattering summits and numerous high-altitude rescue missions.
Nims' association with Loughborough University began in 2012 when he enrolled in the University's Business School to pursue a Post-Graduate Diploma in Security Management, which he completed in 2014.
In recognition of his extraordinary achievements in extreme high-altitude mountaineering, Nims was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen in 2018. Furthermore, Loughborough University's Business School presented him with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022 to celebrate his remarkable success in the field of mountaineering as well as his dedication to the United Nations Environment Programme and Nepal's mountain community.
Today, Nirmal Purja is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished mountaineers of his generation.