Nirmal Purja comes from a family of six, where his father and brothers were Gurkha. Purja, who had a struggling family growing up, wrote his name in the books of history, all thanks to the help of his elder siblings.
The 41-year-old climber from Myagdi lives with his longtime wife, Suchi Purja. He and his partner have a daughter named Himani Purja.
Nirmal climbed all 14 eight-thousanders (peaks above 8,000 meters) in six months and six days (92 days, specifically) between April and October 2019.
However, Kristin Harila and Tenjen Sherpa later broke this record in 2023. This is just one of many achievements of the 41-year-old Nepal-born naturalized British.
The renowned adventurer has often spoken about his upbringing and family.
Recently, the international adventuring icon was in the headlines, this time not for his records but for harassment allegations. These cases date from the time of the summit, which makes them even more controversial.
Key Takeaways:
- Nirmal Purja was born in Myagdi, Nepal, in a family of six, including three elder brothers.
- Purja’s father was a Gurkha soldier, and his mother came from a farming background.
- Nirmal has been married to his wife, Suchi Purja, since 2006.
- Nirmal and his wife Suchi welcomed their daughter named Himani in 2022.
Nirmal Purja Comes From A Family of Military Gurkhas
Nirmal Purja was born in Myagdi, Gandaki Province, Nepal. His family had four sons, and his three brothers were much older than him.
Purja, the youngest in the family, says his family did not have much when he was a kid. “We came from a really poor family,” Purja told National Geographic in an interview, adding, “I remember not even having flip-flops as a kid.”
His father was a Gurkha soldier, and his mother was from a farming background.
Although both of his parents were from decent families, problems came when they decided to have an inter-caste marriage, something that was not well-accepted in Nepalese culture.
Their marriage was looked upon because they belonged to two distinct castes in Nepal and were socially and financially isolated from their respective families. As a result, the Purja family had to face many issues before becoming stable.
The family of six moved to Kathmandu when Nirmal was just four.
Purja’s success is dedicated to his brothers as much as it is to his parents. His three older brothers joined the Gurkha army and paid for Purja to go to an English-speaking boarding school, a much-needed facility for what he had become.
Nirmal Purja’s Wife, Suchi Purja, Is a Dental Hygienist And Therapist
Nirmal’s wife, Suchi Purja, is a dental hygienist and therapist in the UK.
She was born on November 11, 1998, in Nepal. Suchi was born to her father, Tej Gurung, and mother, Suku Gurung. Her father, Tej Gurung, is also a former Gurkha Soldier, something common with her husband, Purja.
Moreover, Suchi has a brother named Tejan Gurung, a soldier in the Gurkha army.
She moved from Nepal in the early 2000s and made Winchester, England, her home.
She is employed at Solutions Dental Clinic in Winchester, England, as a Dental Hygienist/Therapist. On January 31, 2020, she was named a director of Mountain Philanthropy Limited, located in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England.
Moreover, she is an avid dog enthusiast and has a fur baby named Enzo.
Nirmal Married His Wife Suchi in 2006
Nirmal Purja has been married to his wife Suchi Purja in 2006. The couple seemed to have dated for a few years before exchanging vows in 2006.
They met in the UK, where Nirmal was working as a Gurkha soldier and his wife Suchi was pursuing her studies.
The couple is currently settled in Hampshire, England.
The romantic partner has a daughter named Himani Purja. They welcomed their first and only child in July 2022.
Nirmal and Suchi have been married for nearly two decades, and their relationship is getting stronger than ever.
Suchi supported her partner when he was accused of s*xual harassment by two mountaineers during his journey to conquer all 14 8000ers.
In a recent interview, when asked about her partner, she said,
“I am so thankful I have such a beautiful wife who was super supportive and let me do what I love doing. I think in every couple’s life, if you restrict a person from doing what they love, then that person is not going to be happy, and if that husband or wife is not happy, it’s not going to be a happy family.”
Purja Faced S*xual Harassment Allegations
Nirmal Purja was accused of s*xual harassment and assault by two women in May 2024.
According to Dr. April Leonardo, a family doctor from Quincy, California, during a June 2022 expedition to K2, Purja allegedly grabbed, kissed, and approached her.
Likewise, in March 2023, Purja allegedly sexually attacked Lotta Hintsa, a professional mountaineer and former Miss Finland, in a hotel suite in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The reporters who authored a New York Times piece outlining the charges looked at time-stamped photographs, text messages, and other evidence to support Leonardo’s and Hintsa’s accounts.
Purja reportedly declined calls for an interview and issued a written statement through his attorney, Philip M. Kelly, in which he denied the accusations and referred to them as “false and defamatory.”
While acknowledging that gender-based harassment and abuse is not a new issue, mountaineers Adrian Ballinger and Kílian Jornet, as well as climbing trip outfitters Climbing the Seven Summits, Furtenbach Adventures, and Adventure Consultants, responded on social media with support for the “brave” women who spoke out.
People Also Ask
Nirmal Purja is married to his wife, Suchi Purja, since 2006.
Nirmal Purja has a daughter named Himani Purja, born in 2022.
Nirmal Purja lives in Hampshire, England, with his wife and daughter.
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Bidhya Sagar Shrestha is an experienced content writer with a solid content creation and digital marketing background. His majors in entrepreneurship and marketing give him a deep understanding of business environments and marketing strategies.
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