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Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication screens ‘Sagarmatha Samta’ to champion inclusion
A powerful Everest Base Camp expedition documentary sparks conversations on disability, accessibility and the transformative power of collective support.
Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), in collaboration with Brotherhood Foundation, hosted a special screening and interaction about the documentary Sagarmatha Samta – India’s Largest Inclusive Trek to Everest Base Camp, bringing together cinema, adventure and conversations on disability, accessibility and social inclusion.
Organised as a prelude to the We Care Film Festival on Issues of Disability, the event featured the documentary produced by Tinkesh Ability Foundation (TAF), which chronicles an inclusive expedition to Everest Base Camp undertaken on 14 April 2026. The expedition brought together mountaineering enthusiasts with and without disabilities, united by a shared ambition to undertake one of the world’s most challenging high-altitude journeys.
The programme opened with a screening of the Indian National Anthem in Indian Sign Language, an initiative conceptualised by Mr. Satish Kapoor, Founder President, Brotherhood Foundation and Festival Director, We Care Film Festival. The presentation highlighted the importance of accessible communication and set the context for the discussions that followed.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Sajal Mukherjee, Director, Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, said, “Inclusion becomes meaningful when it moves beyond conversation and becomes an experience that people can see, understand and participate in. The story of Sagarmatha Samta demonstrates how determination, accessibility and collective support can challenge conventional perceptions of disability. At AIMC, we believe that cinema and communication can create spaces where such stories are not only told but also understood from the perspective of lived experience.”
The documentary screening was followed by an interaction with Mr. Tinkesh Kaushik, Founder of Tinkesh Ability Foundation and a National Awardee, along with members of the expedition team. Ms. Priyanka Agarwal, Accessibility Advocate; Dr. Rupinder Kaur, Ayurvedic Medical Officer; Mr. Dipendra Singh, Adventure Enthusiast; Mr. Sameer Deshmukh, Trekker; and Mr. Vikas Thakorbhai Patel, Educator and Endurance Enthusiast shared their experiences of preparing for and undertaking the expedition. Their accounts highlighted the physical, logistical and emotional dimensions of participating in an inclusive high-altitude trek.
Mr. Satish Kapoor, Founder President, Brotherhood Foundation, said, “The purpose of the International We Care Film Festival has always been to create a platform where disability is represented through stories of ability, aspiration and participation. Sagarmatha Samta is a powerful example of what becomes possible when barriers are addressed collectively. Bringing this story to an academic and media education space like AIMC allows young communicators to engage with inclusion not merely as a subject, but as a social responsibility.”
The programme also featured an international cultural perspective with the presence of Dr. Sergey Dvoryanov, Vice President and Director of Communications, BRICS Culture Media Forum (BCMF), and Mr. Yuri Rozum, Director of the Music Advisory Council, BCMF. Dr. Dvoryanov interacted with the audience on the role of culture and communication in creating connections across communities and national boundaries. He also showcased a glimpse of Trance Opera: Genesis by a Russian performer as part of a discussion on metaphysical transformation, consciousness and the relationship between the individual and the environment.
The event concluded with felicitations for the expedition team by AIMC, Brotherhood Foundation and BCMF, recognising their participation in the inclusive Everest Base Camp expedition.
The programme also announced the upcoming We Care Film Festival on Issues of Disability, scheduled to be held on 19 and 20 November 2026 at Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, Dwarka. The festival will continue its focus on using cinema and storytelling to encourage conversations around disability, accessibility and inclusion.
As part of the programme, the Brotherhood Foundation also presented tokens of appreciation to Prof. Naveen Gautam, Dr. Mudita Raj, Prof. Sukriti Arora and Prof. Ankit Kumar Malyan for their continued contributions towards organising the We Care Film Festival.
