[1] Born and raised in Haripur on the banks of the Indus in the Karakoram mountains of the North West Frontier, Kohli witnessed the massacre of over 2,000 people during the partition of India.

In 1962, he spent three consecutive nights, including two without oxygen, on Everest at 27,650 feet during severe blizzards, joining a select group of climbers.

Kao, he worked with climbers and scientists from the US to install nuclear-powered listening devices on Indian Himalayan peaks to monitor Chinese missile capabilities.

Upon joining Air-India in 1971, Kohli promoted ‘Trekking in the Himalayas’ globally, making over 1,000 presentations in more than 50 countries, including appearances on popular TV programmes such as ‘To Tell the Truth’ and ‘David Frost Show’.

Upon the team's return from Nepal, the Prime Minister personally received them at the airport, a break from protocol.

It was a masterpiece of planning, organization, teamwork, individual effort and leadership.” She also called it one of India's six major achievements after Independence.

Kohli and Tenzing Norgay climbed several European peaks, piloted by Raymond Lambert.