One More Step: An Autobiography is a spirited recounting of a life more adventurous than most. The author, Captain Kohli, is best known as the leader of the first successful Indian expedition to Everest in 1965 that saw a record-breaking nine climbers atop the peak. The success followed two earlier heartbreaking attempts, in one of which he spent a harrowing three nights in the death zone (above 27,650 ft), thus setting a world record. But that is not all. Captain Kohli has led a remarkable life, having had a career in the Navy, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and in adventure tourism. Captain Kohli’s skill as a mountaineer was put to the test when, while working as an intelligence operator, he was involved in the misguided exercise to place plutonium-powered monitoring devices on Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot during the mid-sixties. The episode stirred up a storm internationally when the possibility of water contamination became known. The author’s turbulent childhood prepared him for the rigours of life later on. Born in the scenic Haripur, now in Pakistan, he survived a hair-raising train journey to Amritsar at the time of Partition. The experience was to leave a permanent mark, but the chief outcome was an abiding faith in God. Apart from the indefatigable spirit of heroism and adventure, One More Step conveys an amazing zest for life. And as the title amply illustrates, Captain Kohli’s autobiography reveals his ‘never say die’ philosophy—as he says, ‘It saved my life.’
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