London: Mumbai-based Harish Kapadia, editor of Himalayan Journal, has won the Patron's Medal of the world renowned Royal Geographic Society, an honour bestowed on an Asian and Indian for the first time in past 125 years.

Kapadia, has been chosen for the prestigious medal for his exceptional contribution to exploration and geography. The award will be presented on June 2, 2003, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Coronation of the Queen and also with the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest.

A former vice president of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, Kapadia has dedicated the award to his son late Nawang Kapadia, a Gorkha officer of the 4th battalion of the 3rd Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army who made the supreme sacrifice while defending the country from militants in Kashmir.

"He shared my passion for trekking, love for the nature and gave his life defending the Himalayas," Kapadia said.

He began climbing and trekking in the range around Mumbai, the Western Ghats. His first visit to the Himalayas was almost 40 years ago. He has never looked back after that, still trekking and climbing actively.

His main contribution to Himalayan climbing has been to explore unknown areas and, in a number of cases, to open up climbing possibilities.

PTI