The ‘holy man’ who gave his blessings to Santosh’s mother was surprised because he had a vision of Santosh’s future. When Santosh was just a child, her mother took her to a holy man for blessings. The holy man, after blessing Santosh, told her mother that Santosh would grow up to be someone extraordinary. He was surprised because Santosh’s mother had come from a traditional background where women were often not encouraged to pursue ambitious goals, especially not the challenging field of mountaineering that Santosh would later excel in.
The holy man’s surprise came from the fact that Santosh, being a girl from a small village, was expected to lead a life that adhered to traditional roles, especially considering the societal norms of that time. However, the holy man saw something special in Santosh. He predicted that she would achieve greatness, which was unexpected given the circumstances of her upbringing. This was a reflection of Santosh’s determination and the non-traditional path she would eventually take in becoming one of the first Indian women to climb Mount Everest.
In conclusion, the holy man was surprised because, based on his vision, he foresaw a future for Santosh that was far beyond what most people from her background would have expected. His surprise reflected the remarkable nature of Santosh’s journey, where she defied the traditional expectations placed on her and achieved extraordinary success in mountaineering. His blessing, however, foreshadowed the great accomplishments that Santosh would later achieve in her life.