The Prime Minister has condoled the passing away of Sir Edmund Hillary describing him as one who drew our attention to the grandeur of Mother Earth. In his condolence message Dr. Manmohan Singh said we must seek inspiration from Sir Edmund Hillary's sense of adventure, enterprise and his love of nature.

The text of the Prime Minister's condolence message is as follows :

"I join millions of admirers of Sir Edmund Hillary in mourning his passing away. He lived an exemplary life of seeking to attain the seemingly unattainable and drawing our attention to the grandeur of Mother Earth. Sir Edmund Hillary dedicated his life to the preservation of our Himalayan heritage and inspired several generations of mountaineers world wide. In mourning his passing away we must all seek inspiration from his sense of adventure, enterprise and his love of nature.

I convey my sincere condolences to his family , to the people of New Zealand, to mountaineers across the world who have been inspired by him and to all the brave Sherpas, who are a mountaineer's companion."