The Sherpa

(First published in Small World Ezine on 26 May 2003)

 

This week the world celebrate the 50th anniversary that
Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa buddy Tenzing Norgay
have reached the top of the Everest.

Everyone have heard of Sir Ed, the famous New Zealander. But 
how about "Tenzing Norgay"? Who is he? How had he become Sir 
Ed's second? And what is a "Sherpa"?

 

From success of Sir Ed and Tenzing Norgay, thousands of 
hikers and mountain climbers have reached the foot of the 
Everest every year. And the Sherpas' tourist industry had
expanded tremendously. The Sherpas had become famous world 
wide for being great trekking guides and porters until the 
term "Sherpa" has become the synonym of trekking guides all 
over the world. There are Sherpa trekking services and 
mountain resorts everywhere -- even in America. We've even 
found a Sherpa restaurant in Japan (owned by a Sherpa who is 
married to a Japanese lady mountaineer). 

Actually "Sherpa" is the name of an ethnically and 
culturally rich tribe of Nepal inhabiting in the Himalayan 
region. "Sherpa"s got their name -- which means "The Man of 
the East" -- because they are believed to have walked from 
Tibet some 400 years ago. And because the Sherpas had chosen 
to settle in a remote valley -- beyond the reach of the 
Hindu in the lowland Nepal or India -- they had also managed 
to keep their culture, language and religion faith -- all of 
Tibetan origins -- distinctive.

Since the British brought potato plants to the region in
the 19th century, the Sherpas had become potato planters. 
They grew potatoes in their homeland, and even travelled to 
Darjiling (india) for more potato planting jobs. When more
British officials came to vacation in the beautiful 
Darjiling (oh well... it was said to be Asia's Switzerland 
at the time. But now it was so war-torn that it could be 
compared to only Sarajevo.) Sherpas found a new job 
opportunity in construction.

Then the first mountaineer arrived in early 20th century, 
and they hired the strong Sherpas from Darjiling to be
porters.

As these Sherpas had been living in the higher land for 
their lives, their lungs had already been adjusted to the 
lower oxygen level at the higher altitudes. So they didn't 
seem to get tired easily and owned the reputation of being 
the better porters than the Indians. They had even become 
essential helps for every mountain climbers.

Then, after Mount Everest had been summitted by Sir Edmund 
Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing, climbers flocked to the Sherpa
village of Khumbu every spring and fall. Khumbu's economy 
was then developed around trekking industry. There are now
inns, restaurants, and even an Internet cafe for tourists.

Sherpas started to send their children to study in schools
in Nepal. Some of the children didn't come back after 
graduated. Newer generation has been moving down to the city 
for better jobs. The rich culture has become diluted. And 
lives have depended more on new inventions. Households have 
transported televisions, VCRs, and etc. from Nepal for daily 
entertainment.

After the events of September 11 and Nepal's domestic issues
(the assassination of the royal family and the problem with 
Maoist rebels), trekkers almost stopped visiting the 
Himalayas. Lives have become difficult. More and more 
Sherpas moved to town for jobs. We hope this 50th summit 
anniversary would bring trekkers back to the region once 
more.

         

In the news...

Everest speed record broken (by a Sherpa)

Everest hero 'unfairly treated' (Tenzing's Grandson said he
should have been given a Knighthood also)

 

More:

Does this teach us a lesson? I believe if a community can
take care of itself (living a self-sufficient life) without 
depending on income from outside (or foreign investment),
the community will not have to be worried when the sources
of income is depleted.

Why haven't the Sherpas tried to reach the top of the 
Everest earlier as they've already had the quality? Let me 
quote National Geographic's T.R.Reid here...

"Tradition taught Sherpas that some of the mighty mountains
just over their shoulders were the abodes of the gods, to be 
respected from afar but not intruded upon. And so for 
generations they never tried to climb Mount Everest or the
other great Khumbu peaks -- until the steady stream of "peak
baggers" from the West made mountaineering a profitable 
enterprise." ("The Sherpas", National Geographic May 2003)

I, too, have to admit that I do not see the point why human 
have to try to beat the nature. Probably because I am a 
woman, probably because I am an Asian, or probably because I 
am a Buddhist. I praise Sir Edmund Hillary and everybody 
who've ever tried -- successful or not -- for their will and 
their efforts. But I still can't see the point why... (sigh)