Tenzing Norgay

Tenzing Norgay GM OSN (/ˈtɛnzɪŋ ˈnɔːrɡeɪ/; Sherpa: བསྟན་འཛིན་ནོར་རྒྱས tendzin norgyé; May 1914 – 9 May 1986), born Namgyal Wangdi, and also referred to as Sherpa Tenzing, was a Nepalese-Indian Sherpa mountaineer. He is best known for reaching the top of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, with Edmund Hillary in 1953. Their successful climb was a huge achievement and inspired many people around the world.

Tenzing Norgay was not only a skilled climber but also a wise and respected leader among his fellow Sherpas. His journey from a young boy in Tibet to one of the greatest climbers of all time is a story of courage and determination. He helped many other climbers reach new heights and shared his knowledge with the world.

In addition to his climbing feats, Tenzing Norgay was recognized for his important contributions to understanding and friendship between different cultures. He became a symbol of peace and adventure, showing what can be achieved through hard work and teamwork. In 1999, Time named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, a testament to his lasting impact on the world.

Early life

Tenzing Norgay’s early life has different stories. In his book, he said he was a Sherpa from Tengboche, Khumbu, in Nepal. But in another talk, he mentioned his parents were from Tibet, and he was born in Tibet at a place called Tse Chu in the Kama Valley. He grew up in Thame and spent his early years in Kharta, close to the north of Tibet. As a young boy, he moved to Nepal to work with a Sherpa family in Khumbu.

Khumbu is near Mount Everest, which is called Chomolungma by the local people, meaning "Holy Mother". The Sherpas and Tibetans practice Buddhism, and Tenzing was a Buddhist too. Though the exact date of his birth is not known, he chose to celebrate it on May 29th after reaching the top of Mount Everest in 1953. He was originally named Namgyal Wangdi, but his name was changed when he was a child by a lama, the leader of Rongbuk Monastery. His family was large, with thirteen children, though some died when they were very young. Later in life, Tenzing moved to Darjeeling in India and became part of the local Sherpa community there.

Mountaineering

Tenzing Norgay first joined a team trying to climb Mount Everest when he was 20 years old. A leader of the team noticed him and chose him to help.

Norgay helped carry heavy supplies for climbers trying to reach the top of Everest in the 1930s. He also climbed other tall mountains in different parts of India. Later, he tried to climb Everest again but had to stop because of bad weather. He kept trying and became a leader for other climbers. In 1953, he and another climber reached the top together for the first time.

1952 Swiss Mount Everest expedition

Main article: 1952 Swiss Mount Everest expedition

In 1952, Tenzing Norgay joined two expeditions from Switzerland to climb Mount Everest from the southern side in Nepal. These were the first serious attempts after earlier US and British trips in 1950 and 1951. Tenzing and a climber named Raymond Lambert reached a height of about 8,595 metres, setting a new record for how high people had climbed. This expedition also created a new path on Everest that was used the next year. Tenzing and Lambert reached an even higher point of 8,600 metres on May 28. This time, Tenzing was treated as a full member of the team, which was a big honor for him. The team became very close, especially with Raymond Lambert. In the autumn try, they could not go higher because of bad weather, stopping at 8,100 metres.

Success on Mount Everest

Main article: 1953 British Mount Everest expedition

In 1953, Tenzing Norgay joined an expedition led by John Hunt to climb Mount Everest. Tenzing had climbed Everest many times before, and Hunt had also led a few expeditions. One of the team members was Edmund Hillary, who fell into a deep hole in the ice but was saved because Tenzing quickly used his ice axe to hold Hillary safe with a rope.

The team worked hard, carrying heavy bags and setting up camps as they climbed higher. Finally, Tenzing and Hillary were chosen to make the last climb to the top together. After waiting for good weather, they started their final climb on May 28. They reached the very top of Mount Everest on May 29 at 11:30 in the morning. This was the highest point on Earth, and they were the first people ever to stand there together.

After their climb, both men were honored for their amazing achievement. Hillary was knighted, and Tenzing received a special medal. Even though some people wondered who reached the top first, Tenzing later said that they reached the summit together as a team.

After Everest

Tenzing Norgay became the first Director of Field Training of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling when it opened in 1954.

In January 1975, with permission from the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Norgay guided the first American tourist group allowed into the country. The group, organized by a company called Mountain Travel (now Mountain Travel-Sobek), first met Norgay in India before starting their journey. Their adventure began in Paro, northern Bhutan, and included a visit to Tiger's Nest, an ancient Buddhist monastery, before returning to India through Nepal and Sikkim. Norgay also introduced his group to the King of Sikkim and hosted them at his home in India for a farewell celebration.

In 1978, Norgay started Tenzing Norgay Adventures, a company offering trekking trips in the Himalayas. As of 2021, the company was led by his son Jamling Tenzing Norgay, who climbed to the top of Everest in 1996.

Honours

Tenzing Norgay received many awards for his amazing work as a mountaineer. In 1938, he was given the Tiger Medal for his high-altitude work. In 1953, Queen Elizabeth II recognized his achievements by awarding him the George Medal, and he also received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.

Later, he was given the Order of the Star of Nepal by King Tribhuvan, and in 1959, India awarded him the Padma Bhushan. He even received an honorary title from the Soviet Union. In memory of his achievements, a mountain in Nepal was named Tenzing Peak, and a mountain range on the dwarf planet Pluto was named Tenzing Montes.

Personal life and death

Tenzing Norgay was married three times. His first wife, Dawa Phuti, passed away in 1944. They had a son and two daughters, one of whom had a son named Tashi Tenzing who later climbed Mount Everest.

Norgay’s second wife was Ang Lahmu, a cousin of his first wife, and they had no children of their own but cared for children from earlier marriages. His third wife was Dakku, and they had three sons and one daughter. One of his sons, Jamling, climbed Everest in 2003 with Peter Hillary, the son of Edmund Hillary.

Norgay passed away in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, in 1986 at the age of 71. His favorite place was the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, where a ceremony was held in his memory.

Legacy

Tenzing Norgay was honored in many ways after his time. In 2003, India changed the name of its top adventure sports award to the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award to remember his climb.

His story appeared in a children's comic book in 2011. A movie called Tenzing is being made, with famous actors Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe.

Places named after him include a building in England, an airport in Lukla, a mountain range on Pluto, and a minor planet in space. Some red pandas in zoos also carry his name, and there is even an energy drink called Tenzing.