Cover Story (Spotlight Weekly)

SIR EDMUND HILLARY
A Man Born For Nepal

A man's contribution cannot be judged on the basis of his place of birth but on his contribution to a community and society. Although he was born in New Zealand and met Nepal in his attempt to climb Mt. Everest on May 29,1953, Sir Edmund Hillary's name is linked with Nepal and he has made enormous contributions to advance the cause of Sherpas, mountains and Nepal. As part of celebrations of 50 years of first ascent of Mt. Everest, the government of Nepal for the first time recognized the contributions made by mountaineer from New Zealand

By KESHAB POUDEL

In his 50-year-long personal connection with Nepal following the first ascent to Mt. Everest in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary has seen both joyful and tragic scenarios. Whatever the situation, the first man to reach the top of Mt. Everest continues to love Nepal and remains committed to the cause of the Himalayas and Sherpas.

Nothing has created any hurdles in his quest to improve the life of Sherpas in the Khumbu district. Through his Himalayan Trust, Hillary has made many changes in the life of Sherpas. Importantly, Hillary decided to come to Nepal during Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee celebrations. Thanks to his decision, Nepal secured much-needed international publicity from the moment he arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport on 27 May all the way until 29 May.

In the last three years, Nepal's image was damaged by negative publicity in the world. Hillary's arrival and the golden jubilee celebrations not only projected Nepal's independent identity to the world but also sent across positive publicity.

In recognition of his contributions to support Nepal's efforts, the government of Nepal awarded him honorary Nepalese citizen. Although this recognition was given so belatedly, Hillary was the first person to be awarded honorary Nepalese citizenship after the promulgation of the Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990.

Hillary was the hero of the golden jubilee. For Nepal, Hillary was the man who popularized its cause and identity. "We have done little to popularize the event. Despite the political demonstrations and agitation, foreign media covered the events of golden jubilee," said a tourism entrepreneur.

Following his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, the 83-year-old mountaineer spent almost all his programs speaking for the cause of Mt. Everest, Sherpas and Nepal. At a time when the country has been passing through a very critical phase, Hillary projected Nepal as his own home showing affection to the Nepal and Sherpas.

Born in a small South Pacific island nation, Hillary has been taking the case of Nepal and Khumbu region far and wide. Thanks to his initiatives, Sherpas of remote areas of Khumbu are now shining in various international organizations, working as experts. From conservationist to educationists, Sherpas have lifted themselves as most capable and efficient ethnic community of Nepal.

In a gathering of more than 300 Mt. Everest summiteers and more than 300 foreign journalists and television crewmembers, Hillary was still busy projecting the cause of Sherpas and Nepal.

"Achievements are important and I have reveled in a number of good Adventures, but far more worthwhile are the tasks I have been able to carry out for my friends in the Himalayas. They too have been great challenges in different way - building mountain airfields and schools, hospitals and clinics, and renewing remote Buddhist monasteries. These are the projects that I will always remember," writes Hillary in his autobiography "View From the Summit".

Many mountaineers have scaled Everest, but Hillary went a big step ahead and repaid his debt of fame to the Himalayas, building the high schools, health posts, bridges and airfields. With his personal initiative through Himalayan Trust, Hillary has made great contribution to uplift the life of Sherpas in Khumbu region.

In his efforts to serve the mountain people, he lost his wife and daughter, but he continues to love the mountain and Sherpas. With mostly backward and remote districts in early 1950s, Solukhumbu district today has three airports and numerous foreign trekkers go for long trekking. Whether building an airport at Lukla or Phaplu Airport or the hospital in Khumjung, Hillary has played leading role.

In the course of building the hospital and Khumju, he lost his wife Louise and 16-year-old daughter, Belinda, in a Pilatus Porter crash near Tribhuvan International Airport. He continued his efforts in building the Khumbu region even after this tragic case in his life.

"Deeply depressed but quite determined, I flew back to Paphlu to get on with the job. A little altar had been made in the cookhouse with pictures of Louise and Belinda, and every day new ceremonial scarves were draped over the altar, which was strewn with crimson and white rhododendrons, and butter lamps were always alright," writes in his autobiography following the tragic event.

By cremating two of his beloved in the river Bagmati, Hillary has shown his personal affection and love to this mountain kingdom. Although it was long back, Hillary remains Nepal's true friend.

Having first come to Kathmandu in 1951, Hillary has seen a lot of transformation in Nepal. When Hillary climbed the Mt. Everest, only a few people knew about the identity of Nepal.

"I must admit that there are many changes that have taken place in Nepal over that period. But one change that has not taken place is the warmth and welcome that we have received from the people. For to me it is a marvelous to be involved in all the actions that have been undertaken," he said to the press.

In a ceremonial function, Hillary was taken to the procession in the city in a horse cart on golden jubilee. "I am not a particularly a person who likes riding around in horse cart cheering from the people. But it really was very pleasant occasion. We waved thousand of people and my wife at back. We really felt that we were being extremely warmly welcomed back to our old glory."

His affection for the Sherpas is always remembered and the Nepal as a peaceful country. "I am getting a little bit older now of course but when we arrived in the airport and five hundred cameramen met us, was rather slightly depressing walk on to Nepal, which we always regard as a peaceful sort of place. Bustling people but not too much problem with the media," said Hillary.

Despite a very small in nature, Himalayan Trust has brought major changes in the Khumbu region. With the celebration of the golden Jubilee, the New Zealand government also increased the annual grant to $290,000 a year, an announcement Prime Minister Helen Clark made.

After building airports, schools and hospitals, Hillary's quest to help and support the Sherpas of Khumbu region is yet to die. "I am not satisfied with what I have done to Khumbu region. I still want to do more."

Whether Nepal will do it or not, Hillary will continue to plead the cause of Nepal, Himalayas and Sherpas - an inspiring message of an inspiring feat.n

'Sherpas Are A Special Breed Of People'

- SIR EDMUND HILLARY

SIR EDMUND HILLARY, the first person to reach the Everest summit, was awarded honorary Nepalese citizenship last week. Born in New Zealand, Hillary has spent almost all his life promoting the cause of the Sherpas and Mt. Everest. Hillary, who was here to celebrate the golden jubilee of the human conquest of the world's tallest mountain, addressed a press conference at the British Embassy. At the session moderated by British Ambassador to Nepal Keith Bloomfield, Hillary answered various questions raised by international media persons. Excerpts from the press meet compiled by KESHAB POUDEL:

It is really the most astonishing experience for my wife and myself to be back in Kathmandu. I first came to Kathmandu in 1951, which is quite a few years ago. I must admit that many changes have taken place in Nepal over that period. But one change that has not taken place is the warmth and welcome that we have received from the people. For me it is marvelous to be involved in all the actions that have been undertaken. I am not particularly a person who likes riding around in horse cart amid cheers from the people. But it really was a very pleasant occasion. We were greeted by thousands of people. We really felt that we were being extremely warmly welcomed back to our old glory.

It has been a great experience for us. In and around the hills, I have seen hundreds of our Sherpa friends. Sherpas who we have worked with and Sherpas who have climbed mountains and many of whose family members have died on the mountains. These are all people we admire and respect. Sherpas are a special breed of people. We feel very excited mixing with many other friends and attending various functions, which has been organized for us. I am getting a little bit older now, of course, but when we arrived at the airport and five hundred cameramen met us, was rather slightly depressing walk on to Nepal, which we always regard as a peaceful sort of place. Bustling people but not too many problems with the media. Along with my family members, including my wife, we moved steadily through the crowd to finally being checked from the media into the very comfortable car. I have had many happy occasions over the past few days.

There are several things we do through our Himalayan Trust. One of them is that we respond to the wishes of the people. We don't go into the valley and look around and say you need this and you need that and you need something else. We ask the village development committee what they would like to see established, usually schools or medical facilities. We try to finance the project. The other thing that I regard as very important is that we don't interfere either in politics or in religion. We believe that is the matter for local people.

It is great to be back. The people have been friendly and enthusiastic. I have seen major improvements in Kathmandu over the last year or two. Certainly, some of your roads are bad and some of the roads are very much better. And you have a lot of excellent vehicles and the streets seem to be bustling once again. I love to go up to the hills once more and to put off my hat. I am affected quite a lot by altitude. So I am conscious and staying here in Kathmandu. But I am hoping [to return] for years to come with [the help of] oxygen and good helicopters pilots. You have very good helicopter pilots. We want to reach up to the Khumbu area once again to meet all our friends in Khumjung School and Khungdi Hospital and Thame School and all of the other projects, which we have the good fortune to be able to assist.

On Solukhumbu

I can speak extensively on the Solukhumbu area, but I cannot say more about the western sector, as I have spent much of the time in Kathmandu. Solukhumbu is where the Himalayan Trust and I have been personally involved. No doubt at all that opportunities, health care and all the business activities have increased enormously in the Solukhumbu district. The whole thing has really changed. I was asked to build a little hospital in Khundi in order to get all the materials there. I decided the only thing to do was to build a small airfield in the mountains.

On The Story of Lukla Airfield

So we got Lukla Airfield on a very devastating little slope way up on the mountain. It was the local people who recommended to us that it would be the ideal spot for the airfield. Here it was sloping peace of land with terraces and some potatoes in rocks and some of barren slopes. However, we built the airfield. We hired hundreds of Sherpa porters and workers. They worked very hard to flatten out the quite steep place for the airfield. Finally the time came and we arranged for a Swiss aircraft to come in and make the first landing. I was not happy with the airfield, so I employed another 50 Sherpas and we purchased a very large quantity of local beer and got them to dance for two days all over the airfield.

On Swiss Aircraft

By the end of that procedure, the airfield was very friendly indeed. And the Swiss plane came sweeping in as a tiny figure over the mountains and touched down at the end of the runway. We used that airfield to fly all the supplies for the Khundi hospital, but it also became the airfield to the Everest area for trekkers, tourists, and mountaineers. I had not really thought of it in that line and for while I wondered whether I had done a bad thing. Maybe I made it too easy for foreign visitors to come up into that area. Maybe they will do harm to the local culture. Over time, many people came in and the standard of livening of Sherpas has improved enormously. I realized that much good has been done. Because the mountain people have very strong ties, their culture is not too much affected by the sometimes rather unfortunate influence of Western society. So, I feel that the building of the airfield was in the end a very worthwhile event, even though a little unexpected.

On Young People

I believe we should encourage all the young and old people to look for challenges in their life. The challenge of climbing mountains or going to the South Col. The challenges in society, in business world and education world. They have to work harder to extend themselves in order to be successful. Otherwise, they are going to have a very boring life indeed. So I certainly encourage especially the young to go after bright ideas and carry them out successfully.

On Protecting the Infrastructure

It is not my business to be involved in the political matters in Nepal. I hope airfields, schools, hospitals will be respected by all Nepalese and used for tourism, which is tremendously valuable to the financial aspects of life.

On Worries About Mt. Everest

I am not very happy about the future of Mt. Everest. I saw a film taken at the Everest base camp. Thousands of people were there amid five hundred tents. There was a booze place with drinks and all the comforts which perhaps the young like. When you are hanging in difficult areas and going into the South Col up to the South East Ridge struggling perhaps with wind and weather. Those things to me are great moment on the mountains.

On Challenges Ahead

First of all, I want to say that I am never satisfied. You must see the challenges ahead of you and you must make efforts to help more and encourage more people that you admire and respect. That is being my main motivation for the last forty more years with our Himalayan Trust. It is to accomplish the desire of the local people for the education for their children. It is also to improve health facilities for all the people. These are the things I regard as really important. Climbing mountains is a big challenge. One has to spend quite a lot of time and may you lose your life as well as change your life. I think much more important is to devote some of your time to the welfare of the people who are so rugged and wonderful and have helped nurture life in the mountains. It is such a pleasant experience.

On Personal Experiences

I am frequently not very happy. I think the important thing is to make sure that your motivation is a good one and that you are not trying to convert to your good friends in the particular way of life or particular religion. But you helped them to achieve what is their basic culture and basic ability. They have desire of course and our western money objects them. But what I always like is the way of even highly respected Sherpas in Kathmandu. During the monsoon they return to their villages and take a full path of cultural and religious activities at that time. We want to encourage Sherpas to do that because they are giving a lead to their own people from the remote villages where the life is still pretty tough. I can always remember 50 years ago when we were sitting around the campfire.

On Everest Anniversary

Well, the anniversary to me really is what 50 years of climbing Mt. Everest means. However, I must deeply appreciate the reactions of the public and Sherpa friends to these 50 years. But for me, it could be 51 and 52 may be. So, I have not been waiting impatiently for 50th anniversary to celebrate. We have already been celebrating the 50th anniversary very vigorously indeed. Other remaining members of the Everest expedition who live in the Untied Kingdom plan to have a big occasion. Her Majesty Queen also presented on that occasion. We have spent so many years for the mountain and people of Nepal and the Sherpas have done much for expedition. So, we really felt the place we want to be on May 29 was in Kathmandu. We are going to London to celebrate the functions and then to New York and San Francisco then finally way back across the little old Pacific island of New Zealand.

On Sherpas' Courage

I don't want to blame Sherpas for not necessarily wanting to climb dangerous mountains. That is the task some one does for them. Trekking really is the biggest business where Sherpas are leading. Sherpas have expertise with good personality and many of them speak excellent English make them ideal people for the very large number of trekking activities. Sherpas have very strong physical fitness to climb at the high altitude. Earlier they had very little knowledge about the technique of climbing but that has not changed. Many Sherpas are extremely technically competent and go on foreign trips to climb the mountains. Sherpas want to be very successful trekkers. They are brave men so they can continue to climb the mountain.

On Sticking for One Climb

After climbing Mt. Everest, Tenzing and I had many talks together and we agreed neither of us have any desire to climb Everest again. Tenzing said we had done it and done for first time why should we bother to go again? In Australia and New Zealand a lot of gimmicks are going on nowadays. People run from here and there. All of these things are quite exciting to them and quite dramatic and many of them have nothing to do with mountaineering. We are mountaineers and our challenges are the challenges between ourselves and difficulty of the mountains.

On Climbing Restrictions

We certainly think that the time has come to bar too many expeditions. Some years ago I talked with Nepalese government and suggested to them that the expedition to be reduced to one or two a year in each particular route. For one year, the government followed the words and then the temptation of foreign money is too great. They slowly and steadily the mountain open to everybody for US$60,000. It will give permission to everyone who pays the money. n