International Everest Day

When a regular human conquers the world’s mightiest mountain, it is bound to be remembered throughout history. International Everest Day not only commemorates this victory over one of Earth’s greatest terrains but is also a celebration of the lives of the mountaineers.

International Everest Day is also honoured as Tenzing Norgay Sherpa’s birthday. (Source: Time8)

The flawed species of mankind achieves such greatness once in a while that we often tend to forget our own limitations. One such conquest made in history was perhaps that of the scaling of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on the morning of May 29th, 1953. Not only did this change the worldview drastically, but it also pushed the boundaries of what a normal person could achieve.

Standing at a whopping 8,849 metres above sea level, Mount Everest is the tallest mountain to grace the face of Earth. Although there were many who previously attempted to reach its summit, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary became the first two people to officially record their climb to the peak. Of course, this achievement didn’t come easy; in fact, the two made it to the top only on their ninth expedition. Although the scaling of Everest was initiated by the British as early as the 1920s, there are valid reasons why people weren’t able to reach its peak for more than thirty years. To begin with, the terrifying height is the most obvious one. The high altitude makes it difficult for climbers to breathe and function as they normally would, and to add to that, the sheer cold restricts their movement a great deal. The overall landscape is irregular and highly dangerous, and many have lost their lives trying to reach the top. If it weren’t for the modern safety equipment and the experience of the climbers, the task would have been daunting by a hundredfold more.

Despite these difficulties, the two climbers have given the public one more reason to celebrate the fascinating beauty of Earth. Several hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts memorialise this day by climbing to their nearest peak or by attempting some kind of mountain climbing activity. Those who are unable to carry out these excessive forms of physical activity are also encouraged to read about the mighty peak and the people who tamed it. There have also been several documentaries and non-fiction films produced in its honour, such as ‘The Summit’ and ‘The Conquest of Everest’, that have been quite a hit among the masses.

Since Tenzing Norgay was a Nepali-Indian, several Nepali people also revere this day as his birthday. This was a tradition started by the man himself, since his real birthday was not known. Norgay belonged to the tribe of ‘Sherpas’, one of Nepal’s tribal ethnic groups known for their excellence in climbing mountains. They also play a larger part in environmental conservation in the Himalayan region and are known for their perseverance and endurance. The Sherpas hold great regard for nature and worship it in all forms. ‘Chomolungma’ or ‘mother of the world’ as they call Everest, is also traditionally worshipped among them even before they set out in her rugged terrains. This sense of respect between man and nature that the community maintains is one of the most honorable things about them. Perhaps it was also this trait in Norgay that helped him successfully scale it, leading him to become a household name within and beyond his community.

International Everest Day does not simply end with a celebration around the world. In fact, it is the beginning and renewal of the conversation around the hit that Mt. Everest has taken due to rapid climate change. It is not only the topography of the mountain and the climbers that are affected by it, but also the Sherpa community and the people of living around the terrain, who have to suffer the consequences. Not to mention that the Sherpas highly depend on the mountains for their food, shelter, and means of income. While children and adults alike are encouraged by the stories of the mountaineers, it is important that we understand that the contribution we make towards the preservation of the environment directly or indirectly affects these people and the mighty mountain.