On
the 29th of May 1953, while standing on the Summit of Everest,
Sir Edmund Hillary was blessed by the goddess Chomolungma and
given the responsibility for the betterment of the Everest region
and its inhabitants. His unsuccessful search for the Yeti in
1959 carried on for more than 6 months, finally leading him
to take the Yeti scalp of Khumjung Community Gompa around the
world for scientific research with my father, Konjo Chumbi,
the head of Khumjung village in 1960.
His
frequent visits for different reasons to Khumbu enabled him
to become good friend with the Sherpas. He built a school in
Khumjung for the Sherpa children in 1961. Suddenly aware of
the unhealthy children attending the Khumjung School, he was
motivated to build the Hospital in Khunde in 1964. Then realizing
the number of days it took for porters to transport medicine
and school stationeries to the isolated area (a total of 21
days) all the way from the capital city, he built the Lukla
airstrip in 1966. He then expanded his project developing 27
more schools, 2 hospitals and 13 clinics along with improvements
of the trails, bridges and monasteries in the Solu Khumbu region.
His
contribution in building the Khumjung School, Khunde Hospital
and Lukla Airport made great changes in the lives of the Sherpa
people in the Khumbu region. Now the Sherpas are no longer seen
as only mountain porters and Yak traders as many of us work
professionally in various fields with various recognition, and
living with great comfort in comparison to the rest of Nepal’s
mountain people, most of whom have little or no access to basic
necessities and therefore are living sub par lives, struggling
for bread and butter.
From
my childhood in the 1970’s when I was attending the primary
School in Khumjung, I have many fond memories of Sir Ed’s
numerous visits with his family to Khumjung.
I
had missed Sir Ed and his team during the years 1977-84. In
1985 when he became New Zealand’s Ambassador to India
and Nepal, I went to welcome him at the Kathmandu airport. There
was a car with police guards from the Nepalese Government to
pick him up but he chose his usual modest mini truck which was
meant to transport the project goods to the airport. He also
stayed in his old office cum apartment at Dilli Bazar.
While
visiting him there, I, with great curiosity, asked him why he
had left behind the car with the guard and not stayed in a hotel
maintaining an Ambassador’s position, smiling, he answered,
“My Ambassador post is not permanent and there’s
still a lot to be done in the Khumbu region. If I used all the
facilities provided to me then I would not be able to use my
skills of carpentry, masonry and plumbing.” Hearing the
reply from Sir Edmund Hillary, showing such compassion and devotion
to Khumbu Sherpa People, I realized that he is a true god for
the Sherpa people and that thought made me bow down immediately
in front of him declaring "You are truly a father for the
Sherpas." Since then I had visited him every time he was
in Kathmandu and meeting him has been of the same pleasure as
meeting with my own father. In the year 2000, I was nominated
by Sir Edmund Hillary as a Himalayan Trust Advisory board Member
to take responsibility for the work of the Himalayan trust in
Solukhumbu, through the involvement of local people.
To
mark the 50th Anniversary of Summit on Everest in 2003, many
high profile diplomats requested meetings with Sir Edmund Hillary
during his 10 day stay in Nepal. Sir Edmund Hillary, being the
person that he was, turned down their invitations making time
for his Sherpa friends instead. He would rather dine in the
houses of his beloved Sherpas rather than spend time with ambassadors,
ministers and the likes in five star hotels. Out of the six
visits he made from 2000 to 2007, I had the honor of having
him for dinner at my house 3 times. Despite his ill health,
Sir Ed made his last week long trip to Nepal in April of 2007
choosing again to remain in his old apartment. Many five star
hotels offered Sir Edmund Hillary their best suites numerous
times, however; he refused and chose to stay in his old apartment.
On
January 11th, at 6 A.M., I heard the news from friends that
Sir Edmund Hillary had passed away at 9 A.M. New Zealand time
(2 A.M. Nepalese standard time). I was shocked. I immediately
made an offering of some butter lamps and lighted incense in
my small prayer room at home. I knelt down and prayed for him
and for al ong time remembered him, his words, his smile and
joy when he was with his beloved Sherpa families. A condolence
meeting was held at the Himalayan Trust in Kathmandu. Representatives
from many Sherpa organizations gathered and made a decision
to hold a memorial ceremony on 14th January with prayers and
offerings by Buddhist Monks (Lamas) in traditional Sherpa manner.
We knew Sir Hillary would have wanted it this way.
Sir
Hillary will live forever in the hearts and memories of the
Sherpa people. His love and affection for us will live forever.
According
to the wishes of Sir Ed’s family members, the New Zealand
Government sent invitations to four of us; Ang Rita Tshering
Sherpa, Dr. Kami Temba Sherpa, Ang Rita Sherpa and me to come
to New Zealand, as soon as possible, to attend the state funeral
to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, on 22 January.
We
flew to Auckland, reaching there in the afternoon of the 18th
of January. We were picked up by government officials right
next to where the aircraft had landed and were dropped off at
Hotel Devereux, just 10 minutes walk from Sir Ed’s home.
Accompanying the four of us from Kathmandu were Miss Elizabeth
Hawley and Lisa Chogyel. We then immediately went to Sir Ed’s
home to see Lady Hillary and the family to pay our respects.
We prayed in front of his photos, scattered water brought from
Khunde and blessings from Tengboche Rinpoche and lit incense.
The condolence letters, articles brought from Nepal were handed
over to Lady Hillary. The family told us to feel at home and
to meet all the dignitaries, officials and family members while
we were in Auckland. On the 19 January at Lady Hillary's request,
we were allowed to go to the church to see his body personally
and pay our respects to him. We sat for sometime and prayed
for him.
On
the 21st we went to the Holy Trinity Cathedral where the coffin
was brought for the day so that the public could pay their respects.
On 22nd Prime Minister Helen Clark came to the home to receive
the family members. While meeting with Prime Minister she admired
our Sherpa dress and spoke highly about the Sherpas. At 10:30
Prime Minister with Lady June, four other cars and our big bus
with total of 40 people drove toward the St Mary's Church for
the state funeral. It was 11 o’clock when we reached the
cathedral. All the government officials, dignitaries, guests
and the family members and friends were there. We walked to
the coffin and we prayed again laying traditional prayer scarves
on the coffin - our respect for "Burra Sahib" (big
man) as he was fondly known to the Sherpa people. He had spent
more than half a century working to help Nepal's development,
especially in Solukhumbu region. Ang Rita Tshering, speaking
on behalf of the Sherpas said, "His loss to us is bigger
and heavier than Mount Everest. He is our true guardian and
our second father. But he has left us today."
At the end of the two hour service the coffin was carried from
the church to the strains of a lone piper, through an honor
guard of mountaineers with ice axes and on to a traditional
challenge of the indigenous Maori people performed by pupils
of a school named after Hillary.
The funeral cortege traveled through the streets of Auckland,
lined by thousands, who stood and applauded, and then to a private
family service following which the cremation was performed at
Purewa Cemetery. There were 40 people present, including the
New Zealand’s Prime Minister. The coffin was carried from
the car to the crematorium by family members, Peter Hillary,
Arthur, Sam, William, David, Andreas, and Ang Rita Tshering,
Dr. Kami Temba, Ang Rita and I. It was indeed a significant
honor to be the pall bearers for such a great man. At the crematorium
a 15 minute service was held. Each of us laid a red rose and
said our final farewell to our beloved friend and father of
the Sherpas.
Later that day we all joined an official reception in Memory
of Sir Edmund Hillary, at Government House, and family dinner
reception at Lady June’s place.
We were brought back on 24th January at Airport by Government
official with great honor. (We all thank you so much, Sir Ed’s
family members, People of New Zealand and the Government of
New Zealand for giving us the opportunity to participate in
the state funeral of our Buda Sahib.)
Lots of prayers and Pujas are being held in different Monasteries
since the death of Sir Ed on 11 January and are scheduled to
done until 49 days - 29 February being the 49th day. In Buddhism,
you pray for 49 days and make pujas for the departed soul to
get a better re-incarnation in his next life and we all wish
for Sir Ed to re-incarnate in human being so that he will be
able to improve the wretched and poor lives of other parts of
Nepal.
With the family’s permission, we have brought some ashes
to Nepal which will be used when we build a shrine in memory of
Sir Ed in the Khumbu region.
Thukten
Sherpa
Himalayan Trust Advisory Board Member
Home Phone 4417259
Mobile 9851024375
