Tenzing Norgay

Tenzing   Norgay

  Tenzing Norgay, GM (late May 1914 – 9 May 1986) born Namgyal Wangdi and often referred to as Sherpa Tenzing, was a Nepali Indian Sherpa mountaineer. Among the most famous mountain climbers in history, he was one of the first two individuals known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest, which he accomplished with Edmund Hillary on 29 May 1953. He was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
  He was originally called "Namgyal Wangdi", but as a child his name was changed on the advice of the head lama and founder of the famous Rongbuk Monastery, Ngawang Tenzin Norbu. Tenzing Norgay translates as "wealthy-fortunate-follower-of-religion". His father, a yak herder, was Ghang La Mingma (d. 1949) and his mother was Dokmo Kinzom (who lived to see him climb Everest); he was the 11th of 13 children, most of whom died young.
  Tenzing got his first opportunity to join an Everest expedition when in 1935 he was employed by Eric Shipton, leader of the reconnaissance expedition that year. As a young 19 year old his chance came when two of the others failed their medical. As a friend of Angtharkay he was quickly pushed forward and his attractive smile caught the eye of Shipton who decided to take him on.
  He began practicing mountain climbing at the age of 18. He had the courage, determination and patience to do well. Finally, he succeeded in climbing the Mt. Everest together with Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand in 1953.
  In 1954, he became the Director of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute at Darjeeling in West Bengal. The Governments of India and Nepal gave appropriate recognition to his unique talent. He was honored with the tide of Padma Bhutan and a Gold Medal. He was also awarded with the Star of Nepal. In 1986, the Tiger of Snow left the world forever.