Tenzing Norgay was a Nepalese mountain climber who created a record by climbing Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world along with Sir Edmund Hillary. They both achieved what looked completely impossible to the world at that time. Tenzing was a member of the Sherpa Tribe.
He is considered as one of the most famous and influential mountaineers of all time. He was also voted among the 100 most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazine. He was born in May 1914 in Solo Khumbu, Nepal.
Quick Facts: –
- The original name of Tenzing Norgay was Namgyal Wangdi. He changed it on the advice of the founder of the Rongbuk Monastery.
- His parents wanted him to be a monk. This is the reason why he ran away from home.
- He went to Darjeeling, India in 1933. At that time, hiring for that year’s British expedition was open.
- He was not selected that year but chosen by Eric Shipton to assist him in an expedition to the area around Everest.
- Tenzing spoke seven different languages but never learned how to write.
- He was also awarded the third-highest civilian award in India, Padma Bhushan in 1959.
- He opened a mountaineering school to train other locals for mountain climbing in Darjeeling, India.
- He also founded a company called Tenzing Norgay Adventures in 1978. It provided trekking adventures in the Himalayas.
- He passed away on May 9, 1986 in Darjeeling, India. He was 71 years old at that time.
- An autobiography in honor of Tenzing Norgay “Man of Everest” was released in 1955 and is still available to purchase to this day.
