Native to the mountain regions, Sherpas are more than mountaineers. Named by the Tibetan word for eastern people, their rich history and vibrant culture stand as a testament to their resilience and adaptability.
Sherpas, with origins tracing to Tibet, migrated westward across the high Himalayas some 500 years ago seeking refuge from war and oppression. They eventually settled in the Solu-Khumbu region. When these Tibetan yak herders crossed the barren mountain passes, they discovered uninhabited high-altitude grazing lands that promised a new beginning.
Despite the literal translation of Solu-Khumbu as a “place where no one lives”, Sherpas have transformed these icy terrains into a thriving hub for tourism and trekking. About 3,000 of more than 10,000 Sherpas reside in the Khumbu Valley, the gateway to the southern side of Mount Everest.
A unique naming tradition
Sherpa names reflect the day of the week a person is born. Those born on Monday are called Da, while those born on Tuesday are named Mingma, Wednesday-borns are Lhakpa, Thursday-borns are Phurwa, Friday-borns are Pasang, Saturday-borns are Pemba, and Sunday-borns are Nyima. A middle name indicating gender follows these unisex names. For example, “Pasang Yangjee Sherpa” is female, while “Pasang Nuru Sherpa” is male.
An exception occurs when a mother has previously lost a child. They diverge from the tradition of not naming their newborn according to the day of the week.
Unfair socioeconomic changes
The booming trekking and mountaineering industry brought wealth to a select few Sherpa families who became lodge and landowners. Consequently, there was an increase in labour demand. It led to non-Sherpa groups, such as the Tamangs and Rais, adopting the Sherpa label during the 1980s and 1990s to access industry opportunities.
But “economic Sherpa identity” further reinforced worker hierarchies and the exploitation of ethnic minorities. According to an article in the Journal of Cultural Geography (September 2018), Sonam, a Gurung director of the Professional Mountain Guide Association, jokingly uses “Sonam Sherpa” as an alias among foreign clients, remarking, “If I’m not Sherpa, then I don’t eat.”
Porters and guides endure long hours, harsh conditions, and significant risks for low wages. In addition, there is a stark disparity in wages and working conditions in our nation’s trekking industry. Pranil, a porter, earns only $11 a day while carrying 165 pounds, while technical climbers earn between $30 and $100 per day for some of the world’s riskiest jobs.
Deepesh, a climbing guide, lamented the lack of fair pay: “You carry 50 people’s lives in your hands, but the salary doesn’t reflect the responsibility.” Similarly, trekking guide Soneeya noted, “Most workers spend all their earnings supporting their families, leaving nothing for personal development or training.”
Likewise, there is systemic mistreatment and exclusion from the privileges afforded to tourists. Documentarian Nathaniel Menninger, who worked as a porter for a Mount Everest expedition in 2019, pointed out the unsanitary living arrangements and segregated facilities.
Heroes without recognition
The heroic acts of Sherpas are due for recognition. Once, Gelje Sherpa rescued Ravichandran Tharumalingam, a Malaysian climber, from Everest’s “death zone” by carrying him 570 meters (1,900 feet) at an extreme altitude. Ravichandran did not thank Gelje in his gratitude post, sparking backlash, so he acknowledged him eventually.
The Sherpas are more than mountaineers; they are a community whose labour fuels the ambitions of adventurers worldwide. The allure of conquering Everest often comes at the expense of human lives. Despite the risks, the Mountaineering Expedition Rules 2002 stipulate daily allowances as low as $3 to $4 for headmen, guides, and high-altitude workers. U.S. mountaineer Mellissa Arnot reflects in The Disposable Man: A Western History of Sherpas on Everest (2013), “My passion created an industry that fosters people dying. It supports humans as disposable, as usable.”
The Sherpas are a community that fuels the ambitions of adventurers worldwide. The contributions of risking their lives for the glory of others deserve value. Adventure seekers may climb beyond the mountains, but it is the Sherpas who bear the brunt of their dreams.
Sudipa Mahato is a junior editor with Nepal Connect.