After Everest -Tensing

AFTER EVEREST, By Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, as told to Malcolm Barnes. Vikas Publishing House (Pvt.) Ltd., 1977. Pp. 184 with 45 illustrations. Rs. 75.

Tenzing, who climbed Everest with Hillary, in his second auto¬biography says: “I seem to have lived three different lives, the life of a boy in the high pastures with yaks which ended with my departure for Darjeeling, the life of an ambitious young Sherpa mountaineer based in Darjeeling, which ended with the ascent of Everest, the life of a teacher of other mountaineers that kept me away from other mountain adventures but sent me to far distant lands to meet many people of different kinds and occupations and interest.” His first book, A Man of Everest (or Tiger of the Snows) dealt with the first two parts of his life and the present book deals with his third part.

It begins in 1953 after his ascent of Everest and covers the period up to 1976, his retirement as Director of Field Training at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling. Tenzing describes in detail how in the first excitement after the climb he had offers of money, invitations to join films or enter politics and varieties of honours. He decided to stick to mountaineering and with support and encouragement from Prime Minister Nehru, to whom he was very close, H. M. I. was opened in 1954. There are details about H.M.I.’s formation, training area, instructors and training imparted, with achievements of its students.

Most of the latter part covers his various travels abroad with his wife and family, meeting old friends, doing a few climbs and skiing, promoting sale of tea, attending Everest reunions and weddings and escorting tourist trekkers to mountains. He writes

HARISH KAPADIA