DARJEELING,: Darjeeling paid tributes in different
forms to the legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay Sherpa today on the occasion
of his 71st year since summiting Mt. Everest and his 110th birth anniversary.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)
here hosted a special program to honor Sherpa, who served as the first field
director of the institute. People from various backgrounds gathered to pay
homage to Norgay, offering prayers and laying wreaths at his samadhi and statue
located in the HMI premises.
Norgay's son, Jamling Tenzing Norgay
reiterated the longstanding demand for his father to be awarded the Bharat
Ratna, citing his pioneering achievement as the first Indian to summit Everest.
“This demand has been made by the people
in Darjeeling and the Sherpa community for more than 10 years now. We are not
fighting for it but waiting for it patiently. Good things will happen to good
people and we will continue to request the government for this as my father
deserves it. He was not only the first to summit Mt. Everest was also the first
Indian to do so and bring the country into the limelight just a few years after
the British left India. My father was also the first non-political icon recognized
in the world for inspiring many people,” said Jamling.
To mark the occasion, Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration (GTA) launched a trekking route named after Tenzing
Sherpa. The trail, named ‘Tenzing Sherpa Hiking Trail Edition 2’, spans from
Chowrasta to Sidrapong passing through the Tibetan Museum at Gandhi Road, Ava
Art Gallery, Burdwan Palace, Arya Tea Estate and Tenzing Sherpa’s house. The
initiative aims to promote adventure tourism while celebrating Norgay's
connection to the region.
Dawa Sherpa, chief coordinator of GTA's
Adventure Tourism department, highlighted the importance of recognizing
Norgay's contributions through such initiatives. The trek, covering 10 km, offers tourists a
glimpse into the cultural and natural heritage of the region, ending at
Sidrapong, the first hydro project in Asia.
Sherpa said that a trial run for the
route had already been done with the trekking trail starting from
Chowrasta. Following the launched of the trek route in
the morning, about 45 people took part in the low altitude trek today.
Meanwhile, in a symbolic gesture of
respect, a marathon covering 32 kms from Jorethang in Sikkim to Darjeeling was
undertaken by Amar Subba and his students. The run aimed to honour Norgay's
legacy and support the call for the Bharat Ratna.
HMI principal Group Captain Jai Kishan
said, “Though Tenzing Norgay is remembered the world over today, it is even
more special for HMI as he was the first field director of the institute. Not
only people from Darjeeling got to pay tribute to the first Everester in our
program today, but tourists who were present here became aware of Norgay’s
birth anniversary, summit and his connection with the HMI.”
