It was never about the mountain, a trek with Jamling Norgay

JAIPUR, INDIA: Meeting him reminds you of some lines from a book that is incidentally christened ‘It's not about the Bike' where this cancer-fighting sportsman recounts: "The one thing the illness convinced me of beyond all doubt - more than any experience I had as an athlete- is that we are much better than we know. We have unrealized capacities that sometimes only emerge in crisis. When you think about it what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options always - whether medically or emotionally - give up, or fight like hell. As a fellow cancer patient had said once- you don't know it yet, but we are the lucky ones!"

Jamling Tenzing Norgay's words strangely echo the same sentiment that it has never been about a torturous race, a long ocean, a high mountain, a far-off moon or any evasive challenge of that semblance; but rather always about the person inside, the human being and all those hidden - bitter and surprising- truths about yourself that you discover along the way.

At C-Change 2014, he spread that goose-flesh raising inspiration as he played a lodestar of sorts in guiding many spirits and minds towards a higher goal - a flag to chase inside rather outside.

In this interview, this son of a legend proves that he is more than a scion of the man who conquered Everest first, and that he is still helping people climbing some tougher ascents spread across the world we live in daily.

Let's walk forth this base camp with him and see if we can attack those steep slopes inside us.

Is it easy being the one to carry the legacy of history's most honored mountaineer?

I grew up in a family where everything was simple, since the beginning, always. My father was always a simple man. He came back the same man when he conquered Everest. He was a hero not just because of the feat he accomplished but what he did afterwards in giving back to people and communities around him. So was the distinction of Hillary. I always say that God chose the right two people to climb Everest. Whether it was building schools or improving the lives of Sherpas, both have ensured they were real heroes. I am fortunate to belong to such a family and am grateful for the life I have bequeathed. It can be tough at times to be the son of a legend because of expectations that people may carry but am still grateful.

Do you think people's attitudes towards mountains have changed - from an environmental consciousness side to the way they approach a summit? With all the littering habits or commercial contours this space has been reported to have recently?

I would say that people have started becoming environmentally aware and the work NGOs are doing in this pursuit is helping too. A lot of initiatives are going on to ensure cleanliness mindsets. Tourism too has been good in many senses, it has brought in so much investment in this region. Employment has increased, whether it is for the porters or climbers. Sherpas have specially benefited. Whole villages have been turned anew because of this change. Still, there should be a limit to commercial progress as there are risks with mountains involved.

Your talk mentioned how technology like Satellite phones has changed mountain-climbing in many ways. Any more hopes or gaps you foresee?

I rather feel that irrespective of the level of technology we embrace, we cannot fight nature. If there are avalanches in your way, there is only so much you can do about them. It's all about whether you are there at the right time or wrong time. But at the same time technology helps in that part of staying connected with family thousands of miles away and also in improving team work up there. Rest all is still up to the mountains and the Gods there.

Gods! Interesting! So do people from other cultures follow this spiritual side of climbing mountains? Do they resort to faith in an era where this space has become more of an ego/adventure indulgence?

Yes, most people join us in the initial Puja. I guess that when it comes to a point where one is standing on a life and death cusp, one is willing to believe in every rock and a supreme presence beyond us.

It's about conquering yourself and not the Everest - does that line resonate when people climb it today? Did that happen with you?

Yes. You have no idea when a storm will come, or whether you will survive the next challenge. It stirs a lot of human sides when you are climbing it, even for people who have been snobs about their being so-rich, or so-well-accomplished. At times, we do not even get a thank-you note when these people go back but somewhere we know that the climbing affected them inside as well. When I ascended, I felt a completely inexplicable energy and ‘being-alive' moment there, as if I am one with the universe. I still make it a point to climb one mountain every year. I can't stay away from mountains for long.

Altitudes and attitudes, do you lament the way some people approach mountains the wrong way?

It takes a few thousands rupees today to climb the Everest and there have been incidents about deaths, injuries, amputations due to frost bites etc that depend on luck than wallets. Only ten per cent people make it, and that does not depend on how much wealth one has but how much luck and respect one carries with himself or herself. When they are climbing in a group, there are strangers from different countries and cultures they have to work and bond with. People forget that no matter who you are down there, you have to still walk with your own two feet up there.

Can anyone climb?

Anyone can attempt it, no matter if you are a male, female or what age group you are. I have seen people in senior ages doing that. It all depends on how you perform up there. Sometimes a less-fitter person can outperform his team mate because of the stamina and how it works in mountains. Altitude affects everyone differently. But if you can walk 15 kms as a fit person, you can think about it for sure.