Folk Song in Honor of Tenzing Sherpa
This video explores a Nepali folk song dedicated to mountaineer Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, performed by the renowned folk singer Dharmaraj Thapa. The song was collected and sung during a historic gathering after the fall of the Rana regime, reflecting both national pride and the climber’s attempt to gain Indian citizenship. It weaves together music, history, and the cultural legacy of Thapa’s lifelong dedication to Nepali folk traditions.
Dharmaraj Thapa, celebrated as a folk singer and poet, has spent decades traveling across Nepal to collect and perform traditional songs. His work preserves the voices of rural communities and ties music to national identity. In the video, he introduces a folk song that honors Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the Sherpa climber who summited Everest with Edmund Hillary. The song was performed at a massive public assembly in Tudikhel after the fall of the Rana regime. The transcript notes the presence of King Tribhuvan, prominent leaders such as Ganeshman Singh and Surya Prasad Upadhyaya, and a crowd of thousands. Thapa’s lyrics describe how Tenzing ‘climbed the Himalayan peak,’ linking the climber’s achievement to the spirit of the Nepali people. Historically, the video mentions that Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru offered Tenzing a coat and attempted to secure Indian citizenship for him, a move that sparked considerable debate in Nepal. The folk song captures this moment, reflecting both admiration for Tenzing’s feat and the sensitivities surrounding his nationality. Later in life, Thapa was honored with the title of Rastrakavi (National Poet) in 2013 after Tank Prasad Acharya became Prime Minister. Despite rumors of his death circulating earlier, Thapa affirmed he was alive and continued to sing. His legacy endures as a bridge between Nepali folk music, historical memory, and nationalist sentiment.