When Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the
summit of Mount Everest on 29th May, 1953, their reactions were a
study in contrast. While both were jubilant about the success, it is said that Edmund
Hillary proudly stamped the flagpole on the head of the
summit.
Tenzing Norgay, on the other hand, humbly bowed his head on the
summit. This is because the Nepalese Tibetan community
call Mount Everest by the name ‘Chomolungma’, meaning ‘Mother of the World’.
Tenzing humbly sought forgiveness for stamping on the revered mother’s head.
As the two men made their way back down, the first climber
they met was teammate George Lowe, a New Zealander. Hillary's greeting to him,
which has now become the legendary statement, was: "Well, George, we
knocked the bastard off!"
James Ramsey Ullman mentions in the Tenzing’s autobiography,
‘Tiger of the Snows’, “In his (Tenzing’s) moment of triumph what he felt in his
heart was gratitude to Everest. His prayer for his future life is that it may
be worthy of Everest.”
No wonder, both the heroes went on to lead diametrically
opposite lives after conquering the summit.
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