E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, AUG 18 - Like every other group in Nepal, Sherpas have long been stereotyped. This generalisation about them also makes it to the national curriculum. 

“One of the traditions of the Sherpa indigenous community is that marriages are fixed between cousin brothers and sisters. Moreover, the culture of polygamy and bigamy is still practised by Sherpas,” reads a sociology textbook written by Harihar Ghimire about the Sherpa community for Grade 12. The book, ‘A general introduction of Sociology and Anthropology in Nepal’, was published by Taleju Publication in 2009.

Another textbook, ‘Nepali society and culture’, written by Dr. Som Prasad Khatiwada and Dr. Kamala Dahal and published and distributed by MK Publishers, states, “Marriage between cousin brother and cousin sister is widely prevailing among the hill Sherpa ethnic community.”

These are just two examples taken from among the dozens of school textbooks written by a number of university professors and renowned writers and which have been the medium of teaching and learning in schools and universities for long.  Sherpas say this stereotyping has become a matter of shame for their community.

“This is an attack on our culture and prestige. Writing books about the tradition and culture of different ethnic groups without conducting any basic research on the community is outrageous,” said Pema Sherpa, President of Sherpa Association of Nepal, the central organisation of the Sherpa community. “This has incited cultural conflict in the country.”

He has asked the publishers and writers to recall all such textbooks in the market and rectify misinformation about the Sherpa community. Sherpa leaders are also calling for a public apology.

“Pioneers in our community have earned global reputation as ace climbers. Names like Mt Everest’s first conqueror Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, fastest climber Babu Chhiri Sherpa, and 20-time Everester Apa Sherpa times have introduced the Sherpa indigenous community to the world,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa, former Minister for Agriculture.He lamented that misinformation spread nationally has internationally stigmatised the community. “I have been asked questions by foreigners during by trips abroad about the traditions of marriage among Sherpa cousins. This is not so in reality, propaganda has only been spread by some ill-researched books,” Former Minister Sherpa told the Post. 

Writing in 1914 about the history and culture of Sherpa community, Monk Khempong Waser Lama (Sherpa) pointed out the Sherpa community’s traditional code of conduct (Lalmohar) that  forbids incest. Sherpa leaders are now standing up against unnecessary stigmatisation of their community by other dominant groups.

Posted on: 2010-08-18 08:49

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