Mt Everest legend's final ascent.......

brownboy66

Sir Edmund Hillary passed away in NZ last night at the age of 88. He had been ill for quite sometime. The NZ government is preparing to hold a state funeral for a guy thought of, by most NZers, as just a really good bloke. To quote Sir Ed, he once described his life as "a constant effort to illustrate how a very mediocre person with very mediocre talents which I have can create quite a lot if they really drive themselves."

Sir Ed was NZ's High Commissioner to India from 1985 to 1989, and spent a considerable amount of time in both India and Nepal undertaking work both on behalf of the NZ Government, as well as numerous development and volunteer work. This part of the world was his second home. In addition to climbing Mt Everest, other exploits include taking an expedition to the South Pole by tractor (Massey Fergusons with specially designed tracks - I kid you not), and was also part of an expedition that took a jet boat up the Ganges to within 100 kms of its source.


Here in Delhi the NZ High Commission will most likely have a condolence book, and may hold a public ceremony as well (will update with any details in case anyone in Delhi is interested).


"Whaia e koe ki te iti kahurangi; ki te tuohu koe, me maunga teitei"
(Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain)

capt_mahajan

Sad, this passing of a great man.

Isn't he the one who said something like "It's not mountains we conquer, it's ourselves."

Has plenty of admirers in India, too.

vandy

My Sincere Condolences to the Hillary Family,the
People of New Zealand & The People of Nepal.

What an AMAZING HUMAN BEING.

vandy

chits007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7182376.stm

May his soul rest in peace

Alohaguy

He was a really unassuming man. He climbed when there were no high tech aids, no accurate maps etc. One must read the book "The Conquest of Everest" by Sir John Hunt (1954). In UK it was published under the name "The Ascent of Everest" It has a chapter on the final assault by Sir Edmund Hillary. First picture in the book is that of Tenzing and not Hillary. I have a feeling he asked that the full page photo be of Tenzing and not his. Here is a paragraph from that book about when they reached the top:
"My initial feelings were of relief-relief that there were no more steps to cut-no more ridges to traverse and no more humps to tantalize us with hopes of success. I looked at Tenzing and in spite of the balaclava, goggles and oxygen mask all encrusted with with long icicles that concealed his face, there was no disguising his infectious grin of pure delight as he looked all around him. We shook hands and then Tenzing threw his arms around my shoulders and we thumped each other on the back until we were almost breathless. It was 11:30 AM. ......"

Nick-H

That's the guy who climbed Everest...

Its a shame that I often totally fail to find out about amazing people until after they die.

It sounds like he really was a "Good Bloke".

Sad to see one go...

__________________
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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

julesa

i visited the Himalayan Mountain Institute (or similar) in Darjeeling, which has a brilliant museum of Everest campaign newspaper clippings, equipment, clothing and other stuff. it also has a monument (and tomb?) for Tenzing Norgay.

one can only look at his numerous achievements in awe.

no one can ever take them away from him.

brownboy66

yes...and here's a few more (it will make you laugh, and realise how unassuming he was).....

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...tid=1048 6330

as illustrated, I guess, in that the road the NZ High Commission is on in Chanakyapuri in New Delhi - is Sir Edmund Hillary Marg (and I think you'll find the admiration was mutual - Sir Ed had a great fondness for this part of the world). Check out the article below - a nice summation from the New York times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/wo... x=1200200400

capt_mahajan

Nice link, BB- the first one

farhadvania

My hero passes on...

The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries...239122,00.html

The Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3169040.ece

BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3740536.stm

New Zealand Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...tid=1048 2158

Aishah

Have just found out this news on India Times which is my Home Page when I open up- I feel very sad. He was a real legend for us, I remember his ascent of Everest as if it was yesterday. He toured schools in New Zealand, campaigning for funds for education of Nepalese in remote places. A very clever, unassuming man and an inspiration for many of us. His achievement always came secondary to his wish to improve the lives of the Nepalese - he made such an impression on those school children, including myself, when he first started his visits. Thank you, Brownboy, for starting this post, and for that
lovely quote in Maori and Pakeha at the bottom.

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"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

brownboy66

yes, our household is feeling very subdued today - and back in NZ everyone is feeling sad about the passing of this self-described "mediocre" man.

Aishah

Let us know if there is a Condolences Book, bb, won't you? When I come late Jan - not so long away now - would like to write in it.

brownboy66

Its already there at the NZ High Commission. We went around about a hour ago to sign it (like the rest of NZ, the High Comm is very subdued, flag at half mast, etc).

mridula

The world could do with more mediocre man like him!

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mridula

http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/