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Sherpa Friendship Association, Portland, OR, USA

Yes, it's a political thing. The political boundaries between Nepal, Tibet, and India do not affect Sherpa ethnic identity. A Sherpa (Shar-wa) is a Sherpa because he or she has "ru." If you want to know whether someone is a valid Sherpa or not, ask for their "ru." To determine if anyone, including Tenzing "Norgye," is Sherpa, you would need to locate (or fail to locate) his "ru."

Although "ru" is an insignificant matter at the international level where most of us live and work, it's still a matter of ethnic pride and self-worth for Sharwa folk. If a person in fact does not have "ru" and still calls himself Sharwa, Sharwa pride may be insulted.

"Ru" literally means "bones." Sometimes "ru" is translated into English as "clan." To be accepted ritually as a Sharwa within the Sharwa community, and (until recently) to be permitted to marry within that community, one would need to be descended through one of the 18 clans. "Ru" is passed through one's father. So, to be a 'real' Sharwa your father must be descended from one of the original approx. 18 Sharwa clans. That is how you decide.

The "ru" system originated in Kham, from whence "Shar-wa" ("East People") emigrated to what is now the Shar-Khumbu (Nepali name = "Solu") and Khumbu, during the 1600's. "Ru" clans are still understood in modern Kham, but nowhere else in Tibet. The best explanation I know of the "ru" system can be found in Sherry Ortner's "High Religion."

For example, ever since the 1959 Chinese invasion of Tibet, thousands of Tibetan refugees sheltering in Nepal, have claimed Sharwa surnames in order to gain Nepali citizenship and thus a Nepali passport. Of course the Tibetan refugees ethnically resemble Sharwa people, so it works well for the purpose. But real Sherpas are at best annoyed and sometimes really angry about these "passport Sherpas."

One thing is a matter of public record: the India-Nepal-China politics of N orbu Tenzing's citizenship were very explosive at the time. If we appreciate that the vast majority of Sharwa folk in the 1960's did live in either Nepal or Sikkim, then we could understand that using the "Sherpa" appellation would serve to identify Tenzing with both Nepal and Sikkim/India. (Sikkim was annexed to India in 1974.) Tenzing was a courageous, deeply religious but also fairly simple man, completely overwhelmed by the machinations of the different governments trying to iconize him. Owing to lack of political experience, he would have needed to trust his advisers. Any of the earlier books on Tenzing's accomplishments will reveal that situation.

Try reading the charming old "Tenzing: Man of Everest" or any of the history books on 1960's India-China politics. Tenzing was also Giuseppe Tucci's guide in Tucci's 1950's expeditions into Tibet.  Some of Tucci's Tibet books make reference to Tenzing's ancestry also.

Barbara Pijan Lama
www.bena.com/sherpa1
sherpafriends@hotmail.com

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