A Look at My Work
Nepal’s culture is heavily influenced by its location between China and India. Conflict over the last half century has left the nation searching for an identity.
Situated between two superpowers, Nepal has long struggled to maintain its own sovereign identity. The infiltration of Chinese communists in the 1990s stirred up a civil war that deposed Nepal’s monarchy and raged across the country for 12 years. Its current government, a parliamentary republic, has only been in power since 2008 and is rife with corruption. Culturally the nation remains split between those sympathetic to India in the dry southern grasslands of the Terai (largely Hindu) and those sympathetic to Tibetan-China in the mountainous north (overwhelmingly Buddhist). These cultures collide in the center of the nation, while poverty runs rampant across all regions, with over a quarter of the population below the international poverty line. Between its political instability and economic struggles, Nepal lacks its own identity.
In 1953, Everest was summited by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, signifying a new era in mountaineering. Everest was conquered and Nepal was on the map.
Throughout the early half of the 20th Century, western society was captivated by stories of exploration and adventure. Beginning with the first attempt by George Mallory in 1924, the summiting of Everest became a source of international media attention and national pride. Thanks to the combined efforts of western climbers and Nepali guides, the sport of mountaineering matured significantly between George Mallory and the team led by Sir John Hunt in 1953. The attention garnered by the first successful team to summit Everest put Nepal on the map and solidified its connection with the western world.
Interest in Nepal skyrocketed following the Everest summit. Tourism became an economic staple and relief organizations sought to aid the nation’s growth.
As mountaineers, hikers, business people, and aid organizations flocked to Nepal throughout the later half of the 20th Century, its economy grew significantly. Hiking trails were built and maintained across the backcountry, once empty villages became tourism centers, expedition companies were established, and Nepal began to flourish in many respects. The very mountain that started it all was placed almost ceremoniously on the Nepali rupee, paying respects in a way to Everest’s impact on the national economy. However, this boom was not without its growing pains.
Nepal’s level of human development continued to flounder. Many used the nation’s newfound international connections to find work elsewhere.
Poverty continued across Nepal despite its growth throughout the 20th Century. Those who thrived on tourism were left without income during the summer rainy season when few came to Nepal, forcing them to rely to agriculture in the off season. Meanwhile, those who earned enough money from opening tea houses, tourism companies, or working as guides sought to leave the country rather than to stay and better it. Abandoned tea houses and farms can be seen along the hikes to many mountains. As a result, nearly a third of Nepal’s GDP came from remittances, or money sent back home from those working abroad. Tourism was not seen as a source of wealth, but a ticket to escaping Nepal.
Desperation to climb the socioeconomic ladder is seen by many as a discount on tourism, as Nepalis do the same job as westerners for a fraction of the price.
Differences in the cost of living naturally result in Nepali local guides charging less to lead mountaineering expeditions, as well as hikes across the backcountry. This is necessary for many Nepalis to climb the ‘corporate ladder’ of mountaineering in a sense. They begin as porters, carrying the luggage of tourists or climbers, then progress to assistant guides, then lead guides, and often retire from mountaineering once they have saved enough to open their own tea house along the route to a mountain. However, few actually desire this life. Many dream of going to school to become doctors, teachers, lawyers, and business people. But survival comes first, and that often means charging a tenth of what a westerner makes to do the same job, even if that doesn’t cover the cost of living in the high Himalayas. Such is the dark side of Everest.
In order to encourage growth and retain its talent, the Nepali government must enact sweeping reforms with the potential to transform the nation.
It is easy to diagnose the problem, but much more difficult to cure the underlying illness. Nepal struggles with a host of issues, but the nation has been offered a powerful gift in its 8,000 meter peaks and diverse landscape that captures the imaginations of tourists worldwide. It must use this gift as a stepping stone, not an endgame. Nepal must look beyond agriculture and tourism by seeking to grow its economy through investing in people. Chief among Nepal’s needs is stronger human capital. Healthier, more educated, and safer individuals means a stronger workforce and more entrepreneurial economy. This can be done by reforming education, investing in healthcare, connecting the nation via roads, and cutting down on pollution. Such simple, but difficult changes will undoubtedly result in a more robust and diverse economy. Nepal, in many ways, was built on Everest, but its future should be built on a population of healthy and strong Nepalis.