Birthplace: Tsa-chu, Nepal.1914 Raised in: Thami, Nepal (a village near the border of Tibet, and close to Mt. Everest). Family: One of 13 children. Languages: Spoke seven languages, but never learned how to write. Work: 1933 moved to Darjeeling, India, to work as a trekking porter. War Years: Indian army ski instructor. Everest Trips: 1935 — First expedition, accompanying Eric Shipton. 1953 — Reaches summit at age 39. After Everest: Opened mountaineering school in Darjeeling, India, to train other locals as mountaineering guides. (HMI; Himalayan Mountaineering Institute) Died: May 9, 1986. He was buried inside the compound of HMI, Darjeeling, India.