Some historical facts are in order here, before we Nepalis get too washed up on misplaced emotions: Fact 1: Sikkim was an independent country (or principality). Fact 2: Darjeeling was part of Sikkim and was virtually uninhabited except for by few hundred Lepchas in 1700s and early 1800s. Fact 3: 1780 AD - Nepal's Gorkha army invaded Sikkim and conquered the land up to Teesta River, including what we know today as Darjeeling. Fact 4: 1814 AD - Nepal secedes Darjeeling to British East India Company in accordance to the Treaty of Titlaiya. Fact 5: 1835 AD - British East India Company leases Darjeeling from the Raja of Sikkim for paltry sum of Rs.3000 per annum, which was raised to Rs. 6000 and later simply annexed into British India. Fact 6: 1839 AD - Road linking Darjeeling to the plain states was built. Sanatorium for rest and recreation for British people were built. Plans to grow tea were made. Mass migration of Nepalis from East Nepal (primarily from Rai, Limbu, Tamang community) was encouraged to supply the labor force for infrastructure construction and tea plantation. By mid to late 1800s, Nepali population in Darjeeling surpassed 100,000. Hence, Darjeeling was Nepal's territory for no more than 34 years. It was essentially a part of Sikkim, but now that Sikkim is part of India, that point is moot. Darjeeling is now in India. People of Darjeeling are Nepali by origin, language, culture and sentiments. But they are Indian by citizenship. About Tenzing Norgey: Born in Nepal, moved to Darjeeling and lived all his life there. Had Nepali government allowed mountaineering in those days, Tenzing would probably not have moved to Darjeeling. The only route open to climb Mount Everest was through Darjeeling and then via Tibet. When Tenzing and Hillary summited Mount Everest, Nepali government celebrated with a rath-yatra - more so for spite because Hillary was being bestowed with honors and ticker-tape parades all over the world. But Nepal government's celebration for Tenzing stopped with just that one perfunctory jubilation, after all he was just another Bhotey to Kathmandu durbar. Prime Minister of India, Nehru stepped in. As Tenzing was a Darjeelingey, Nehru celebrated his feat in Delhi trumpeting to the world that an Indian was one of two mountaineers to step on top of Everest. In addition, he provided funding to build Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, which Tenzing ran until his retirement. So yes, like all Nepalis living in Darjeeling, Tenzing Norgey is by heart a Nepali, but a citizen of India.