While Tenzing Norgay eventually became an Indian citizen and settled down in the picturesque town of Darjeeling, situated in West Bengal, his early life has been speculated upon by many. Some say he was born in Thami, Nepal, in 1915 (the exact date remains unknown to this day) and spent his childhood there. In his autobiography, Tiger of the Snows, which was published in 1955, Norgay gave readers insight into his childhood. Per The Guardian, Norgay's birthplace was very close to Everest. "I was born in a place called Tsa-chu, near the great mountain of Makalu, and only a day's march from Everest," Norgay revealed. Makalu is situated on the fringes of Nepal and Tibet and is around 12 miles from Everest.
What's interesting to note is that throughout his life, Norgay chose to not be too transparent about his childhood and origins as political debates stirred up after he conquered Everest in 1953 and became a prominent figure globally. After his climb, the Nepali government celebrated Norgay, hailing him a hero who was one of their own, while the Indian government offered him a passport and citizenship when Norgay needed to travel abroad. Claiming Norgay was beneficial, and he was a political asset to both countries as a famous man who'd made a historical achievement. Many years later, one of Norgay's sons cleared up the suspense by revealing that his father was indeed born in Tibet.
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