Tibetan and Himalayan Library - THL

Description: The article discusses elderly people in Sherpa society. It describes aging, migration, and family structure among Sherpas in the Helambu region. It takes a reference of the studies of Prof. Haimendorf and Prof. Ortner, both whom report that the unhappy state of the elderly in Sherpa society is a 'flaw' in Sherpa culture, but the author argues that this is an over-simplification. The status of the elderly in Helambu (and presumably Solu-khumbu) reflects not "traditional" culture but the indirect impact of modernization and the world economic system. The elderly left behind are placed in a new and precarious situation where the old forms of social support and maintenance are disappearing. The author further writes that the example of the Sherpas may represent a rather frightening portrait of the future. It could be argued that the wealth and physical fitness of the elderly in Helambu have softened the negative effect of indirect modernization and focused attention on psychological well-being and happiness rather than on survival. In rural areas with less wealth, present and future modernization may pose a serious threat to the level of subsistence of the elderly. (Rajeev Ranjan Singh 2007-01-19)

Means of availability: Available online as a PDF within the Tibetan & Himalayan Library's bibliographic database.