Book

Sherpas: reflections on change on Himalayan Nepal

University of California PressBerkeley, Calif. • Published In 1990 • Pages:

By: Fisher, James F..

Abstract
This monograph traces the impact on contemporary (i.e., 1964-1988) Sherpa society of modern education and mass tourism and to assess the Sherpas' own views on their collective future (p. xxi). The account is based on the author's three field trips to the Solu-Khumbu area in 1964, 1974, and 1978, with an additional brief visit in 1988 to fill in some photographic gaps -- a total time of little more than a year. The data were obtained from Sherpa informants and Fisher's own field observations. Topics covered deal with the Himalayan Schoolhouse Expedition of 1964 in which the author recorded his first impressions of Sherpa society, culture history and developmental change, the effects of education on the native culture, the construction of the airstrip at Lukla as a forerunner of tourism, a projection of the ethnographic future for the area by a sample of informants, and a brief account of life today (i.e., 1964-1988)in Khumbu. Many excellent photographs are included.
Subjects
Reviews and critiques
Life history materials
Acculturation and culture contact
Sociocultural trends
Settlement patterns
Labor supply and employment
Prophets and ascetics
Ethnosociology
Education system
Elementary education
Liberal arts education
culture
Sherpa
HRAF PubDate
2004
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Central Asia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1991
Field Date
1964-1988
Coverage Date
1964-1988
Coverage Place
Generally Solu-Khumbu region in northern Nepal
Notes
[by] James F. Fisher
Includes bibliographical references
LCSH
Sherpa (Nepalese people)