Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years in Tibet is unlike any of the books we have previously read in this course. Although it doesn’t concentrate solely on a mountaineering expedition, such as his previous book The White Spider and most mountaineering literature, it does provide us with a much deeper look into the Tibetan culture at that time. This book contributes so much to not only mountaineering literature, but also to the insight of how the different cultures lived, as well as the life of the Dalai Lama. Harrer became the first Westerner that was able to study Tibetan culture and society.

This is a book of personal hardships, triumphs, and at times, simple bad luck. Through all of this, Harrer proves what someones will and love for a life of freedom can do. His appreciation of the mountains and nature gave him a drive to be free; a desire that many others could have lacked. His imprisonment at the multiple POW camps, if anything, taught him just how important his freedom to be able to be in nature was. After his and Lobenhoffer’s first escape attempt failed, Harrer found himself in a new POW camp, longing even more for “the empty spaces of Tibet” (Harrer, Internment). At this time he also shares his desire to be in the mountains, even if it meant being captured again, “And I thought of being on the Himalayas — and felt that even if my plan failed, it would be worth having a spell of freedom in the high mountains” (Harrer, Internment). His knowledge and understanding of the mountains provided him with opportunities to escape, which was not necessarily available to others who did not understand how to survive the harsh and unruly nature of the Himalayas. This raises the question of wether Harrer would have been successful at escaping if he lacked his extensive knowledge and skill in the mountains? He knew he had to stay physically fit, and included training in his preparations for the escape. Afterall, it was due to lack of physical ability and fitness, that his second attempt escape partner caused them to get caught.

After reading how accepting and inviting (although, not initially) the Tibetans were to Harrer and his partner, Aufschnaiter, it raises the question of wether or not any other country would have been this pleasant, and why was Tibet so welcoming? “By giving us presents and providing us with transport,” Harrer claims, “the Tibetans had shown hospitality far exceeding that customary in other countries” (Harrer, The Village of Happiness). Tibet was well known for not accepting visitors freely, but despite this reputation, Harrer and Aufschnaiter ended up being welcomed as guests of the state in the capital city, Lasa. They even took it further and acted as advisers to the government, while Harrer eventually became tutor to the child God-King, who after some time became the Dalai Lama. Not eager to return to his home in Europe, he made a home in Tibet. Eventually he was forced to flee when the Chinese invaded Tibet.