A journey to Rolwaling Valley in northeastern Nepal forms the foundation for a deep exploration of what happens when traditional societies meet the global world. Located west of the renowned Khumbu and Mount Everest, the valley has undergone dramatic transformation – the original agricultural economy has vanished, and the population has moved toward Kathmandu to become part of the tourism industry in the Himalayas.
Torbjørn Ydegaard, who since 1985 has traveled extensively in Nepal as both a private individual, trekking leader, and educator, seeks to answer critical questions: Can this so-called cultural decline be reversed into sustainable development? What opportunities lie hidden in Rolwaling, and what role could Western tourists play? Through a historical perspective, the lecture will explore both continuity and rupture to shed light on a possible future for the valley.
The evening's highlight is Denmark's premiere of a new documentary about Rolwaling, filmed during Ydegaard's visit in 2023 with a Canadian group – a journey during which a 50-year-old film from the valley was also returned to the population. Ydegaard is author of, among other works, "Sherpa – the People Below Everest" and "Tseringma – Ecophilosophical Fragments".
