Section 2 - RIP Khem! 12 April 2018
Before I share any more stories I need to share the most tragic and sad news: four days ago, on 12 April, Khem, Nireka Adventures’ most valued chef, colleague and friend, elder brother “dai” and role model to many died in a tragic accident after descending the West Col. He was hit by a big rock on the head and the injury was too grave for him to stay alive for more than a few minutes after it happened. There are no words to describe how his sudden and tragic death has and is affecting us all.
My thoughts, love and compassion go out to his wife and two children, to his siblings and parents.
Khem was the most committed and reliable staff member and friend of Satish’s and Nireka Adventures’ since Nireka Adventures’ beginnings 8 years ago. Satish and Khem, however, go back no less than16 years when Satish met Khem as a young kitchen boy while still working for another company. Satish always said he is my ”right hand” and he surely held the complete organisation of food and supplies for the GHT and countless treks before that! He also mentored and trained a team of 6 “kitchen boys” who all looked up to him as a role model of excellence. Khem and his slightly junior chef colleague and friend Ramesh were a team no one will ever forget! Like a precision clockwork they worked in the kitchen with speed and in perfect synch resulting in the production of the most delicious meals. When I checked my camera for photos of Khem I remembered how hard it was to get Khem to sit still even for a few seconds and look into the camera because he was always focusing on and deeply immersed in his cooking – either cleaning or sorting supplies or most frequently at the stove cooking, frying or baking the next delicious meal – always double or tripple tasking working on two or three dishes simultaneously – two to three stoves at a time with an amazing eye and awareness of timing and sequencing so that at the given time magically a three to four course meal would appear for us, the spoiled clients, no matter where on the mountain we would be – at 5800m on a glacier or down in the jungle in pouring rains at 2000m altitude. Not to forget that he also made sure our 30 odd porters would get a yummy meal of Dal Bhat three times a day! So what I am trying to say is that Khem to me was a miracle chef and an inspiring man whose commitment to service and excellence towards Nireka Adventures, its clients and Satish, to friendship and reliability and to mentorship and training of his younger staff exceeded anything I have ever come across before.
It still is hard to believe that the mountain has claimed his life! I know he loved the mountains and his work in and on them and thus I am glad to be able share amongst all the pictures of him creating deliciousness in the kitchen tent the picture of him and Ramesh arriving on the top of Nango La a few weeks ago! (Khem on the left, Ramesh on the right)
Khem was cremated and his ashes spread in the river at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu yesterday. May he rest in peace and his legacy reach far and reach many.
Khem leaves behind a wife and two sons. Satish is deeply committed to making sure they are financially supported for the next few years at least until the sons have finished their schooling.
I would like to put out a call to anyone who has met Khem and been touched by his cooking and infectious smile on a trek in the past and who feels like they would like to make a contribution to ease his family’s pain and immediate and long term financial challenge to please get in touch with Satish at info@nirekaadventures.com
Thank you!!!! – Wiebke
I would like to thank Wiebke for writing this piece of acknowledgment and respect for my dear friend and right hand Khem! I am still in shock and struggle to come to terms with losing him and the huge hole he leaves behind ! He was an invaluable and of course irreplaceable human being, and the colleague and friend I leaned on and trusted completely. He was like family! I still don’t know how losing him will affect us and all his colleagues going forward – we are all in deep mourning and shock.
I know all of you who knew him will feel a similar sense of shock and pain at the unexpected sudden death of our dear friend. I would be honored to hear from you and of course be humbled if you feel you would like to help his family in one way or another.
In deep sadness,
Satish
