Counterinsurgency, Democracy, and the Politics of Identity in India

Mona Bhan’s new book Counterinsurgency, Democracy, and the Politics of Identity in India has just been published by Routledge. The book focuses on Kargil district, and draws on extensive research in several sites across the region, from Brogpa border villages to military bases and state offices. Click here for further details.

open access to Ladakh Special Edition

Further to our post on the 29th August highlighting the Ladakh Special Edition of Himalaya: The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies, we would like to make readers aware that the edition is now online with open access. Click here to view.

Imported food-grain in Leh district

For those with an interest in Ladakhi agriculture and self-sufficiency, Vladimiro Pelliciardi's paper 'From self-sufficiency to dependence on imported food-grain in Leh district (Ladakh, Indian Trans-Himalaya)' has been published in the European Journal of Sustainable Development (2013), 2, 3, pp.109-122. The paper investigates Leh District's dependence on imported food-grain, presenting results as an Import Dependency Ratio (IDR) for 2012 with a projected value for 2025. The paper is free to access here.

Collection of papers on contemporary Ladakh

Himalaya: The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies, has recently published a collection of papers on contemporary Ladakh. The special edition includes contributions of IALS members Jonathan Demenge, Radhika Gupta, Salomeé Deboos, Jennifer Aengst and a literature review from John Bray. Himalaya is a biannual peer-reviewed journal that aims to cover all aspects of Himalayan Studies. It publishes original research articles, short field reports, conference reports and literature and photo essays from the Himalayas. Those wishing to read the special edition can subscribe to the journal through the Himalaya webpage here: <http://himalayajournal.org>. Back copies of the journal can be accessed electronically through the archive, and the current edition will eventually be available here: (http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/).

On a related note, the 3^rd Association of Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS – home of the Himalaya journal) Himalayan Studies Conference that will be held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA from Friday 14 March to Sunday 16 March 2014 (see link http://hsc2014.commons.yale.edu/). The theme of the conference will focus upon the idea of communities within and across the Himalaya, partnerships between scholars, governments and citizens, and communities of practice that support Himalayan Studies. The Organising Committee will consider papers that do not explicitly address this theme, but participants are encouraged to consider the role in their presentation. THE DEADLINE FOR THE PAPER CALL IS 30^TH SEPTEMBER 2013. The IALS would like to encourage Ladakhi researchers to use this conference and similar conferences as a platform to present their work‑and Ladakh‑to a wider audience. Those interested in participating should visit the website for details of the “call for papers” and panel themes. Participation is restricted to ANHS members, and the webpage gives details of how to become a member.

HCHF felicitates 2011 Best Book Awardees

MORUP STANZIN LHARJAY 


LEH, JULY 3: The Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF), an NGO based in Ladakh hosted a reception to honour the recipients of Best Book Award-2011 conferred by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. The awardees included well known writer Abdu Gani Sheikh for his book "Reflection on Ladakh, Tibet and Central Asia" written in English and Urgyan Rigzin for "Nub-ra'I gNas-bShad" in Bhoti Language published by HCHF.


During a simple function organized by HCHF at Lonpo House, the recipients were offered traditional Khataks and gifts by the HCHF President Prof. Geshes Konchok Wangdu in presences of J&K Special Officer for Culture Academy Tsewang Paljor, Diskit constituency Councilor Tsewang Rigzin and other dignitaries. 


HCHF Founder Secretary Dr. Sonam Wangchuk in his welcome speech thanked everyone for attending the function to encourage the writers and assured to produce the English version of "Nub-ra'I gNas-bShad" in the second edition.
While congratulating the Awardees, various speakers appreciated their works and said that their books would be helpful to various other writers in future to get references besides encouraging the other young writers.

During the function various Ladakhi writers such as Gelong Paldan, Gani Sheikh, Geshes Konchok Wangdus and Ladakh Culture Forum President Norboo Martse in one voice criticized a number of non-Ladakhi writers for giving wrong information about Ladakh in their writings which are now widely used by other writers for reference resulting in mass dissemination of incorrect information about Ladakh. 

Expressing concern over limited number of writers and readers in Leh, Gani Sheikh stressed upon the need for grooming the young students into good writers by encouraging them through competitions and lectures in schools so that they developed the writing and reading habits from early age.

Expressing gratitude to his teacher for encouragement, Urgyan Rigzin in his speech said that though he is not a professional writer but somehow he got inspired by a writer Kachen Zotpa who wrote a small book on Nobra adding that he started writing the book 15 years ago. He thanked HCHF for reposing faith in him by publishing his book. He also thanked the J&K Cultural Academy for recognizing his work.
http://www.greaterjammu.com/2013/20130704/state.html

Two-day Silk Route Festival concludes

STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: Two-day Silk Route Festival 2013 concluded at Sand Dune Leisure Park Summur, Nobra on Tuesday. The festival was organised by Samstan Otzer Tsogspa in collaboration with Himalayan Culture Heritage Foundation.
Chief Executive Councilor (CEC), LAHDC,  Rigzin Spalbar was the Chief Guest and EC Health, Dr. Sonam Wangchok, EC Agriculture, Sonam Dorje, EC Tourism, Gurmet Dorje, MLA Nubra, Tsetan Namgyal and Former Union Minister, P. Namgyal were the Guests of Honour on the occasion.
The main attraction of the festival was archery, camel riding and colourful cultural programme.
Gurmet Dorjey said that the main reason behind the growing tourist in Ladakh is its rich cultural heritages and urged upon the people to promote the rich cultural heritage. He assured that LAHDC would provide financial assistance for conservation and promotion of cultural values and is also taking necessary measure for protection of bacterian camel in Nubra through Animal Husbandry Department.
Speaking on the occasion, Spalbar congratulated the Samstan Otzer Tsogspa and Himalayan Culture Heritage Foundation to start the festival with a vision to promote the cultural heritage in the area and expressed hope that they will also work to strengthen the identity of Ladakh through its cultural preservation. CEC said that this festival should be promoted to attract more tourists to Nubra valley which in turn will result in the economic development of the region. He also suggested the Samstan Otzer Tsogspa to prepare a policy project for necessary financial assistance from Central as well as State Government to execute developmental works in the area as per the need of the people.
Tsetan Namgyal expressed thanks to CEC and ECs and other guests for participating in the festival and said that through this festival they intend to publicise the Sumoor sand dune as a tourist destination.  Councilor Tigar Rigzin Wangdus also spoke on the occasion.

Contributions for the Next Ladakh Studies Journal Edition

The Ladakh Studies editorial team is canvassing for articles to be included in the 30^th edition of the Ladakh Studies journal. If you have a research paper (max 4,000 words) or book review, news item or “notes from the field”(max 2,000 words) that you would like to be considered for the next Edition, please email your draft paper to Ladakh Studies Journal editor Sunetro Ghosal and the editorial team at journal@ladakhstudies.org by Wednesday, 31^st July 2013.

Ladakhi artists paint Tibetan mythical figures, auspicious symbols

STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH:  The fortnight-long International Mural Painters’ Camp came to end on Saturday evening at Kottayam with the Chief Minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy declaring Kottayam the Mural City by the State Government, with mural paintings by 350 artists adorning every available wall in the city, in the biggest effort in India to take out its murals from the confines of temples and churches.
Two Ladakhis, Tashi Samdup and Tsewang Stanzin, both students of renowned Thanka painter, Padmashree Tsering Wangdus represented Ladakh by participating in the international camp and painted mythical figures and auspicious symbols of Tibetan art on the walls in Kottayam, Kerala.
The International Mural Painting Camp organised by Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, Kottayam was earlier inaugurated by K.C Joseph, Minister for Culture and local MLA Thiruvanoor Radhakrishnan at the Thirunakkara Temple premises to transform Kottayam into a Mural City as around 300 artists and experts from different parts of the country and also from abroad including Italy, Germany, Korea, Portugal, Canada demonstrated different styles of mural paintings. International seminar, exhibition and discussion were also held as part of the programme.
The International Seminar was inaugurated by Secretary Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) Ladakh, Dr Sonam Wangchok with a presentation on ‘mythical tales and auspicious symbols depicted in Tibetan paintings’.  Kottayam, the city often referred to as the city of ‘letters, latex and lakes’, saw participation of more than 300 artists from different states and abroad, who worked with artists from Kerala, turning the whole town into a canvas of sorts and enriching walls at various locations in the city with a rich collection of mural paintings.  Sources say that the mural paintings drawn by the artists will become permanent exhibits at public places all over the town including public libraries, town hall, educational institutions, places of worship and the railway station. The two Ladakhi artists painted mythical figures and auspicious symbols of Tibetan art on a huge entrance wall of Darsana Culture Centre and Darsana Academy in Kottayam.
Kottayam, hailed as the first complete literate city in the country, now has another title to boast as the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has declared it as a Mural City. It becomes the second Mural City in the country after Shekhawati in Rajasthan.

Dr Richard Lee

IALS colleagues will be saddened to hear of the death of Dr Richard (‘Dick’) Lee at his home in Buffalo, western New York state, on 7 May. He was 75.

Dick, who had been based at the University of Buffalo, had a particularly wide range of interests.  These extended from a close personal concern with the care of individuals to much broader questions of public health.  His enquiries led him to cross both disciplinary and international boundaries, from medicine to anthropology, and from the US to China, Thailand and India. A small part of all this is reflected in Dick’s obituary on his university website

From the 1990s onwards, Dick led a series of research projects in Ladakh and, together with his students, reported on these at the IALS conferences in Oxford (2001) and Rome (2007) as well as in the pages of Ladakh Studies. Always collaborative in his approach, he emphasised the need to include social and environmental factors in the study of medicine, and this in turn pointed to the need for close cooperation between researchers of different disciplines. Dick brought a distinctive set of insights with which to challenge our views of Ladakh and the world. He will be missed.

Dan Martin's Tibet Scholarship Bibliography

Hello readers,

This is a mini-post to let you all know that the incredible Tibet scholar Dan Martin has made his 1712-page Tibet Scholarship Bibliography available online for free download via his blog, Tibeto-logic. The Tibet Scholarship Bibliography link above also has other incredible resources that he has compiled over the years.

Don't forget to thank Dan if you download his work!

General travel information and directions for the 16th IALS Conference in Heidelberg

For all those travelling to the 16th IALS Conference we have produced a document containing directions to the Conference venue and general travel advice. Click here to download.

Wishing you all safe journeys, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Ladakh Studies newsletter April 2013

Ladakh Studies newsletter April 2013

Dear member of the International Association for Ladakh Studies, (apologies for the none- personal greeting, my system isn't fancy enough to put you name in here automatically).

Julley and warm greetings from springtime in Birmingham, UK with one week until the conference in Heidelberg and we’re pleased that so many of you will be able to join us. For those of you that can’t make it to Germany next week, I hope you’ll take a look at the program once its uploaded to the conference website (linked below) and if there are any paper you’d have especially liked to hear, contact the author and continue interaction across the association. We’ll also be posting the outcome of the AGM and introducing you to your new executive committee soon after the conference.

If you are active on facebook, please to 'like' our page
www.facebook.com/ladakhstudies

For those attending the conference please see attached the directions to the accommodation and conference. As there are a lot of you attending and only a very small team of volunteers working with Juliane in Heidelberg at this very busy time in the lead up to the conference, please can we ask members to only email the team for essential and urgent enquiries, and anything else can be sorted once you arrive. This will be much appreciated. The updated program will be uploaded over the weekend to the following page http://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/geo/conferences/ladakhstudies/programm.html

The LADAKH STUDIES journal edition no. 29 should have popped though your letterbox sometime in the last month, and I hope you have enjoyed reading articles by some of our PhD scholars as well as shorter news and discussion items from more established members of the association. If your copy has not come though, please email your name and current address to journal@ladakhstudies.org and we can chase to see where it may have got to, and send a replacement copy if necessary. Alternatively (or additionally), you can download the edition via the members-area resources using username:username: ialsmember  and password: konstanz1981  via the members area on the following page of the website http://www.ladakhstudies.org/resources.html

FREE LADAKH BOOKS - In this same members resource area, we hope to upload a full electronic copy of the seminal work Himalayan Buddhist Villages (HBV) edited by Drs John Crook and IALS founder Henry Osmaston, soon after the conference, so please do check back at the start of May for this. The IALS does have around a dozen hard copies of HBV which can be distributed to members for free, depending on sorting postage (which may be free or very cheap within UK or India, and more outside – note the book is over 1kg). If you would like a copy for your institution, please let me know on treasurer@ladakhstudies.org by the end of the month and we can make the arrangements. We also have innumerable copies of Recent Research on Ladakh 6 – proceedings from the 1993 conference – a much lighter volume, which all of you are all very welcome to a copy, so please email on the above email address by the end of April if you’d like one and we can try and make arrangements to get it to you either free or cheaply.

News from Ladakh - coped below are links to new items posted by IALS members to the news blog on the website. Anyone can post, you just need to sign in via gmail and it will re-direct you to blogger and you can create the post that will go up on the website from there.

And finally - a more personal note from me, I’ll be stepping down from membership secretary role at next week’s AGM and just wanted to that you all for your support and patience with me over the last few years whilst we have been updating the membership system. It’s been great to be in touch with so many of you, either electronically or during the last few conferences and I wish all the best to the association as it goes from strength to strength. I hope to see many of you again at future IALS conferences and events. Those of you on facebook, linked-in and or academia.edu, please do add me and keep in touch.

Sincerely, Gareth

Gareth Wall – (outgoing) membership secretary and treasurer

International Association for Ladakh Studies

News from Ladakh from the members posts on the website blog

Four Day Workshop on Traditional Ladakhi Music Surna (Shehnai)  http://ladakhstudies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/four-day-workshop-on-traditional.html

Cultural Academy Leh organizes Balti Mehfil-e-Mushaira
http://ladakhstudies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/cultural-academy-leh-organizes-balti.html
Ladakh’s ‘intangible heritage preservation workshop’ concludes
http://ladakhstudies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/ladakhs-intangible-heritage.html

“Nub-ra’i gNas-bShad” gets J&K Cultural Academy best book award
http://ladakhstudies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/nub-rai-gnas-bshad-gets-j-cultural.html

Ladakh 2013 -  Economy, Society, Governance & Politics- New Issues, Young Voices
http://www.risingkashmir.in/news/jora-inaugurates-ipcs-iic-conference-in-new-delhi-41020.aspx

Four Day Workshop on Traditional Ladakhi Music Surna (Shehnai)

Leh (Ladakh), March 4 – To encourage and support people interested in playing traditional music,  The J&K Cultural Academy, Leh today organized “The four days  workshop on Traditional Ladakhi Music Surna”  (Shehnai) . on the occasion some renowned  and  numbers of  Sunra Artists of traditional musician community of  different section  of Ladakh participated at Academy Hall Leh today with a scintillating musical show. 

Welcoming the guests, trainees and master trainers, the Special Officer for Culture, G1  Sh. Tsewang Paljor briefed the significance of this workshop. He said that musician community of Ladakh since from the centuries have been contributing a lot to maintain the richness of traditional music upto this date saying that this particular community is the only hope to carry forward the musical traditions of Ladakh to our posterity. He described the culture of Ladakh region as being very rich, which needed to highlighted and promoted for the benefit of the youth. He  underline the need to spread awareness about the rich ethos, history, amity in diversity, He further  assured the people of Ladakh that their rich language culture & traditions would be promoted and protected at all cost.  This workshop mainly organized to aim of promoting awareness among youth of ladakh region about the traditional, art and  culture of the region. Teaching them folk music surna  and other traditional music is a part of cultural academy  programme. On the occasion Padmee Shri Morup Namgial and Sh Ali Mohd (Renowen Surna Muscian) was Chief Guest and Guest of Honor cum expert on the occasion.

Welcoming the  four days  workshop, the Padmee Shri Morup Namgial appreciated J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Language, Leh  for conducting such an essential  training to the Ladakhi Muscians who are determine to nourish the traditional music of Ladakh and would play a great role to pass on this musical knowledge to our coming generations.  He  urged upon the musician community to give more focus on the education of their children along with parallel musical skill to them. He further said that  the Cultural Academy to launch massive awareness camps in every nook and corners of Leh district to educate the people about the significance of culture, use of traditional costume, language so that Ladakh in the real sense represent as a well cultured region to the world.  

On the occasion Sh. Ali Mohd (Renowen Surna Muscian) who was the guest of honor on the occasion said that it is prime responsibility of every Ladakhis to protect and conserve our rich traditional and cultural values. He urged upon the community of musicians to encourage their unemployed youth to take their traditional practices seriously as a professional as it has now growing demand especially during summer. spoke on the occasion and urged for collective efforts to preserve and promote the musical importance.

The Workshop cum Tanning started from  today on 4^th March 2013 to 8^th March 20013 at Academy Hall, Leh. The programme was conducted by Sh. Tundup Dorjey, Research Assistant.

Cultural Academy Leh organizes Balti Mehfil-e-Mushaira

Leh (Ladakh), March-2 – Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Leh organized a Balti Mehfil-e-Mushaira at Academy Hall, Leh. As many as 16 poets from in and around Leh town recited their compositions in Balti languages. Sheik Zainulabidin, Prominenet Religious Scholar of Ladakh was the Chief Guest. Speaking on the occasion, Sheik Zainulabidin lauded the efforts of the Academy in organizing such programme from time to time. He termed the poets as the eyes of the society who can play a great role in eradicating the social evils by virtue of the persuasive power of their poetry. He also lauded their untiring efforts for taking keen interest in the realm of poetry that has no apparent benefits in terms of money. He also urged upon the Special Officer for Culture G1, Leh to organize such literary programmes at different places so as to disseminate the poetic tradition and message to wider audiences.  On the occasion Sheikh Hussain Ali, Imam-e-Juma cum Religious Scholar of Ladakh Region, said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that the land of Leh has a good number of poets in such a small magnitude of population as compared to other places. He further emphasized the need to organize such programmes at schools and colleges with the objective to impart awareness and to imbibe poetic inspiration among the younger lot. Earlier in his welcome speech, The Editor Leh, Ge. Tsering  Chosphel  said that Cultural Academy Leh  is always is committed to the preservation and promotion of Art, Culture and Languages in Leh district through such literary and many other such programmes. He applauded the role of poets in Leh in guiding and encouraging young and firsthand poets to excel in the field of poetry and literature. He also said that the local poets have the caliber to keep the tradition of poetry in this part of the world alive in a local context and local aura. He said that Cultural Academy is always open to lend a helping hand to the people who are interested to showcase their poetic talent and urged upon the novices to make it possible to participate in such programmes so as to have a knowhow of the ambience and to seek necessary guidance from the senior poets. He urged upon the concerned quarters connected with the Academy to keep continuing their support enabling the Academy to fulfil the desired objectives with ease and contentment. Following poets participate in the Mehfil-e-Mushaira, Sh. Mumtaz Hussain Thiksey, Sh. Nazir Hussain, Sh. Mohd. Ali, Haji Ghulam Mohd, Ghulam Rasool Phyang, Smt. Fatima Banoo Chochut, Sh. Mohd Habib, Sh. Akhtar Hussain Thiksey, Sh. Mohd Qasim, Smt. Shamsia Bano Chochout, Sh. Abdul Rahim Ashur Turtuk, Sh. Mohd Iqbal, Sh. Abdul Rahim, Sh. Shujat Ali, Sheikh Zainul-Abidin and Among others, who were present on the occasion included prominent citizens, local poets, scholars, district officers, school & college students and a large number of general public. Sh. Ali Mohd. Conducted the proceedings while as Dr. Thupstan Nurboo, Assistant Editor, delivered the Vote of Thanks.   
                                                     

Ladakh’s ‘intangible heritage preservation workshop’ concludes

STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: The weeklong training-cum-workshop on promotion and preservation of cultural heritage concluded here at Kyagar Nubra. The workshop was organised by Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) in collaboration with Kyagar Thundel Tsogspa, with financial support from Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for software work plan under Capacity Building Service Providers (CBSP) for the site-village Kyagar, through LDA, Leh.
The concluding function was chaired by Executive Councilor for Tourism, Gyurment Dorjey while Executive Councilor for Health, Dr. Sonam Wangchuk was the Guest of Honour.
Councilor Kyagar, Rigzin Wangdus, village heads and people from different villages of Nubra attended the workshop.
The main purpose of the workshop was to promote and preserve different intangible heritage of Ladakh including traditional dance, music, folk songs, handicrafts, masons, carpenters.
During workshop, the experts and resource persons from Leh and Nubra imparted training to the participants and made them sensitised how it is important to preserve the age old culture and tradition parallel to materialistic development.
Executive Councillor, Tourism, Gyurmet Dorjey said that the main reason behind the growing tourism industry in Ladakh is its rich cultural heritage and it is the responsibility of each Ladakhi to play their role in preserving and promoting our ancestral cultural legacy and pass on to the future generation.
Dorjey advocated the public to take help from related HCHF as resource person in close coordination with village representatives, Councilor and LAHDC.
Executive Councillor for Health, Dr. Wangchuk and Councilor Kyagar, Rigzin Wangdus appreciated the efforts of Kyagar Thundel Tsogspa and HCHF under the inspiring guidance of Dr. Sonam Wangchok for successful arrangement of the week long workshop and assured to extend utmost support from LAHDC in this regard.
Dr. Sonam Wangchok, Secretary HCHF said that Nubra is rich in both tangible and intangible heritage and it becomes very important on part of village community and public representatives to preserve and promote these rich cultural treasures.
At last President Kyagar Thundel Tsogspa, Sonam Stobdan thanked all the resource persons for their effort in making the workshop a successful one.

“Nub-ra’i gNas-bShad” gets J&K Cultural Academy best book award

STATE TIMES NEWS
Leh: The book titled “Nub-ra’i gNas-bShad” in Ladakhi by Urgyan Rigzin is one of the books to have been announced by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages on Thursday for Best Book Award -2011 in seven languages carrying award money of Rs. 51,000 each.
The book “Nub-ra’i gNas-bShad”, an account of Sacred Landscapes in the Nubra Valley, is the first ever book on Nubra and its history. Urgyan Rigzin, who is essentially a farmer and a village astrologer belonging to a remote village called Nungstet, has written the book after decades of extensive research on histories of almost all villages of Nubra valley. The book also has detailed explanations of eight sacred landscapes of Mahakala in Nubra. A farmer coming up with a well researched book is indeed an incredible story.
Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation a non-government organisation, devoting to promote and conserve indigenous historic heritage of the Himalayas by strengthening and supporting different mountain communities and community based institutions, has helped Urgyan Rigzin to publish his years of hard work.  The book also includes foreword and appreciation letters from the former Minister Tokdan Rinpochey the President Ladakh Gonpa Association, Prof. Geshe Konchok Wangdu, one of the renowned scholars of Ladakh, and by Secretary HCHF Dr. Sonam. The book was unveiled and consecrated by the Dalai Lama during his visit to Nubra in 2010.
J and K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages honouring such unsung scholars with the best book awards will go a long way boosting morale of many talented scholars from remote areas of the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to sources each award winner will be presented memento, citation and a shawl, at a special function that will be held soon.

Funding for students to attend the IALS Heidelberg conference

For those students still looking for funding to attend the IALS Heidelberg conference in April, please ensure that you have made applications to these and similar funding bodies..
Dorabji Trust :: Education Related Travel Grants
http://www.dorabjitatatrust.org/id/71/Education-related%20Travel%20Grants/

ICSSR Financial Assistance for Participation in International Seminars/Conferences Abroad http://www.icssr.org/ic_part_int_semi.htm

Ladakh 2013 - Economy, Society, Governance & Politics- New Issues, Young Voices

Ladakh 2013 -  Economy, Society, Governance & Politics- New Issues, Young Voices

http://www.risingkashmir.in/news/jora-inaugurates-ipcs-iic-conference-in-new-delhi-41020.aspx

‘Ladakh’s transformation is changing lives of Ladakhis’

New Delhi, Feb01: The Institute of  Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), one of the prominent think tanks in South Asia in collaboration with India International Center (IIC), New Delhi organized a one day conference on “Ladakh 2013 -  Economy, Society, Governance & Politics- New Issues, Young Voices” at the IIC Conference Hall here Friday.

The Jammu and Kashmir Minister of Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora who hails from Ladakh inaugurated the conference this morning.
Dr. Sudhir Singh Bloeria, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jammu, Ghulam Hassan Khan, Member Parliament from Ladakh, Professor Siddiq Wahid, Director UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir and former vice chancellor, Awantipora University,  Kavita Suri, Associate Professor, University of Jammu and Tashi Morup, well known journalist from Ladakh who is also Project Director, Ladakh Art and Media Organisation, were the resource persons for the workshop. Saleem Beg, Convenor, INTACH J&K and former DG Tourism J&K and well known theatrist M K Raina, Dr Suba Chandra, Director IPCS, Professor P R Chari and Major General Dipankar Banerjee from the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) were also present during the conference.
 The one- day- workshop witnessed the congregation of over 100 young Ladakhi scholars and researchers studying in JNU take part and provide innovative and alternative ideas to address the contemporary challenges and a collective future.

 Inaugurating the conference, Rigzin Jora congratulated the organizers for this workshop and said that holding this workshop in Delhi will also provide the rest of India to listen to the young voices from Ladakh, share their concerns and more importantly develop a national discourse.

He said Ladakh’s insularity, geographic location and other things has made this region unique which has many peculiar problems also.

Since past few decades, the entire Ladakh region is witnessing lot of transformation in terms of development, tourism etc and which is bringing about lot of change in the lives of Ladakhi people, he said.
 “Ladakh is witnessing lot of changes, developments and challenges at the social, economic and political levels. There are multiple new issues having serious implications for the future of Ladakh,” said the minister adding that it was indeed a pleasure to see that the young voices from Ladakh were provided with an exclusive forum to speak and see how they perceive the contemporary trends.

 Earlier while introducing the conference theme, Dr Suba Chandran, Director, IPCS said that while the rest of India has so much to learn from the region, Ladakh also has to ensure the negative effects of globalization process does not harm the internal social, ethnic and economic fibre of its people.
“Since the future belong to them and they are likely shape its multiple contours, it is essential the region and the rest of India listen to their inputs,” said Dr. Chandran adding one of the primary objective of this initiative was to provide a platform to the young voices from Ladakh to discuss various contemporary issues.

 The young scholars from Ladakh region studying in Jawaharlal Nehru (JNU) University presented their research papers under four themes.  

The first session on theme, ‘Politics & Governance” was chaired by Dr SS Bloeria. Tsewang Rigzin, former Executive Councillor, LAHDC and presently councilor in the Hill Council from Nobra spoke on “LAHDC: An account of experience with LAHDC Leh, while Fayaz Ahmed, an M.Phil Scholar from Kargil presented his paper on “Re-inforcement of Traditional Authority through Legal Rational Authority: Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil. A paper on “Military in Ladakh: Everyday Engagements with the Society” was presented by Muzaffar Hussain while Zainab Akhter, Research Officer IPCS spoke on “Connecting Ladakh: Exploring the Possibilities”.

 In the second session chaired by Prof.Siddiq Wahid on the theme “Society and Culture”, three research papers were presented by Chimat Ladaol on “Understanding Patriarchy in Ladakh,” “Identifying with the other: Transformative Interaction Patterns and Relations amongst the Buddhists and Muslims of Ladakh” by Sumera Shafi and “Communalism in Ladakh: Kargil Perspective” by Fayaz Hussain.
 The thematic session on “Education & Environment” was chaired by Tashi Morup in which Samina Rehman presented a paper on “Education in Ladakh: A case study of Leh District”, Sonam Wangmo spoke on “Impact of Climate Change and ground water depletion in Ladakh” while Thupstan Angchuk presented his views on “Climate change and Glacier retreat: double threat to the people of Ladakh”
Kavita Suri chaired a session on the theme “Media, Tourism & Economy” in which Rigzin Chodon presented a paper on “Role of Media in Ladakh” and Gulzar Hussain presented a paper on “Social Networking Sites: Medium of Change in Kargil”. Konchok Paldan who is doing his PhD in JNU spoke on “Border, Economy and Partition: A study of Turtuk Village in Ladakh and Tashi Lundup spoke on “Tourism and culture: religious sites as tourism attraction in Ladakh”.