Naeem Akhtar launch Himalayan Institute of Alternatives J& K Edcution Minister Mr Naeem Akhtar, marked the launch of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) at a function at the India International Centre in New Delhi on 25th November 2016. The event was organised by the Future Institute New Delhi, a charitable organisation to host a special talk by Mr. Sonam Wangchuk upon his return from the USA after receiving the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise. In his talk Sonam Wangchuk declared that he was contributing the award money from Rolex to set up the international university dedicated to the people of the mountains. He thanked the people of Ladakh, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpochey and the Hill Council, Leh for all the support provided to this ambitious project. A special message from His Holiness Chetsang Rinpochey was also read out on the occasion. In his address to jam-packed hall, with many distinguished guests from Delhi including five senior secretaries of the Goverment of India, Mr Naeem Akhtar congratulated Sonam Wangchuk and people of Ladakh on behalf of the government of J&K and promised all possible help to make the alternative University for Ladakh a reality. He later launched the website of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives and also opened the crowd funding campaign on www.milaap.com. h

Winter in Ladakh

Winter in Ladakh is harsh for lack of basic and proper facilities and all sorts of shortages people have to face due to extreme temperature (minus 20 average minimum) and closure of roads; mobile and internet communications also fail often. Despite a frozen winter in Ladakh and difficulties, there are a few pleasant things to cheer about during these months.
Children forget cold when they play on ice, even older people are busy organising and playing ice hockey that keep everybody gelled together bringing cheers on their faces. Interestingly, even politicians find winter time an ideal time for politicking as people (voters) have lots of time to spare. Of late, both LUTF and Congress have found a new subject Justice Sagheer's report on Kashmir solution to oppose and gather momentum in drawing public opinion as the Hill Council elections approach.
Most importantly, winter time is the time for all sorts of social events festivals, losar, new year (which is just over) and yes marriages that keep people involved and warm in cold temperatures. Yet there are those people who shy away from winter and activities that take place during these months and prefer to live in plains Delhi, Jamu and eslewhere. Older lot make better use by doing pilgrimage to holy sites in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Those were the days when there was another thing to be worth waiting anxiously for, which was the storytelling (legengs such K Sar, Abi Tsao phata, Achey Lachik Nono Yulat, Zomo Ruyon so and so forth) that keep children drawn to their grandparent; hope same tradition still prevail. But in town TV has taken that place which was exclusively private in homes.
Children studying in higher standards continue to be burdened by their studies taking away the fun of vacation; schools are closed but they go for tuitions facing the biting chill of winter, walking on ice to be clogged in rooms imparting tution by same teachers who teach them at school.
Winter time is also time for many to devote themselve in spirituality, especially in first month of local calender (Tangpo) when people (buddhists) observe fast and pray (Neynes, Nyungnes), prostrations (Gochag) while for Muslims id and muharram engage them in their religious pursuit.

PDP presents 'Self Rule' document before people of Leh

Presentation of their vision document on 'Self Rule' by PDP leaders from Kashmir led by Mehbooba Mufti before the people of Leh at Auditorium hall recently here was perhaps first of its kind for any political party to discuss its ideology in an open forum attended also by leaders from Congress and LUTF.
Muzaffar Hussain Begh gave a detail explanation about PDP's 'self rule' concept as a solution for the Kashmir imbroglio and reiterated their stand on it. Accordingly, Ladakh gets the status of one the three regions of the state along with Jammu and Kashmir, and the document proposes reconciliation of these three regions, acceptance of LOC, dual currency and certain measures towards more empowerment of the State as whole with distinct identity.
This theory was recieved with mixed reactions, though some of the participants raised doubts against the party's stance to give equal status to Ladakh region. Nevertheless, many including Congress president Rigzin Spalbar, Mohd. Shafi Lassu, Councillor Tsewang Nyepa appreciated holding such seminar by a party. Mr.Spalbar aknowledging the PDP's understandings about the pecularities of Ladakh said that for the same reasons Congress party demand UT for Ladakh.
PDP leaders during the seminar sought suggestions from the participants to improve their vision document and also urged that they should spread it to the larger audience.

New born found dead in a stream

A body of a new born baby was found abandoned in a stream in Leh recently. The body was kept in a branded polythene bag. Apparently the stream did not have much water that prevented the body from being washed away. Sources said, some dhobis first saw the baby and later residents informed the police.

An eyewitness expressing his concern said, this was the second such case in recent times, earlier a baby was found badly biten by dogs somewhere else in the Leh town.
Leh is a small, close knit society full of stigmas attached to many things; adding to the problem is the increasingly orthodox and conservative outlook of the locals unlike in the past due to outside influences.

Cases such as above are only talked in private and not in public for fear of consequences such as socially despising the child as Nalu - a derogatory term and a lifelong tag on those born not as per the socially accepted norm of marriage.

Food Crafts Instittute in Leh

A multi-crore Food Crafts Institute is coming up at Takstithang in view of growing tourism industry in Ladakh.

The project plan including the design prepared by Omega Consultants Srinagar for this hi-tech institute is lying ready with the Ladakh Development Authority and the construction will begin in the month of July. The full-fledged instituted is meant to conduct several diploma courses in food and beverages, housekeeping and other professional activities related to tourism.

Mother saves her baby from wolf

A one and a half year old boy was admitted to SNM Hospital with cuts on his face reportedly caused in a wolf attack at Basgo village recently.

Tashi Nurbu was walking behind her mother Dolma when the wandering beast attacked the baby. Mother Dolma reacted by pouncing upon the wolf to release her child from the clutches of the wolf. She also received minor bruises in the process.

The village power generator operator was also reportedly attacked by the wolf, however, he escaped without any severe injury. Wildlife Department has deputed a team to search for the erratic animal and they were not sure that it was a wolf as told by the villagers.

The beast was still at large and villagers were in a state of panic as they believed that wolf was still around.

Truck falls into Indus

A truck loaded with scrap bound for Srinagar from Leh skidded off the road and fell into the Indus River opposite Lardo village on Sunday morning.

According to SHO Khaltse, Sub Inspector Stanzin Norbu said, a nap caused the driver to loose control that led the truck went down the cliff into the river. Police later rescued the driver Bagwandass, who was found clung on the river edge below the cliff,however, conductor and a passenger could not be found. Rescue operation was on.