Under the initiative of Henry
Osmaston, the International Association for Ladakh Studies
(IALS) was formed At Herrnhut in 1987 with an international
committee of distinguished scholars. Henry served first as
Honorary Secretary and then – from 1997 until his death –
as President of the Association. His life is commemorated
online at henryosmaston.co.uk, the site contains
tributes, obituaries and a set of pictures. These
include two iconic photographs from his time in Ladakh
and – even more revealingly – a picture of Henry in his
study in the English lake district, surrounded by papers
piled several feet deep. The website will be of interest
to friends who knew Henry in the IALS, not least because
of what it tells about his many other activities as a
forester, farmer and university lecturer.
The functions of the
International Association for Ladakh Studies are to provide
contacts between all who are interested in the study
of Ladakh, and to disseminate
information about proposed and completed research and
publications. To do this the IALS organises colloquia
(usually every other year), arranges publication of the
proceedings, and publishes a biannual newsletter,
"Ladakh Studies". This includes information about
conferences, planned and current studies, requests for
specific information and help, short reports,
publications and general information about Ladakh. The
close integration of resources, culture and religion in
Ladakh demands a holistic approach, and members of the
IALS are concerned with a wide variety of topics.
Membership is open to all who are interested in Ladakh;
for further information apply to the Hon. Membership
Sec.
In 2009 the IALS Constitution
was ratified at
the Leh General Meeting.