Ladakh News

Flood Reports

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-09-10T17:23:59+01:00

A month or so after the devastating floods several reports of interest have been compiled. The official record has been summarised in this REACH Ladakh report.

A pdf report detailing affected villages and camps is also now available.

Arrival of 20th Bakula Rinpoche

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-09-09T22:23:07+01:00

Dr Sonam Wangchok has submitted a short, illustrated essay on the arrival of the 20th Bakula Rinpoche to Spituk. The essay has been posted on our Gallery & Essays page.

ladakhflowers.com

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-08-29T20:17:03+01:00

Undertaken between 1976 and 1997 the botanical surveys of Ladakh conducted by Hans Hartmann are now online at www.ladakhflowers.com

The illustrated website documents Hartmann's phytosociological and floristical exploration across the Ladakh region. His study area extended from the southern Lachalung La and Zangskar region, to the north-facing slopes of the Ladakh-Range and the lower Nubra Valley. It extended as far west as the Dras valley and to Pangong Tso in the east and Tso Moriri in the southeast.

The website contains a number of downloads, including a 147 page illustrated report.

Flood update 3

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-08-25T12:17:07+01:00

A video report by French researcher, Céline Moulys, has been posted online. The footage covers the flood damage in Choglamsar and Leh and begins to capture the scale of the disaster.

Heritage Talk at Lonpo House

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-08-22T19:49:01+01:00

The Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) restarted its daily activities after the misfortune caused by the flash flood in Ladakh with a successful PowerPoint presentation on Buddhist Monastic Festival in Ladakh by Dr Georgias T. Halkais, a British Academy Research Fellow from the University of London and member of International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS). The talk, held on the 18th August, was attended by foreign research students, tourists, Ladakhi students, cultural guides and members from other NGOs. It was heartening to witness that the participants could forget all kind of street talks about what had happened in Leh once they were in the lecture hall and concentrated their mind on the motivating and fruitful academic talk by Dr Georgias T. Halkais.

Ladakh Flood Relief donations

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-09-09T22:14:42+01:00

The following NGOs are now accepting Ladakh Flood Relief donations. The IALS claims no affiliation with or responsibility for any of the organisations/sites listed. The inclusion of a link does not amount to an IALS endorsement.

Oxfam India
Gaden Relief (please tick 'general' donation option until specific relief projects are finalised)
Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre
Save the Children India
Medecins sans frontieres
Boond
E-xode
Ladakh Relief

Tibet Heritage Fund is assisting with the relief effort by repairing houses and improving drainage on the fringes of old Leh town, assessing stability of flood-damaged buildings in Leh and Choglamsar, providing designs for rebuilding with the later intention of being directly involved with rebuilding.
More details available here.

Namgyal Institute For Research on Ladakhi Art and Culture
(Account no: 10942143068. Electronic transfers: SBIN 0001365 State Bank of India, Main Branch Leh, Ladakh. (J&K).
More details available here.

Chief Executive Councillors Relief Fund
CEC relief fund - J&K Bank, Leh account number CG-128
Contribution by cheque to be mailed to: Coordination Cell, Office of the Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Ladakh 194101 INDIA
More details available here.

The Lamo Trust (undertaking relief work in large parts of Old Leh town). Donations can be sent to "The Lamo Trust' - State Bank of India, Main branch, Leh, Ladakh 194101. Account number 30913378915. For electronic transfer the rtgs code is SBIN0001365. Please note we can only receive Indian Rupees as we do not have clearance for receiving foreign funds.

Flood update 2

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-08-17T17:19:48+01:00

For the benefit of IALS members we are dedicating this post to news of members and friends of the IALS that are currently in the flood affected areas in Ladakh. This list will be updated regularly, it is in no specific order and covers only those that we have heard from.

Ngawang Tsering Shakspo and family are safe.
Monisha Ahmed is safe and is assisting with the relief effort.
Cynthia Hunt is safe and with friends near Domhkar.
Sonam Wangchok and family are safe in Leh.
Oriental Guest House family are safe, minor flood damage only.
Georgios Halkias is safe in Leh.
John Harrison is safe and is assisting with the relief effort.
Gabriele Reifenberg is safe and is now in Leh.
Tashi Morup is safe in Leh.
Abdul Ghani Sheikh is safe in Leh.
the entire NOMAD (Ladakh Society for Traditional Medicines) team in Ladakh are accounted for and OK.
Juliane Dame is safe and on her way back to Germany
Tashi Ldawa and family are safe.
Ritesh Arya was in choglamsar and is fine.
Lama Konchok Rigzen is safe.
Dr Padma Dolma is safe in Leh.

If anyone has further news that we may add to this page please contact us

Flood update 1

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-08-07T21:37:07+01:00

More footage from Leh has now been posted at NDTV.

A control room has also been set up in Leh and anyone trying to trace friends and family can call these numbers:

99069 90613
99069 90833
99069 90807
99069 83544
99069 90748
99069 90835
99069 90787

Satellite phone: 00870 7636 13623

Flood update

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-08-06T17:06:31+01:00

The internet is now awash with news updates on the flooding in Leh area. This recent India Today article provides a summary, there is also updated video footage now posted at NDTV.

There are reports that landlines are working in Leh, although I suspect on a fairly local basis, and the airtel network appears to be working.

Worst hit areas appear to be Leh old town, especially the old bus stand and below including the hospital, new bus stand and other private and government buildings in that area. Choglamsar has also been very badly affected, as has Sabu, and Nyimo and Phyang.

Flooding in Leh area

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-08-06T08:59:57+01:00

Reports are emerging from Ladakh that there has been serious flooding in and around Leh area. You can read more on today's Daily Excelsior homepage.

The IALS has many members both visiting and living in the area and we are concerned for the well-being of friends and family. Communications have been badly disrupted in the area but if anyone has any news that they would be happy to share with other IALS members, or post on this website, please do contact us.

As reports become cleared we will also try and update this news page accordingly.

Our thoughts and best wishes are with everyone affected by this tragedy.

New Nubra publication

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-07-30T13:18:29+01:00

HCHF in Service to Encourage Local Writers

Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) has come up with a book on the Nubra valley (Nub-ra’i gNas-bShad) by Urgain Rigzin, an astrologer from Nubra. The book was made available for the readers with offering the first copy of the book to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama during the two-day teaching at Deskit, Nubra. The book gives detailed significance of the sacred mountains dedicated to Mahakala (Gonbo) and other sacred landscapes such as sacred lakes, foot prints, medicinal hot springs, caves and so on. It also highlights description of several villages and list of Lamas and Rinpoches born in the Nubra valley. The book is in Bhoti and will be translated into English soon. One of the primary aims of HCHF is to support and encourage local writers to share their indigenous knowledge that will benefit all the people interested in Himalayan cultural heritage. The book on the Nubra valley by Urgain Rigzin is the first step in this direction.

Epilogue

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-07-12T21:52:42+01:00

Epilogue, J&K's monthly magazine features several interesting articles on Ladakh. Click here to visit the magazine online (the section covering Ladakh begins on page 30)

The August 2010 issue will be a 'Ladakh special issue' so be sure to check back in a couple of weeks time.

Leh Workshop report

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-07-05T10:05:13+01:00

International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS) organized a workshop on Research Method and Presentation in the premises of Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation office at Lonpo House, Near Leh palace on 4th July 2010. The workshop began with an introduction to IALS and welcome speech by the Ladakh Liaison officer, Dr Sonam Wangchok. A constructive PowerPoint presentation was given by Dr Janet Rizvi, author of Ladakh, Crossroads of High Asia and Trans-Himalayan Caravans: Merchant Princes & Peasant Traders in Ladakh. About 30-40 young researchers from all over Ladakh as well as outside Ladakh participated in the workshop and discussed several issues and problems that they face during their research period. These young researchers expressed their happiness about initiation of small but fruitful workshops by IALS and they requested IALS to organize such more workshops in Kargil, Jammu and Delhi where many Ladakhi students are doing their higher studies. The workshop was also attended by advisors of IALS from Leh, Tsewang Dolma, Tashi Morup and Tashi Dawa Tsangspa. This very fruitful workshop was concluded with vote of thanks by Tashi Dawa Tsangspa who particularly thanked Dr Janet Rezvi and Dr Sonam Wangchok for organizing the workshop in very informal way but beneficial to all participants, especially to young researchers from Ladakh. It was heartening to see that several young researchers started to fill up the IALS membership form just after the presentation and they were inquiring about the next IALS workshop and seminar.

Leh Workshop July 4th 2010

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-06-20T09:13:26+01:00

Workshop on Research Methods and the Presentation of Results of Research

The IALS proposes to hold a workshop on Research Methods and the Presentation of Results of Research from 2.00 to 5.30 p.m. on 4th July 2010 at The Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation's Lonpo House, near Leh Palace, Leh.

The workshop will be conducted by Dr Janet Rizvi, author of Ladakh, Crossroads of High Asia and Trans-Himalayan Caravans: Merchant Princes & Peasant Traders in Ladakh.

We invite students & others with an interest in research, particularly in subjects connected with Ladakh, to participate in the workshop. If you are interested in attending please contact:

Sonam Wangchok, Ladakh Liaison Officer, International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS)
Secretary, Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation(HCHF)
P.O.Box 105, Leh Ladakh 194101
J&K State, INDIA
Mobile:+9419218013
Email: sonam_sakya@yahoo.com

Hindu Kush-Himalayan countries will use a global platform to share biodiversity data

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-06-15T21:36:56+01:00

Hindu Kush-Himalayan countries will use a global platform to share biodiversity data

(Kathmandu, 15 June 2010) Some twenty-five representatives from the eight countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region are meeting in Kathmandu from 14 to 18 June to discuss ‘Open access to and publishing of mountain biodiversity data from the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region’. The representatives, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan have been brought together in a workshop jointly organised by ICIMOD in collaboration with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA).

The participants will use the opportunity provided by the GBIF/GMBA global platform to publish, harvest, and use biodiversity data from the region. Following the principles of free and open access to biodiversity data, and mutual benefits for scientific research, conservation, and sustainable development, the countries have initiated a partnership process to adopt globally standardised and harmonised biodiversity information. The workshop will introduce international data and metadata standards, geo-referencing of biodiversity data, and use of data in policy making.

Mr. Berend de Groot, ICIMOD Director of Programme Operations, welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of long-term partnerships among ICIMOD’s member countries and global partners to promote standardised and harmonised biodiversity data and information. This is urgently needed to fill the gaps in data revealed by the 4th Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The ‘Transect Approach’ being promoted by ICIMOD for biodiversity assessment and long-term monitoring in the region should be linked to these activities.
Delivering the Key Note Address, Dr Vishwas Chavan from GBIF emphasised the importance of information management as an integral part of the research agenda. He urged the regional countries and thematic global partners to use the opportunity to mainstream biodiversity informatics. Dr Eva Sphen from GMBA stressed how global biodiversity datasets can be used to address questions related to mountain biodiversity data and that there is an urgent need to broaden the data types to supplement biodiversity data.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Krishna Prasad Acharya, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal welcomed the approaches and emphasised the importance of free access data for effective conservation and the importance of supporting such initiatives.
For further information contact: Dr Nakul Chettri Team Leader, Biodiversity Conservation and Management (BCM) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, (ICIMOD) email: nchettri@icimod.org
Ms Nira Gurung, Communications Officer
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, (ICIMOD) email: info@icimod.org, ngurung@icimod.org
[end]

Education, Art, Culture and Career Counseling seminar held in Nubra

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-06-15T21:35:27+01:00

Leh, June 10, 2010 The All Nubra Volunteer Students organized a day long seminar under the topic “Education, Art, Culture and Career Counseling” in the premises of Higher Secondary School Deskit Nubra. As many as 500 students from all over Nubra region including teachers, parents and other eminent people participated in the seminar. Prof. Geshey Konchok Wangdus, Mulvi Mohd. Omar Nadvi and Dr. Sonam Wangchok, Ladakh Liaison officer for IALS and Secretary, Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation were among the special guest speakers on art, culture and moral education while as Mr. Stanzin Tsepel and Mr. Rigzin Spalgon gave lectures on the importance of career counseling in student’s life. Prof. Geshes Konchok Wangdus strongly advocated the role of language in preserving culture and the identity of the people. Likewise, Mulvi Mohd. Omar Nadvi stressed for right mind and right vision for getting education and Dr. Sonam Wangchok spoke on the importance of preserving rich cultural heritage of Himalaya. The Incharge SDM, Nubra, Mr. Phuntsog Wangchuk, Tehsildar also attended the seminar and addressed the gathering.

Wolf

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-05-24T07:33:05+01:00

For those following developments in Ladakhi cinema 'Wolf' is a new full length HD feature film which tells the story of a young man who crosses the line in his search for easy money. Shot in the social realist tradition with a cast of non-professional actors the film is a co-production with a UK and Ladakhi crew and is due for release into festivals later this year. A mobile cinema will also tour the Ladakh region screening the film in village schools and community centres. The film was shot in Leh and Tia village and was directed by Martin Salter and Skarma RInchen with cinematography by Matthew King. The film stars Tsewang Dorje, Tsering Mingyur, Rigzen Namgyal, Tsering Dolma and Lhanzes Tsering.

The latest trailer can be viewed on youtube, or for a HD version (with a slightly different ending) click here.

15th IALS Conference, Aberdeen, U.K.

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-05-01T12:28:34+01:00

We are delighted to announce that the 15th IALS Conference will be held at the University of Aberdeen from the 24th - 28th August, 2011.

The convenor will be Dr Martin Mills of the Scottish Centre for Himalayan Research.

Further details will be announced here and posted at our Aberdeen Conference Page as soon as they are finalised.

World Heritage Day at Lonpo House

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-04-27T17:54:07+01:00

On the World Heritage Day, April 19, Assistant Director Tourism Leh Sh Nissar Hussian inaugurated a weekly talk on cultural heritage of Himalayas in the historical building of Lonpo House near Leh Palace. The program was initiated by Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF). Speaking on the occasion, Shri Nissar Hussain stressed on the importance of organizing cultural guide training to produce professional guides as he felt that it is the guides who introduce the indigenous knowledge with tourists coming to see and learn the unique heritage of Ladakh. Rev E.S. Gergan of the Moravian mission school Leh was the guest speaker on the occasion. He emphasized on the interdependence of different aspects of cultural heritage and importance of preserving them. “One cannot separate culture from the geography of the area because our ways of life, songs, dances, languages etc are very much associated with the environment where we live in”, said Rev Gergan.
Dr Sonam Wangchok, Secretary, Heritage Foundation highlighted the significance of World Heritage Day and said the World Heritage Day offers an opportunity to raise awareness among community to draw attention to the diversity of cultural heritage and its vulnerability. “This special day reminds us the significance of preserving and conserving our heritage and on this day Heritage Foundation is happy to announce the Weekly Talks on Cultural Heritage of Himalayas and we strongly believe that this will be the stage where scholars, researchers, students and local experts from remote villages will have chance to interact and share their knowledge”, he added.

Weekly talks scheduled at Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation, Leh

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-04-25T15:47:44+01:00

Dr Sonam Wangchok would like to announce that the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) has started a programme of weekly talks on Himalayan heritage.

Held at Lonpo House, Leh, the talks will be conducted every Monday at 4.30 PM, from the second week of May, 2010. For further details, or if any IALS members wish to give a presentation, please email the HCHF as early as possible.

Facilities: PowerPoint/digital projector, space for about 50-60 people, cafe and real Leh view. The audience will be mostly tourists and Ladakhi students.

Dr Sonam Wangchok
Secretary, Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation(HCHF)
Ladakh Liaison Officer, International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS)
P.O.Box 105, Leh Ladakh 194101
J&K State, INDIA
Mobile:+9419218013

Lectureship in Anthropology of Religion

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-03-21T10:51:09+00:00

Vacancy: Lectureship in Anthropology of Religion (0.7 FTE) Department of Theology and Religious Studies King's College London.

For more details click here.

Ladakhis at the Winter Olympics

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-02-15T21:19:29+00:00

Two Ladakhis are competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Both Ladakh Scouts, Jamyang Namgial is competing in the Giant Slalom, and Tashi Lundup in Cross Country Skiing.

For more details click here.

Postscript:

Tashi Lundup finished 83rd in the Men's 15KM Free, whilst Jamyang Namgial came in 81st position in the Men's Giant Slalom.

Lectureship in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies

webmaster@ladakhstudies.org — 2010-02-13T18:44:59+00:00

Vacancy: University Lecturership (Non-tutorial Fellowship) in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies - University of Oxford - Faculty of Oriental Studies in association with Wolfson College.

For more details click here.