Kargil, 28 Aug/ VOL News Desk/ In Ladakh, the 21st Conference of the International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS) commenced late evening on 8th of August at Tourism Facilitation Centre (TFC) Kargil, with a Keynote Address by eminent poet, scholar, and author Kacho Asfandiyar Khan.

The IALS, a global network of scholars and researchers, holds biennial conferences to share research and facilitate dialogue on Ladakh’s diverse history, culture, religion, and environment. It serves as a vital platform for disseminating knowledge, fostering academic partnerships, and deepening understanding of Ladakh’s unique heritage and challenges.

In his keynote address, Kacho Asfandiyar Khan reflected on the historical destruction to Purig during the Dogra regime, noting that Purig remains a vast and virgin field for researchers, as many forts, heritage structures, and manuscripts were lost. He also highlighted the scholarly works of Kacho Skinder Khan.

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Earlier, former IALS President Dr. Sonam Wangchuk welcomed scholars from across the world on behalf of the Secretary IALS, praising the timely conduct of the event despite climatic challenges.

The conference is being organized by the Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Kargil, in collaboration with the IALS, and supported by Ladakh University.

Deputy Secretary LAACL Nazir Hussain welcomed the guests with traditional Khataks and later presented the vote of thanks, appreciating the efforts of volunteers and the UT Administration for providing support.

Notably, the IALS conference is being held in Kargil after a gap of ten years, and will conclude on the 30th of August. IALS President Dr. Monisha Ahmad was also present on the occasion.