In today’s modern and technological era, rapid lifestyle changes have led to an increase in mental health problems. It is crucial for everyone to be aware of mental health and potential issues. World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10th, serves as an important opportunity to highlight the significance of mental health awareness. This day encourages individuals to recognize the need for mental well-being and to pay attention to the availability of mental health resources. It a...
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Ladakh’s Movement for Statehood and Cultural Preservation Amid Environmental Concerns
Ladakh has struggled for administrative autonomy for many years. This struggle has transformed into a significant vehicle for ordinary people’s participation in public politics through the Ladakh Hill Development Council, established under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act of 1995. The first election for this council took place on August 28, 1995, marking a direct engagement of the people at the grassroots level.
Following the abrogation of Article 370, the state of Jamm...
A Ladakhi Youth’s Alienation from Self, Soul and Homeland
After years of studies and residing outside Ladakh, this summer break, I returned to homeland, Ladakh. What should have been a joyous homecoming turned out to be a disheartening experience as one felt like a stranger in one’s own homeland.
My journey began when, as a small child, I was sent from Ladakh to a boarding school in Srinagar. These were formative years spent away from my house, which really shaped so much of who I am today, but coming back to Ladakh allowed me to realize how muc...
Raising Legal Age For Marriage
Child marriage is a marriage or domestic partnership, formal or informal, between a child and an adult, or between a child and another child. It is estimated that there are around 24 million child brides in India. The states with the highest rates of child marriage include Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka (50 per cent or more).
Ladakh’s District Expansion: A Welcome Development or a Political Diversion?
On August 26, the Home Minister announced the creation of five new districts in Ladakh, a move that has generated both appreciation and skepticism among the region’s residents. This decision coincided with the announcement of the peaceful march to Delhi by the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The march aims to address four long-standing demands: The four point agenda includes full-fledged statehood for Ladakh; constitutional safeguards under the 6th...
What are the prospects for Sankoo becoming a district?
On August 26, 2024, at 11:22 AM, Home Minister Amit Shah announced on social media platform X that five new districts — Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang — would be created in Ladakh.
As soon as the news was shared, celebrations began across Ladakh. The people in these areas, who had been asking for district status for a long time, were very happy, hoping this decision would bring them relief.
Ladakh had been divided into two districts, Leh and Kargil, in 1979, mainly based o...
New Districts in Ladakh Bring Joy and Resentment: Celebrations in Zanskar and Drass, Protests in Sankoo and Shakar-Chiktan
By: Safina Qusar & Mohd Hassanain Ebadie
Elated by the announcement of granting five new districts in Ladakh, the Zanskar and Drass subdivisions resonated with chants of celebration. People danced joyfully at Jashn-e-Drass, a major celebration that saw participation from various political and religious leaders, setting aside religious, sectarian, and political differences. In contrast, a shutdown erupted in Sankoo, while Shakar-Chiktan expressed their displeasure over not being included ...
Why Sankoo Sub-Division Deserves District Status?
The absence of Sankoo Sub-division from the recent decision to create five more districts namely Zanskar, Sham, Drass, Nubra and Changthang out of the existing Leh and Kargil districts of the UT of Ladakh is deeply concerning and warrants reconsideration. When evaluated against the criteria used for other newly created districts, Sankoo clearly merits elevation to district status. Several key factors support this assertion:
Ethnic Composition: Sankoo sub-division is predominantly inhabite...
Breaking News: Amit Shah Announces Creation of Five New Districts in Ladakh
VoL Desk, Aug. 26: In a significant move aimed at enhancing governance and development in the union territory of Ladakh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced today that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to create five new districts.
This decision aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of building a developed and prosperous Ladakh, stated the Home Minister in a post on social media platform X.
The newly announced districts are Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra...
Book Review: Siddharth N. Vijayaraghavan’s Empire of the Cholas
Siddharth N. Vijayaraghavan is an author born in India and educated in Singapore and India. He is currently completing his Master’s (Integrated) degree in English Studies at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras.
Empire of the Cholas book is a work of historical fiction. The author narrates his personal feeling while writing this book: that the temple or the characters that have been depicted in the book may be fictional to people, but to him, these are the people h...