In a world where beings are sensitive and can think rationally, thinking about the future is natural. Predicting the future is not peculiar to humans – all living things anticipate what’s ahead. However, humans are unique because we can think beyond just the immediate future; we can imagine and plan for the distant future consciously. This ability doesn’t replace predicting the near future but adds to it, expanding our scope over time. As a result, our actions are always influenced by how we...
Editors Pick
A Himalayan Jewel: The Architectural Wonders of Stok Palace, Ladakh
The Stok Palace is located in the village of Stok, about 15 kilometer southwest of Leh, the capital of Ladakh, in the northernmost region of India. The Palace holds a rich historical legacy dating back to the 19th century. It was constructed by King Tsepal Namgyal in 1820 after the royal family of Ladakh was exiled from Leh. The construction of the Palace served as the royal residence for the Namgyal dynasty, which ruled Ladakh for centuries.
The Palace played a significant role in Ladakh...
DM Leh orders imposition of Section 144 ahead of “Pashmina March”
VoL Desk, April 05: The District Magistrate, Leh has ordered the imposition of Section 144 of CrPC 1973 two days ahead of the “Pashmina March” spearheaded by environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk and Leh Apex Body scheduled for April 07.
The Apex Body member, Tsering Dorjay Lakruk and Sonam Wangchuk, in a press conference, later condemned the imposition of Section 144.
The DM has issued the order in view of inputs from the Superintendent of Police regarding the apprehension of breach o...
Sonam Wangchuk Launches ‘Pashmina March’ to Highlight Environmental Concerns in Ladakh
VoL Desk, April 03: Renowned environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk has announced the “Pashmina March” to the Changthang region scheduled for April 7. Wangchuk shared this initiative through a video on his YouTube channel, which experienced a significant surge in followers following his 21-day hunger strike, concluded on March 27.
Following the conclusion of his 21-day hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk, along with a group of women, initiated another hunger strike for 10 days. Wangchuk himself ...
‘Ladakh’s Cultural Heritage at Risk Amid Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road Expansion’
VoL Desk, March 28: Among the applause and appreciation that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) received on connecting the strategic Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh on Monday (March 25), locals in Ladakh are concerned about the plausible change in landscape and cultural heritage of the area that predominantly inhabits tribal population.
This 298-km road will connect Manali to Leh through Darcha and Nimmu on Kargil – Leh Highway.
However, Cultural Activist and Independent Researcher ...
BRO connects new axis to Ladakh, to be shortest route
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) connected the strategic Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh on Monday (March 25). This 298-km road will connect Manali to Leh through Darcha and Nimmu on Kargil – Leh Highway.
The road is now the third axis apart from Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh, which connects Ladakh to the hinterland.
The Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road derives its strategic importance from the fact that it is not only shorter vis-a-vis the other two axes, but crosses only one pass; Shinkun ...
Ladakhi Folk Song Maestro Haji Master Hussain of Silmo Passes Away
VoL Desk, March 22: Today, the Ladakhi community mourns the loss of a cherished cultural icon, Master Mohd Hussain, whose passing at his ancestral village Silmo leaves a profound void. Renowned as a mnemonist and artist, Master Hussain was revered across Ladakh for his unparalleled knowledge of folk songs, Purgi idioms, Ladakhi proverbs, and pure Purgi vocabulary.
Master Hussain’s legacy lies in his extraordinary memory, having preserved over 100 Ladakhi folk songs and epic narratives in ...
Ladakhi Students Rally in Delhi, Demand 6th Schedule and Statehood
VoL Desk, March 17: Hundreds of students hailing from Ladakh congregated at Delhi’s Budh Vihar to initiate a day-long protest cum hunger strike, advocating for the inclusion of Ladakh into the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and demanding Statehood for the region.
The protest, spearheaded by the All Kargil (Ladakh) Students’ Association Delhi (AKSAD) and Ladakh Students’ Welfare Society Delhi, saw active participation from numerous students enrolled in various universities and institut...
Ladakh’s Snowmelt Irrigation System Faces Decline
Everyone in Ladakh was thrilled and relieved when the region finally saw its first snowfall in February after long anticipation. Ladakh is a cold desert, and its arid climate makes conditions harsh for agriculture where water scarcity poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity, solutions are essential for sustaining food production and livelihoods. The region receives a good amount of snow during the winter months (January) creating a natural reservoir of freshwater that is c...
Dr. Anwar Tsarpa Defends PhD Thesis on Shia Factional Conflicts in Kargil
Unveiling Historical Dynamics and Global Perspectives
VoL Desk, March 11: In a significant contribution to the historical discourse on Kargil post-independence, Anwar Ali Tsarpa successfully defended his PhD thesis today at the Nelson Mandela Centre for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, Jamia Millia Islamia – Central University, New Delhi.
Anwar Tsarpa’s doctoral research focused on “Inter-Group Conflicts in Kargil: Historical Analysis of Yogma Pa – Gongma Pa and IKMT – ISK Confl...