Ladakh multilingual literary conference held in Leh

By Stanzin Desal Leh, Nov 05, 2015
Leh :
Two day Ladakh multilingual literary conference was held on 29th to 30th October at Lotsava Auditorium, Culture Academy, Leh. The event was organised by J&K academy of Art, Culture and languages of Leh & Kargil. 

Scholars, intellectuals and writers  from Leh and Kargil  presented on origin and development of languages, challenges and opportunities of  Purgi, Balti, Dardi-Shina, Urdu and Bhoti which are spoken in Ladakh. 

The Chief Guest of the conference was Tsering Dorje Lakrook, Minister of Co-operative Ladakh Affairs; J&K Government other distinguish guest were Dr Aziz Hajini, Secretary-Art, Culture and languages, J&K, Dr Nawang Tsering, Former director of CIBS, Gen Thupstan Paldan, Haji Mohammad Baqir, other delegates and scholars of Leh and Kargil were present. 

Tsering Dorjey said that the issue of recognition of Bhoti language in the 8th Schedule is a common goal of the people of Ladakh which is important for preservation and promotion of the distinct art, culture, literature and languages of this region. He urged to hold such conferences of writers and scholars of both the district in future, in order to promote different languages spoken in Ladakh and to bring the people of Leh and Kargil closer.

From his Area Development Fund, he announced Rs 2.00 lakh to Lotsawa Hall of Academy Leh. 

The day started with the lighting of the lamp by the chief guest and welcome speech by Tsewang Paljor, President-Culture Academy.

He said the conference has brought together all the regional languages spoken in Ladakh on one platform which will be a great opportunity to promote or preserve all the spoken languages. He stressed on creating more and more awareness in the society through holding conferences, seminar and interacting with people etc. which will bring new hope and idea among the people about the importance of the languages, art and culture. 

Dr Nawang Tsering said that such inter lingual conference will strengthen the age old families of languages by bringing together the experts of different languages of both the regions to talk and throw lights on the changing scenario of the regional languages. He ended with the importance of including Bhoti in the 8th schedule.

Aziz Hajini, Secretary-Art, Culture and languages, J&K said, "to keep ones identity alive there is a need to preserve the culture and languages". He stressed on the need of writers and scholars to be knit with the society in order to strengthen the importance of being one. 

Gen Thupstan Paldan and Mohammad Siddique Hardassi presented their paper titled “Challenges and Opportunities of Bhoti and Balti language”. 

Later, Tsering Dorjey released Academy’s annual books “Shiraza”, “Ladakh then and now” written by Haji Zain-ul-Abidin and another poetry book “Diwan-e-Khayal” written by Jigmet Khayal Ladakhi