Delegation demands Bhoti as official language of UT Ladakh

By Reach Ladakh Correspondent Leh, Oct 22, 2019
Delegation from Ladakh Cultural Forum and CIBS meeting with Gyal P Wangyal, CEC, LAHDC, Leh at Council Secretariat.
Leh :
A team of delegation from Ladakh Cultural Forum and CIBS, Choglamsar submitted a copy of memorandum demanding recognition of Bhoti as an official language of UT Ladakh to Gyal P Wangyal, CEC, Hill Council, Leh on October 18 at Council Secretariat. 
 
The delegation also demanded to make Bhoti language as a medium of all social life including administrative offices, judiciary, archival and new land records. They asked for Bhoti as the medium of teaching from Nursery till 4th standard in all schools, to revise the school textbooks giving importance to local topics and to include monastic schools under the government school system. 
 
The demand further includes forming of a separate education board for UT Ladakh, filling up of the vacant post of Bhoti teacher post in all the government schools, Bhoti Department in Ladakh University and Degree colleges to offer B.A. and M.A. courses in Bhoti language and literature, to make Bhoti language the medium for broadcast and telecast for All India Radio Leh and Doordarshan Kendra, Leh. 
 
Institutionalize Sowa Rigpa, strengthen Culture Academy by affiliating the department to Sahitya Academy for Language and Sangeet Natak Academy Rashtriya Kalakender for theatre, songs, music, art and crafts with department branch office in different regions of Ladakh, to make ethics and traditional based curriculum mandatory in schools, to promote research-based institutes to support local and outside researchers in Ladakh was also put forward.
 
Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) proposed to offer certificate and diploma courses in Bhoti to help young professionals with the language and grammar. 
 
Gyal P Wangyal welcomed the proposal as an important initiative towards strengthening the culture, language, and script of the region. He assured that Hill Council, Leh would leave no stone unturned to preserve and promote the cultural values and identity of the region. Also, he sought the guidance of scholars and intellectuals to make it happen in UT Ladakh.
 
Konchok Stanzin, EC Education assured the delegation that LAHDC will soon initiate necessary measures in this direction with the support and guidance of the scholar fraternity.
 
Tsering Norbu Martse, President, Ladakh Culture Forum, Geshes Konchok Wangdus, Director, CIBS, Ven. Lobzang Nyantak, Councilor Upper Leh, Scholar Jamyang Gyalson, Mipham Otsal, Sangeet Natak Awardee, Tsewang Paljor, Cultural Officer and Dr. Sonam Wangchuk were among the delegation.