Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, launched Katabita: The Hidden Doodleland, authored by Padma Angmo and published by Yige Publication, at Rang Thag in Leh on October 11.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary highlighted the importance of children’s imagination in interpreting mythology, spiritual narratives and the cultural heritage of a region. He described documenting children’s imaginative expressions as a fascinating process, particularly in exploring the connections between spiritual stories, mythology and local landscapes.

Referring to his published book on the Northeast, Kundra described Ladakh and the Northeast as significant frontier regions situated along the country’s northern and eastern frontiers, respectively. He noted that while the two regions share several similarities, they also have distinct identities, histories and cultural experiences.

Drawing on his experiences in the Northeast, he highlighted how literature captures changing landscapes and the lived experiences of women, conflict-affected communities and people in diverse frontier regions. He added that Ladakh’s landscapes, people and cultural imagery also leave a lasting impression.

Author Padma Angmo shared the inspiration behind Katabita: The Hidden Doodleland, which grew out of a storytelling and art workshop conducted with students of Munsel School in Leh, a school for children with disabilities. The book features original illustrations created by the students, with the story woven around their artwork, celebrating imagination, creativity and inclusion.

As part of the journey behind the book, the author and the Yige Publications team organised a celebratory event at Munsel School on September 28, 2026, in the presence of the student illustrators, their parents and school staff. During the event, the author and publisher presented certificates recognising the students’ artistic contributions. The author also presented copies of the book and honorariums to the student illustrators in appreciation of their creativity and contribution to Katabita.

The author highlighted the social purpose of the publication, noting that a portion of the proceeds from the book would support the welfare of children with disabilities in Ladakh.
Members of the publishing team shared their experiences of bringing the book to readers, while Angmo reflected on her creative journey and the collaborative process behind the publication.

The Chief Secretary encouraged people to read and share the book, expressing hope that it would reach a wider readership. He extended his best wishes to the author and the publishing team for their efforts.

Later, the Chief Secretary felicitated the author, members of the publishing team and the author’s family.