Two-day seminar on Historical Perspective of Ladakh: Crossroads of Civilisation organised by Fire & Fury Corps at Rinchen Auditorium on October 5.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) attended the ceremony.

Terming the seminar's subject as important, interesting, and challenging for him, L-G stated that Ladakh has always been at a crossroads and highlighted five issues concerning Ladakh- its geography, history, people, security, and development requirements. He stated that despite being rugged, remote, and far from the main hinterland, Ladakh has always been an integral part of India for centuries. He commended and complimented the people of Ladakh for their nationalism and patriotism and for always being at the forefront of national security.

Talking about the importance of Ladakh, especially in terms of the democracy of India, LG stated that our leaders should work for integration, co-existence, brotherhood, and peaceful living of the people from different communities of Ladakh. He also stated that the topmost requirement is integration between people from different religious communities and mutual understanding for their peaceful co-existence. Further stating that the religious sentiments of people from different communities have to be respected, L-G highlighted the need for leaders to work in close coordination with each other for the overall development of the region.

Highlighting the 11 basic requirements of humans, he stated that bureaucracy is the tool for infrastructure development for which he has asked the Departmental Secretaries, Head of Departments, and various other government officials to imbibe six personality traits- transparency, accountability, probity, equal dispensation, mid-course correction, and self-auditing. He reiterated his mission to turn the slogan of Corruption and Delay-Free Ladakh into reality through cooperation from the people of Ladakh.

L-G highlighted the initiatives taken by UT Administration for the benefit of the people of Ladakh, including the framing of Recruitment Rules for Gazetted posts which would be submitted to UPSC for necessary action; the completion of developmental projects in Ladakh within a period of three years; the rationalization of boundaries of Karakoram/ Changthang Wildlife Sanctuaries; the intervention made by the Administration in the declaration of the SSC Selection Posts/Ladakh/2022 exams. Emphasising the importance of serving humanity, the L-G shared his goal to serve Ladakh and its people to the best of his abilities.

He also attended session 1 on Ladakh: The Land of Convergence of History, Geography & Civilisation moderated by Prof Srikanth Kondapalli comprising panelists such as ex-ambassador to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, P Stoban; historian and author, Claude Arpi; Ex-GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.

Earlier, GOC, Fire & Fury Corps, Lt Gen Rashim Bali welcomed the guests to the two-day seminar.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi; GOC Fire & Fury Corps, Lt Gen Rashim Bali; Army officials from Fire & Fury Corps, ITBP/ITBF; ADGP Ladakh Police, Dr SD Singh Jamwal; Secretary to LG, Ravinder Kumar; scholars/students from Jawaharlal Nehru University/ University of Ladakh; ex-servicemen and other concerned officials were present during the event.