I was born in a tiny and remote village in Shaker-Chigtan area of district Kargil -Ladakh. There was not even a primary school in my village in those days, so I was enrolled in another primary school in an adjoining village namely Shaker. Since I was living in the core of that society, I got the opportunity to understand and imbibe the cultural ethos of that society. After passing sixth class I had to go to high school Kargil for further studies. Then after class 10th, I went to Srinagar for my higher education. In short, I completed my graduation from S.P College and post graduation from Kashmir University in 1977.

 

 

 Initially, I joined J&K combine services in 1977. Later I was inducted into the IAS cadre. I think that the facilities available to the student community of today were dreams for us in those days. However the competition was comparatively much lesser in those days.

 

 

I think that the scenario has changed now. Though few Ladakhi students have only managed to pass the IAS exams, yet many of them have now successfully passed the allied exams and quite a number of them have joined the Kashmir Administrative Service.

 

 

I feel lucky to get the opportunity to serve the people of our state in a different capacity and in a different region. In Zanskar, I saw raw nature and the real rural life.Poverty was rampant then. Life was very difficult and I tried my best to help the people in every possible manner. The posting as DC Rajouri was extremely challenging for me due to the burning problem of militancy in the district. The poor common people were between the deep sea and the devil. I think that I was successful in mitigating the hardships of the people to some extent because many people of the district still warmly remember me. During my tenure as Deputy Commissioner Kargil, I got the opportunity to serve the people of my own district. I have the satisfaction that I and my team of officers had contributed significantly to improve the town roads and the hassle-free construction of the Chutak -Hydel Project.

 

 

I think that the Litmus test for a successful officer would be his unimpeachable character and his burning desire to serve the society including those who have no connections or approaches.

 

 

Yes, my father was one of the great secular writers and scholars of modern Ladakh. I have imbibed the spirit of reading and writing from him. He inspired me to follow Sarasvati (Goddess of knowledge) rather than following Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) right from my childhood.

 

 

My book Dastan-e-Karbala is the compilation of the religious poetries of two famous classical poets of Baltistan who were captured and imprisoned by the Dogra rulers when Ladakh and Baltistan were conquered by them. Both of them died in Kashmir. While as Dam-e-Khayal and Kaliman are the collections of my Urdu and Balti poetries mostly gazals and nazams. In “Ancient Wisdom from Ladakh” I have collected and compiled a fairly large number of Ladakhi Sayings and proverbs with transliterations, translations, and commentaries in English. My primary aim and objective in compiling these sayings and proverbs, has been to preserve this beautiful past heritage for our posterity. I have a strong feeling that these superb pieces of folk-literature will surely disappear into oblivion within a decade or so if not reduced to writing today, and that would be an irreparable loss to our cultural heritage and social history. Besides, I believe that there could be no better Tribute, than that of recording these sayings and proverbs to the memory of our forefathers and wise men, who coined these beautiful sentences full of wisdom and wits.

 

 

 I think readership in our area is definitely very low. Our youths have many other distractions apart from their normal studies. Yet I think that writing a book with a commitment is like delivering a child. When the pang of delivery is over it gives immense joy and satisfaction to a mother. Similarly, when a writer completes his book it gives him the same satisfaction and joy. I am portraying the multifaceted history and culture of Ladakh in one way or the other which I think is my mission of life. The legacy which I am leaving today will surely have readers in the near future. In fact, many youngsters of the Ladakh region are taking a keen interest in my book now.

 

 

Ladakh has gone through tremendous changes in the past two or three decades. It appears inevitable that the cultural and economic inundations would invariably sooner or later change the whole fabric of our society. Peace, tranquillity, and contentment are giving way to crises, rat-races and narrow parochial outlooks. Under these circumstances, it would be the paramount duty of our younger generation especially the youths to learn and grasp the Nuances of the true Ladakhi culture for promoting and maintaining peace, prosperity and universal brotherhood in Ladakh Region.