He played an active role in the cultural and literary activities organised by the department. He composed several poems and also wrote articles which had been broadcasted by All India Radio Leh and Kashmir Cultural Academy. He attended several International seminars including the one organised by the International Association for Ladakh Studies in Denmark in June 1997 (Europe). He has served as a teacher for 40 years in Ladakh. He has been honoured with Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Award on 14th April 2011 on the birthday of Dr. Ambedkar by Ladakh Buddhist Association Youth Wing, Leh. He was appointed as Ladakh Buddhist Association, Secretary in 1956 to 1960.

Q. Tell us about your childhood and your educational background.

Earlier at our time, there was only one school at Temisgam and I was the first person to study from Govt. School from Khalatse (Sham) region. I went to Kargil to do my study till third class and at that time we were poor and I used to cook food for my teacher in Kargil. And after that, a Primary school was opened at Taru village and till 5th class, I studied there. And after Taru, I went to Leh for high School till 10th. After completing my high School I learned Bhoti Grammar for 5 years from Kachen Ishey tundup from Stok.He was my teacher and he used to teach me Bhoti and Bhoti Grammar in the morning and evening. We were two students and my friend, later on, became a monk at Stakna Monastery though he was smarter than me in Studies. In 1960, I was appointed as a teacher and I served for 40 years and was retired in 2000.

Q.What inspires you to write about the history of Ladakh?

One of the books named 'Antiquities of Indian Tibet by Francke August Hermann' inspired me to write. That book was about the history of Ladakh. And it is one of the oldest books written on Ladakh. That book was borrowed to me by Rinchen Tundup Alchi Lonpo when we met in Chowkhang in Leh. He told me that this book is very famous and everyone borrows this book from him. So, he told me to have a look what it contains. This is from where I get the inspiration to write about the history of Ladakh. And since from 1980 I used to note down and at the same time I was working as a teacher and in 2000 my first book was published in Bhoti which has 200 pages and there are around 100 pages in Engish.I went to Delhi in 2000 to publish the book and it took me one month to publish that with the help of some donations. A thousand copies were published and half of the price of the book was got from the donation.

Q. Can you tell us about your research work till today?

Most of my research work is about the heritage of Ladakh. Rock carving, inscriptions and petroglyphs. The last book is about the rock carving. It is found in many parts of Ladakh, Kargil, Drass. Nubra, Changthang and many more. The oldest, largest and biggest is found in Kargil. Even some are there in Leh and it stretches from Leh to Igoo. We know that the most famous is Mulbek Chamba but Kartse staue is much bigger and broader than the Mulbek Chamba. In 2011, Mulbek Chamba, Kartse Khar statue, Apathi statue, Nyerma Thiksay, and Saspol Nyilaphuk were declared National Heritage. In 2010 two statues were recovered from Ladakh. From 2002 to 2009 I continuously worked for the research of rock carving. And after that hard work, my fourth book was published in 2010.

Q.You have served as a teacher for 40 years how was the experience? What kind of changes do you see in students?

Yes, I served for 40 years and at the starting, we went to far-flung areas as volunteers. We were four and we all decided to go to remote areas. Because we thought we all were young and energetic at that time and if we will go to far flung areas at this time we'll be transferred at nearby places when we will be old. And yes that decision was right and we all were transferred to nearby places later on. When we talk about the changes in the behaviour of students earlier at our time students were more hardworking because there were no distractions. But today students get much exposure than the older students. At our time text book were also not as complicated as of today. Today students have so many distractions like mobile, internet so they indulge in bad activities because they are far away from their parents studying outside Ladakh and family.  Most of the parents did not care what they are doing whether they are studying or indulging in bad activities. And it is very important to keep in touch with your children and advice them.

Q. Can you tell us about the conference about communal harmony which used to be held in Leh and Kargil both?

We all know that there was communal tensions way back in Ladakh. I was a member of Ladakh Buddhist Association, Leh. And a meeting was held and we discussed about what should be done to stop communal tensions. It was decided that it will be best through conference which will be held both in Leh and kargil. Then it was decided that 50 participants from each district will be invited in the conference and discuss the solution. It was decided that it will be held one year in Kargil and another in Leh. And the first conference was held in Kargil in December 2006 where 50 participants from Leh went to Kargil. I have written in detail about the conference in my book. It was very successful as we came to know what were the reasons and how can we solve it. In such conferences, we can find the solutions. Till now it was held four times twice in each district. During the second conference, which was held in June 2007 participants from the two Districts discussed the major issue that rift apart the two District of Ladakh. The participants from both the District agreed that religion can be used as an important tool of reconciliation. Moreover, everybody agreed that the common ethnic, culture and linguistic backgrounds of the people of the two Districts should be reinforced to develop a healthy tradition of unity between the two districts.
 
Q.How many books you have written till date. Please elaborate.

Till now I have written four books namely 'Ladakh Annals'. The first book was published in 2000 and it has 70 pages. The book is about the history of Ladakh. It is written in two languages Bodhi and English. It took me 20 years to write the first book. The book starts from 127 BC when ‘Nyati Tsanbo’ the first king of Tibet till present royal family. It has the detail about when the first king of Ladakh Nyimagon generation started in Ladakh. I have written about the caste system and the teaching of Dalai Lama regarding the caste system. How caste system came into being and what religion says about that.

The second book was published in 2004; it is written in three languages and has 150 pages. It is about how race, religion, the community came into being. Eliezer Joldan guided me and I have also written about when and how Moravian missionaries came to Ladakh.

The third book was published in 2007. It has 300 pages and written in three languages Bodhi, English, and Urdu. It is about the General Knowledge, Important years in Ladakh and a brief history about the monasteries of Ladakh.

The fourth book was published in the year 2010 and it is also written in three languages. This book is very beneficial for both the students and tourist as it contains about Rock carving, Buddhism and many more. It has the detail about the Conferences held for Communal Harmony in Leh and Kargil which was organised by the Ladakh Development Authority, Department.

Q. Recently you have been honoured with Ambedkar Awards. Can you tell us about that?

 I was honoured with Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Award on 14th April 2011 on the birthday of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar by Ladakh Buddhist Association Youth Wing, Leh. It was to honour high minded people who are engaged selflessly to contribute in the field of research and preserving the old historical monuments in Ladakh region.

Q.What are the challenges that you had to face in your journey of writing these books?

We have to search the oldest book whatever it cost. When you write a book you have to work hard you have to go to the site and see for yourself and note down all the things about that.I remember a girl from Beijing came to me and brought me a very old book about the history of Tibet. It was in 600 BC when Gautama Buddha was not born this book is that much old. The name of the book is old Tangshu. Another is the kingdom of Ladakh it is very hard to get that book so one of my known whom I help during her research brought me a photocopy from America University where she worked. And in Denmark University I got a photocopy about the history of Ladakh. Like this, I have to search a lot of books which was not easily available.  And after getting the information I go to the site for research. We have to study every detail bit by bit. And most importantly I look for the facts.

Q.As you are 77 years old. What are the prominent changes that you see in the behaviour of Ladakhi people and culture comparing then and now?

Earlier people were so poor but they were very happy and satisfied. Even if they meet they have time to wish each other. In olden times old people gather under a tree and share their sadness and happiness together. They were so happy even if they did not have enough food to eat and clothes to wear like now. Their lifestyle has totally changed. Today people are never satisfied. Even they have enough to wear, eat, spend they are not satisfied and they want more and more. GREED is growing more and more. They are busy making money and they do not have time. Earlier agricultural works were done by themselves but today they are not ready to work on the field everything is done by Labourers. Even Dalai Lama told that with time everything changes. If someone is adopting the modern lifestyle it doesn't matter until you have a kind and a compassion heart with good intentions. But your kind and compassionate heart should not be changed with time. It is very important ‘To be a good human being’ one’s life.

Q.Do you have plans for writing some more books on Ladakh in future?

Yes, I have written a book about the history of Kargil and Zanskar and everything is done and it is all ready to publish. It is about the history of Ladakh and how in the 15th century Muslim came to Ladakh. The book is written in two language English and Urdu. It is ready to publish I just have to work on the page numbers.

Message to the readers

Most of the students of Ladakh spent their time outside Ladakh for their studies when they came back they came with degrees in their hands but it is very important for us to know about our own culture and history of Ladakh. You have studied about the world throughout your life BUT you should also know about your native land. I must admit that reading habit in our students is very low. So, it is very important to inculcate reading habits in oneself for overall development.