Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) and First Lady, Neelam Mishra took part in the valedictory function of mega Martial Arts summer camp and the celebration of World Kungfu Day at the University of Ladakh, Leh campus at Taru Thang on August 8.

The mega Martial Arts summer camp was organised by Art of Living in collaboration with the University of Ladakh and supported by LAHDC Leh and Fire and Fury Corps. 

Appreciating the organisers and all the 160 participants along with instructors involved in the successful conduct of the three-week-long camp, LG termed the programme as ‘far-sighted’ and one of its kind as young school students were trained in martial arts to make them more cultured and disciplined. He appreciated the Har Ghar Yoddha programme initiated by Art of Living under the guidance of Lieutenant General Ashwini Kumar (Retd), who is the Chairman at Art of Living International Center, Bangalore, and Programme Director, WFAC (Bodhi) of the Art of Living Foundation, Sachetan Jalan, and asked them to start the Har Ghar Agniveer programme so that the maximum youth could benefit from it. He stated that every household from Ladakh should have an Agniveer inducted in the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre (LSRC).

LG informed about his plan to add another battalion of Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre in Ladakh for the benefit of the Ladakhi youth.   

Stating that the martial arts programme is connected to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects, LG advised the young students to combine these aspects to perform social service for society.

LG and other guests distributed awards to winners in the senior and junior categories and felicitated the multimedia and Kungfu instructors. LG gave tokens of affection to Stanzin Diskit and Mohammad Yasin, both eight years of age, for their participation in the Martial Arts Summer Camp. The school students also took vows not to indulge in drug/substance abuse, stop their friends and relatives from indulging in drug/substance abuse and take active participation in the fight against drug/substance abuse.

Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh, Stanzin Chosphel appreciated the enthusiasm and dedication of the students who participated in the three-week-long Martial Arts Summer Camp. He informed about the batch of 30 students from Ladakh who were sent by LAHDC Leh to undergo three months long martial arts instructor training at the Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru in collaboration with the Art of Living Foundation.

Lt Gen Ashwini Kumar (Retd) congratulated the trainees for their performances during the summer camp. He stated that martial arts are a mixture of three elements- focus, physical fitness and skill development. He emphasised physical fitness and advised the young students to be disciplined in their lives. He advised the parents of the students to teach morality to their children and the need to have a clear aim in life.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ladakh, Prof SK Mehta informed about the objective of the three-week-long Martial Arts Summer Camp, the participation of 160 students from different schools of Ladakh, the support provided by the UT Administration, LAHDC Leh and Indian Army, especially GOC 14 Corps and Rajput Regiment.

Students from different schools gave a demonstration of Kung Fu moves on the occasion.