Ladakhtimes.com

350 years old Khapulo Khar (Palace of Khapulo). The majestic palace was build by the Yabgo rulers of Khapulo.

Nga Senge in, Shigar Baltiyul nay. Nga si yati website zhak la silen duk. Ma rgyala bchoset. Ngati Ladakhsi mimang thsangma la Baltiyul nay ju dang Tashi Delek, yang Losar Tashi Delek.

Ngadang thsangma la Ladakhs dang Baltiyul bar la lam phya la las bya rgos. Kargil Skardu, yang Marol Khaltse, yang Khapulo Nubra lam thsangma bya rgos. Ngati yargyasi phya legi important in sama rak. Ngati trade chhya rgos, divided families yang dum chukpa rgos, Baltiyul nay phating Ladakhs la thonchas in, yang Ladakhsi bzolas thsangma Baltiyul la thonchas in. Ngati cultural development lam bese med pa chhya med.

If you dont understand, pls let me know and I will send another email with English. I also want to send two articles to your website. Let me know if I can do it. I also like Angmo La's comments. We need to promote harmony. As we say, if we damage our own society, we are the only one responsible to mend the damage. Youngsters need to come up with ideas of how to reduce problems and not just complaint and blame. As we are educated, we can make difference. We feel hurt and sad when Ladakhis are promoting hatred. We the people of Baltistan love Ladakhis both Muslims and Buddhists. We are all made of same type of soil, hence we have the same nature and culture. Lets work together to bring positive changes.

I like the idea by Yoginder Sikand. His analysis was that communalism is promoted in Ladakh for political purposes. As there is only one Lok Sabha seat, both Muslims and Buddhists try to capture voters. Ladakh is almost 50/50 Muslim and Buddhist. Hence there is more chance that only communal polarization will help win either a Muslim or Buddhist MP. Mr Yoginder Sikand suggests giving Ladakh two MPs, one for each district. This will somehow reduce the race for religious votes.

Thiis is one suggestion that can bring down damage to society, and we all can think of more ways to bring peace while still giving both communities their socio-economic rights and benefits

Dear Mohmmad Singe,

Thanks for your provocative article and showing your concern for bringing the people close to each other for peace and prosperity. I am sure your article will make many people to make an introspection on "Where we are going? and Where we should go? All great thing starts with the idea you can share your ideas with concerned people, we would always apprecaite your concern. We can plan for developing a group "People for friendship of Ladakh and Baltistan"
You can ask your friends to visit the site as your article is published "AS IT IS" without any editing.

With regards

Stanzin Dawa 3/17/06

Thank you for the prompt reply. I wrote to you earlier thru Jullay.com but never recvd any reply. I guess that website is bit dormant nowadays. Let me introduce myself

I am a Balti from Shigar Baltistan. Shigar phating is very famous in Ladakh. My other name is Mohammad Hussnain. My friends also call me Senge Tsering. I live in New York nowadays. I am planning to go to Baltiyul this summer. I work in USA and also active in cultural and political activities which relate to Ladakh/Baltiyul. For me, both regions are cut from same cloth hence no difference. We were part of same Wizarat (Province) during the Dogras and Skardo was the winter capital of the Wizarat while Leh was the summer capital.

Pls tell me about yourself. I liked your views on Jullay.com. You should become member of LAHDC. Really. We need people like you who could talk about reconciliation and harmony among Muslims, Baltis, Khache, Arghons and Nangpas. We will need each other for ever, hence there is no point in turning against each other. Where do you live. What do you do. Are you a student. How old are you. How can I contribute to your movement of bringing both communities together. And more like this

It will be great to form a committee called Friends of Ladakh-Baltistan (FoLB). In USA we have many organizations supporting Tibetan cause and called Friends of Tibet. I am sending you another article. It is bit political but if it fits your policy, pls do place it on your website

You asked me about Baltistan but didnt tell anything about you. Adding to my previous questions; What part of Ladakh are you from. I have some Ladakhi Buddhist friends here in New York who are from Sham. We communicate in our language and it is great to be friends and not getting involved in any politics.

Pls visit this website. I made it couple of years ago. It needs update. It is good for pictures only as I havent added anything on it. You may copy pictures from the website and then put on yours if you like to. It will be good to have your website more contribution from Baltistan.

In last 20 years, awareness about Ladakh has enhanced in Baltiyul. People want to visit Ladakh and also know that before partition we were one region. They also know that blockage of roads has detrimental impact on our commerce especially for the Ladakhi regions of Nubra, Sham and Purik and Balti regions of Kharmang, Khapulo and ShingoShigar. Also thousands of divided families would like to be united. Again, our culture in Baltiyul is suffering as we are not allowed to access Ladakh. We are trying to get the roads open. This is our first priority. We desire to have Bodyig in our schools. You will see in pictures that local shops have bodyig on their signboards. Awareness about our culture and language has created curiosity among Baltis for Ladakh.

I once again appreciate your idea of forming FoLB. Lets make it part of your website as well, like a connection or an external link from your website. Also your website doesnt have the map of Ladakh. When you put the map, pls show adjoining regions like Baltiyul, Lahul Spiti and Ngari, which are all cultural parts of Greater Ladakh.

If we help open Khaltse Marol road, then distance from Skardo to Leh will be four to five hours shorter. Also, Sham will benefit from this action. We all can share these ideas and make our region peaceful and prosperous once again