हिंदी
Week long certificate program on Yige writing, reading concludes at Academy Hall, Kargil
Kargil, August 23, 2024
The week-long certificate program on Yige writing and reading organized by Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (LAACL), Kargil, in collaboration with Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) concluded today at Academy Hall, Kargil.
Notably, on August 17, 2024, Administrative Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Vikram Singh Malik had inaugurated the program.The ceremony began with a two-minute silence observed in memory of late Abdul Gani Sheikh, a State Awardee and dPalrNgam DusTon Awardee, renowned for his invaluable contributions to the field of literature.
The gathering also expressed condolences to the victims of the tragic accident of Lamdon Senior School Leh Bus at Durbuk, which claimed seven precious lives and injured several staff members. The audience prayed for the departed souls and expressed heartfelt sympathies to the grieved families and prayed for the recovery of the injured.Today’s event was graced by a huge gathering of cultural enthusiasts, scholars, students and civil society members, all committed to preserve and promote the ancient Yige script.
The program was presided over by Chairman/CEC, LAHDC, Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon as chief guest, EC, Rural Development, LAHDC, Kargil, Er. Phunchok Tashi was the guest of honor. Director, FS&CA, UT Ladakh, Tahir Hussain Zubdavi was also present.
In his address, the CEC lauded LAACL Kargil for organizing the certificate program and was satisfied with its success. He emphasized the indispensable role of cultural roots in shaping identity of a community and stressed that Yige script is not only a linguistic tool but also a gateway to profound knowledge and heritage of Balti and Purgi of Ladakh.
Dr Jaffer Akhoon commended participants for their commitment to learning the script, recognizing their efforts as a testament to collective desire to safeguard Ladakh’s rich cultural legacy.
EC Tashi praised collaborative efforts of LAACL Kargil and HCHF, acknowledging their vital contributions to preservation of Yige script. He emphasized that language and culture are pillars of a community’s identity and underscored the importance of such educational initiatives in ensuring transmission of these cultural treasures to future generations.
The Director, FS&CA, Ladakh highlighted the need for prioritizing mother tongue within the educational system, advocating for increased efforts to incorporate indigenous languages into curriculum. He called upon the community to take proactive steps in learning and promoting their native languages, as these are integral to preserving their unique identity and heritage.
Deputy Secretary, LAACL, Kargil, Nazir Hussain gave an overview of the program during his welcome address. He elaborated the structure of the course designed to cater to individuals interested in acquiring a foundational and intermediate understanding of Yige script.
The closing ceremony also featured testimonials, shared and spoken on the occasion by several participants and Resource person, including Hadi Ali Qarrar; Ali Asgar Rinchan; Rehana Habeeb; Dr. Aziz Khatoon and Mesam Raza, who shared their enriching experiences and the impact of the program on their connection to Ladakhi culture.
As a mark of appreciation, mementos were presented to the CEC, EC, and Director FS&CA in recognition of their support for the week-long workshop. Additionally, the experts who conducted the week long workshop Geshe Konchok Wangdu (Ex-Director CIBS), Gen. Stanzin Nurboo (School Education resource person), Skarma Junglay (Renowned Purgi Scholar), Issa Sabiri (Renowned Purgi Scholar, and Stanzin Lodan (resource person) were also honored with traditional Khataks and mementos as token of appreciation for their efforts in ensuring success of the program.
The certificate program was widely appreciated by participants and Kargil society, underlining the critical need for such programs in maintaining cultural continuity of the region.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Sonam Wangchok, Director of HCHF, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to all participants, organizers, Press Club of Ladakh, Kargil and supporters and for their tremendous support and shared commitment to the preservation of the Yige script. The closing ceremony and program proceedings were conducted by Sajjad Ali Shujat, a renowned Purgi Scholar of Kargil.
