Leh, Sept 02: A week long certificate course titled “Understanding Ladakh through its History, Geography, and Culture” kick-started at the University of Ladakh (UoL) Leh campus, Taru here today. Twenty-three officers from the Army and ITBP are participating in this course.
The inaugural event was graced by Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, General Officer Commanding (GoC), Fire and Fury Corps; and Vice Chancellor, Prof. S.K. Mehta. The course is being organized by the Centre for Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan Studies, Department of History; and Department of Political Science.
In his welcome address, Prof. S.K. Mehta welcomed participants from the army, faculty members and media persons. He spoke about the objectives of the course and said that it would give necessary knowledge about Ladakh to the Army officers serving in the region.
Lt General Hitesh Bhalla also spoke about the benefit to the army personnel through this course from the distinguished faculty. members and resource persons. He also talked about the historical aspects of Ladakh and the importance of Ladakh. He thanked the Department of History and Centre for Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan Studies and the Department of Political Science for this informative course to the army personnel.
The course is a unique and important initiative by both the University of Ladakh and the Army. It is designed to impart a holistic understanding of the various aspects of Ladakh to the serving army officers in the region of Ladakh. The entire course is categorized into three themes viz Geography and Environment, History and Socio-Cultural Heritage of Ladakh.
The main objective behind designing this course is to give necessary information and knowledge of the region to the stakeholders serving in Ladakh, which would in turn help in forming a better bond and ties with the local people and their traditions. This understanding will also help in facilitating the execution of various developmental policies, which will lead to strengthening the symbiotic ties, particularly between the army and natives.
Other guests included Brig. Vinod, DGS, Intelligence, Col. Ravi Prakash, Dr. Sonam Joldan, Dean, Academic Affairs, Deans, coordinators,and faculty members of the Department of History and Political Science. At the end, Dr. Phuntsog Angmo, Dean Colleges, UoL presented the vote of thanks.
