This book offers a simplistic explanation of articles, faith, history, culture, tourism in Ladakh. Any first-time visitor to Ladakh is bound to get mystified by many strange looking objects, some unusual rituals and of course a very harsh climate. This book will help such travellers to understand Ladakh better and prepare them for what lies ahead. Then there are things of beauty that will dazzle anyone. A simple introduction into such issues like landscape, art and craft, social structure and so on has been offered for the travellers who travel out of love for the place rather than for running away from their busy lives. The core issue remains Buddhist Ladakh. Authors:- This team of TWO consists of a Ladakhi man who is a scholar and has many published works to his credit. The other one is a traveller, writer and a die-hard Ladakh addict. The work is, thus, an output of two minds- one insider and other from outside. The mix has a healthy tone to it and a traveller would identify with the explanations easily.
This work probes the circumstances surrounding the ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide of Kashmiri Hindus⸺ the torchbearers of Valley’s ancient culture. All the typical stages of genocide from classification of the victims to the denial of culpability are clearly visible in the narrative. Real-life incidents bring to light the discrimination this educated community faced in the Valley, the dire circumstances under which they had to flee their motherland and their dogged determination to once again rebuild their lives. These aboriginals chose to abandon their homes, but not their faith. They not only survived this calamity but also thrived, and that is an inspiration for all the persecuted people. The fact that not even one act of violent revenge can be ascribed to Kashmiri Hindus, speaks volumes about their ethos.
India’s relatively young democracy must understand the build-up, compulsions, and unfiltered actions of its Armed Forces in moments of extreme tribulations, stripped of any partisan or vested agenda. Soldiers like Col Ranbir, VrC, have earned that right, duty, and responsibility to tell their tale as responsible patriots. I commend this book to all interested as a very significant contribution towards the literature on a momentous event that reshaped the destiny of the subcontinent. Happy Reading, and here’s wishing Col Ranbir, VrC, much success with this book and many more to come. Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh (Retd), AVSM, PVSM Former Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands & Puducherry Former Col of the Rajput Regiment, President’s Bodyguards & Army Physical Training Corps
"HOW THE WIND BLEW - Operation Pawan - IPKF veterans tell their stories" is a collection of personal accounts of experiences from the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) deployment in the Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka in 1987-90. An effort has been made to include accounts of all three Services and also include an account of a widow and the son of a fallen officer. For many of the contributors, this has been their first attempt of putting their experiences and thoughts on paper and has dredged up many memories, some happy and some not so happy. The contributors were mainly from the Infantry - company officers, company commanders, Second in Commands 2sIC) and Commanding Officers, Others include Doctors, helicopter pilots and Captains of Naval Vessels....."VALIANT WERE THEIR DEEDS"
