Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Nov 10: Sonam Wangyal Memorial Committee (SWMC) organized a special prayer at Sonam Wangyal’s Memorial Chorten (Stupa) near Degree College here to pay homage to the late leader on his 19th death anniversary today. The function was attended by the religious heads, political heads, kin, relatives and well wishers of the leader.
On the occasion monks of Spituk Monastery recited special prayers for the peace of late leaders and offered ‘Khataks’ at his memorial Stupa by dignitaries, family members and well wishers.
Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, Dr Sonam Dawa, who chaired the observation ceremony of the death anniversary, announced to name Skalzangling-Agling road after Sonam Wangyal as a tribute to the leaders contribution to Ladakh and also assured to take up with the Government for a posthumous Kabir Puraskar award to Sonam Wangyal.
Former MLA and DCC President Tsering Samphel, who had worked with Sonam Wangyal decades ago, proposed that a research to highlight Wangyal’s contribution be carried out so that his struggles to uplift Ladakhi society in the post independence era can be passed on to the younger generation in the shape of a book.
He said Wangyal was a leader of the masses with a vision at a time when providing leadership to the poor people of Ladakh was not an easy task but was very crucial and Wangyal worked tirelessly to uplift the underprivileged people in the society which even irked the elites of the society who later stood against Wangyal.
Wangyal also succeeded in bringing an end to many injustices being meted out to the oppressed, Samphel added.
Dr Dawa, while endorsing Samphel’s proposal assured to support Sonam Wangyal Memorial Committee if such research is carried out.
Chairman Sonam Wangyal Memorial Committee, Tashi Targais Dimbir said Wangyal needs to be remembered as a principled leader who along with 19th Bakula Rinpoche worked tirelessly to address the social and economic injustices in Ladakh, bring to an end the system of force labour, and free the common people from the burden of debt and high interest that had kept them close to starvation. He proposed that the upcoming sport stadium at Spituk also be named after Wangyal and memorandum on behalf of the Committee in this regard was presented to Dr. Sonam Dawa.
Stage conductor Padma Shree Morup Namgyal termed Sonam Wangyal as a true leader of the poor people of Ladakh for his contribution to the oppressed people of Ladakh.
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