![Scholars and researchers from different parts of world, posing for a group photograph during international conference on Ladakh Studies at Poland. Scholars and researchers from different parts of world, posing for a group photograph during international conference on Ladakh Studies at Poland.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/page7-22.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 11: The 5-day long conference of the International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS) that concluded last week at Bedlewo in Poland, brought together a galaxy of scholars and researchers from different parts of the world who keep an interest on Ladakh and its issues.
The 18th IALS colloquium in Poland was organized by the Committee of Ethnological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences – Eastern Research Commission and the Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology – Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, together with Institute of Asian and African Studies Humboldt University Berlin.
More than 50 researchers including senior scholars like John Bray and Martijn Van Beek who have been working in Ladakh and the Himalayans for many decades now, presented papers during the 5-day long conference.
Ladakhi research scholars who presented papers included Gelong Phontsog Wangchuk, Gulzar Munshi, Rinchen Dolma (from LAMO), Rinchen Dolma (from information department) journalist Tsewang Rigzin, independent researchers Dr Deldan Kunzes Angmo and Dr Konchok Dorjey, Stanzin Yangdol from Punjab University Chandigarh, Namgyal Angmo from Ashoka University and Samina Khan, Lobzang Chosdup and Jigmet Spaldon from JNU.
International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS) provides contacts between all who are interested in the study of Ladakh, and to disseminate information about proposed and completed research and publications. To do this, the IALS organises conferences (usually every other year, alternatively in Europe and Ladakh), arranges publication of the proceedings, and publishes a biannual journal, “Ladakh Studies”.
Meeting of the General Body of the IALS was also held at the end of the session and it was decided that next IALS conference will be organized in Ladakh in 2019.
Under the initiative of Henry Osmaston, the International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS) was formed in the early 1980s.