founder Ladags Sargyur
who donated Rs 26 lakh as seed money for the newspaper's continued publication
Ladags Sargyur, a bi-monthly local newspaper, was founded in the late 1990s by Shri Chhimet Namgyal, a resident of Tia village from the Palay family. After serving over 35 years in the Handloom Department of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir government, Shri Chhimet retired as District Superintendent in 1999 and took on the role of editor, driving the newspaper's mission to inform and engage the local community.
In 2013, the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) took Ladags Sargyur under its wing, with the late Dr. Lobzang Jamspal, a renowned scholar and respected figure in the Buddhist community from Basgo village, providing generous financial support. This partnership marked a significant turning point in the newspaper's history. Dr. Lobzang Jamspel was a respected figure, particularly within the Buddhist community, known for his expertise in Sanskrit and classical Tibetan. He had taught as a lecturer at Columbia University and as a professor at the International Buddhist College (IBC) in Thailand.
During the 2014 Kalachakra teachings in Leh, His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurated the newly built Riglam School hostel and re-launched Ladags Sargyur, infusing new energy into the newspaper.
Following Shri Chhimet's passing in March 2015, the newspaper temporarily ceased publication for two months. It resumed in May 2015 under Mr. Tashi Namgyal's editorship from Skurbuchan. The newspaper underwent changes in editorship, language, and frequency due to budget constraints and other challenges. Between 2017 and mid-2018, a bilingual publication was introduced to expand readership, with Sh. Morup Stanzin from Tia village editing the English section. However, sustaining this format proved challenging due to budget limitations.
Despite these challenges, Ladags Sargyur persevered. In December 2020, Sh Thupstan Chewang became LBA President, and Mr. Tashi Namgyal returned as editor, resuming fortnightly publication. Later, due to budget constraints and the COVID-19 pandemic, the hard copy was discontinued, and only soft copies were circulated via social media.
In May 2025, Sh Chering Dorjay Lakrook became LBA President, and Ms. Palmo continued as editor. Today, Ladags Sargyur remains a vital source of local news, published fortnightly under Ms. Palmo's editorial guidance.
In 2018, Dr. Lobzang Jamspal donated Rs.26 lakh as seed money for the newspaper's continued publication, helping sustain Ladags Sargyur and ensuring its legacy as a trusted voice for the local community.