Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra launches ‘Katabita: The Hidden Doodleland’ in Leh
12/10/2026
Leh, October 11 (KIP)- Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today launched Katabita: The Hidden Doodleland, authored by Padma Angmo and published by Yige Publication, at Rang Thag in Leh.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary highlighted the significance of children’s imagination in interpreting mythology, spiritual narratives and the cultural heritage of a region. He described the process of documenting children’s imaginative expressions as fascinating, particularly in exploring the connections between spiritual stories, mythology and local landscapes.
Referring to his published book on the Northeast, the Chief Secretary described Ladakh and the Northeast as significant frontier regions situated on the northern and eastern frontiers, respectively. He noted that while the two regions share several similarities, they also possess distinct identities, histories and cultural experiences. Drawing from his experiences in the Northeast, he highlighted how literature captures changing landscapes and the lived experiences of women, conflict-affected communities and people in diverse frontier regions. He added that Ladakh’s landscapes, people and cultural imagery also leave a lasting impression.
Author Padma Angmo shared the inspiration behind Katabita: The Hidden Doodleland, which grew out of a storytelling and art workshop conducted with students of Munsel School, Leh, a school for children with disabilities. The book features original illustrations created by the students, with the story woven around their artwork, celebrating imagination, creativity and inclusion.
As part of the journey behind the book, the author and the Yige Publications team organised a celebratory event at Munsel School on September 28, 2026, in the presence of the student illustrators, their parents and school staff. During the event, certificates recognising artistic contributions of the students were presented by the author and publisher. The author also presented copies of the book and honorariums to the student illustrators in appreciation of their creativity and contribution to Katabita.
The author also highlighted the social purpose of the publication, noting that a portion of the proceeds from the book would support the welfare of children with disabilities in Ladakh.
Members of the publishing team shared their experiences of bringing the book to readers, while the author reflected on her creative journey and the collaborative process behind the publication.
The Chief Secretary encouraged people to read and share the book, expressing hope that it would reach a wider readership. He extended his best wishes to the author and the publishing team for their efforts.
Later, the Chief Secretary felicitated the author, members of the publishing team and the author’s family.