As 1947 came to a close, the calm of Ladakh’s rugged landscapes was broken by advancing tribal forces aided by Pakistan. Their bold goal was to capture Leh and eventually claim all of Ladakh. The strategic town of Leh, a gem in the Himalayas, was poorly defended, with only a platoon of 33 men from the State Forces. The stakes were high as Ladakh’s future was at risk.
To counter this audacious threat, a company of the 2nd Battalion of the Dogra Regiment set out from Srinagar on February 16, 1948. Their mission was daring—crossing the challenging Zojila Pass in harsh winter, a feat never tried before. Among them was Sonam Norbu, the first engineer from Ladakh. With a mission and ₹13,000, Norbu was about to make history.
Norbu and his team reached Leh on March 8, 1948. They faced a considerable challenge: turning the rugged terrain into an airstrip in less than a month. With the determination of the Ladakhi spirit, they began construction on March 12 in the harsh Himalayan climate. By April 6, against all odds, a 2,300-yard airstrip was ready, a true example of human effort and skill, completed with remarkable speed. Norbu spent only ₹10,891 and returned the remaining ₹2,109 to the treasury.
On April 6, 1948, Sonam Norbu sent a wireless message asking for aircraft and reinforcements. History was made when Mehar Singh landed a piston-engined Dakota on the new airstrip at 11,000 feet. This incredible achievement showed the power of aviation and was vital to saving Ladakh’s future.
Sonam Norbu’s work didn’t stop with the airstrip. He joined Jammu & Kashmir’s Public Works Department and played a crucial role in building the Srinagar-Leh road as the Chief Engineer with the Border Roads Organization. His vision and skills continued to shape the region’s infrastructure and future.
Today, the Leh Airfield is vital to India’s defence strategy. It reminds us of the brave journey taken in the winter of 1948 that changed a region’s destiny. Sonam Norbu shows how one person can shape a nation’s future through his engineering work and later contributions.
Originally published on Twitter
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