In Four layers of warm clothes, I found my new home
Internship at HIAL, Ladakh
Back in 12th grade, I first came across HIAL (Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh) through Vandana Shiva and Sonam Wangchuk. Their work with communities fascinated me, and ever since, I hoped for an opportunity to be a part of it. After countless cold emails and two rounds of interviews, I finally got an internship at HIAL in the summer of 2023.
During my time there, I worked across multiple roles—with Sonam Wangchuk, Geetanjali Angmo, and the HIAL team. My first month was spent collaborating with Jaii shrivardhankar (fellow Designer) and the events team on Pride of Ladakh, a cultural initiative that showcased Ladakh’s heritage through dance, cuisine, and local crafts. We designed exhibition resources, visual assets, and curated the event alongside local communities. It was a moment of realization—design wasn’t just about planning or aesthetics but about enabling communities to articulate their thoughts and scale their ideas more effectively.
Alongside, I worked under Geetanjali Angmo on the foundational research for the Trans-Himalayan University, an initiative grounded in experiential learning inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy. My role was to map diverse educational philosophies, document their approaches, and curate them into accessible learning insights for the team. Conducting primary research, interviewing schoolteachers, headmasters, and academics across India, we learnt about the complexities of Ladakh’s education system—where motivations, cultural narratives, and systemic challenges shaped learning.
During my time there, I worked across multiple roles—with Sonam Wangchuk, Geetanjali Angmo, and the HIAL team. My first month was spent collaborating with Jaii shrivardhankar (fellow Designer) and the events team on Pride of Ladakh, a cultural initiative that showcased Ladakh’s heritage through dance, cuisine, and local crafts. We designed exhibition resources, visual assets, and curated the event alongside local communities. It was a moment of realization—design wasn’t just about planning or aesthetics but about enabling communities to articulate their thoughts and scale their ideas more effectively.
Alongside, I worked under Geetanjali Angmo on the foundational research for the Trans-Himalayan University, an initiative grounded in experiential learning inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy. My role was to map diverse educational philosophies, document their approaches, and curate them into accessible learning insights for the team. Conducting primary research, interviewing schoolteachers, headmasters, and academics across India, we learnt about the complexities of Ladakh’s education system—where motivations, cultural narratives, and systemic challenges shaped learning.
With Sir Sonam Wangchuk
Beyond work, my time in Ladakh was shaped by the family I lived with in Phyang village. I called them Ammaley (mother) and Aabaley (father), and they became much more. They took me to village weddings, and taught me skills I never imagined learning—knitting, weaving, and farming in extreme dry heat. Besides, I taught them how to celebrate their marriage anniversary. I found a new home with them.
Beyond work, my time in Ladakh was shaped by the family I lived with in Phyang village. I called them Ammaley (mother) and Aabaley (father), and they became much more. They took me to village weddings, and taught me skills I never imagined learning—knitting, weaving, and farming in extreme dry heat. Besides, I taught them how to celebrate their marriage anniversary. I found a new home with them.
Ammaley, in particular, was an inspiration. She managed a grocery store, a farm, a Pashmina weaving unit employing village women, and a small business producing apricot and seabuckthorn juice. Her resilience, adaptability, and sheer willpower moved me deeply. HIAL offers social entrepreneurship funding, providing capital and mentorship to grassroots entrepreneurs. It felt like the perfect opportunity to scale up Ammaley’s juice business.
I worked with her to make a brand pitch and redesign her packaging, and she was selected for funding—an incredible moment of validation for her work. Sonam Wangchuk himself supported her, and seeing her confidence grow was one of the most rewarding parts of my internship.
Ammaley, in particular, was an inspiration. She managed a grocery store, a farm, a Pashmina weaving unit employing village women, and a small business producing apricot and seabuckthorn juice. Her resilience, adaptability, and sheer willpower moved me deeply. HIAL offers social entrepreneurship funding, providing capital and mentorship to grassroots entrepreneurs. It felt like the perfect opportunity to scale up Ammaley’s juice business.
I worked with her to make a brand pitch and redesign her packaging, and she was selected for funding—an incredible moment of validation for her work. Sonam Wangchuk himself supported her, and seeing her confidence grow was one of the most rewarding parts of my internship.
The culture at HIAL was rooted in shared learning. Every month, a team member presented a book they had read. On my last day, I shared “Remnants of a Separation” by Aanchal Malhotra, a book on material memory from the Partition. It resonated deeply with the space we were in—the idea of identity and memory embedded in objects and traditions.
The culture at HIAL was rooted in shared learning. Every month, a team member presented a book they had read. On my last day, I shared “Remnants of a Separation” by Aanchal Malhotra, a book on material memory from the Partition. It resonated deeply with the space we were in—the idea of identity and memory embedded in objects and traditions.
During my time I eat alot of local dishes and that taste grew on me. I still miss that bowl filled with piping hot Skyu Chunks of Paba with dal and fresh fruits. Kholak with leftover veggies from the previous night’s dinner, and the aroma of steaming momos. The Khambir sandwich, Timuk and Paneer Sabji. I tried documenting the food I ate during my time there which you can find on my instagram.
During my time I eat alot of local dishes and that taste grew on me. I still miss that bowl filled with piping hot Skyu Chunks of Paba with dal and fresh fruits. Kholak with leftover veggies from the previous night’s dinner, and the aroma of steaming momos. The Khambir sandwich, Timuk and Paneer Sabji. I tried documenting the food I ate during my time there which you can find on my instagram.
Beyond work, it was the friendships with the other interns that shaped my time there—learning Urdu from Salim, Ladakhi words from Aache Jigmet and Rinchen ,optimism from Namsang, and the simple joy of living from Jai. Each of them left an imprint on how I see and experience the world.
Two months in Ladakh weren’t just about work; they were about unlearning, finding home in a new community, and embracing slowness. Articulating it all feels nostalgic and overwhelming—it was a time of learning that extended far beyond design and research. It was a shift in how I understood myself and my surrounding world.
Beyond work, it was the friendships with the other interns that shaped my time there—learning Urdu from Salim, Ladakhi words from Aache Jigmet and Rinchen ,optimism from Namsang, and the simple joy of living from Jai. Each of them left an imprint on how I see and experience the world.
Two months in Ladakh weren’t just about work; they were about unlearning, finding home in a new community, and embracing slowness. Articulating it all feels nostalgic and overwhelming—it was a time of learning that extended far beyond design and research. It was a shift in how I understood myself and my surrounding world.
Working with Aache JIgmet and Deldan Agmo for the HIAL Social Enterpreunrs funding
In Four layers of warm clothes, I found my new home
Internship at HIAL, Ladakh
Back in 12th grade, I first came across HIAL ( Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh ) through Vandana Shiva and Sonam Wangchuk. Their work with communities fascinated me, and ever since, I hoped for an opportunity to be a part of it. After countless cold emails and two rounds of interviews, I finally got an internship at HIAL in the summer of 2023.
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