Himank
Encyclopedia
Himank is a project of the Border Roads Organisation
(BRO) in the Ladakh
region of northernmost India
that started in August 1985. Himank is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and related infrastructure including the world's highest motorable roads across the Khardung La
, Tanglang La
and Chang La passes. Himank's work ensures access to sensitive military areas including the world's highest battle-ground at the Siachen Glacier
and Pangong Tso Lake (at 14500 ft) whose waters span the de facto India-China border. Nicknamed “The Mountain Tamers”, Himank's personnel battling tough terrain and extreme climatic conditions and are constrained in most areas to work within a short working season of four months as roads get blocked by heavy snow and extreme cold temperatures. Between 1987 and 2002 at least 124 Himank personnel were killed while on duty in Ladakh including five officers. Most of the manual labourers are from Bihar
not from Ladakh. They are nicknamed Dumkas after a village where many of the original Himank workers were recruited.
Other Himank signboards, notably those in the Nubra Valley
, offer philosophical statements from those as disparate as singer Patti LaBelle, French author Jules Renard
, author Jimmy Buffett
and early Zionist Jessie Sampter
.
Border Roads Organisation
The Border Roads Organisation maintains roads that serve the borders areas of India. It is staffed with a combination of Border Roads Engineering Service officers from the General Reserve Engineer Force and officers from the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army. The organisation develops and...
(BRO) in the Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
region of northernmost India
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
that started in August 1985. Himank is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and related infrastructure including the world's highest motorable roads across the Khardung La
Khardung La
Khardung La is a high mountain pass located in the Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India...
, Tanglang La
Tanglang la
Taglang La, elevation , is a high mountain pass in Ladakh, India.It is sometimes incorrectly claimed to be the world’s second highest motorable pass at an altitude of 5,325 m. . See the article on Khardung La for a discussion of the world's highest motorable passes...
and Chang La passes. Himank's work ensures access to sensitive military areas including the world's highest battle-ground at the Siachen Glacier
Siachen Glacier
The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Mountains at about , just east of the Line of Control between India-Pakistan. India controls all of the Siachen Glacier itself, including all tributary glaciers. At long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and...
and Pangong Tso Lake (at 14500 ft) whose waters span the de facto India-China border. Nicknamed “The Mountain Tamers”, Himank's personnel battling tough terrain and extreme climatic conditions and are constrained in most areas to work within a short working season of four months as roads get blocked by heavy snow and extreme cold temperatures. Between 1987 and 2002 at least 124 Himank personnel were killed while on duty in Ladakh including five officers. Most of the manual labourers are from Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
not from Ladakh. They are nicknamed Dumkas after a village where many of the original Himank workers were recruited.
Historical Landmarks
- Himank constructed the world's highest Bailey BridgeBailey bridgeThe Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed by the British during World War II for military use and saw extensive use by both British and the American military engineering units....
at Khardung La, though this has been subsequently replaced by a causeway. - Himank's opening of the SrinagarSrinagarSrinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
to Leh highway in May 1999 was a crucial factor in Operation VijayOperation Vijay (1999)In the 1999 Kargil Conflict between India and Pakistan, Operation Vijay was the name of the successful Indian operation to push back the infiltrators from the Kargil Sector...
allowing India to make a timely military response in the Kargil warKargil WarThe Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...
.
Road Signs
Project HIMANK is known to have humorous road signs, photos of which are the subject of the book Peep Peep Don't Sleep. Examples include:
Let your insurance policy mature before you.
On the bend go slow friend
Feel the curves : Do not test them
Darling I like you : but not so fast
Safety on road : is “safe tea” : at home
After whisky : driving risky
Don't Gossip Let Him Drive
If you are married, divorce speed
Other Himank signboards, notably those in the Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley is about 150 km north of Leh, the capital town of Ladakh, India. Local scholars say that its original name was Ldumra . The Shyok River meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and the Karakoram Ranges. The average altitude of the valley is...
, offer philosophical statements from those as disparate as singer Patti LaBelle, French author Jules Renard
Jules Renard
Pierre-Jules Renard or Jules Renard was a French author and member of the Académie Goncourt, most famous for the works Poil de carotte and Les Histoires Naturelles...
, author Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
and early Zionist Jessie Sampter
Jessie Sampter
Jessie Sampter was an influential Zionist educator, a poet, and a Zionist pioneer born March 22, 1883 in New York City. She died at Beilinson Hospital at 10:00 am on November 25, 1938....
.