In July 2024, our team set out on a mission to connect Turtuk, a remote border village, to the digital world. The first step was a site survey—assessing the landscape, identifying potential connection points, and determining where our BTS (Base Transceiver Station) and main hub would be placed. Homestays, hospitals, and key community spaces were marked as priority locations for connectivity.
The challenge was clear—Turtuk’s existing internet infrastructure was unreliable. BSNL’s fiber-based network, the only available option, could take a week or more to restore when damaged. With no local engineers, repairs meant waiting for a technician from Leh, hours away. Power sources for the BTS were also scarce, making infrastructure planning even more critical.
In August, we returned, this time with hardware in hand. The mission had gained local support—residents eager for connectivity helped spread the word. Crucially, our approach was different. Unlike fiber, which was prone to breakage and long downtimes, we introduced a wireless network, offering stability and ease of maintenance. The region’s extreme weather made traditional subscription management cumbersome—pausing a connection required a trip to Leh just to submit a form. A better system was needed.
As installations began, momentum built. Connections went live, and demand grew. But by October, Turtuk began to wind down for the winter, with many residents temporarily relocating to Delhi, Chandigarh, or Leh.
Our work didn’t stop at Turtuk. Nearby, in Tyakshi, we discovered another BTS, presenting an opportunity to extend our network. A P2P (Point-to-Point) axis was established, bringing internet to four homestays in the village. Even beyond Turtuk, smaller communities remained disconnected.
One such village was Puchathang, accessible only via a rugged trek. With no roads leading in, our team hiked through challenging terrain to complete a site survey. The need was clear, and so was our mission—to ensure that this year, even Puchathang gets connected.
As we look ahead to summer 2025, the goal remains the same: bridging the digital divide, one village at a time.
“Oh, are you an electrician?” “What is this Wi-Fi business?” “Do you even make money doing this?” “How come you are doing this work as a girl?” These are just some of the common remarks Rabzes hears as she forges a new path in Ladakh’s digital landscape. But rather than letting these comments deter her, she embraces them as markers of the change she is driving.
Rabzes is Ladakh’s first female Internet Service Provider (ISP), leading the charge in bringing connectivity to the region’s most remote villages. Her journey has been anything but conventional, marked by perseverance, learning, and a passion for breaking stereotypes.
A Childhood of Curiosity and Learning
Growing up in Stok, Rabzes spent her childhood playing ‘teacher-teacher’ after school. Later, when she moved to Skalzangling in grade seven, she had better access to coaching centers, particularly for math and science. Though she had a laptop at home, the internet remained an unknown entity. Her first exposure to a laptop came through a tenant, as she had only seen computers in school. Driven by curiosity, she pleaded with her father, who was traveling to Delhi for business, to bring her one.
The Early Days of Internet Discovery
Rabzes first encountered Facebook in ninth grade, accessing it at a cyber café with her friends—a ritual that quickly became a daily routine after school. Phones were a rarity, and she received her first one in tenth grade, though without a SIM card. By the time she reached eleventh and twelfth grade, her focus shifted entirely to academics at her boarding school, where devices were not allowed. Determined to secure a place in a good university, she immersed herself in her studies.
A New Path in Taiwan
After completing high school, Rabzes pursued commerce in Delhi while simultaneously studying Chinese at DU. She had always envisioned herself studying in China or Taiwan. Although obtaining a Chinese visa proved difficult, she successfully secured one for Taiwan. However, delays in receiving graduation documents forced her to postpone her plans. Finally, in December 2019, she arrived in Taiwan, where she pursued an MBA while working part-time at an Indian restaurant and later as a teacher.
Finding Purpose in Connectivity
Upon returning to India, Rabzes continued working remotely in education, but she couldn’t ignore the persistent lack of internet access in her homeland. Her father, already acquainted with Durgesh, a founder of Hybrid Internet, saw an opportunity for collaboration. Inspired by the idea, Rabzes partnered with Hybrid Internet to expand its services in Ladakh, beginning with Stok and Saboo. In the following year, she fully committed herself to the mission.
Despite initial skepticism and gender biases, she immersed herself in the technical aspects of wireless connections. She encountered challenges, particularly in Shey, where inconsistent signal strength made traditional wireless solutions ineffective. Determined to find a solution, she learned fiber-optic connections from her engineer within two days, successfully bringing stable connectivity to the area.
Transforming Ladakh’s Digital Landscape
One of her most impactful projects was in Hanley, a village entirely cut off from the internet. The gratitude of the villagers upon receiving connectivity reaffirmed her purpose. Additionally, her expertise caught the attention of Oberoi Grand Hotel, which onboarded her for their Leh location—a major milestone in her career.
Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Change
Rabzes’ journey is a testament to the power of determination and breaking stereotypes. She believes that no job is too big or small, and that gender should never define one’s career choices. Her advice to young people is simple: if you are capable and determined, no barrier—technical or societal—can hold you back.
Through her work, she is not only bridging Ladakh’s digital divide but also inspiring a new generation of women to pursue careers in technology. Rabzes is living proof that with vision, hard work, and resilience, unconventional dreams can become reality.
What if your ability to learn, grow, and connect with the world was limited simply by where you were born? This was the reality for Tashi, a young boy from the breathtaking yet remote town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Home to the second-largest monastery in Asia, Tawang is known for its serene beauty—but beneath its picturesque landscape lies a struggle for connectivity and access to opportunities.
Tashi’s journey is one of resilience, loss, and an unwavering commitment to digital transformation. His story is a testament to how challenges can be turned into stepping stones for meaningful change.
A Childhood Marked by Love and Loss
Tashi’s earliest memories are filled with the warmth of his father’s love. Every day, his father carried him on his back to school, weaving new stories along the way. These moments of closeness became the foundation of his childhood. However, life took an unexpected turn when he lost his father while still in the second grade. With this loss came new hardships, including the inability to continue at his private school. But fate had a new chapter waiting for him—one that led him to Manjushree Vidyapith, where he found not only an education but a nurturing community that felt like home.
The Manjushree Experience: More Than Just Academics
Manjushree Vidyapith was more than just a school; it was a sanctuary that instilled values of kindness, resilience, and gratitude in its students. Many of the children there came from similar backgrounds, creating an unspoken understanding and support system among them. Every morning, students engaged in prayers, meditation, and gratitude practices—rituals that nurtured emotional well-being and provided a sense of stability. In today’s fast-paced, anxiety-ridden world, these early teachings remain invaluable, shaping students into compassionate and grounded individuals.
A Life-Changing Encounter with the Internet
Tashi’s first encounter with the internet in 2009, when he was in grade six, was a moment of collective wonder. Before then, students had only read about it in books, never truly grasping its potential. When they finally accessed it, curiosity turned into awe. The internet became an instant gateway to the world beyond Tawang. It revolutionized the way they communicated with donors and well-wishers. Until then, they had relied on letters that took weeks to reach their destinations. With the internet, they could finally share their thoughts and gratitude in real time, breaking down the barriers of remoteness.
The Digital Divide in Tawang
However, while the internet brought newfound possibilities, it also highlighted the stark digital divide in Tawang. The region’s geographical isolation meant that connectivity remained inconsistent, making access to digital resources a privilege rather than a norm. This challenge became even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when education and work moved online. Many students and professionals struggled to stay connected, with some having to walk miles just to charge their phones or find a stable network. Others were completely cut off, missing out on vital opportunities.
Bridging the Gap: Tashi’s Mission
Determined to change this reality, Tashi embarked on a mission to bring reliable digital connectivity to Tawang. Alongside his team, he implemented innovative solutions like solar-powered internet setups to ensure stable connections in the most remote corners. The task was not easy—difficult terrain, lack of infrastructure, and erratic power supply made the work even more challenging. Yet, with persistence, they found ways to overcome these hurdles. Each milestone achieved was not just a technical victory but a transformative moment for the community. Improved connectivity meant better education, smoother business operations, and a stronger local economy.
Tourists, who once hesitated to stay longer due to connectivity issues, now found it easier to remain, providing a boost to local businesses. More importantly, students no longer had to walk miles just to attend online classes or complete assignments. The impact of this work has been deeply rewarding, reaffirming Tashi’s belief that technology can be a bridge to equal opportunities.
A Message for Future Generations
Tashi believes that curiosity is the key to lifelong learning. He encourages students, especially those from Manjushree Vidyapith, to ask questions and seek knowledge beyond textbooks. In an era where time moves fast, he emphasizes the importance of learning new skills beyond academics. The internet, when used wisely, can be a powerful tool for growth and success. Most importantly, he urges young minds never to shy away from dreaming big, regardless of their background.
His journey from a young boy in Tawang to a digital changemaker serves as an inspiration to many. It is proof that no matter how remote a place may be, with determination, innovation, and a spirit of service, it can be connected to the world. Tashi’s work continues to inspire, reminding us all that even the most challenging terrains can become pathways to progress.
Imagine standing amidst the breathtaking serenity of the Himalayas—snow-capped peaks glistening in the sun, the crisp mountain air invigorating your spirit. Now, imagine this serenity marred by something entirely unnatural: discarded plastic bottles, wrappers, and waste, scattered across the pristine landscape. This is the stark reality in many mountainous regions today. But at Jhamtse Gatsal, a community and school nestled in the remote Himalayan village of Lumla, Arunachal Pradesh, something remarkable is taking shape.
A Vision Beyond Education
Jhamtse Gatsal, which means “Garden of Compassion” in Tibetan, is more than just a school—it is a thriving community built on the pillars of love, compassion, and sustainability. While the school provides its students with a robust academic foundation, it goes beyond conventional education by instilling a deep respect for the environment. In this idyllic yet vulnerable setting, the community faces a modern menace: plastic waste. The lack of proper waste disposal systems in the region has exacerbated the issue, making innovation and action not just desirable but necessary.
From Problem to Opportunity: Tackling Plastic Waste
The journey began with a simple yet profound question: What if the waste we produce could be repurposed into something valuable? The community at Jhamtse Gatsal embraced this challenge, transforming it into an opportunity to educate, innovate, and inspire. They established a plastic recycling initiative that integrates environmental consciousness into the daily lives of students and staff.
The initiative collects plastic waste from the school, surrounding villages, and even nearby government schools, where students are encouraged to gather plastic and bring it to Jhamtse Gatsal for recycling. This collaborative effort not only addresses the waste issue but also spreads awareness about the importance of recycling in preserving the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The Art of Repurposing: Creativity Meets Sustainability
What happens to the collected plastic? This is where Jhamtse Gatsal’s ingenuity shines. Under the guidance of dedicated mentors, students learn to transform plastic waste into usable and creative products. Old plastic bottles are turned into plant holders, wrappers become woven mats, and other discarded materials find new life as decorative or practical items.
For instance, students craft bricks from compressed plastic waste, which are then used in construction projects. These bricks are durable, cost-effective, and a testament to the potential of turning trash into treasure. By engaging students in this hands-on process, the school teaches them that even the smallest efforts can contribute to solving big problems.
Ripple Effects: A Community Transformed
The impact of Jhamtse Gatsal’s recycling practices extends far beyond the boundaries of its campus. Surrounding communities are increasingly inspired to adopt similar practices, reducing their reliance on single-use plastics and rethinking waste management. Government school children who once disposed of plastic waste indiscriminately now actively participate in collecting and repurposing it.
The students at Jhamtse Gatsal emerge not just as environmentally conscious individuals but as change-makers who carry the message of sustainability wherever they go. The initiative has become a blueprint for how education, community action, and environmental stewardship can coexist harmoniously.
A Lesson for the World
Jhamtse Gatsal’s efforts underscore a powerful lesson: environmental challenges, no matter how daunting, can be met with creativity, collaboration, and compassion. In turning waste into worth, this Himalayan community has shown that solutions to even the most pressing problems can emerge when people work together with purpose.
As we marvel at their success, let’s ask ourselves: What can we learn from Jhamtse Gatsal’s example? How can we, in our own lives, turn waste into worth and make the world a cleaner, greener place?
The answer, as Jhamtse Gatsal teaches us, lies in the transformative power of small, consistent actions. With a little innovation and a lot of heart, we can all become stewards of our planet.
On a crisp morning in Turtuk, a village perched at the edge of India, we stumbled upon a group of children laughing by a brook. They were splashing water, their faces alight with mischief, as if untouched by the challenges of their remote home. Their laughter was infectious, but beneath it lay a story of challenges, perseverance, and dreams tethered to an unsteady educational foundation.
When we asked these young learners about school, their answers were candid and thought-provoking. One common thread emerged: consistency.
The Struggle for Stability
Turtuk’s schools rely heavily on volunteer teachers, which brings passion and diversity but also creates a significant hurdle—frequent teacher turnover. As educators come and go, students must adapt to new teaching styles, often within the same academic year. It’s like resetting their learning journey repeatedly, leaving gaps in their understanding and stability.
For these children, textbooks in Hindi—a language they’re still mastering—pose an additional challenge. With limited access to resources, the classroom often becomes the only place they can attempt to make sense of unfamiliar words and concepts. But what happens when they don’t understand something during the lesson? Who do they turn to when the teacher is no longer around?
A Bridge Called the Internet
In our conversation, their wish was simple yet profound: access to the internet. They didn’t dream of games or entertainment; they dreamed of learning. They saw the internet as a tool to revisit lessons, seek explanations in Hindi, and build a solid foundation for their studies.
“If we had the internet,” one child said shyly, “we could find videos that explain our lessons better. If we don’t understand what the teacher says, we can learn it again.”
For them, the internet represents consistency in a world of constant change. It’s a bridge to revisit forgotten lessons, a tutor to clarify confusion, and a mentor that doesn’t leave. With online access, they could learn at their own pace, returning to concepts until they feel confident.
Education Beyond Borders
Turtuk’s story is a reminder of the power of connectivity. For these children, the internet isn’t just a tool—it’s a lifeline to stable, consistent education. It’s a way to overcome the barriers of language and geography. It’s an opportunity to dream beyond the confines of a remote village.
Imagine a world where a child in Turtuk, after struggling to understand a chapter in a Hindi textbook, could watch an engaging video that breaks it down step by step. Imagine a teacher thousands of miles away inspiring a love for science in a classroom they’ve never set foot in. Imagine the collective dreams of Turtuk’s children taking flight, powered by the endless possibilities of online learning.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Turtuk’s children showed us something we often forget: the internet isn’t just about convenience—it’s about equity. Their desire for connectivity isn’t driven by frivolity but by a hunger to learn, to grow, and to keep pace with the rest of the world.
As we walked away from the brook that day, the kids waved, their laughter echoing in the mountain air. But their voices stayed with us, a poignant reminder of why we do what we do. Bridging the digital divide isn’t just about technology; it’s about giving children like those in Turtuk a fair chance to rewrite their futures.
Let’s work to make their dreams a reality. One connection at a time
