Walking in Circles - Zanskar Documentary 2007

A documentary focusing on two stories which centre of the Himalayan valley of Zanskar. Interweaving the account of three English housewives who travelled to Zanskar in the 1950's with a contemporary ecological threat in the valley in 2007 the film contrasts the innocence both of the early travellers and their insights with the daily realities in this remote valley.

[@MsKestrela]

I'm recently obsessed with the history and culture of Zanskar. I'm taken with the inevitability yet hope, of the culture and modernization. Faith, ritual, tradition...keeping up with the modern world, solving modern problems, allowing the future to happen...such a conundrum. Thanks for the upload!

[@mdjsalter]

Hi there I have been fascinated by Zanskar since my first visit in 1987. That fascination led me to find the three women in the film and back to the valley some 20 years after my first visit. Thanks for viewing the film. I have other historical footage of the valley which I am currently archiving and will share in time. Best Martin

[@abhinavthakur9509]

Excellent documentary...I hope people in Zanskar are now over with locust

[@mdjsalter]

Thanks. The locust problem has been an ongoing concern in Zanskar in recent years but life continues inspite of the great challenges the Zanskarpa face. Your comment is much appreciated.

[@babampop6954]

Thanks u share old video

[@stonew1927]

Excellent documentary. Thank you for sharing it with us via KZbin. It seems that this video was shot before the new all weather road was completed into the valley. There's also a high school in the main village, so I imagine that the life that once was no longer exists in this beautiful, once remote valley. I know that people desire technology to make their lives easier. Certainly these people deserve better health care, that sort of thing. But I can't help but mourn for the loss of innocence that once was. Indeed life was extremely difficult, and yet it was less complicated. It's the same story the world over. Modern society encroaches on even the most remote societies, thereby transforming them forever, and often, if not always, leading to the demise of what once was. Well, even Buddhism says that change is inevitable and we must not be attached. But damn it why can't preserve a simpler way of being and appreciate the immediacy of living in tune with nature, with the elements, as these people have done forever? The young men wearing Western style clothing I find extremely disturbing. Basically it's the end of a culture that existed there for centuries. On the bright side, if I ever do make it there I can take a bus and stay in one of the new hostels and listen to loud Indian music while I eat Indian food. Oh nevermind.....

[@stonew1927]

Another point, I've seen several of these types of documentaries set in the Himalaya and it's not the first to mention climate change. Even a friend posted pictures of a trek he did in Nepal recently and I was surprised at how little snow there was compared with the same time of year that I was there nearly 30 years ago. He said that that's more common now. Another documentary about yak hurders in Sikkim also mentioned warmer winters and less snow. Climate change is very real, and the fact that the changes can be perceived in one generation is extremely alarming to anyone who cares about life on our planet.

[@mdjsalter]

The road from Chilling which I mentioned in the film still has not been built some 10 years after I made this documentary. The new road from Darcha over the Pensi La has now reached Kargyag and is heading down towards Testa and will eventually meet the road coming out of Padum. From all my correspondence with people in the valley the road is an absolute essential and one the great myths is that Zanskar is isolated from the outside world. People have been travelling in and out of the valley for centuries and many of the young people have travelled all across India and the wider world. I think the core spirit of Zanskar and the culture it retains will not be affected by the incoming road - the problem perhaps will be the growth in tourism and the demands this will bring on the infrastructure of the valley. Also if the Indian army decide to use Zanskar as a munitions dump in their on going border conflicts with Pakistan this might prove problematic. All in all though please be assured that from my limited experience and my continued communication with the young graduates at university from Zanskari villages the spirit of the valley is strong and can deal with outside influences. Thanks so much for watching the film and sharing your comments.

[@mdjsalter]

Change that from Pensi La to Shingo La - it's been a long day !!

[@stonew1927]

Thank you for your reply. It's reassuring to know that the culture remains strong. However, from viewing other videos it appears that the young people no longer want to remain in the villages to farm, etc. They've eschewed their traditional clothing for Western style clothes. And fewer males are interested in becoming monks. So I think in the long run it is concerning that they are able to maintain their culture and traditions going strong....

[@mdjsalter]

The glaciers are definitely melting. The basic science is that there is insufficient snow at the top end of the glacier each year to replenish the melt at the bottom end. Also black carbon soot from the Indian plains is speeding up this melt. Also the Tibetan plateau, like the arctic, is warming faster than other parts of the planet. The mistake in the ICC climate change report some years ago was that the glaciers would be gone by 2035 which was meant to read 2350. As the arctic is melting faster than expected so too I would imagine are the Himalayan glaciers. With now melt there will be reduced river flow in India in the future. If the melt is unstoppable then ways to conserve water are going to need to be developed such as the artificial glacier projects of Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh.

[@phuntsokangrup3871]

Just few days back the road manali to padum via shinkula pass has opened for the first time. Now manali to padum can be reached by car in a day.

[@mdjsalter]

I travelled this road last October. An amazing accomplishment by the local monk who drove the construction forwards. We had the pleasure to meet him and interview him for the new film we are working on. I am now friends with Stanzin Gyachin the singer whose song Gol Gol has become very popular. He is actually one of the young kids at the opening of the film in Raru. Zanskar has changed so much in the past 30 years but it still remains uniquely independent in spirit and boundless in hospitality.

[@tash_Ladakhi1111]

omg! the way people talk with is amazing, cannot get over this.

[@mdjsalter]

THanks Tashi. Sorry for not responding earlier. We have been in Zanskar again last September shooting a new film with Stanzin Gyachin and his friends. Gyachin is from Testa and is one of the kids featured at the opening of the film in Raru. I did not realise this until we had finished filming last year !!

[@gaps1199]

thank you very much .it was very interesting .i am from zanskar

[@mdjsalter]

GAPS 11 Hi there Where are you from in Zanskar? How is life for you and your friends these days? I am interested in maybe coming back next year and making a film about youth in the valley. Best Martin

[@gaps1199]

hello Martin I am from youlang . and yes they are well there . right now I am not in Zanskar .I am in Himachsl India .

[@gaps1199]

i am in Norbulingka Institute ( norbulingka college ) Dharamsala ,Himachal Pradesh,

[@gaps1199]

thank you so much for uploaded .i enjoyed it .

[@silvialuciabegni8397]

W😍w, thank you! So so precious 🙏🏼

[@mojo5093]

oh blimey

[@mdjsalter]

Thank you Silvia. We have returned to Zanskar last year to make a new film and I will be uploading that to my channel later this year.

[@LeonGustaveStuart1899]

☸️🌼🙏🙏🙏🌼☸️ ~Julley, ~Tashi Delek, ~ ☸️🙏🙏🌸LHA GYALO 🌸🙏🙏☸️ The Culture, Language and ~Dharma and way of life in ~Zanskar must never be lost ...Nice Documentary..I actually was in a small second hand book store in my home town a few years ago and I came across that book about the 3 ladies that traveled Overland from England to India and beyond to ~Zanskar 🙂🙂 ~Julley ☸️🌸🙏🙏🙏🌸☸️ 🌲🌲🌾🌾🌾🌲

[@mdjsalter]

Thanks Sergei. They are now in pre production of a feature film version of the women's story. So the journey continues !!

[@shantanumundhe6403]

"career are 20th centuries invention"-Chris McCandless huge respect for making this documentary martin sir!!! thank you. threat is real... let it be global warming or anything else... world is getting advanced but is it getting happier??? i dont think answer is yes..

[@mdjsalter]

Thanks for your response to my film. I apologise for not responding earlier. We returned to Zanskar last year to work with some of the children featured at the opening of this film. One is Stanzin Gyachin who is now 24 and he is starring in a drama we shot in Padum and Lungnak Valley. I will let you know when it is ready to view on You Tube.

[@yeskarms8685]

Hi all, i recognized Tenzin's mother in this video in the scene where women were singing. Tenzin's mother features in another video called "becoming a woman in Zanskar" where the tradition of marriage of her daughter Tenzin is captured.

[@mdjsalter]

Thank you for your comment. We were in Zanskar again last September and a new film is coming early next year. I will let you know when it is uploaded.

[@bijooadil6414]

so interesting...

[@lobsangtenzin4522]

Wow wonderful

[@mdjsalter]

Thanks for your reply. I am sorry for not responding earlier. I have a feature film shot with local students from Lungnak Valley coming out next year. I will let you know when it is ready !!

[@sajadkhan-cf3nh]

Thanks

[@nestormatos8477]

May God watch over Zanskar and give its youth wisdom

[@sukumarsarkar8758]

Thanks

[@mdjsalter]

Hi Nestor. Many thanks and sorry for late response. I don't check my You Tube much. We shot a new drama film in Zanskar last September with some of the kids featured in the opening of this film. They are now in their early 20's. I will let you know when it is available to view on You Tube. All the best

[@abisu5273]

Hi.. I know 2 boys (now men), both called Stanzin Zanskar..from SECMOL.. they would have been about five and seven in 2007. I wonder if they see themselves here. :-)

[@mdjsalter]

Thanks for the comment. One of the boys at the beginning is Stanzin Gyachin from Testa village and I had the pleasure to meet with him and work on a new story we shot in Zanskar last September. This will be available to see on You Tube early next year. Gyachin is of course the singer who released Gol Gol so he is now famous boy from Lungnak !!

[@zanskarinmotion7403]

This is very beautiful cover, I really like it. I'm a film maker from Zanskar, Can I contact you.!!

[@mdjsalter]

Only just seen this message. Please get in touch. My email [e-mail]

[@mdjsalter]

Hi there Zanskar in Motion. I was back in the valley in September with Stanzin Gyachin from Testa and Tashi Falgon from Purne. We made an improvised drama which we will share later this year. Please get in touch as I am keen to promote any independent Zanskari film production.

[@stanzindadul948]

osam i really like thiss

[@mdjsalter]

Stanzin Ley. Thanks for your comment We shot this in 2007 so much has changed since then. I intend to return next year and make another film in Lungnak valley about the road from Darcha. Where are you from?