It was a proverbial “Last Run” on the 'Roof of India'. It created History, a New Guinness World Record. The Marathonists ran on the 21-km long Iconic Ice Shield- legendary Frozen Pangong Tso- in Ladakh on February 20, 2023.
They paid tributes to the melting Himalayan Glaciers that has set a new stage for G20 Summit, which has been targeted by Prime Minister Narender Modi to be held in Ladakh in Summer-2023.
At the end of the marathon, Tashi Gyalson and marathonists enchanted, Bharat Mata Ki Jai while setting the World Record.
Moreover in Ladakh, Brig (Dr) BD Mishra has taken over as the new L-G of Ladakh UT recently, replacing RK Mathur who ran Ladakh for three years. But Mathur's last leg was controversial
Ladakh is a highest Battle field and a crucial strategic Border territory straddling Pakistan and China, where India had fought Indo-China and Kargil war and repeated skirmishes at Galwan apart from ones taking place on the border with China in Arunachal Pradesh.
But Many Ladakhis and strategists perhaps, are keenly watching: Which "side of 'Namami Indus' the Ice of Ladakhi glaciers will melt faster.
They are perhaps referring to the "new Politics of Ice" in the Ladakhi Himalaya.
Some say the Half Marathon was aimed at beating Sonam Wangchuk, a Ladakhi innovator and climate change activist in his own game.
The marathon "key players" headed by Gyalson have, many Ladakhis believe, taken on the might of Wangchuk, new "Snowman of Ladakh".
Leaving aside this political line, Ladakhis, however braved bone-chilling climes of unhospitable Pangong Tso and accomplished that No One has done Before: They have inked history.
Yes, the Frozen Pangong Tso 21- km long half marathon on February 20 has been recorded in the annals of Guinness World Records as “Highest Altitude Frozen Lake Half Marathon”.
At that, they also made a brave new forays into promotion of winter tourism in Ladakh across the world at a time when India is heading Elite G20.
The runners braved the freezing temperatures that dipped -37 Degree Centigrade at the Frozen Pangong Lake.
They were a “live witness” to see their 'ghosts' running with them down under their own torsos on the surrealistic thick Ice Shield of Pangong that glints like a Huge Diamond located at the dizzying heights of 13,834 ft.
Joining hands with the Ladakhi marathonists were Karmyogis of Border Roads Organisation(BRO), who keep our Border Roads- the lifelines of Highland Himalaya- open and ready for movement of our soldiers around the year in sub-zero temperatures.
They also gave a test to their “lung and leg power on this Icy Track as amateurs for a short distance.
This feat has come a “double big” for Ladakhis. This came at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heads G20 Presidency, has decided to host IndiaY20 pre-summit youth summit from April 26-28 2023 at Leh.
The Frozen Lake Marathon was flagged off by Tashi Gyalchen, Chief Executive Chairperson of Ladakh Hill Development Council, Leh on Feb 20.
“It was a great success as Ladakh has crafted history. The Frozen Pangong marathon will go a long way in promoting Winter Tourism in a big way”, said Gyalson.
The idea is to promote sustainable winter tourism in the border villages of Himalaya to accelerate development pace under the Vibrant Border Village program of the government of India.
Apart from creating the environmental awareness about “fragile ecosystem of Ladakh, world’s highest frozen Pangong Lake Marathon has added yet another feather to its cap: It has unleashed a new "politics over Ice".
Ladakh also boasts off Siachen Glacier, World’s highest battlefield that straddles its border with Pakistan in the west and China in the far east.
“The marathon is a leap towards saving melting glaciers of the Himalaya”, said Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Ladakh BJP MP, a close confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
“We are now looking forward to a mega show-G20 summit in summer”. “Ladakh is shining”.
On the other, Wangchuk had staged his "world’s first carbon neutral five days long “climate fast” in the premises of his institute HIAL in Ladakh on Republic Day. He had raised a demand to protect Ladakh under the Schedule 6th of Indian Constitution. 
He had appealed to both Prime Minister and Home Minister to take cognizance of state of affairs in Ladakh during his fast.
His protest and support from his fans seemed to have challenged the suzerainity of Modi-Shah-Gyalson-Namgyal equation in Ladakh andcraised a bogey of underutilisation of funds in Ladakh.
As he did not get response from the Prime Minister, Wangchuk airdashed to Delhi and hold another protest at Jantar Mantar in full Media gaze.
The “politics of Ice” in Ladakh is boiling fast. Wangchuk had also presented "Ladakhi Ice" to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama in 2022 in Dharamshala, his capital in exile.
Is it Gyalchen vs Wangchuk vs Namgyal in Ladakh?
Ladakhis are watching keenly to seek answers or to judge every move of this "Ladakhi Trinity" and, of course, any Move from the Centre.
