Snippets of Information
Personalities - Explorers
* 2 Sep 2025
Born around 1878 into a family struggling under the harsh system of begar, forced labour demanded of Ladakhi villagers, Rassul Galwan
had no choice but to join caravans as early as 12, braving hunger, and
death in order to earn a living. But, in 1892, while accompanying
Charles Murray, the 7th Earl of Dunmore, on a mission through the
Pamirs, disaster struck. The expedition caravan was trapped by a wall of
jagged mountains and gorges in Aksai Chin. It was then that 14-year-old
Galwan drew upon his instincts and intimate knowledge of the
treacherous terrain, he found a safe passage through a ravine and saved
the mission.
So impressed was Murray that he named the newfound passage "Galwan
Nullah" - a rare honor, as colonial explorers seldom named landmarks
after locals. From that moment, both the river and the Valley became
forever tied to his name.
Source: India Untold: Ladakh’s Galwan Valley is Named After
This Forgotten Explorer. His Story by Shweta Kumari,
newsable.asianetnews.com, 31 Aug 2025
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