The Druk Padma Karpo School in Leh has, in an attempt to reduce distraction for students and tourist activities, taken a decision to demolish the ‘Rancho Wall’ and ban the entry of tourists in the school, PTI reported. The school became a main attraction after it was featured in the movie starring Aamir Khan, ‘3 Idiots’.
Incidentally, the building was also partially damaged in a landslide which occurred due to a cloud burst a couple of years ago, posing a threat to the students after which the decision to demolish the whole building was taken.
“The movie gave a lot of publicity to the school and it became a must visit for the tourists visiting Ladakh. However, we realized that the purpose of having a school in the area was getting defeated. Not only students were getting distracted by the tourists flocking the school but also every day the campus was being reduced to a litter ground,” school principal Stanzin Kunzang told PTI.
The ‘Rancho Wall’ comes in a scene where one of the characters, Chatur, tries to urinate on it but is electrocuted by an invention of school children. The wall was later painted by school authorities and named Rancho Wall. After that, it became a tourist attraction.
According to PTI, set up in 1998 by the Druk Padma Karpo Education Society, the school was partially destroyed in the flash floods and landslides that hit the town in 2010 but was renovated thereafter. The school principal added, “Inspired by the vision of His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa, spiritual leader of Ladakh, the school aims to provide a modern education for Ladakhi children – an education grounded in their own culture and which could prepare them to lead happy and productive lives.”
The movie also featured the Pangong Tso lake which made it famous.
