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{{Short description|Indian engineer, administrator, and politician from Ladakh}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| native_name = བསོད་ནམས་ནོར་བུ
| native_name_lang = bo
| awards = {{Awards|[[Padma Shri]]|1961|||}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1909|05|27|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1980|2|2|1909|05|27|df=yes}}
| ambassador_from = India
| country = Mongolian People's Republic
| term_start = {{Start date|1971|2|}}
| term_end = {{End date|1975|2|}}
| predecessor = Incumbent
| successor = Yudhishtar Raj Dhawan
| alma_mater = [[University of Punjab]], [[University of Sheffield]]
| occupation = [[engineer]], [[politician]]
| birth_place = Skara
}}
'''Sonam Narboo''', also known as '''Sonam Norbu''' (Tibetan: བསོད་ནམས་ནོར་བུ), was an Indian engineer, administrator, and politician from [[Ladakh]] who played a pivotal role in the region's development. In recognition of his contributions, he was honoured with the [[Padma Shri]] in 1961.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards {{!}} Interactive Dashboard |url=https://dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Field=Civil%20Service&Year=1961-1961&Award=Padma%20Shri&Place=Jammu%20and%20Kashmir |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Attitude at high altitude |url=https://www.theweek.in/health/more/2022/03/23/attitude-at-high-altitude.html |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Sonam Narboo was born on 27 May 1909,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Wangchuk |first=Rinchen Norbu |date=2019-05-30 |title=This Forgotten Engineer Built The Airstrip That Saved Ladakh From Pakistan |url=https://thebetterindia.com/184059/ladakh-hero-engineer-sonam-norbu-india-pakistan-zojila/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}}</ref> in Skara, a village near [[Leh]], into a middle-class [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] family known as Nyachu.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Remembering Sonam Norbu, a great son of the soil |url=https://www.reachladakh.com/news/oped-page/remembering-sonam-norbu-a-great-son-of-the-soil |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=Reachladakh}}</ref> His parents were farmers, and Narboo was the eldest of five siblings. He completed his early education at the [[University of the Punjab|University of Punjab]] and pursued higher studies in [[England]], earning a degree in civil engineering from the [[University of Sheffield]] in the 1930s.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

Narboo is remembered for his engineering contributions during the [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948|Kashmir conflict of 1947–1948]], particularly his role in constructing the [[Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport|Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (Leh Airfield)]] in 1948.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Anchit |date=2020-07-05 |title=Ladakh's Hero: Sonam Norbu and the Historic Airstrip of 1948 |url=https://iafhistory.in/2020/07/05/construction-of-the-leh-airfield-in-1948/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=#IAFHistory |language=en-US}}</ref> Under challenging conditions, with limited resources and no modern equipment, Narboo led the construction of the airstrip at one of the highest altitudes in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stobdan |first=P |date=2019-05-26 |title=SONAM NORBU who saved Ladakh in 1948 |url=https://www.esamskriti.com/e/History/Great-Indian-Leaders/SONAM-NORBU-who-saved-Ladakh-in-1948-1.aspx |access-date=2024-12-28}}</ref> The project was completed in just three weeks and proved crucial in securing Ladakh during the tribal invasions supported by [[Pakistan]].<ref name=":4" /> This achievement earned him national recognition and the Padma Shri in 1961.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

In February 1971, Narboo was appointed as India’s first [[ambassador]] to the [[Mongolian People's Republic]]. His tenure as ambassador lasted until February 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ministry of External Affairs |url=https://eoi.gov.in/eoisearch/MyPrint.php?1043?001/0010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708180033/https://eoi.gov.in/eoisearch/MyPrint.php?1043?001/0010 |archive-date=2023-07-08 |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=eoi.gov.in}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> Upon returning to India, he was inducted into [[Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah]]’s cabinet in 1975 as Minister of Works & Power and Minister of Ladakh Affairs.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> During his time in office, Narboo managed infrastructure projects in [[Ladakh]], overseeing portfolios that accounted for over 70% of the state budget.<ref name=":3" /> His tenure saw Ladakh being opened to international tourism and the establishment of air connectivity in 1977.<ref name=":3" />

Sonam Narboo died on 2 February 1980.<ref name=":3" /> The Sonam Norbu Memorial Hospital, completed in 1980 and serving as the primary healthcare institution in Leh, is named in his honour.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=SNM |date=2024-02-03 |title=The 43rd Death Anniversary of the Late Padma Shri Sonam Norboo was observed at Sonam Norboo Memorial District Hospital, Leh on February 2, 2024 |url=https://www.snmhospitalleh.com/post/the-43rd-death-anniversary-of-the-late-padma-shri-sonam-norboo-was-observed-at-sonam-norboo-memorial |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=SNM Hospital |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ladakh: Best enjoyed responsibly! |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/ladakh-best-enjoyed-responsibly-2641343 |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Civil Service|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narboo, Sonam}}
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in civil service]]
[[Category:Engineers from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Mongolia]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian engineers]]

Sonam Narboo - Revision history

Lucie45F0227: Adding the details w/ refs - done