India, Sept. 9 -- Himalayan Day is a reminder that the mountains are more than a symbol of natural beauty. Emptying villages, climate-driven instability, unchecked tourism and fragile infrastructure are reshaping the region, turning an environmental and demographic crisis into an urgent national security challenge

Every year on Himalayan Day, we pause to celebrate a mountain system that has shaped civilisations, sustained economies, and defined the northern edge of the Indian subcontinent for millennia. Yet this year, celebration alone feels insufficient. Behind the postcard images of snow-capped peaks and terraced valleys lies a quieter, more urgent story - one of emptying villages, sinking towns, warming glaciers, overwhelmed hill stat...