Biplob Ghosal
A community is a collective entity that has its own voice and views. It is through the dissemination of this voice that a community prospers. But when this voice is stifled, its existence is threatened.
It is high time that Ladakh finds its voice and breaks its silence. Let the coming elections be an opportunity for the people of the area to express themselves and break the long lethargy shown towards them by both the state and the Centre.
Ladakh with a population of about 2,60,000 is situated in the state of J&K between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the Great Himalayas to the south, primarily inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. Ladakh the `land of high passes` is one of the most isolated regions in India. Before 1960 it had great importance from its strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes, but later on with China closing borders with Tibet and Central Asia trade has declined except for tourism.
Ladakh is also sometimes called `Little Tibet` as it is greatly influenced by Tibetan culture. Ladakh for centuries has enjoyed a self reliant agricultural economy, but lately government of India has encouraged tourism and a shift in trekking. Ladakh`s tourism sector accounts for 50% of the region`s Gross National Product. Government has tried to strengthen the economy and introduced subsidised food, government jobs and tourism industry. All such measures have led to the growth of the region and huge migration of people has been witnessed from the farms into Leh town.
Ladakh that constitutes two-thirds of the entire state`s 64000 sq. kms of territory, has never been given proper attention whereas it is always the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have been in the limelight.
Ladakh, a part of Jammu&Kashmir consists of two districts Leh and Kargil. Because of the indifference of the state government, the people here have somehow realised that the solution to the problems such as lack education, proper access to neighbouring districts and inability to provide solution to the problems caused by the climatic conditions in the region is only possible after it is separated from Kashmir and given the Union Territory status.
Due to demands of Ladakhi people such a compromise solution was created because of its religious and cultural differences with Kashmir.
While Buddhists and are in majority in Leh, Muslims are in a majority in Kargil. Though no communal violence has been reported since1986, but the situation there can best be described that of an uneasy coexistence, with problems worsening due to the unemployment, and lack of opportunities for all citizens.
While the people of Leh strongly are in favour of getting Union Territory status, the people of Kargil say they have stronger business ties with Kashmir, and if a regional divide is talked of, then it should be Greater Ladakh, a concept that includes Gilgit, Skardu (now under Pakistani occupation) and the region of Tibet!
Thus, in October 1993, the Indian government and the state government agreed to grant each district of Ladakh the status of Autonomous Hill Council. The council came into being with the holding of elections in Leh District on August 28, 1995. Later, in July 2003 Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council - Kargil was established. While, J&K government takes care of law and order, judicial system, communications and the higher education in the region, the Hill council endeavours to register prompt monitoring of the developmental works by ensuring transparency and accountability in the district administration. Work plans are being made at the grass root level with village panchayats to take decisions on economic development, healthcare, education, land use, taxation, and local governance.
Ladakh sends one MP to the Lok Sabha and in the upcoming elections the Ladakh Union Territory Front has decided to contest on its own in the strategic Leh area in the 2008 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. The current MP from Ladakh in the current Lok Sabha is Thupstan Chhewang of the Ladakh Union Territory Front.
In the 87-member Assembly, the Kashmir valley chooses 46 MLAs, the Jammu province elects 37 MLAs and the Ladakh region elects only 4 MLAs. The Ladakh region has only 152,513 voters and this means that on an average, each constituency of the region has 38,128 voters.
The people of Ladakh for long have been complaining that the region has been neglected by the Central and state governments. Ladakhis have been long demanding recognition of their language known as Bhoti. Apart from this their long standing demand, the pilgrimage route to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet should be opened via Ladakh has also been ignored. This route is not only safer than the Uttarakhand route which is prone to landslides, but it would also improve the economy of people in far-flung areas along the route.
Education, which is the groundwork for any development too has been overlooked. Traditionally there was little or nothing by way of formal education except in the monasteries. Though these days situation has slightly improved but still there is acute shortage of good educational institutions. The education is mainly limited to primary level, not only this, the school drop outs and teachers skipping the classes are also very common.
But things have been far from resolved in Ladakh, which area-wise is more than double the size of the rest of the state. The government and the democratically elected council have been on warpath, stressing their dominance over the affairs of the region.
Ladakh has a very rich culture and its people are known for their cheerful disposition. The people of Ladakh, on the whole, exhibit enthusiasm, which is given free run by the region`s ancient customs. Socio-religious festivals, including the annual festivals held in the monasteries, provide the excuse for convivial gatherings.
There are many festivals such as Hemis festival, Thiksey, Karsha and Spituk Gustor, Dosmochey, Matho Nagrang, Stok Guru Tsechu, Phyang Tsedup, Yuru Kabgyat, Losar Celebration, which are been celebrated for different occasions. Apart from these the two most important festivals of this region are Ladakh festival and Sindhu Darshan (Visit Indus) Festival. Ladakh festival takes place in September 1-15 every year in Leh and villages.
Ladakh not only has a great potential to uplift the tourism sector, but also plays a very strategic role in terms of relations between India and China. Thus it`s high time the state government should rise from its slumber and work for the development of Ladakh.
