Epilogue Magazine, August 2010

Tsewang Rigzin Column : RAKESH ANKIT
Ladakh’s onw textbooks : Historiography in Kashmir The problem

A step towards autonomy Prof. Jigar Mohammad of poonch
P42 P54 P8
J & K ’ S M O N T H LY M A G A Z I N E ISSN : 0974-5653
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a k h
return to
L a d
Notes o
n life
Curren
è
t A f f a
Statist
irs è
ical Pro
file
SEMINAR
KASHMIR UNREST : THE CIVIL SOCIETY RESPONSE
L O G UE B G Verghese ? Inder Malhotra ?

Gautam Navlakha
EP I IVE
?Naeem Akhter ? Radha Kumar ?Rekha Choudhary
L U S ?Arjimand Hussain Talib ?Daya Sagar
EXC nsible jo ? Ershad Mehmud ? M M Khajoria ?Ramesh Mehta
se
?Nyla Ali Khan ?
ur
Gul Mohammad Wani

f
year o
44th
nalism
f
issue o
n s e
4 th
s e
ANNOUNCES
Ladakh Women Writers Award

2010-11
2010-11
Open to women writers from Ladakh above the age of 18 years
LANGUAGE : English, Hindi, Urdu and Ladakhi
TOPIC : Reflecting community perspectives on Education,

Environment and Disability for positive change from the ground .
AWARD DETAILS : Ladakh Women Writers Award : 3 Awards of Rs.5,000/- each
EXPECTED OUTCOME : 6 articles by each awardee of word length 800-1000 with

photographs on the chosen theme
TIME PERIOD FOR AWARD WRITINGS : Dec-June 2011
APPLICATION FORM : available on www.charkha.org from 15 Aug 2010 onwards.
LAST DATE FOR RECEIVING APPLICATIONS : 5 OCT 2010

Charkha, an NGO established in1994 works in several states across India to connect issues of the rural
marginalised communities to the policy makers through the media. In areas like Ladakh, geographically
distant from the rest of the county, its effort is to highlight voices and integrate them with the mainstream.
Applications may be sent by email to: [email protected] or [email protected]

For further detail, contact : Sujata Raghavan : 09811217054, 0124-4079082
The Awards will be announced on 7 Dec 2010 in New Delhi

at a function to mark Charkha Founders' Day.
DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION
COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ABUSE :
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Neglecting responsibilities at work or home.
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Taking drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high such as driving, while on
drugs, using dirty needles or having unprotected sex.
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Getting into legal trouble such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence or
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Get educated yourself and know the facts.
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Avoid peer pressure, think ahead and say “NO”
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Avoid situation where people will be drinking and using drugs.
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Confront your problems.
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Get help for the underline problems of family, relationships, anxiety or depression.
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Support from family members close friends relatives, councillors. Healthcare providers and
society is essential to addiction recovery.
Sd/-
Sr. Suptd. of Police
Crime Branch, Jammu
DIP/JK-4207/2010
Dated : 24-6-2010
CRIME BRANCH, JAMMU

3
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Editor Prologue 5
Zafar Iqbal Choudhary Letters 6
Publisher Exclusive Stories

The Problem of Poonch 8
Yogesh Pandoh Rakesh Ankit
Consulting Editor Seminar Features 11

D. Suba Chandran Gautam Navlakha
BG Verghese
Manu Srivastsa Rekha Choudhary
Naeem Akhtar
Associate Editors Nyla Ali Khan
Ramesh Mehta
Irm Amin Baig M M Khajooria
Tsewang Rigzin Daya Sagar
Arjimand Hussain Talib
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Gul Mohammad Wani
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2010 Inder Malhotra
General Manager Radha Kumar
Kartavya Pandoh
I N FOCUS Column
Art Editor Historiography in Kashmir 54
Ladakh Prof. Jigar Mohammad
Keshav Sharma
32 Society
Research Officer Donning New Roles
Raman Sharma Yangchan Dolma
33 Women in Governance
Phones & email A Search for an Identity
Yangchan Dolma
Office : +91 191 2493136 35 Agriculture
Editorial: +91 94191 80762 No winter chill for farmers
Administration: +91 94191 82518 Zainab Akhter
subscriptions : +91 90188 87136 36 Environment
[email protected] Glacial Melting causing havoc
Tashi Morup
[email protected] 38 Able to challenge disability :
The unfolding of two lives
Printed and Published by Dolma Namgyal
Yogesh Pandoh for Epilogue 39 Bollywood Effect :
NewsCraft from Ibadat House, One in a series of onslaughts on Ladakh
Rekha Shenoy
Madrasa Lane, Near Graveyard,
41 Personal Experience
Bathindi Top, Jammu, J&K - 180012 A Trek Through Life
and Printed at : DEE DEE Thinlas Chorol
Reprographix, 3 Aikta Ashram, New 42 Ladakh’s own textbooks :
Rehari Jammu (J&K) A step towards autonomy
Tsewang Rigzin
43 Pasture dispute
Disputes, if any, subject to jurisdiction
Trespassing cause unrest in Rangdum
of courts and competitive tribunals in Tsewang Rigzin
Jammu only. 44 A traveller’s perspective
Leh changed, and et it didn’t
RNI : JKENG/2007/26070 Eline Gordts
ISN : 00974-5653 46 Current Affairs
52 Statistical Profile
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5 PROLOGUE
From the Editor
Time for Introspection

ZAFAR CHOUDHARY
T
his month in 2008 we had violence was apparently misconstrued
written that Kashmir Valley as proportional restoration of peace
is back to square one. In and stability. Authorities believed that
summer of that year five- now the only task before them was to
year long peace was finish 500 to 800 odd militants
breached, people were on the streets, operating in the state and stop entry of
government was clueless, separatism around 1500 who may be waiting to
was at zenith, mainstream political cross over from other side of the
leaders were pushed to the wall, anger divide. The Government in
and discontent was writ large on the Srinagar/Jammu felt that issue was all
faces of youths, divides in the regions about governance and the leaders in
were deepening and no one was able Delhi thought it was more about
offer a clue to what might happen next. economic disadvantages. Chief
That was the situation triggered by Minister went on cleanse his
Amarnath land row which dispelled administration and Prime Minister
many myths about peace in Kashmir. In pumped in wads of money. These
2002 Jammu and Kashmir went through initiatives were very useful in
most credible elections of the history. improving the quality of life but there
AUGUST 2008
Credit goes to the then Prime Minister was no organized attempt to
Atal Behari Vajpayee who promised and consolidate the gains of a positive was repeated. Massive participation in
delivered whatever little he could do. A atmosphere that sprung the landscape elections was apparently misconstrued
popular government of Peoples of Jammu and Kashmir after 2002 as victory and the warning signals of the
Democratic Party-Congress combine elections. Therefore, a very minor and previous months were hardly taken
came into being. Mufti Mohammad immediately correctible issue (transfer seriously. Rather those who revolted on
Sayeed's statesmanship and brought a of land to temple) trust spoilt the the streets were ridiculed by showing
visible turnaround in situation. Every Kashmir story written over the years them the statistics of voter
subsequent year 2002 onwards, jointly by people like Atal Behari participation in elections. Experience
incidents of militant violence declined Vajpayee, Pervez Musharraf, and Mufti of summers of 2009 and now what is
by 25 to 35%. Mufti's successor Ghulam Mohammad Sayeed. There were, of going on in Kashmir needs and
Nabi Azad inherited a relatively far course, many others who also played introspection at levels. Now is the time
stable political environment. Shortly their roles in making Kashmir a to clearly understand what do people
before that there was change of guard negotiable issue. Shortly after 2008 and what the maximum that can be
in New Delhi. Manmohan Singh had crisis people again offered an given is. We can't be at war with
taken place of Vajpayee. There opportunity of negotiating peace after ourselves all the times.
followed a string of errors from Srinagar they overwhelmingly participated in Feedback :
to New Delhi. The decline in militant elections but then again same old folly [email protected]

Letters 6
Readers Write
Manmohan put people first

T here is no denying the fact that Atal Bihari Vajpayee did a lot in
Kashmir but contribution of Manmohan Singh Government cannot be
overlooked. Let me say that you have been bit obsessive with Vajpayee
(Vajpayee's politics and Manmohan's economics, Epilogue, July 2010) in
your analysis. The major difference in their policies was actually not
touched upon in your essay. Vajpayee accorded top priority to Kashmir
issue while Manmohan Singh put people first. Vajpayee's stand and
initiatives revolved around the conflict, its resolution, keeping Pakistan
and separatists in loop and springing surprises between hot pursuits and
ceasefires. Manmohan's policy has remained steady. By launching a
massive reconstruction project worth Rs 30,000 Crore he tried to help
people who were denied of equal opportunities by Center's and State's
huge focus on the security and peace projects. At roundtable conferences
Manmohan Singh invited people from all regions and all walks of life; he
heard them and took note of their ideas. Through these roundtable
conferences he sent across a loud and clear message that people of
Jammu and Kashmir are the stakeholders in all the issues and not the
handful of separatists. Launch of Cross-LoC bus service and then Cross-
LoC trade was also a people centric initiative where people are the
beneficiaries and not the separatists. If this (putting people first) was JULY 2010
done 20 years back situation would have been entirely different.
Unfortunately only those leaders are hailed who appeased the separatists
and did nothing for people.
SANTOSH NEGI
New Delhi, Via Email
Indian army is no villain

A nmol Sharma's argument that only Army is responsible for the trouble in Kashmir is perhaps flawed. There have often
been deliberate attempts to dent the image of Indian Army though this article was not one like that. It is, however,
quite unfortunate that in his article (Repeal AFSPA – Epilogue July 2010) the writer is blaming the army for every mess in
the valley. Kashmir ever remained an epicenter of controversies and clashes because of many other attributed reasons.
Though, agreed that there are also black sheep in the force but it would be unjustifiable to tag the whole institution of
Army as villain.
No one can deny the role of Indian Army,when it comes to the question of service to the civilians, be it Kargil war,
the snow Tsunami, 8th Oct/ 2005 earthquake or any other Natural Calamity Indian Army rendered every possible help to
the state administration.
The advocates orchestrating the withdrawal of Army and repeal of AFSPA are knowingly or unknowingly supporting
the propaganda of Pakistan. Earlier these were only the separatists raising such pro-pak demands but unfortunately
obviously because of the failure of the government of India to noose such unjustified slogans now even such demands are
coming from many corners. To please Pakistan or on beheast of so called international rights groups we must not try to
criminalize the whole army.
JATINDER SINGH
Jammu

7 Letters
Readers Write
Kashmir is not for deal V I A F A C E B O O K

P eople sitting in South Block of New Delhi must not forget
that by giving perks and incentives they cannot built trust
in the heart of Kashmiris, in all these 60 years you people tried
Very unfortunate that they (leaders) are not
understanding the problem. Perhaps it’s
your best to buy a deal in Kashmir but let us be straight
because we want to resolve a political issue
forward that 'Kashmir is not for sale' Economics packages
cannot solve the basic problem and it demands a political with economic solutions....which never worked
solution. Instead of doing Hit and trial methods to solve and nor it will
Kashmir imbroglio the core issue be discussed with open mind PERVAIZ NAIK
and all those who matters must be heard. Dialogue for the
sake of dialogue cannot yield any result. We want to live in I believe creating a conducive environment for
peace but with dignity and autonomy. Let us decide what we talks is must and economic aid is a very positive
want, economic packages and so called free and fair elections
step in that direction, as underdevelopment is
may help for a moment but for long lasting stability you need
to be honest and allow Kashmiris to decide what they want.
itself a major issue...economic development can
MALIK ISRAR HUSSAIN play a significant role in Kashmir politics as we
Badgam, Kashmir can’t devoid politics of economics
POONAM SINGH
Voices must be heard Vajpayee is statesman of world class order but
J ammu and Kashmir is often seen as war zone between the

two nuclear armed neighbours and many a times has been
described as the most dangerous zone on earth. The land of
Manmohan Singh is a pure economist who leaves
politics and administration for Sonia Gandhi to
conflicts can of course be a platform of friendship between handle. At present India lacks a leader whose
Indian and Pakistan. As suggested by Mr. Nazir A Dar, President charisma works with the people.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. YV. Sharma, ANMOL SHARMA
President Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and by
Mr. Anil Suri Eminent Entrepreneur of the state (Perspectives Pragmatism is the cost/benefit analysis done by
on Cross-LoC Trade, Epilogue July 2010) Cross-LoC Trade has a
groups who continue to maintained their
lot to offer. Trade links between two regions of the state
–Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan administered Kashmir –can hegenomy over ignorant opium eaters...
help in reducing the political tension. Nazir Ahmed Dar, the unfortunately the game gets rougher and truth
President of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries has more opaque....so much for pragmatism
rightly pointed out that even after 26/11 Mumbai attacks the SANJAY PURI
LoC trade was not stopped this is a positive signal indeed,
despite the heat. How can Indo-Pak relations be improved? Will
People and business communities of both the sides are Mushraff's back channel policy be ever applied
demanding a full-fledged trade system instead of the present
again as it was halt in Agra summit in 2001?
barter system. The onus to carry forward this trust of cross LoC
trade is on both the governments. In this era of globalization Siachen and Kashmir like issues will ever be
none of us can afford to remain in isolation. Demands and resolved? Why people at the helm of affairs
ideas suggested by the concerned people must be given don’t understand the pathetic conditions of
patience and actionable hearing. general public?
There can be nothing more
SYED HAMID BUKHARI
soothing for people of the two
divided parts of the state that
they can do trade and bring peace
in the sub continent.
See more comments, participate in discussions
RAJAN GUPTA Join us at facebook
Jammu Facebook.com/EpilogueMagazine

Exclusive Series 8
New Research on Kashmir
The Problem
of Poonch
RAKESH ANKIT
B
efore Maharaja Hari Singh's profitable due to heavy taxation. President of the Indian Soldiers, Sailors
accession to the throne of Timber trade was the other main eco- and Airmen Boards in both Srinagar and
Srinagar in 1925, the Rajas of nomic activity. Consequently, the Poonch. Throughout 1938-39, minor skir-
Poonch – while maintaining a shadowy Poonchis had sought employment in the mishes continued between the National
allegiance to Srinagar – were recognised British Indian Army. Conference/Congress and Muslim
by the Government of British India and Undoubtedly there was a strong Conference on one side and the lashkars
were in a direct relationship with the separatist movement among the Muslim of Khan Mohammad Khan but nothing
Viceroy – the Crown Representative. Poonchis but for absorption into British serious happened.
Hari Singh's elder half-brother suc- India and ironically, given what tran- With the outbreak of the Second
ceeded to the throne in Poonch and this spired later, both the Indian National World War in September 1939 and Lord
was a considerable source of friction Congress and the National Conference Linlithgow's announcement making
within the family. By 1937, Hari Singh aided their movement against the Raja India a party to the British war effort,
had got the British Government to of Poonch as well as Hari Singh in the Poonchis were heavily recruited into
reduce the status of Poonch to that of an decade 37-47. the British Indian Army. Consequently,
autonomous jagir subordinate to There was a notable disturbance in they remained largely absent from
Srinagar even thought the title of 'Raja of 1938 led by the Suden tribe (the inhabit- domestic politics in this period.
Poonch' was retained. The Raja of Poonch ants of the area between the Poonch However, by 1945 it had become obvious
employed intrigue, propaganda, provo- and the Jhelum rivers) on the alleged that in Poonch the Muslim Conference
cation and civil agitation to change his abuse of the Holy Koran by a Hindu had emerged as the pre-dominant polit-
subordinate status vis-à-vis Hari Singh. police officer. This movement was led ical party with its principal objective –
Administratively, Poonch had a by the pensioned Subedar Major Khan union with Punjab and Pakistan (that
civil official and a resident appointed Mohammad Khan, ex-British Indian they were expecting to be established).
from Srinagar but otherwise its adminis- Army. He commanded lashkars and Therefore, the rising of 1945-46 in
trative structure was autonomous with ordered them to march on to the Poonch Srinagar led by Sheikh Abdullah and his
the tehsildar as the highest rank. It was town; enroute they were stopped by National Conference had only mild
a poorly-paid and slow-promotion ser- two battalions of the J & K State troops. repercussions in Poonch. With the end
vice and hence was corrupt, inefficient, For months the forces faced each other of the war, as the demobbed Muslim
discontented and disloyal to the Raja. but while tensions kept simmering, a Poonchis returned to Poonch, they fell
The Muslim members wanted the conflict was avoided through a settle- under the heavy influence of the Muslim
absorption of Poonch in British India ment. But from this time onwards, Conference and the Muslim League. The
while the Hindus desired total incorpo- Poonch remained garrisoned by a bat- leaders of the Muslim Conference in
ration into the J & K State. 90% of talion of J & K State troops. Poonch – Maulavi Ghulam Haider,
Poonchis were Muslim but the Raja, his Gopalaswami Ayengar was then the Maulavi Nazir Hussain Shah, Fateh
court, most of the judicial and adminis- Prime Minister in Srinagar and in the Mohammad Khan, Syaid Hussain Shah,
trative services, police and palace deal that he brokered with Khan Yar Mohammad Khan and others were
guards were Hindus. This was a source Mohammad Khan, the latter was made joined by the barrister Mohammad
of discontent but so was the poor eco- an Honorary Lieutenant, awarded the Ibrahim Khan who was to make a name
nomic life in which agriculture was not Order of British India and appointed the for himself as an eloquent fanatic.

9 Exclusive Series
The issue of the day – gifted to already said, was greatly exaggerated possibly military assistance from India'.
these men, it must be said – was the deci- and the state is in an uneasy quiet. The He, like Stephenson and just about
sion of New Delhi to pay money to sol- Maharaja and the Hindu ruling class everyone, too was worried about 'the
diers who had served in the Second would join India if they dared but in the gravest disorders' which would be pro-
World War. When months passed and present circumstances that will mean voked by Kashmir's accession to India
Poonchis did not get anything, anger revolution. The state army can not pos- and, among other reasons, axiomati-
spread against the integrity of adminis- sibly hold the whole border and could cally raised 'the Russian bogey'. He had
trative apparatus in Srinagar which was not meet the Muslim infiltration which heard, as was by now becoming appar-
accused of embezzling the funds would be inevitable if revolution ent, that 'no petrol has gone from
received from New Delhi. The first occurred. In the meanwhile, every Pakistan into Kashmir since September
clashes occurred in the Naoshera- effort is being made to push on the new 9th' and sought to enquire about it. He
Islamabad area as lashkars gathered. road into India which might be ready for feared that this breach of the standstill
The J & K State troops and their supply military traffic in three months time. agreement would be 'natural for
trucks were attacked in Islamabad- The alternatives are for Kashmir to join Pakistan to turn the heat in this way'.
Planderi and Naoshera. The State troops India, which the rulers want but which Despite being assured that Karachi had
were thinly spread engaged as they not taken any decision in this regard and
were in escorting refuges moving The Muslim members wanted the that the real cause was the reluctance
between India and Pakistan in August- absorption of Poonch in British India of Muslim drivers 'to go because of the
September 1947. Finally, the 9th while the Hindus desired total incorpo- presence of Sikhs from Gurdaspur and
Infantry Reserve Battalion was dis- ration into the J&K State. 90% of absence of military escorts'; Shone had
patched to Poonch which cleared the Poonchis were Muslim but the Raja, his 'little doubt however that local authori-
road to Naoshera, dispersed lashkars court, most of the judicial and adminis- ties in Rawalpindi are holding telescope
and cut off Poonch from direct commu- trative services, police and palace to their blind eye and are indefinitely
nication with Pakistan over the Jhelum preventing supplies of petrol and other
guards were Hindus. This was a source
River for fear that Sialkot and commodities from entering Kashmir'.
Rawalpindi authorities might intervene
of discontent but so was the poor eco- Norman Cliff – the News Chronicle spe-
on behalf of the lashkars. Small mobile nomic life in which agriculture was not cial correspondent – was among the first
columns remained dispersing lashkars and profitable due to heavy taxation. Timber to report on 13 October that Pakistan
September 1947 saw the re-establishment trade was the other main economic cut off Kashmir's supplies of petrol-
of the authority of Srinagar. activity. Consequently, the Poonchis had sugar-salt and kerosene in contraven-
This then is the celebrated revolt sought employment in the British Indian tion of the signed standstill agreement.
of Poonch of August-September 1947 Army. It was clear to the High-
which occupies a prominent place in the Commissioner that insofar as the valley
historiography of the first Kashmir con- they can only accomplish by a coup and areas surrounding Srinagar were
flict. While the proponents of the Indian d'tat, Indian troops being rushed to concerned the Muslim population there
case seek to either deny or downplay Kashmir and trusting to disorganization were not 'enthusiastically ardent sup-
the incidents, those propping up in Pakistan. Or, if that does not happen, porters of accession to Pakistan', led as
Pakistan's arguments interpret the Kashmir will eventually fall like a ripe they were by the National Conference
affair in terms of Muslim rebellion and plum to Pakistan'. which was 'sympathetic to Indian
liberation from the yoke of Hindu T. Shone dutifully relayed this mes- Congress ideas'. Shone, nevertheless,
Srinagar. More than religion, it was rec- sage as well as his own reading to flagged two concerns and rightly so:
ompense which provoked the Poonchis. London on 6 October. He understood the first, the impact of communal killings
H. S. Stephenson who was the release of Sheikh Abdullah and his travel elsewhere on Kashmir, specifically the
Assistant High-Commissioner for UK in to Delhi and the removal of Banbury and massacre of Muslims by Hindus and Sikhs
Pakistan in an interesting telegram to T. Powell from Kashmir armed forces and in the neighbouring Indian Punjab and
Shone (High-Commissioner for UK in their substitution by Hindus as 'a clear- second, the affiliations of the Muslim
India) tried prediction and wrote thus ing of the decks for action as soon as the population in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad
on 13 September 1947: Maharaja feels that he can rely on new areas.
'The Poonch affair, as I have road from Pathankot for supplies and At this stage, there was even a feel-

Exclusive Series 10
ing among in some officials at the the Attlee cabinet looking after Kashmir order? And, a flurry of official exchanges
Commonwealth Relations Office, and later leader or UK delegation to UN between Delhi, Karachi, London and
London that maybe the Maharaja was on Kashmir into confidence: Srinagar. Hari Singh's Prime Minister –
'bargaining for better terms (eg. an alli- 'There are large pockets of Dogras third in three months – Mehr Chand
ance) with Pakistan by making it appear in Poonch as in Jammu; and a major anxi- Mahajan was at the centre of this traf-
that he was contemplating joining ety of the Pakistan government derives fic. He wrote to Liaquat and Attlee on
India'. from reports of recent heavy infiltration the 15th, to Jinnah on the 18th / 19th
The trouble with, what I have of Hindu officials, Sikhs and former and to Mountbatten on the 26th. He
called, the Poonch problem is that once members of the “Indian National Army” read from Liaquat on the 19th, from
Henry Scott left Srinagar on 29 into Srinagar. They fear that the stage is Jinnah on the 20th and from
September 1947 there is a difficulty in being set for Kashmir's accession to the Mountbatten on the 27th. Meanwhile,
finding reliable and sober official Indian Union. This would inevitably be two brothers courted some infamy –
assessment of the ground situation. followed by disturbances within the Abdul Haq, the DC of Rawalpindi and
Scott's last reports did not 'encourage state to which neither India nor Pakistan Syed Ikramul Haq, ICS in MOD – and 'ap-
confidence in stories of Muslim ill- could remain indifferent, and civil war peared to be conducting a private war
treatment there at the hands of the in Kashmir might involve both against Kashmir' by preventing the pas-
Hindus but the balance may well have Dominions of hostilities of incalculable sage of petrol and other essential sup-
swung the other way, with the arrival of extension'. plies for the last.
Kashmir state troops reinforcements', What then can be said about the sit- The correspondence between
since he left. Atleast one very influen- uation in Kashmir in the week before Srinagar and Karachi ceased on 20
tial person felt thus and he was Sir the invasion began? The lull before the October. Liaquat had the last word. He
Lawrence Graffety-Smith (Stephenson's storm, apart from Poonch where if not warned the Maharaja to not accede to
superior and UK High-Commissioner to the storm then certainly a strong wind India as “gravest consequences” would
Pakistan from 1947 to 1951). He con- was blowing? Two imminent possibili- occur then. The stage was set. Kashmir's
fided in Philip Noel-Baker (Minister for ties, distinct but linked, namely: acces- history pressed the fast-forward button
Commonwealth Affairs – thus the man in sion to India and tribal invasion in either 48 hours later.
Department of Horticulture (J&K Govt)

Office of the Chief Canning & Processing Instructor
Fruit and Vegetable Graft Centre, Chand Nagar, Jammu
Applications on plain paper are invited for undergoing months training course in Fruit and Vegetable Processing
from interested persons who intend to establish their own units in the field. The desirous candidate should be Matriculate
with, science subjects. The candidates having additional qualification shall be preferred. The applications must reach this
office, by or before 16th August 2010 and should be accompanied with the following documents (attested copies):
1. Date of birth Certificate
2. Qualification certificate alongwith marks sheet
3. Permanent Residential Certificate of J&K State
4 Two Passport size photographs
5. Character Certificate from any Gazetted officer or from the Head of the Institution last attended.
No tuition fee shall be charged from the candidate for the said course. The interview shall be conducted on 25th
and 26th of August 2010 and the list of selected candidates shall be displayed on the notice board on 28th of August 2010.
No separate communication shall be given in this regard. The classes shall commence from Ist of Sep. 2010. The
candidates are advised for their own convenience to mention their contact number in application forms. For further details
candidates may contact at phone No.01912579072
during working hours on any working day.
Sd/
(P K Sharma)
Chief
Canning & Processing Instructor
DIP/J-4946 Fruit Vegetable Craft Centre; Chand Nagar, Jammu
CRAFTING PEACE IN KASHMIR
B G VERGHESE GAUTAM NAVLAKHA NAEEM AKHTAR

has been Editor of three top Indian newspapers –Times is a leading human rights activist and Consulting one of the seasoned civil servants J&K produced, he
of India, Hindustan Times and Indian Express. He
served as Information Advisor to Prime Minister Indira Editor of Mumbai based quit services in Jan 2009 to support
Gandhi, is with Center for Policy Research since 1986 Economic and Political Weekly Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s political initiatives
13 VIEWS
RADHA KUMAR
is Director of Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace
and Conflict Resolution at
Jamia Millia University, New Delhi 1AGENDA INDER MALHOTRA
former Editor of the Times of India,
his syndicated columns appear
in 30 newspapers
PEACE
M M KAJOORIA
IN REKHA CHOUDHARY
a social activist and columnist,
he retired as
Director General of J&K Police KASHMIR Professor of Political Science at
University of Jammu
RAMESH MEHTA DAYA SAGAR GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

is an artist and former Secretary JKAACL, is a social activist and leading columnist Professor of Political Science at the
top art and culture body in J&K based in Jammu University of Kashmir
ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB ERSHAD MEHMUD NYLA ALI KHAN

leading columnist based in Srinagar, a native of Pakistan administered Kashmir, a Professor of English at a US University, she is author
he is author of he is a leading policy analyst of Islam, Women and Violence in Kashmir. She happens
Omar Abdullah –the burden of inheritance based in Islamabad to be grand daughter of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah
EPILOGUE SEMINAR
There is a protest in Kashmir over in issue that is hardly new. Soon
it assumes alarming proportions. Situation goes out of control.
SEMINAR Security forces fire a couple of teargas shells and a young boy is
killed. This triggers another round of protests. The confrontation
between protesters and state's forces is terribly shriller than the
previous one. As they take each other heads-on, two more are
killed. There is another round of protests spreading far and wide.
This cycle goes on and on. We saw this in 2008, in 2009 and there
is no visible end to the present season of unrest in the Valley.
Tourists are gone, tourism now seems a thing of past. Students have
not been to schools for almost two months now. Businesses are
shut. A government paralysed by stone pelters makes its occasional
presence through some press statements or television interviews.
It is not likely to go on life this for long. Situation is expected to be
better in coming few days. But return of the turmoil after a brief
interval is also equally certain. After all what is happening in the
Valley? Why this cycle of unrest? What needs to be done at this
stage? With these and more questions, Epilogue reached out to the
people this state and the country looks upon with hope. As we go
through their views, each one of them nearly disagrees with the
other in perspectives but the bottomline is common –there is a
problem which needs immediate measures for redress. There is a
near unanimity in understanding that peace is too essential a
commodity to be left alone to the youths who want to achieve this
by pelting stones or to those who sit in cozy rooms of north block
with their windows shut to the ground or even those who play the
dirty palace games from pristine bungalows of Srinagar's Gupkar
Road. At Epilogue we may agree or disagree with some of the views
but we respect each opinion for clarity of the head and mind of the
person. They have said, with abundant conviction, what they
mean. Since there can't be a consensus in a single go, therefore
this seminar offers a divergence of ideas on the problems and, may
be, some solutions.
13 SEMINAR
Kashmir Unrest :The Civil Society Response
Q This is third year in row that Kashmir is

erupting every summer. How do you look at
this cycle of unrest.
GAUTAM NAVLAKHA
Underneath these catalytic
triggers lies deep rage
A history of unfulfilled pledges,
Y
our question frames the question Palestinians do. To speak then of “cyclic
wrongly. In an area where eruption” is not only to de-politicise the broken promises, political
protests are considered problem but to be innocent of the
“agitational terrorism” by the army , context.
deception, military oppression,
“gunless terrorism” by the central para The protests manifests the truth illegal political detentions, a
military forces, where the Prime that military suppression may break the scathing human rights record,
Minister of India wants authorities to back of armed resistance but it cannot sterile political alliances, mass
curb, contain and check protests, and win over people to reconcile to a forced
every protest is held out as inspired, union with India. It is, therefore, while exodus, and New Delhi's malignant
financed from across the border it according to the officialdom, every interference have created a
follows that targeting youth would be indice of militant activities, presence, gangrenous body politic that hasn't
its operational fallout. Also it infiltration etc has reached “sub-
downplays the fact that denial of critical level” the presence of forces
even started to heal.
justice to victims of state terrorism, let monitoring the public and private lives
alone resolution of the 63 year old of people remains by and large intact. If NYLA ALI KHAN
unresolved problem, leaves them with 2008 protests was triggered by land
no choice other than to register their issue, 2009 by Shopian twin rape and anger. But underneath these catalytic
protests. It is when space for exercising murder, this year the Machil fake trigger lies rage at the violence inflicted
civil liberties are thwarted that they encounter of three youths and use of by the Indian State on a people, whose
take recourse to venting anger by brute force against stone pelters demand was for a democratic resolution
pelting stones. Not unlike what the resulting in deaths of youth caused of the problem.
BG VERGHESE
Some protests are partly engineered
T
his is most unfortunate. There may be reasons for dissatisfaction with the prevailing situation –
conflict-related distress, unemployment, lack of progress towards a political settlement, HR
violations, etc. But there are ways of discussing and mediating such issues without taking to the
streets in provocative (mostly Friday) protests that are being partly engineered by interested parties to
stir the pot and further their narrow agendas. The last Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board and Shopian
agitations are illustrative of issues or non-issues being blown out of all proportion and distorted to serve
nefarious ends. Never forget that Jammu and Kashmir (with Ladakh) is more than Kashmir or just those
parts of the Valley that are disturbed.

SEMINAR 14
REKHA CHOWDHARY
Frequent eruptions in
Kashmir clearly reflect a
deep-rooted anger
ance to the Human Rights violation is
O
bviously there is something
seriously wrong in Kashmir. The being disregarded to the extent that
frequent eruptions in Kashmir every now and then there is one or the
clearly reflect a deep-rooted anger not other case of loss of lives of the inno-
only among the youth who are seen to cent citizens either in cases of fake
be pelting stones on the streets but in encounters or in the cases of mishan-
the society as a whole. There is a feeling dling of protests. It is accumulated
It is not just a coincidence that that even after two decades of conflict anger which also reflects a sense of
these three summers have been and loss of thousands of lives, Kashmir betrayal, disillusionment and hopeless-
particularly hot in continuity. The has not reached anywhere near the reso- ness. Apart from the anger against the
lution of conflict. The pressure built by state, there is also anger within – in
problem goes back to 60 years
militancy has been exhausted and there respect to the separatist politics and
is no compulsion for India, internally or movement. With the divided leader-
NAEEM AKHTAR externally, to move forward. Hence, for ship, there is a sense of loss of direction.
long time now, nothing is happening in The middle ground of separatist politics
the name of peace process – no efforts has since long been lost as the moderate
are being made to engage Kashmiris in have been discredited in the process of
dialogue, no CBMs are being offered – their engagement with New Delhi. The
not even the ones approved by Working separatist politics is therefore danger-
Committees constituted by the Prime ously tilted towards the hardcore ele-
Minister, and on the contrary, the par- ments who despite the 'consistency' are
ticipation of people in the processes of cocooned in their non-negotiable posi-
governance is mistaken as the 'nor- tions and hardened stances. On the
malcy'. Worse, the commitment of the whole, there is lot of confusion which
Prime Minister that there be zero toler- gets reflected in the spontaneous politi-
cal responses of the people. The latest
phenomenon of stone pelting youth is
NAEEM AKHTAR further reflecting this confusion. With
no other expression for channeling the
Don't look at three years, anger of people, and no other political
avenues being available – it is the street
it is about six decades politics which has acquired importance.
The street politics however is not to be
I
f you just expend the time frame it will become easier to seen only in relation to the teenagers
understand the malaise. It is not just three years, not even two pelting stones– but in relationship to the
decades but all the sixty three years of the independence that society as a whole. With the separatist
the cycle of turmoil is haunting Kashmir. It is just a coincidence that organizations and leaders failing to
these three summers have been particularly hot in continuity. And offer any alternative politics of resis-
tance, the stone pelting is the only poli-
administrative reasons have worked as a trigger on all three
tics of resistance at the moment with
occasions. which people can identify.

15 SEMINAR
NYLA ALI KHAN

Politicians have failed the nation
T
he process of nationalist self- Kashmiri academics, it was pointed out
imagining is likely to remain in a to me that autonomy was an inadequate
nebulous state so long as the solution. The intractability of the
destiny of mainstream Kashmiri Kashmir conflict has made advocates of
politicians is etched by the pen of the conflict resolution rather wary of
calligrapher in New Delhi and applying a seemingly workable but
determined by maneuvers in the murky facile solution to the complex political
den of subcontinental politics. Can J & K conflict. Mainstream media,
politicians rise above their myopic intellectuals housed in academic
aspiration to willy-nilly grab the throne institutions, formulators of public
and scepter? The obvious lack of self- policy, and members of think tanks are
reflexivity in regional parties shows a quick to point out that regardless of the Sheikh Abdullah had launched
glaring inability to carefully consider bloody and seemingly infinite nature of
a political, ethnic, or racial conflict, a
movement against Maharaja
the stakes. I wanted to end my book on a
hopeful note but, sadly, the reins of J & viable solution can always be found to because he foresaw a better place
K are yet again in the hands of New dilute the fierceness of a conflictual in secular India. Today, there are
Delhi. The powers that be can pull those situation. But one is cautioned against
reins in any direction they deem fit. The glibly advocating a kitsch solution to the
people holding torch against India
two mainstream regional parties--the Kashmir conundrum by the complexity because they search for a future
NC and the PDP--are pawns in a game of of the Kashmir conflict, which embodies somewhere else
chess in which the odds are in favor of the brutalities of nation building devoid
the Congress. of myth or self-infatuation. The
J & K in the current political unruliness of the Kashmir conflict has DAYA SAGAR
context is a house divided. It is led many to confuse the idea of nation
paradoxical to watch political bigwigs, with the power and brute force of the
bureaucrats, and civilian and nation-states of India and Pakistan.
paramilitary officers preening and Although the idea of self-determination
gearing up to celebrate India's collides with military oppression on the
likelihood of its being adopted in an
Independence Day, 15 August, while contentious site of nationalism,
undiluted form to metamorphose
many Kashmiris continue to remain in political accommodation can lead a
Kashmir's political, cultural, or
the abyss of socioeconomic deprivation war-weary people out of the colonnade
territorial circumstances?
and political marginalization. J & K is a of duplicitous rhetoric, political
Both India and Pakistan have a long
palimpsest that has been inscribed upon domination, and forceful imposition.
The debate among political thinkers, history of deploying rhetorical
two or three times, yet the previous
scholars, and policy makers about strategies to skirt the issue of
texts have been imperfectly erased
finding viable ways to placate plebiscite or complete secession of the
and, therefore, remain partially visible.
marginalized ethnic minorities in J & K former princely state of J & K. When
A history of unfulfilled pledges, broken
has been infinite. Since the advent of feeling particularly belligerent,
promises, political deception, military
independence, New Delhi's self-deluding Pakistan cries itself hoarse declaring
oppression, illegal political detentions,
and self-serving “democratic” approach the legitimacy of plebiscite held under
a scathing human rights record, sterile
has been to allow the disaffected people UN auspices in J & K; India responds
political alliances, mass exodus, and
of J & K to voice their “seditious” just as aggressively by demanding the
New Delhi's malignant interference
opinions within the existing political complete withdrawal of Pakistani
have created a gangrenous body politic
that hasn't even started to heal. framework legitimized by governmental troops from the territory of pre-partition
rhetoric. The reasonableness of the J & K; or, in a moment of neighborly
After the first edition of Islam,
autonomy solution advocated by solicitude, for conversion of the LOC to a
Women, and Violence in Kashmir:
mainstream political parties in J & K may permanent international border. Which
Between India and Pakistan, published
seem axiomatic, but what is the of these solutions is the most viable?
in June 2009, was reviewed by several

SEMINAR 16
RAMESH MEHTA
There is obvious disconnect
between leaders and peoples
F
irst of all we must understand that Kashmiris are basically extremely
sentimental. It appears that the popular Governments between 2008 and
2010 have failed to gauge the mood and read the mind of the people of
Kashmir leave alone relating to them. There had been a disconnect between the
leaders of the ruling coalition and the public.
Well, it is very likely to be the outcome of a design but who allowed the
design to succeed? People's whole hearted participation in elections was construed
as a license to ignore the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Omar's inaccessibility
to even his cabinet colleagues speaks volumes in this behalf. Even Dr. Farooq
People in Jammu and Kashmir are Abdullah is on record to have said only recently about Omar that, “ He must come to
fed up with present state of affairs. grips with the administration and show the door to officials who don't perform.”
This statement is self explanatory and endorses the views held by the common man
A recent survey by Chatham House in the streets.
has just proved that. A vast majority I would like to recall the SASB agitation in Jammu. It was the manner in which
wants substantive change in the body of Kuldip Verma was disposed off that fuelled the anger far and wide and
helped the agitation enormously otherwise till that day it was just another
present status agitation. Perhaps the same history is being repeated in Kashmir over the last few
years.
ERSHAD MEHMUD There has also been a clash of perceptions between the people and the Govt.
and Govt. had failed to clear the mist encircling its credentials. Failure of
intelligence gathering mechanism as well as lack of responsive administration has
been adding fuel to fire.
M M KHAJOORIA
This is a grand coupe
T
o keep Kashmir restless and simmering to be brought to boil at the time of their choosing was the tactical response of
Pakistan establishment to the changed politico-strategic ground realities as assessed probably in 2007. The people
were fed up with senseless killing .Terrorism had begun to yield diminishing returns provoking public apathy and defiance
This was evidenced by the level of participation in the elections. There were no takers in the world community for “ the
struggle for freedom “ cover for ongoing terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. And terrorism had become a dirty word
The strategic shift involved combination of over ground violent mass street action and spaced terrorist strikes on specific
targets. In the latest bout yet-to-mature , gullible and excitable teenagers were placed in the vanguard .The violent street
action with stones as the weapon of offence invited the use of force by the security forces ( the justification whereof was
subject to formal scrutiny) resulting in civilian causalities exposing the Indian state to Human rights violation et all . The
accompanying man oeuvres in successful management of Public Perception during the last phase of violence succeeded in
confounding the civil society, confusing the political class , put Indian security forces and J&K Police in the dock and gained
immense public sympathy for the “movement .This was sort of a grand coupe which could encourage similar adventurism in
future.

17 SEMINAR
DAYA SAGAR
For separatists, summer is best
time to communicate
T
here is a role reversal in Kashmir. ticularly the youth and new generation
After 1990 Kashmir Valley has was exposed to. The social matrix of
remained exposed to only a par- Kashmir valley was damaged, the
ticular class of views. With this the dia- Kashmiri Hindu left the valley and their
logues and opinions that question the return was not given the first priority
intentions of New Delhi are more often over other material projects.
expressed. This way the separatist have Unfortunately this further helped the
been getting easy space. The separat- anti India elements. The efforts of the
ists too have found it easy to carry their official machinery have not been
campaigns and propaganda. Rather the enough for confidence building since It is accumulated anger which also
separatists too see come competition the propaganda by the separatists was reflects a sense of betrayal,
from parties like PDP. New Delhi has not against the local civil government
been playing very soft on separatists as but it was and has been against the
disillusionment and hopelessness.
well as those who advocate separatist nationality. Even Indian National Apart from the anger against the
like preferences for Kashmir valley. Congress has worked as local party , it state, there is also anger within – in
National Conference that had in earlier cannot compete with National
days simply preached special treat- Conference politically and so the best respect to the separatist politics
ments for Kashmiris, has now started thought way to keep NC uneasy by and movement. With the divided
feeling suffocated in the separatist envi- allowing the anti NC elements alive in leadership, there is a sense of loss
ronment and for its survival is not able valley. Under these circumstances sum-
to play harsh on the separatist ele- mer is the best time for the separatists of direction
ments. The quit Kashmir torch that was to reach out to the outer world since the
held by Sheikh Abdullah, against borders are also live, the tourist season REKHA CHOWDHARY
Maharaja Hari Singh in 1946 to ensure is on, the State government heads are in
that in independent India the demo- valley . So we have been seeing the val-
cratic power in State of J&K comes in ley more disturbed in summers in
the hands of NC like it would be for recent times.
Congress in India, has now been very
cleverly held by Sayeed Ali Shah
Geelani. But now it is against India. ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB
I
Moreover except central grants no any t would be foolhardy to see a conspiracy angle or a planned
other tool has been used by the
Government all these years in Kashmir pattern to this phenomenon. This eruption is simply a
valley to remedy the misconceptions, spontaneous public reaction to political and economic
separatist propaganda, anti India cam- suffocation, coupled by excesses by and impunity to armed forces
paigns, doubts on the genuineness of in the state. The problem is that there is a big disconnect between
1947 Accession, the two nation theory
the rulers and the common people, especially the youth, and the
and the status of princely states . Before
1996 almost all political cadres had former are not fully able to understand the nature of the latent
moved out of the valley. And when they aggression and discontent among the people. And the root cause is
returned in 1996 they moved amongst New Delhi's aversion to address the core issue – Srinagar's
the people under tight securities. This completely eroded political and economic rights. And an onslaught
way they could not win the confidence
of the people in an environment where on its larger identity.
anti India ideologies have been only
inputs that the common Kashmiri par-

SEMINAR 18
ERSHAD MEHMUD
Dividends of 2008 elections
were not consolidated
T
he massive destruction and human losses in the wake of militant struggle in
the Valley in 1990s had forced many Kashmiris to shun their armed struggle
and revert to a non-violent movement. The peace process initiated between
India and Pakistan imbibed a new hope in this segment of the society which fully sup-
ported it. However, things stand totally changed today as the process has failed to
yield significant results; mainly because of lukewarm Indian response coupled with
the political turmoil in Pakistan.
The people of Valley once again preferred ballot over bullet in 2008 when state
assembly elections were held in Kashmir. Pakistan too tacitly supported this exer-
There is a strategic shift in cise and things went smoothly. In fact, Islamabad put its weight behind Omar
Abdullah who promised to promote broader reconciliation between Delhi and
Pakistani establishment's approach Islamabad and also within Jammu and Kashmir to create local consensus. However,
to Kashmir. Keeping Kashmir he failed to create a space for the separatists in the local politics due to Delhi's ter-
simmering at the time of their rorism centric approach towards Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai attacks.
People of Kashmir are fedup with the current state of affairs. Recently,
choosing is their tactical response
Colonel Qadhafi's son Saif-Al-Islam commissioned the first opinion poll on both sides
to the waning scheme of terrorism. of LoC on the future of Kashmir. The poll was conducted by a well reputed organiza-
In the latest bout gullible and tion IpsosMORI in October - November 2009 and published by the Chatham House
London. The survey suggests that the protracted conflict made huge negative
excitable teenagers were kept in
impact on the people?s lives. The poll maintains that an overwhelming 80% of
the vanguard. This is a sort of grand Kashmiris ? 75% in AJK and 82% in J&K. felt that the dispute was very important for
coupe them personally. It shows that a vast majority of the people wants substantive
change in the present status. It also shows the people's frustration with the current
state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. In my view, as long as Delhi and Islamabad do
MM KHAJOORIA not jointly take tangible steps to stabilize Kashmir Valley lasting peace cannot
return to Kashmir. In this regard, they have to pick up the threads where they were
left before Mumbai attacks.
GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

There is hardly anything surprising
about protests; anger is deep
T
he upsurge and uprising of youth power need not surprise us. The youth were always at the forefront of rights- based
movements in Kashmir .After all gun too was taken by the youth against the State. In recent times stone pelting youth
and the consequent disruption of civic, economic and political life has made many Kashmir watchers to offer their own
explanations as to what has happened and how to retrieve the further collapse. There is no doubt that the peace process
both in its internal and external domain had brought a sense of confidence and optimism in the life of an average Kashmiri
youth.The youth were feeling that the world has starting opening to them. The disruption in that process did make a dent in
the psychology of Kashmiri youth. Despite the fact that many organizations in Kashmir either in unionist or separatist's camp
are headed by young men and women but that has not translated into either their fascination or empowerment of youth. The
youth have a feeling that their leaders have lost their autonomy to confront the might of the Indian State. Some critical
issues dominant in Kashmir discourse like Land, demography, drug abuse, violations of human rights have their own impact on
youth psyche. Further rising economic and globalizing India does not mean much to an educated youth who remain under
scanner of security agencies once he moves out side the state for education or jobs.

19 SEMINAR
Q What should State and Center

do at this stage.
REKHA CHOUDHARY
The should come up with
political response
F
or achieving the minimum peace in the Valley, first thing that is required is the An internal political dialogue must
improvement of record of Human Rights violations and both the Central and
State government should see to it that the innocent civilians are not harmed commence on all issues – the task
in any way. The present cycle of violence needs to be broken and a message needs to force reports (centre-state relations
be given to those responsible for maintaining law and order that every life is and regional autonomy), governance,
valuable and order cannot be restored at the cost of human lives. However, there is
no possibility of peace without the political initiatives. The political response has to meaningful decentralization through
go beyond the knee jerk and adhoc response to crisis situations. Not doing anything empowered panchayati raj
will not lead us anywhere. There is a need of political vision and political will to structures, the future of the Pandits,
resolve conflict situation. Given the emotive response to Kashmir at the national
level, it may not be possible to immediately provide a model of conflict resolution, development and employment,
but at least some beginning needs to be made. New Delhi needs to address the trust disappearances, HR violations, etc.
deficit that it has in Kashmir. To remove this trust deficit, the Government of India Nothing and nobody need be excluded
will have take step, which might be very small, but which should reflect the
genuineness and sincerity of the Government of India. It is important the people
should get a feeling that a peace deal with Pakistan would not be brokered without BG VERGHESE
the participation of Kashmiris and whatever happens people would be given a
chance to deliberate upon issues.
RAMESH MEHTA
Make only those promises which can be fulfilled
B
oth governments should make only those promises which they are capable of fulfilling. Saying
that sky is the limit and not allowing even the rooftop is not going to work. Forming the Working
Groups and consigning their recommendations to records sends wrong signals. It is foolhardy to
believe that unemployment is driving the youth to stone pelting. It is a recognized fact that Kashmir is
not included in the list of 8 most poor States of India. Unemployment today is a worldwide
phenomenon. Hence, there is much more to it than meets the eye. Why is it that whenever there is a
crisis of this sorts the politicians belonging to the ruling coalition goes into hibernation instead of
going to and facing the people? Yes, by facing the people they are destined to face their wrath but that
is the price they should be prepared to pay for earning the title of being genuine representatives of
the people. Other wise the vacuum created by them in troubled times is bound to be, and is being,
filled by the separatist elements.

SEMINAR 20
NAEEM AKHTAR
First, acknowledge the basic problem
L
ook at the realities and acknowledge them. Unfortunately everybody has been
in a denial mode on Kashmir. The problem exists at more than one level. And
unfortunately the current turmoil has introduced yet another level to it. The
youth who are spearheading it sense an existential threat to them as a result of the
killing of scores of them. This has happened in the backdrop of comparable
situations receiving completely different treatment. Media has made instant
comparison possible. And the youth or the general public in Kashmir does not view it
as difference of approach but discrimination as in the case of dealing with Naxal
violence. While Naxals armed with guns and literally butchering security forces are
called and treated as “our own men” who can't be fought with weapons, bullet is
prescribed as the only solution to Kashmir's angry protestors. And to legitimize this
The rouge element in the counter- approach conspiracy theories are cooked up with the help of a media that in case of
Kashmir has always sided with the establishment and worked as part of security
insurgency grid of the State needs apparatus. Unfortunately the establishment in Delhi has never treated Kashmir as a
to be eliminated. All corrupt part of the country or its exciting democratic enterprise while accusing everybody
elements in government and else of trying to snatch it away. As part of that mindset which sees Kashmir as a held
territory rather than part of a nation full of different strains even a genuine
administration need to be weeded democratic opposition is treated with suspicion and dubbed antinational if the ruler
out.Saint Augustine [Christian is a darling of Delhi. Could it happen that Mamta Banerji is called upon to help
philosopher] used to say that all communists in diffusing Nandigram and if she didn't attend a meeting with the chief
minister be called antinational? While the political problem of Kashmir will remain
unjust rulers need to be
as long as it is not actually solved without waiting for it to disappear, governance has
killed}.That is one way to stop the also been an important factor. It is the administrative quality that has always
revolutions. determined the dormant or active nature of people's anger. History is a witness to it.
Quoting the more recent chapter of it may be relevant but not necessary. Compare
2002-2005 to the years that followed it or preceded it. Same human beings could
GUL MOHAMMAD WANI
produce different results. Same people of Kashmir were inspired to write a new
agenda of peace for South Asia that are now being maligned as stone pelters risking
lives for 100 bucks (foreign funds) a day. Same people crowded the polling stations
to create new records for the country who are now being defamed as Let terrorists.
That is enough to indicate what needed to be done. But it may already be too late
for Omar Abdullah to begin afresh. For credibility once lost is impossible to recover.
GAUTAM NAVLAKHA
Repeal black laws, stop brute force
R
ollback the regime of repression which is in place since 1989, indeed many of the extraordinary laws need to be repealed or
revoked which have been there since 1947, release political prisoners, and stop use of brute force to suppress people who
protest. These are what I consider as basic minimum required to ensure that a political process can be initiated for reaching
a democratic and peaceful solution. It is outrageous that people writing on Facebook or activists organizing protests should be
charged for inciting violence when it is the Indian and state police forces which are responsible for causing the unrest in the first
place by their commission of atrocities and then by cracking down on the media to ensure that people do not get to know the
truth. Take the most recent instance. Machill killing highlighted the fact that there is a co-relation between the disappeared and
the unidentified graves. Kalaroos graveyard, where the three youths were killed and buried was one of the many graveyards
investigated by the International Peoples Tribunal on Kashmir and the findings show that there were 2373 unidentified graves
containing unnamed 2943 bodies in 55 villages of just three districts! How can it inspire confidence when no steps are taken to
investigate this to reveal the truth lying buried in the mass graves in J&K? Why should this be considered something not doable. If
this is not doable why expect people to remain placid when faced with these harsh realities that punctuate their live

21 SEMINAR
MM KHAJOORIAl
Center and State have a lot to introspect
T
he central government should terminate the policy of pampering and
“pleasing” the political elite and focus on the aspiration of the common
man instead. It must ensure that the benefit of the huge financial inputs to
the state reaches the common man in full . More importantly speedy and effec-
tive steps be taken to convince the people that the financial support was neither
meant to be “Khairat” nor bribe money.
I am convinced that the most potent source of alienation in Kashmir is the
strong feeling that the government in Delhi as well as other states equate the
entire community with the militant anti-national fringe. Every Kashmiri Muslim
was suspect. The strong , transparent and painful emotions generated by this
humiliating treatment should be effectively addressed on topmost priority to
the satisfaction of the Kashmiri civil society. Political leaders of the state ought
, The state government had lot to introspect about. The foremost question
to be addressed was what made the Kashmiri Muslim youth so vulnerable to and
to be in constant touch with the
such easy prey for manipulation by subversive elements despite unprecedented people. But none is doing that. The
financial allocations by the centre, special economic packages, huge inputs in Centre is surprisingly even more
infrastructural development ,sanction of central universities and other institutions
inactive
of higher education and government claims of massive employment generation. ?
The Tourism was booming and Pilgrim tourism never had it so good. Was it frustra-
tion , desperation ,hopelessness or total loss of faith in the system and conduct of INDER MALHOTRA
governance? Chief Minister Umar Abdullah must initiate immediate steps to ascer-
tain what precisely went wrong with the system and take urgent corrective mea-
sures..On the law and order front. the state apparatus needed to be reoriented and
geared to face the challenges of normalcy . I wish someone had taken seriously and
acted on suggestions contained in my article titled “The challenges of Normalcy”
published in November, 2009.. It was still very much relevant.
GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB
Keep the core political Remove gaps
question in mind between promise
and performance
F
irst acknowledge that 60 years of carrot and stick
O
quick fixes have not worked to quell popular discon- n all issues like zero tolerance for human
tent in Kashmir. Anything skirting the core political rights violations, dialogue, reconciliation the
question is unlikely to help in achieving durable peace. The gap between promise and performance
needs to be removed. The independent enquiry
state government must act as a facilitator between New recommended by all party committee to probe
Delhi and those who see the solution to the Kashmir issue recent killings of youth needs to be speeded up and
beyond the political status quo. It must also try to explore a findings made public. The rouge element in the
common ground with all political stakeholders in the state counter-insurgency grid of the State needs to be
to set a political agenda for New Delhi-Srinagar talks which eliminated.All corrupt elements in government and
addresses people's political aspirations, and at the same administration need to be weeded out.Saint
Augustine [Christian philosopher] used to say that
time takes into account the economic and political realities
all unjust rulers need to be killed}.That is one way
of our region and the world at large. to stop the revolutions.

SEMINAR 22
NYLA ALI KHAN

Adopt an inclusive approach
C
urrently, mainstream political parties in Indian-administered J & K have
jumped on the autonomy bandwagon. Although these terms are often used
interchangeably, the differences between them are not insignificant. New
Delhi asserts, time and again, that a revitalized Indian federalism will
accommodate Kashmiri demands for an autonomous existence. But, historically,
federalism hasn't always adequately redressed the grievances of disaffected ethnic
minorities. Here, I concur with Robert G. Wirsing's observation that, “while
autonomy seems to imply less self-rule than does the term confederalism, for
instance, it is generally understood to imply greater self-rule than federalism,
which as in the American case, need not cater to ethnic group minorities at all”
(2003: 199).
Launch new initiatives - pursue Given Kashmir's treacherous political climate and the rampant political
Omar's attempts to get punishments factionalism in that region, the appeal of an ambiguous “autonomy” remains intact
for HR violations and crimes, bridge for some groups but for others, as has been forcefully pointed out to me by a couple
of political scientists, it is a wrong narrative to establish in the case of Kashmir.
polarization between Jammu and Sadly, the Kashmir conflict is no longer just about establishing the pristine
valley; CRPF to act only as backup to legitimacy of the right of self-determination of the people of J & K, the former
JK police princely state. Rather, prolonging the conflictual situation works in the interests of
some of the actors, state as well as nonstate, on both sides of the LOC. Some civil
and military officials--Indian, Pakistani, and Kashmiri--have been beneficiaries of
RADHA KUMAR the militarization of Kashmir and the business of the “war on terror.” Also, some
militants, armed and unarmed, have cashed in on the political instability in the
state to establish lucrative careers. For such individuals and groups self-
determination and autonomy work well as hollow slogans stripped of any
substantive content. The dismal truth is that the wish to establish the legitimacy of
self-determination or autonomy vis-à-vis J & K is not universal. The current political
discourse in the state has strayed far from home.
ERSHAD MEHMUD
Demonstrate political maturity
I
t should be acknowledged at the level of policy-makers and political elite that Kashmir issue has internal
as well as external dimensions to deal with. There is no denying the fact that during the last two decades
Islamabad's influence in the Kashmir Valley has increased tremendously.
As long as Islamabad and New Delhi continue to follow hostile approaches towards each other and do not
stop the zero sum game, peace in Kashmir will remain a pipedream.
However, Jammu and Kashmir government led by Omar Abdullah can also play a vital role if it
demonstrates political maturity. No matter what political cost it has to pay, the state government should not
allow the security forces to use high handed policies to curb protests. If Mufti Saeed can take risk to initiate a
war of ideas and politics with separatists, why Omer Abdullah is shy of engaging them at this point of time.
Imposition of PSA and NSA is no solution to the current upsurge. It, in fact, has aggravated the situation
further. Releasing of all political opponents can also help to improve the law and order situation.

23 SEMINAR
Q Everyone is talking about dialogue. Your

thoughts about it.
BG VERGHESE
Lot needs to be done, one
can begin by probing wrongs
and empowering peoples
Too much time has been wasted in
T
he all-Party talks on July 11 Mindless “protests” that sterile talks between the Centre and
suggested an independent Kashmir leaders because no Kashmiri
degenerate into hooliganism
inquiry into the entire gamut of
must be dealt with firmly party or group is prepared to offer any
recent incidents including deaths, fir-
ing, curfews, stone pelting, intercepts,
suggestion on what should be the
and political leaders must
etc, and appealed to the Prime Minister content of greater autonomy for J&K
to initiate a sustained political process. participate in providing
This offers a good starting point. “leadership for peace and
The inquiry must go to its logical
INDER MALHOTRA
reconciliation”.
conclusion and not be allowed to be
derailed as in the past because the truth The present protests are
is uncomfortable to some. by a third post-1947 gener-
An internal political dialogue must ation of youth that is con-
commence on all issues – the task force
reports (centre-state relations and cerned more with the
regional autonomy), governance, mean- future than the past. Can
ingful decentralization through empow-
we structure a volunteer
ered panchayati raj structures, the
future of the Pandits, development and “Peace Corps for
employment, disappearances, HR viola- Reconciliation, Harmony and
tions, etc. Nothing and nobody need be
excluded. The agenda can be framed in the Reconstruction” comprising
first round. The door should be kept open J&K and other Indian youth to
for all to participate but those who boycott The Indo-Pakistan dialogue is on a
work together on agreed and
cannot be given any right of veto. If they different track and will proceed inde-
are left out of the process it will be for doable projects and pendently. Efforts to confuse the two
them to explain why. The Hurriyat has programmes of education, should be resisted. Pakistan cannot be
sat on the fence for far too long. The part of an internal settlement within
internal dialogue must be sustained and health delivery, rural recon-
India. The internal and international dia-
unbroken with a trusted and credible struction, sport, culture, skill logues are independent though interde-
Central interlocutor (and a state level formation and capacity build- pendent. The internal dialogue is by far
counterpart if necessary) being the more important and there will be
inducted at the next stage to carry for- ing in different parts of the efforts to sabotage it by separatist ele-
ward discussions on the nitty-gritty. state ? ments precisely for that reason.

SEMINAR 24
NYLA ALI KHAN

Restoration of trust is pre-requisite
T
he armed conflict has changed Political organizations in the Valley
political combinations and per- have eroded mass bases and are in a mor-
mutations without either disrupt- ibund state. There seems to be an
ing political, social, and gender hierar- unbridgeable gulf between figures of
chies or benefiting marginalized authority and the electorate, who have
groups. The social, economic, political, been deployed as pawns in the devious
and psychological brunt of the armed political game being played by Indian
conflict has been borne by the populace and Pakistani state-sponsored agen-
of Kashmir. The uncertainty created by cies. The glaring lack of a well-
twenty years of armed insurgency and equipped infrastructure in the Valley
Within Jammu & Kashmir state, it is counterinsurgency has pervaded the makes unemployment rife and under-
social fabric in insidious ways, creating scores the redundancy of the educated
time for some hard decisions. A majority
a whole generation of disaffected and dis- segment of the population. The coun-
of people in Leh district and Udhampur-
illusioned youth. Lack of faith in the terinsurgency operations undertaken
Jammu-Kathua districts are not inclined Indian polity has caused Kashmiris to cul- in J & K by the Indian military and para-
to be part of any process where New tivate an apathy to the electoral process military forces were ferocious and
Delhi's political authority in the state is because it is a given that persons best cruel, and have alienated the disillu-
put for negotiations. I personally believe suited to carry out New Delhi's agenda sioned populace.
Srinagar needs to respect their will be installed in positions of political Restoration of trust is a prerequi-
aspirations and let them chart their own import, regardless of public opinion. The site to any kind of dialogue; attempts to
political destiny. It is better to say good- earlier enthusiasm that accompanied reduce troop deployment in Jammu and
bye to each other as good friends than be democratization seems totally futile in Kashmir; reining in paramilitary troops
the current leadership vacuum in the and holding them accountable for their
at loggerheads perpetually
state. Lack of accountability among the J actions; restoration of institutions of
& K polity and bureaucracy has caused a civil society; bringing the intelligentsia
ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB large number of people to toe the line by of J & K into the fold and giving cre-
living with the fundamental structural dence to their opinions; restoration of
inequities and violence, instead of risk- grassroots level institutions without
ing the ire of groups and individuals in which any kind of internal dialogue
positions of authority. would be futile.
REKHA CHOUDHARY
Initiate inclusive talks, don't make
them hostage to external dialogue
I
t is important to engage the Kashmiris and for that a dialogue process needs to be started. Even when
it is true that there can be no lasting peace till Pakistan is involved in it, it may not be fair to make the
internal dialogue hostage to the improvement of India-Pak relations and resumption of composite
dialogue. While dialogue channel with the separatists, who are ready to be engaged, needs to be opened
by the Government of India, there should be multiple dialogues. Dialogues which should continue in one
form or the other – dialogue with the separatists, with the civil society, with the intellectuals, with the
political class across the ideological lives, However, dialogue should not take place for the sake of
dialogues, but also for the sake of building consensus and moving forward towards peace.

25 SEMINAR
MM KHAJOORIA
We are a plural state,
initial a plural dialogue
T
he current internal dialog is academics and most importantly civil
totally ill conceived. They are society. Such combination can be
barking the wrong tree expected to inject the required
.Competing and conflicting political balance and pave the way for
and developmental aspirations of consensus. . The exercise must be
segments of people destined to live informed by some basic premises like,
together cannot be resolved by retired preservation of the integrity of our
or serving Judges saddled with composite state and the three regions
committees comprising of political as well a commitment to secularism and
party reps bound to the party agenda . It plural ethos .Promotion of communal Either you give alternative to people or
is not a question of right or wrong. Even interests under any garb should be accept that people have no one to look
a majority view point cannot be barred. Once a consensus is arrived at ,
the expert committees and
up to except the separatists. It may be
imposed on unwilling or defiant Ladakh
and Jammu. The requirement is to constitutional experts can be involved. a different thing that instead of
evolve a consensus. Essentially, the search is for a providing leadership separatists have
The central government should constitutional re-arrangement, been riding on the popular anger
therefore act as the facilitator ,bring democratic in essence and
together the elected representatives, decentralized in form which broadly
leaders of different sections of society satisfied urges and aspirations of RAMESH MEHTA
like commerce, legal fraternity, people in al the three regions of J&K.
GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

Make quiet dialogue
ERSHAD MAHMUD
visible, credible
Go for tripartite
T
he internal political dialogue needs to be
initiated as quickly as possible. The dialogue
process needs to be properly instituted and
dialogue but don't
structured. There is no doubt that quiet dialogue ignore locals groups
process had certain advantages but it needs to be made
I
t can be helpful if New Delhi makes it a tri-
visible and credible. Though the need is for an inclusive partite -Srinagar-Delhi, Srinagar-Islamabad and
dialogue we can consider having a separate round table finally Delhi and Islamabad based exercise.
for groups outside the mainstream arena. All this is However, dialogue between various regions and
recommended so that we learn to walk before running. intra-Kashmir dialogue can always be helpful to
It is better that we get away from employing retired narrow down the extreme positions and to create a
bureaucrats as interlocutors. Jammu and Kashmir needs broader understanding of each other's point of
to be taken away from Home ministry and placed directly view. In this connection, I would always suggest dia-
under the Prime Ministers charge. The Ministry of Kashmir logue should be backed by the practical steps to
affairs needs to be revived so that there is focused improve the ground realities such as demilitariza-
attention on issues related to Jammu and Kashmir. tion form the urban centers, etc.

SEMINAR 26
GAUTAM NAVLAKHA
Dialogue is useless if trust
deficit is not addressed
I
nternal dialogue enjoys no premium. Pakistan, is not a party to the dialogue
Government of India has dangled it what purpose does it serve? And whose
so often and gone back so many purpose/ Is it not the people's morale
times I do not know what proponents of which needs boosting? Besides, what is
internal dialogue mean by it anymore. Is the internal dialogue supposed to
the dialogue meant to make life of achieve when J&K is completely
authorities easy? To defer addressing beholden to centre for meeting its
the fundamental issue that has beguiled salary and wage bill to taking their
J&K for 63 years? To pretend that this approval before releasing political
Revive the inclusive peace unrest is merely a sign of bad prisoners! Parenthetically, why did the
initiatives: ie: governance rather than oppression? Are union home secretary announce
●Multitrack dialogue for a there conditions attached to this relaxation of curfew the other day when
dialogue? If these conditions dismiss even during the governorship of rabid
resolution of political issues: a. with
demand for respecting right of self- unionist such as Jagmohan it was the
Pakistan, b. with azaadi groups, c. determination which party will join this divisional commissioner who use to
with JK civil society on both sides of dialogue? Will such outfits be able to make the announcement! Point is until
LOC carry the public with them? If large the issue of trust deficit is addressed
●CM-public dialogue on peace and section of people of J&K, as well as dialogue serves little purpose.
governance
●Better control over/banning
groups like SOG
DAYA SAGAR
RADHA KUMAR
Identify the problem first
R
ecently Omar Abdullah too has talked that Kashmir valley needs a political solution. But for that the
first need is to clarify in very simple words what actually is the problem and what do parties like NC
mean by a political solution. In case NC sees political solution in Greater Autonomy and PDP sees
political solution in Self Rule then both these parties must first start a dialogue between them for
common agenda that could be discussed with the Government of India. But ,I would suggest that some
people within in or outside Hurriyat Conference who too have become stake holders should also be then,
if possible, brought in the fold by NC-PDP combine within the proviso of Indian constitution. It is only after
that a minimum workable dialogue process could be Started by New Delhi on the agenda from Kashmir
Valley and of course involving opinion makers from Jammu and Ladakh regions as well. This is the only
practical way for a dialogue within the Indian Constitution without negating the 1947 accession of JK with
India. Thereafter the separatists and Pakistan could be handled as per the constitutional provisions and
international law considering their activities of sedition and attack on the integrity of India. Such action
coupled with the debriefing programme launched at social level would set in motion the process of
removing confusions and doubts in the common Kashmir mind about the truthfulness of India and 1947
accession.

27 SEMINAR
ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB

Initiate a rectangular dialogue
I
nternal dialogue alone would not do. (UJC), on their part, need to set a date
A result-oriented dialogue has to be for the welcome of Kashmiri Pandit
rectangular. New Delhi-Srinagar dia- migrants back to Kashmir with all due
logue at one level and New Delhi- dignity and safety.
Islamabad at another level. For the sake Within Jammu & Kashmir state, it
of sustainable peace, Srinagar- is time for some hard decisions. A
Islamabad and Srinagar-Muzaffarabad majority of people in Leh district and
dialogues are also important to create Udhampur-Jammu-Kathua districts are
meaningful consensus on political and not inclined to be part of any process
water issues. As far as Srinagar-New where New Delhi's political authority in
Delhi dialogue is concerned, it would the state is put for negotiations. I per-
require some confidence building mea- sonally believe Srinagar needs to
sures: setting of a deadline for simulta- respect their aspirations and let them Reining in paramilitary troops and
neous withdrawal of troops to pre-1989 chart their own political destiny. It is holding them accountable for their
positions and strength, release of all better to say good-bye to each other as actions; restoration of institutions
political prisoners, freedom of speech good friends than be at loggerheads per- of civil society; bringing the
and assembly, freedom of peaceful petually. That way, people will continue
intelligentsia of J & K into the fold
political mobilization and renunciation to maintain good personal relations and
of arms by all militant groups. Both the trade with each other in a cordial and
and giving credence to their
Hurriyats and the United Jihad Council mutually beneficial manner. opinions; restoration of grassroots
level institutions without which any
RAMESH MEHTA kind of internal dialogue would be
futile.
Engage the leaders
of dissent through NYLA ALI KHAN
back channels
NAEEM AKHTAR
S
ee, you have no other way to move forward except
through dialogue. On the very signs of semblance
of normalcy you start saying that Hurriyat has Sorry to say, there
become irrelevant and when you are faced with the
trouble on the streets you start harping for dialogue is no hope
with them. How could it be? Back channel initiatives are
R
esuming dialogue with whom? The leaders
most suited for finding a way out of this impasse. But
are in Jail who now have teenagers from the
here again fear of attacks like the one on Fazalul Haq
Qureshi will not let Hurriyat move forward. I believe
street for company. Teenagers who were pro-
that there is no need to go public on any kind of parleys testing the killing of their classmates, friends and
before arriving at some workable resolution. Undue acquaintances are filling up jails and lock ups.
publicity robs backchannel initiatives of its working Someone in the system need to have the credibility
environment. to be listened to and I honestly believe there is no
In the alternative, either you give alternative to one on the horizon right now. The Prime Minister
people or accept that people have no one to look up to
even though he did not respond to the killings in
except to separatists. It may be a different thing that
instead of providing leadership separatists have been Kashmir could still make the difference. But it has
riding on the popular anger. to be at his level.

SEMINAR 28
Q Your message to restless valley youths.
GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

Counseling Kashmiri youth is
most difficult at the moment
I
t is really difficult to say anything to how youth in other conflict situations
Youths should not fall prey to youth at this time what we can only cope up with their day to day
jihadist and others who want to promise but cannot perform. We problems. If the state has six lakh
sever J&K from its rich, secular need to ensure that honor and dignity of unemployed youth then we ought to
the people is respected. The youth must have a coherent youth policy drawn in
Kashmiriyat, and sufi-rishi heritage have a feeling that opportunities are consultation with those experts who
open to them in the entire world. have sufficient knowledge about
BG VERGHESE Kashmiri youth must have a sense of Kashmir.It is high time that State
security in and outside the Kashmir. knowledge commission is established
We need to create social and so that we are able to understand as to
democratic spaces where our youth how to reorient the system of college
can express themselves. The youth and university education in the state
need to be patient and also understand as a long term measure.
REKHA CHOUDHARY
Youth needs to be engaged
NAEEM AKHTAR
Dekho Mujhe Jo in more productive activities
Y
outh at this time is in a very difficult situation for the
Deeda E Ibrat burden of separatist politics has been placed on their
shoulders. This is certainly not fair, since the youth
Nigaah Ho cannot lead the movement because it itself needs to be led.
The vacuum that exists in the resistance politics of Kashmir,
I
am left with no moral power to
cannot be filled in by the stone pelting youth. The reason that
render an advice to Kashmiri
they are getting killed is not only the agents of the state are
youths because I feel I belong to a responding ruthlessly to their protest activities, but also
failed generation that leaves behind because they are not being restrained by the members of the
a messier place than the one we civil and political society. Youth needs to be engaged in more
inherited. The boys are trying to find productive activities and they need to be told that the future
their own path and I would only tell of the state as well as the movement demands their role hence
them “dekho mujhe jo deeda e ibrat they need to be saved for that role. What is more important for
nigaah ho”. them at the present time is their education so that they can
take their own responsibility as well as that of the society.

29 SEMINAR
GAUTAM NAVLAKHA
They have to consider using
means other than stones
T
he movement is alive and kicking will be squandered through cunning and
with the third generation now stealth of the authorities as Shopian
taking over the baton. The incident so well illustrates. Therefore,
protests have not been futile going by sustainability of protests is what the
the fact that the intelligentsia and youth should keep in mind. Especially,
authorities have again woken up to while their courage at being able to face
speak of doing something to defuse the death or fatal injury at the hands of a
situation. It is also a reminder, to use heavily armed security force cannot be
the words of a stone-pelter that “we minimized, they have to consider using
want to tell the world that there is no means other than stones to remind the As an Indian citizen I owe them
normalcy here. We live in a disturbed world about what injustices have been (Kashmiri youths) an apology, that
area”. Equally, it is a reminder to all dealt them and what they want. In the
that only protests compel authorities, long run truth is the strongest weapon
all my attempts to end their
and an insensitive Indian intelligentsia, against oppressors and articulating isolation and mistreatment have
to become aware of people's mood. It demands during protests/agitations will failed
may well be that the efforts of the youth lend their protests credibility.
RADHA KUMAR
RAMESH MEHTA
Youth of Kashmir may
do better in nation building
T
o me it appears that there is a deep rooted feeling among
the Kashmiri youth that they have been let down by one and
all. Youth of the valley, howsoever disenchanted they may ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB
be with the system, need to understand that violence will brood no
solution. They must observe and take lessons from Pakistan as to Youth must not
how Talibanisation is wrecking Pakistan's economy and the civil
society. They have to realize that they are being used as a pawn in allow their political
the international game. There is no single recognized party, from
among mainstream parties or otherwise, to whom disenchanted struggle be
youth of Kashmir can look to. There may be unity of purpose
among the separatists but there is no unity of minds. communalized
Further, had the issue been limited to India and the Kashmiris
T
alone, then there could have been some hope for finding an o counsel anything to them looks
amicable as well as workable solution but here the element of fruitless at a time when they are going
Pakistan besides, may be, international agencies is also involved. by their political and basic human
Given the fragile nature of Pakistan government/s no concrete
instincts, and not even listening to political
outcome for peace in Kashmir is expected at the moment. Hence
instead of going astray the youth of Kashmir may do better to join
leaders who champion their cause. But, yes,
nation building, even if their notion of nation may be limited to the youth must not allow their political
Kashmir only. struggle be communalized.

SEMINAR 30
MM KHAJOORIA
Just pause and think
M
y sincere advice to the acceptable to all the three
valley youth will be to regions of J&K will have a chance
pause and think. Then . So use the time to convince
some realities will dawn upon others of your point of view
them which need not necessarily through logic and rationale .
look pleasant on the first sight. Four. In the meanwhile life has
One: The “Kashmir Issue” is not to go on. So concentrate on
going to be resolved in a hurry or your studies . / professional
in isolation from Indo-Pak recon- duties so that you are equipped
The restless youth of Kashmir - ciliation. Two: Disturbances in to improve your quality of life
some of whom have turned into Kashmir can only contribute to and that of your family.
stone-pelters, paid and unpaid - do the deepening of the conflict Participate in the great Indian
need to be assuaged. The best way and subversion of the peace march towards the goal of an
would be to ensure them jobs within process there by further economic super power . The God
Kashmir or in rest of India delaying the resolution Three. almighty has in His beneficence
In the final analysis , only that endowed you with higher IQ
INDER MALHOTRA decision which suits , I repeat and intuitive capability . Prove
suits India and Pakistan and was worthy of it.
GRAPHIX
BG VERGHESE
Don't become prisoners of the past YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS
B
uild the future. Do not become prisoners of the past, of old
hatreds, of mistrust and ideological propaganda. Do not fall a prey DESIGN :
to the jihadists and others who want to sever J&K from its rich, Newspaper,
Magazine,
secular Kashmiriyat andsufi-rishi heritage. That is the path of self- Hologram,
destruction. Make a careful study of the constitutions of Pakistan Job Work,
Administered Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region and their operation Wedding Card,
Multi-Colour Card,
on the ground and ask yourself if that is the model of “self- Greeting Card
determination” you wish to adopt.
J&K's problems are by no means unique. They are variously shared 160, Near Anand Satsang Bhawan,
by people in other parts of India. If we join hands, then together we can Indira Chowk, Shalamar Road, Jammu
Mobile : 94198 91777,
and shall overcome. email : [email protected],
[email protected]

31 PROLOGUE
From the Editor
Return to Ladakh!
A
year after we brought out a special issue on Ladakh,
here is the second one dedicated to the land of moon,
as this Himalayan enclave is often referred to. Between
these two special issues and earlier one in November
2007, each issue has carried a dedicated section on
Ladakh with focus on stories of change. Hearing stories from
Ladakh and telling to the rest is a priority for us at Epilogue. Our
effort is to reach out to those places and people where mainstream
media finds hardly any business. That is where we mean business
–giving voice to the voiceless. In last 44 months we have realized
that there can't be any end to reportage on Ladakh. There is a story
after story. Having discussed politics and relations between
communities in earlier issues, our reportage of the region revolves
around the ordinary peoples and their extraordinary issues. Politics
is important too but we are not obsesses with writings on Leh deals
with Kargil or how Kargil deals with Zanskar. We have focus on every
on every Ladakhi.
While presenting this third exclusive issue on Ladakh, we have
an immense sense of pleasure to share with our readers. Since NOVEMBER 2007
physical presence holds a symbolic importance, we have tried to
put ourselves among the people. Epilogue has set up an editorial
and management sub office in Leh. We have arrived in Leh after
having done nearly 250 stories on Ladakh in three and half years.
That reflects the strength of our commitment with Ladakh and this
strength comes from trust Ladakhis have reposed in us. Our office
in Leh is to further strengthen this relationship. We have tried to
offer people a place where they can walk in with ideas and issues,
initiate debates and get themselves heard and reported. For
Ladakhi peoples, we believe, none can be a better storyteller than
Tsewang Rigzin, Epilogue's Associate Editor in Leh. He is the man
who has played as a link between Ladakhis and rest of the world
through his writings always revolving around the life of the
ordinary.
I wish this relation grows stronger!
Zafar Choudhary
Editor
[email protected] AUGUST 2009
www.epilogue.in Vol. 4, Issue 2 Epilogue, February 2010

ladakh in focus 32
Notes on life
SOCIETY
Donning New Roles

YANGCHAN DOLMA
Straddling the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, lies Ladakh, a cold icy desert in
uppermost reaches in the northern part of Jammu & Kashmir state Comprising a medley of different
races, Tibetans, Mons, Dards descendents of the earlier Indian settler and having a sizable presence of
Muslim and Tibetan Buddhism religions, Ladakh has evolved a unique tapestry of social, cultural and
political life.
A
tribal society and a culture of women-headed households in rural Churpon is the traditional system of
Ladakh accords a position of areas, where areas of decision-making cooperative farming where a family is
respect and strength to women. which rested solely with men are now nominated on rotational basis to distrib-
Even the most ordinary chores like car- becoming the domain of women. ute water impartially to every villager
ing for children, rearing livestock, farm- The composition of the 'Goba' or for cultivation. Nyerpa is the person
ing, fetching water and spinning, weav- Governing Body in a typical Ladakhi vil- who organizes the annual prayer held
ing wool call for strenuous activity in lage which executes all the customary in their monastery or temple for timely
Ladakh's mountainous terrain and harsh activities is indicative of this transfor- snow and rain for agriculture. Both
winters. Women have traditionally mation. Women are increasingly these are roles were previously the
played a prominent role in socially rele- becoming members of “Goba' which reg- domain of men exclusively. There has
vant events or cultural extravaganzas. ulates and runs all activities like village been a move to explore new economic
There are no community dances, songs, festivals, prayers, reception to guests, arenas resulting in formation of Self-
social felicitations to political leaders to religious or political leaders. Kunzes Help Groups (SHG's). Women weave
or spiritual teachers which take place Dolma in Skurbuchan village in Khalsi shawls from Pashmina and Numbu both
without their active participation. block in Shyam region was the first fine, local yarn and make 'Goncha' the
Donning their finest jewellery and woman to have worked as village Goba traditional Ladakhi dress. Groups like
carrying the customary Chamskan' or a in 2003. Tsering Yangskit of Leh these have mushroomed and are now
pot of wine, women are part of such spe- Nutrition Project, NGO based in Ladakh developing innovative ways to market
cial occasions. Today however, Ladakhi working on women development says their wares. One of the members in
society is in transition and women in that a fundamental change in attitudes Basgo Village of Leh Block offered space
Ladakh are donning new roles which go towards women is imperative for them in her house which is on the national
beyond the traditional into significant to play a much more significant role in highway for a showroom. According to
areas of socio-political life. Men in public life. Tsering Dolker president of the group “
throngs are migrating out of their vil- Churpon and Nyerpa are tradi- To sell the products , we participated in
lages in search of employment which tional customs and practices where the various exhibition at events like Ladakh
has been generated by a strong Army role of women is gaining prominence. Festival and Sindhu Darshan. We also
presence as well as a vibrant Tourism Here the role is not merely decorative participated in Saras Mela held in
industry. Villages are left bereft of male but signifies a subtle but fundamental Srinager in 2007 to showcase and sell
presence and women have gradually shift in acknowledgment of women in our handicraft.”
moved into this space. There is a surge the economic and religious spheres. Women are also cultivating vegeta-

33 ladakh in focus
Notes on life
bles beyond domestic use and contributing to the family WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE
income. Ladakh has a scarcity of fresh vegetables in winter
and spring but has a surplus in summer when it is warmer.
Summer in the plains all over India is scorching and many
A Search for
parts of the country are reeling under shortage of vegetables.
Ladakhi women entrepreneurs have recognized this economic
activity and are proposing ways to supply vegetables to the
an Identity
other regions of the country during this time. Tsering Nurbo,
Executive Councilor for Agriculture of Ladakh Hill YANGCHAN DOLMA
Development Council (LAHDC) says, “5 ton of potatoes and 4
ton of peas cultivated by different Women SHGs in Dhomkhar
Being a woman in Ladakh has traditionally
village of Khalsi block was sent to sell in Kashmir region in
Srinager, the capital of J&K for the first time.” meant having a position of respect in a
Ladakhi society today is poised between two worlds. society seen to be liberal in its gender atti-
One is based on their age-old way of life, its unique culture, tudes and patterns. But this stops at women
customs and social order. The other world promises the open- in the roles designated for them within
ing up of traditional Ladakhi society with new employment the cultural and social patterns and roles
avenues, ideas of women's empowerment, opportunities for that have emerged during its chequered
educational and social advancement. The woman in Ladakh
and fascinating history. In the modern
represents the face of this change, a shedding of past pat-
terns and a reaching out to a brave new world.
era, to be a woman in Ladakh and in poli-
It is but natural that such a transition implies flux and tics or in governance at any level is still a
invites a range of opinions. Some women leaders are still skep- hat which society has not been able to
tical of this new-found energy and confidence in the new wear comfortably.
roles for women. Thinless Tharchin of Ladakh Development The J and K Panchayat Raj institution came into
Organization working on women's issues, says that influence existence three years before the 73rd Amendment Act
of women is negligible even within village Governing Body. of the Central Government. This has a provision for
Within these dynamics, however, it is an undisputable fact reservation for women on Panch seats but not for the
that women in Ladakh find themselves pitch forked into Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat a significant level of
new arenas in social, cultural and political spheres. There the tier system of panchayati raj. Panchayat institu-
could be a long way to go before women actually work in tion in effect began in Ladakh 2001. In the first ever
Panchayat election, 37 women became Panches
partnership with men at every level of decision making but
through consensus nomination of their respective vil-
the direction of the winds of change are unmistakable.
lages. Five them were contested the election. The
Government, in an obvious attempt to meet the man-
datory 33% reservation directed the opening up of the
seats in the Halqua Panchayat
A key factor in the governance and politics has
been the establishment of Ladakh Autonomous Hill
(Articles in this section from page 32 to 42 are Development Council (LAHDC) in 1995 to address the
supported by the Charkha Development and unique issues of governance in the context of Ladakhi
Communication Network, New Delhi, under its Sanjoy society and polity. The step implied the growth in
Ghose Media Fellowship Programme and Ladakh political opportunities for the Ladakhi, a say in mat-
Women Writers' Award Programme. Epilogue is ters of governance and a mechanism to fashion devel-
thankful to Mr Shanker Ghose for his guidance and also opment and growth according to the unique and par-
deeply appreciative of Sujata Raghavan and Anshu ticular needs of the region. However this has not
Meshak for their work and coordination –Editor) reflected in any tangible thrust of the Council to
women's development or empowerment in Leh dis-
trict. Amongst the 26 members of General Council of

ladakh in focus 34
Notes on life
LAHDC, there are two nominated not only public discourse on any issue but extent, less women-centric development
women councilors. Both of them are on of the process of governance, they will agenda. Seen from the point of view of
the reserved seats, Spalzes Angmo nomi- remain in the shadows, more as decora- women, their enhanced role in gover-
nated for all the three terms on the prin- tive value, as emblems of a rich and fasci- nance and political processes , it seems
ciple of minority and Tashi Angmo on the nating culture no doubt but without a a Herculean task to cut through the lines
reservation of weaker section. Inspite of role in development. of region, religion, gender for women to
the opportunity for some women to make Development itself suffers from aspire to and sustain a significant if not
a difference being part of the Hill this lack of women's participation, their forceful presence in governance.
Council, their performance and track- perspectives and their contribution to Everything seems heavily weighed
record is lack-lustre. Their contribution actual work on the ground which women against this.
to the processes of planning and setting in panchayati raj institutions across the Today educated women in Ladakh
agendas is negligible. For women in the country are bringing in. The steps taken still avoid the public domain of gover-
Halqua Panchayat it is the same story. At by the J&K Government have been short- nance and prefer regular jobs. Many
both these levels it is an opportunity lost. sighted in this matter and rather than a Ladakhis still feel that those willing to
. Within the Executive Council which is demonstrated commitment to Panchayati come in politics are uneducated, inca-
the think-tank and the body which Raj have been vacillating possibly pable and lack understanding of issues.
defines policy and sets development because of the regime changes and politi- But the winds of change are blowing
agenda has Women's Development or cal compulsions of the day. Yet albeit gently and will in time give way to a
Empowerment conspicuously missing panchayati raj, its vision and its potential more progressive era. Advocate Thinley
from this. cannot be and should not be the preroga- Angmo notes, "The level of education in
G M Sheikh, who works on women's tive of any one political regime, it women is increasing and will soon start a
leadership points out, "Women in Councilor's belongs to the people of India, to their new era in women society. The govern-
post unfortunately lack understanding aspirations for a more accountable and ment job opportunities which are most
of women issues and needs in the soci- sensitive governance. preferred by women are decreasing and
ety.” Former MLA and presently mem- Panchayati Raj was introduced for they are exploring other opportunities.
ber of SC/ST Commission Tsering the first time in January 2001 during The dynamics of women in gover-
Samphel opines, "Lack of competition National Conference Government. In nance in Ladakh has many facets which
among the Women councilors is responsi- 2002 the Congress –PDP alliance came are reflective of a region which is
ble for their being inactive. Women coun- to power and during their tenure the churning and seeking change from its
cilors need to groomed in politics." existing term of panchayat expired in traditional mould. Yet it finds itself
However this speaks of a deeper May 2006 which was neither extended nor caught and trapped in old mores.
malaise, a root cause for which is in panchayat elections was held in entire Nothing captures this more than the doc-
probably unfair to nail the individual state. The promise and potential of ument brought out for the first time by
women in power and governance sys- Panchayati Raj to make governance a LAHDC on the comprehensive strategies
tems. Shiekh opines , “Ladakhi society democratic process based on the involve- and action for the next twenty five
is patriarchal and is the main barrier to ment of local communities is at the years. The process did not include one
the participation of women in gover- moment on a weak wicket in J&K. woman nor does it have a substantive
nance and decision making in the society. Ladakh as a region suffers from s e c t i o n d e v o t e d t o Wo m e n ' s
The general perception still persists that being disconnected and in some sense Development. Later this document, fun-
these jobs are the responsibility of men”. sidelined even within the state and this damentally flawed because of the
Tsering Dolker, General Secretary finds reflection in the political repre- absence inputs from women was
of Women's Alliance of Ladakh says this sentation from the region at the released by the Prime Minister Dr.
mind-set itself discourages women's par- national level. There are two Lok Sabha Manmohan Singh and Leh became per-
ticipation in governance. The myth of seats, each for Leh and Kargil till 1995 haps the first district to own a Vision
the Ladakhi women being at par with and four seats after delimitation. Leh Document sans women's perspectives.
the males in society stops short of their has a largely Buddhist population and Perhaps those who are leading lights in
participation in governance and the Kargil is dominated by Muslims, a demo- the Panchayti Raj movement and those
political process which is some ways is graphic fact which has in a sense polar- who are involved in creating a respon-
the yardstick or the acid test of women's ized Ladakh on the lines of religion and sive, locally tuned governance need to
empowerment in any region. Unless region, leaving very little space for the put their heads together and address
women participate fully and are part of development agenda and to a much the issues of Ladakhi women.

35 ladakh in focus
Notes on life
AGRICULTURE
No winter chill for farmers

ZAINAB AKHTER
W ith the onset of winter, icy season. "We get fresh green leafy vegeta- yield that moved the authorities to fur-
winds and temperatures bles even during the months of January, ther this novel concept and take its bene-
plummeting way below February and March. We want more fit to a wider population. They helped
sub-zero, farmers in Ladakh are a worried greenhouses to be promoted so that establish similar greenhouses across the
lot. Over 90 per cent of Ladakh's popula- more people get benefit from this novel region.
tion is engaged in farming, their liveli- method," said Tsering Dolker, a farmer. Leh has another natural advantage.
hoods directly dependent on agriculture. It is a far cry from the past when the Because of its unique geography, it
It is not easy to get a good yield though. supply of green vegetables in Ladakh dur- receives good sunlight for an average of
The extremely short summers and long ing the long winter months was restricted 325 days in a year . This has been a boon
harsh winters make it difficult for farm- to cargo that arrived by air from Delhi, for the greenhouse project. "We have
ers to grow vegetables even to sustain Jammu or Chandigarh. Now as the seen that solar energy has a lot of poten-
themselves. For months on end, heavy Ladakh gets snowed in, the supply of vege- tial in Leh town. We have tried to develop
snow fall covers the fields, leaving little tables like cucumber, eggfruit and capsi- farming and we are encouraging farmers
scope for anything to grow, leaving farm- cum emerge from the hothouses. For the to grow vegetables. This concept was
ers waiting in despair. locals, to be relishing these when it is nail developed in 1998 to make greenhouses
Things are changing however. biting cold outside, is a delightful experi- using local material," said Tashi Thokmat,
Farmers in Leh district of Ladakh have ence. It has demonstrated how technol- Deputy Director, Ladakh Environment
adopted a method of greenhouse farm- ogy can be applied to natural processes to and Health Organization (LEHO).
ing, which enables them to grow vegeta- boost the yield and make the region self- The momentum has caught on. Biju
bles in the middle of harsh winters. It has reliant. It has also demonstrated that Shitall, a Pune based private company
led to the availability of vegetables with applied research, the farming com- offered to organize an exposure tour for
throughout the year, which even a few munity in Ladakh need not be at the farmers of Ladakh to travel to Pune and
winters ago was unheard of. mercy of climatic cycles but offset its dis- learn about technical innovations in vege-
The concept of greenhouses was advantage by adopting
developed by Defence Research and new methodologies. The
Development Organization (DRDO), from viability of agricultural
its unit located in Leh. The moving spirit processes and yields have
behind this innovation was to help the grown tremendously with
farmers overcome the hazards of harsh this one intervention.
winters and protect their farming prac- This has signified a turn-
tices so that they could get a good yield. ing point for the farmers .
Interestingly it was adopted by the Indian Seeing the remarkable way
Army, for the first time in Kargil after the in which the yields have
1999 border warfare and introduced increased , the
amongst the local populace. Horticulture Department
The farming community cannot was quick to respond with
believe the wonder of growing green its own initiatives . It was
leafy vegetables throughout the winter the quantum jump in the

ladakh in focus 36
Notes on life
table seed production. It was ENVIRONMENT

a tremendous learning expe-
rience which the Ladakhi
farmers will retain and apply
Glacial Melting
to conditions in their own
region.
District Agriculture
causing havoc
Officer, Leh Thinless Dawa, TASHI MORUP
said during the tour, “these
farmers were provided exten-
sive training followed by field
visit to farms of the state.”
Mr. Dawa added that
there is an understanding
between Ladakh Autonomous
Hill Development Council,
Biju Shitall company and the
Farmers Cooperative Society
to market vegetable seeds to
other states. Also in pipeline
is a move to adopt a model vil-
lage for seed production in
Leh district.
The farming community
and the consumers in Leh are
enjoying the benefits of sum-
mer during the winter season
when normally they would be
deprived of fresh vegetables
T
This turn-around is clearly rudging down the street of Leh tion. Streams ran dry and the staple crop
based on scientific methods bazaar, a pall of gloom on his face, barley, which was water-starved, grew
buoyed by the enthusiastic Ishay Tundup, an elderly farmer stunted.
response by the community holds up a bag full of green vegetables . This pattern of nature going awry has
and the authorities. It has all An ordinary sight surely but it was far from become apparent over the last decade
but solved the scarcity of veg- that. This 70-year-old man had grown veg- this high altitude trans-Himalayan region.
etables in the harsh and long etables all his life. He had never needed A drastic reduction in the Indus River
winters in this Himalayan pla- to buy them from a bazaar. Tundup is one waters and in smaller streams, disappear-
teau. The day does not seem amongst the many farmers who have suf- ing glaciers, flash floods, lake overflows.
far when apart from demands fered the effects of drought in Ladakh last Many natural springs, which for centuries
within the region, they will be summer, a phenomenon unheard of. have been a source of drinking water and
exporting vegetables to the Sonam Zangpo, another farmer who is also irrigation, have gone dry.
other parts of the state during the Leh Phoomdo Goba or the Headman of Ladakh, likened to an oasis in the icy
the winters. For a commu- Leh district said, “It was (the water scar- desert attracts thousands of tourists with
nity used to scrounging city) extreme last season, our fields its rugged terrain, its immense potential
around amidst diminishing received just four waters (four times) in for trekking in the semi-arid highland.
winter stock of fresh food, the whole season.” Normally barley fields But now crossing fast-flowing and intri-
this has come like manna receive water through the irrigation chan- cately linked rivulets does not hold that
from heaven. nels 12 to 14 during the period of cultiva- thrill anymore. “You can now cross these

37 ladakh in focus
Notes on life
tributaries without wetting your shoes “There was not a single drop in our River of Nubra valley.
with the help of stones that have stream last summer,” said Tsering Chering Dorjey, Chief Executive
emerged on the water surface,” says Angdus, an elderly villager in Phey . He Commissioner , LAHDC,Leh is con-
Tsering, a veteran tour operator The remembered those days when snow was cerned about the depleting under-
famous 22-day trek from Lamayuru to knee-high everywhere, which lasted the ground water sources and has mooted a
Darcha cutting across the Himalayan whole winter. “Today you don't get to Water Supply Scheme to lift water from
range had a memorable stretch at the see any snow”, Angdus lamented. the Indus River. More and more villages
Shinkun La pass, which meant crossing The dwindling water has forced com- like Taru, Phey, Nang, Stagmo and Sakti
the glacier. Now deep moraines have munities in Shun village, Lungnag valley in Ladakh, facing water scarcity are now
developed caused by the melting gla- in the remote Zanskar region decide to building reservoirs under Watershed
cier and this route is now omitted from shift base from their traditional land. and Haryali schemes.
the trekking itinerary. They now inhabit Darcha on Leh-Manali Mr. Gergan who has studied the
The Khardong La pass, also a must road, a difficult trek of several days issue, believes that the numerous
for the trekking enthusiasts is called the from their ancestral village. At Phu-tse moraines created by the glacial melt
'Highest Motorable Pass in the World” , a glacier the breaching point where the could work as small, manageable check
lifeline for locals between Leh town and lake was formed due to melting is dams to preserve water as well as reju-
Nubra valley. Here too the rising tem- apparent. So is the larger lake at the venate the springs. In several countries
peratures have led to a complete facing glacier recession, like
disappearance of the glacier, Switzerland, artificial covers from
which used to straddle the sun are provided. Artificial glaciers
road.People in Leh have been wit- along side hills protect the original
nessing glaciers shrinking literally glacier and preserve the vast
before their eyes. They have seen stretch of permafrost. In Ladakh,
flash floods in 1999 and in 2006 such steps would be a boon, a
caused by recessional glacial lake much-required action to protect its
outbursts at Nang-tse and Phu-tse precious natural water reserves, the
glacier. According to Joseph T life-giving resource for its people.
Gergan, Glacial Scientist at Wadia The administration both at the
Institute of Himalayan Geology, level of the Ladakh Hill Council and
Dehradun, these are the sources of the J&K state government needs to
water supply to Leh town The fast address the issue much more seri-
melting glaciers' in Changthang area are snout of Khardong la glacier. Disturbing ously. Meeting the immediate chal-
pouring into the famous Pangong lake signs which point to the fact that the lenge of water shortage should receive
which lies partly in India and the rest in seemingly solid glaciers are in the pro- top priority but it needs to go much
Tibet. The overflowing waters recently cess of melting. beyond that. The larger issue of global
submerged the roads adjacent to the The burgeoning water problem warming and its effects in the region
long shore of the lake, which then meanwhile has been taking up the needs urgent attention to be taken up at
needed to be rebuilt. attention of the Ladakh Autonomous relevant policy forums in the country.
Communities settled along the Indus Hill Development Council (LAHDC), the For the locals, the issue glacial melt-
belt areas have their own woes to tell. principal body of policy and implemen- ing is not an academic one. It not only
Water canals in Chushot, Choglamsar, tation in the region. In a letter to affects water supply, agriculture but
Spituk and Phey villages are stretching Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and their very survival in high terrain
further upstream to access the rapidly Tsewang Rigzin Councillor of Diskit con- region which for centuries has been fed
receding waters of the Indus River. “We stituency of Nubra Valley has suggested by the natural springs and streams.
had to build fresh canals to draw water a tunnel be built across Khardong la Unless the authorities wake up and take
further up from the Indus as one of the pass. This would divert the flow of the action that is so required, the people in
three courses of the river along our vil- north-facing glaciers towards Leh town. Ladakh will continue to suffer and this
lage has completely gone dry,” said It would prevent water going down its pristine, sensitive eco-system will con-
Mohd. Sadiq, Goba of Chushot village. natural incline towards from Shayok tinue to be ravaged.

ladakh in focus 38
Notes on life
ABLE TO CHALLENGE DISABILITY:
The unfolding of two lives

DOLMA NAMGYAL
W
hat constitutes disability, that way to challenge my own mind-set. I we don't do enough of; to share our
too physical disability? Is it asked him why he did not go to school. knowledge and skills with those who
merely about a limb not func- To that he said hesitatingly “Everyone need it and can benefit from it. Sherup
tioning, a body part, which is atrophied, used to stare at me. Even the teacher was a quick learner, with an aptitude for
or a set of motor responses not being used to stare me. So I felt so bad and left the English language. I enjoyed the
adequate or is it the mental attitude the school.” Again I had that uncanny sessions as much, perhaps more which
towards any form of physical disability feeling that the problem was not Karma led to a warm, interactive exchange
that lies at the root of the problem? Sherup or any other disabled boy or girl between us.
Mental attitude of not only those dis- in Ladakh or outside. The problem was I remember it was just over two
abled but those who are not, who infact the rest of us, who had a problem with months of this joyful learning that we
constitute the environment in which the disability, with seeing it, dealing with it happened to be once again at the same
disabled live out their lives. and overcoming it. place in the market, with a similar gath-
Walking down a busy market place For Sherup and probably others ering of friends. I must admit I was a bit
in Leh, Ladakh, I came across a friend of like him, things were much more simple anxious about my ward. Would he min-
mine who was with a group of people. and clear cut. All they wanted was a gle or again retreat back into his shell?
Amongst them was a young man, around fighting chance, a level playing field. What followed was such a study in
27 years old, whose legs were wasted The choice then was before me. contrasts that it left me wonder-struck.
away. But what was his striking feature Either I could retreat into my previous Sherup was easily conversing with this
was not the physical disability but the mind-set and shut out this new and star- entire bunch of people who were the
forlorn look he seemed to perpetually tling insight. Or I could take it on, take 'other' and whom he had shunned a few
have, an air of diffidence, of being action. It did not take me more than a short weeks ago. I knew he had been
defeated. couple of seconds to decide. I asked visiting cyber café's off and on and per-
It bothered me, so much so that him “ Do you want to do self- study? He haps had read up on a variety of sub-
asked him directly what matter was. hesitated slightly, possibly conditioned jects that interested him. He was also
He hesitated before replying, a by his bitter experience. I pushed it and accessing many people through social
response that was unexpected and said, “I will help you “ to which he, said networking sites like Face book and
struck me like a bolt of lightening. I had “ OK” before breaking into a broad Orkut which had connected him with
expected to hear a crib about his smile. the outside world.
wasted limbs. Instead he said, “You guys There was no looking back. We Disability in andenabling' environ-
are educated and I am not. Looking at first made a timetable for our study ment does not remain disability any-
all your faces, I feel like a fool.” schedule. I had to first gauge his level more. In the case of Karma Sherup, it
Karma Sherup blew my pre- of learning was took the first two ses- happened through a chance meeting of
conceived notions to smithereens. It sions or so. Based on that, I created my someone who could give that input
was not the disability that was bother- own syllabus from my level of knowl- which not only restored his confidence,
ing him but the lack of education, the edge about subjects, general knowl- but also opened up the way to his fur-
means to access knowledge, to enhance edge and small life-skills and experi- ther 'self-study'. With this, he could eas-
one's capacities. I could not let go now ences we all acquire along the way. ily fit into a working environment like a
spurred on not just by curiosity but a Come to think of it, this is the one thing shop or any agency. He could teach nurs-

39 ladakh in focus
Notes on life
ery children. He could stand on his own Both Sherup Karma and Tsewang of school buildings for disabled children
feet, basically. Perhaps that was the Namgyal are in a pro-active role, partic- and the sensitivity of the teacher
real source of his joy. ipating in all aspects of society. What is towards their education.
For Tsewang Namgyal, struck by striking in both these lives is the crucial The transformation of two young
Cerebral Palsy from birth, things were role of Education. In Sherup, it opened lives and motivation and work of civil
different. He was fortunate to have a the door to a newfound confidence, to society groups like PAGIR is truly laud-
family, which was supportive, caring. friendship and new capabilities sure to able. It proves that given a supportive
Brought up along with two sisters, one stand him in good stead. In Tsewang, it environment, the disabled can very well
elder brother by his widowed mother in has led to a quality education, securing make that journey from the margins of
Shynem village just outside Leh, he was a means of livelihood, a life of dignity. society to a fully participative and
never made to feel he was different. Tsewang has found some like- responsible role. It is really upto the
He went to school, cleared Higher minded people in Ladakh and is a mem- rest of us to enable the disabled, not
Secondary in Skara, nearby and today ber of People's Action Group for Rights just in Ladakh but across the country, to
has a Government job in Leh and Inclusion (PAGIR), a network of dis- make this journey and in the process
Municipality and is fully capable of lead- abled persons in Leh district. He pas- create a more inclusive, a more com-
ing his own life. sionately advocates for the accessibility passionate society.
BOLLYWOOD EFFECT :
One in a Series of Onslaughts

on Ladakh?
REKHA SHENOY
T
he final scene of the Bollywood is the highest number of vehicles in the number of domestic tourists. Tour
blockbuster '3 Idiots' showing a history”. He also made another operators are laughing all the way to the
breathtakingly beautiful statement, perhaps a more telling one bank. But is everyone happy about this
'Pangong Lake', glassy blue amidst the “The interesting point is only one transformation of India's only cold
stark rugged mountainscape has vehicle had foreign tourists and the rest desert into the hottest tourist
triggered off a chain reaction. Situated 149 carried domestic tourists.” destination in the sub continent today?
at 14000 feet it is entirely fed by glacial Tashi, our taxi driver's glee is Ladakh has always been a
waters, this 134 km wide water body palpable “Thanks to '3 Idiots', madam, strategically important region sharing a
lies partly in India and mostly in China. our tourist season now extends to seven border with China and has one of the
Today people from across the months instead of the conventional most militarized zones, Siachen. It is
country are thronging Ladakh get a four. My income has been doubled as I one of the most starkly beautiful
glimpse of this spectacular lake seen in take domestic tourists to Pangong landscapes in the subcontinent, a land,
their favorite movie. On a recent visit everyday,” he grins. That is true for glaciers, lakes, mountains, seat of a
there, returning to the Kharu Check many taxi drivers who are suddenly in thriving culture based on the Tibetan
Post, the guard remarks, “Today, we high demand for day trips to Pangong! form of Buddhism. Yet all this remained
recorded 150 vehicles to Pangong and it Yes Ladakh has witnessed a record locked in, restricted to only the local

ladakh in focus 40
Notes on life
populace. The policy shift in the 70's way of life and care for the fragile Women Travel Agency operated entirely
opened up the region to tourists, largely ecosystem of Ladakh, the locals have by local women.
foreigners, Westerners drawn to the gained a new-found confidence and The surge in tourism and here one
exotic land of moon-passes. even pride in their culture and society, can in all fairness club both the
This no doubt began turning the reflecting the attitude of the foreign domestic and international, has led to
wheels of its economy but it went tourists. another mammoth problem, that of
beyond that. It brought in a sense of The attitude of the domestic waste. There is an enormous amount of
'integration' with the 'larger world', a tourist sadly is in sharp contrast. P.T packaged food and water in circulation
vehicle for new ideas, knowledge, Kunjang, Secretary, Ladakh Buddhist in the region which earlier depended
technologies and practices for the local Association and the President, All solely on naturally available food and
communities. From a subsistence Ladakh Tour Operators Association water. Everything could be recycled
economy dependent mainly on (ALTOA), says that a majority of back to the land. Today it has to deal
agriculture and animal husbandry it domestic tourists show no interest in with growing quantities of non-
became a tourism-driven economy. the history and culture of Ladakh. They biodegradable wastes such as cans,
There was a proliferation of travel do not hire local guides to learn about bottles and plastics not only in the
agencies, opportunities for local youth this. The distinctiveness of Ladakhi towns but also on mountains, where
as guides, shop-keepers and taxi monasteries, which reflect aspects of trekking routes lie. In the absence of
drivers. Villagers opened up their Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, seems to proper solid waste management
homes for 'home-stays', a big draw for be lost on the Indian tourist. Their system, this is posing a huge challenge
foreigners who cherished the manner reflects a lack of interest and for the administration and gradually
experience of traditional life. Much scant respect for the local heritage, choking the eco system.
later, when domestic tourists started which the local population takes The picture in Ladakh is both
showing an interest in the region, the umbrage to. redeeming and disturbing. Tourism
'integration' of the local Ladakhis Hurting local sensibilities apart, has surged ahead providing life-blood
started with their compatriots too, as a the sudden rise in domestic tourism is for its economy, a fountain-head of
second phase. putting enormous pressure on the income- generating activities for the
The question still remains, already scarce resources. Water for locals. It has equally soaked up
whether this domestic surge, this instance which all comes from the natural resources, gradually
integration within the country bodes melted snow and ice of the surrounding destroying what has been a life-line of
well for this region, ecologically fragile, mountains. Tourists demand a change in a different, perhaps more enduring
strategically sensitive and culturally bed sheets and towels in their hotels kind, its fragile ecology, and its
distinct as it is? On the face of it, the every day. Hoteliers have dug borewells sensitive environment.
Indian tourists signify a 'steadfastness' to meet this demand. The traditional Ladakh simply does not have the
that perhaps the Western tourist will Ladakhi 'dry compost toilets' evolved to c a p a c i t y, e i t h e r n a t u r a l o r
not be able to match. Any small beat the water scarcity is anathema to infrastructural to handle the huge
tension on the border, and you hardly the domestic tourists who insist on flush number of tourists bringing in practices
see any Western tourists in Ladakh. toilets, which consumes huge quantities and attitudes, which run contrary to the
Tsewang Rigzin, a councilor in Ladakh of water. natural laws of the region. This needs
Hill Autonomous Hill Development Domestic tourists are known to to be regulated. P.T Kunjan worries and
Council, says that domestic tourism is take their vehicles right up to the shore many would echo, “Otherwise ten years
more sustainable. of Pangong Lake and Tsomirii Lake, the from now, tourists could stop visiting
But sustainability is not only about two, major wetlands. “Even though Ladakh”. That is not the kind of drastic
economics. What about the effect on there are clear instructions not to feed solution that anyone would want, so it is
the environment, the sensibilities of the birds and throw waste, I see many imperative that an equally powerful
people? Here the picture turns ugly. Indian tourists indulging in exactly that. answer be found, one, which would lead
Used to the Westerners, who have I am extremely saddened by this sight” , to harmony and restoration along with
shown genuine respect for the culture, says Thinlas Chorol, who runs a Ladakh economic gain.

41 ladakh in focus
Notes on life
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
A Trek Through Life

THINLAS CHOROL
I
was born in a small village with bad experience with a male guide, who women believing in me, left a huge
around 60 houses called Takmachik had tried to coerce her into having sex impact on my life.
about 120 km from Leh, Ladakh. In with him. Distraught, she had aban- I decided to pursue it on my own
my village, all the 60 families are doned the trek and fled. And now was steam and approached two travel com-
divided into groups to take turns at graz- understandably weary of taking a male panies. At one of them, the person in
ing the goats and sheep on the moun- guide along. She knew that I have charge asked me if I did monastery
tains.. We also would make trips to col- trekked before and though I said I did tours. He was taken aback on hearing
lect grass and store it so that during the not the route, remained keen to hire me me say categorically, that I wanted to
long harsh winters, the animals have as a guide and offered to pay me my work as a trekking guide. I was rejected.
adequate fodder. Sometimes my father charges. I had been born in the moun- At the second company, it was worse. I
used to go up everyday for 3 or 4 weeks tains and spent my childhood amidst was clearly told that local society would
to collect grass in the quantities them. It was natural for me to slip into not accept a woman going up on the
required. that mode and become for the first mountains with a group of tourists.
As a child during my holidays , I time, a trekking guide! These were bitter experiences, leaving
used to go up on the mountain with my It was an altogether different expe- me dejected, my dreams seemed on
father and our herds. I was afraid that rience from my childhood wanderings. the verge of being shattered.
something may happen to him if he was I found I was attracting a lot of attention But help was near. I shared my
alone. My mother had died when I was a with local people coming up to me and angst with my English teacher, Becky
baby and I had only my father, whom I speaking to me in English saying they who was from America and found a
cared about deeply. I did not really cut had never seen a Ladakhi female guide much needed supporter in her. She
any grass, I just went because of my ever before. In fact so remote was the encouraged me to pursue my dreams
father and because I loved the peaceful possibility of encountering one, many of and paid my fees for mountaineering
mountains. them thought that I was Japanese! courses. Later, Becky introduced me to
This was the bliss of my childhood The trek turned out to be wonder- a travel agency, she knew well and they
which I still miss in the village which I ful and the woman enjoyed it said they would hire me! It was I knew a
still love. But then life changed and I immensely. She suggested that I think turning point for me and I had to prove
went out into the world to get myself an about becoming a guide as a profession. myself to all those who believed in me.
education and explore possibilities for It was the first time, I had got advice of I did a few courses to upgrade my
my life ahead. After Class 10th , I had to this kind and suddenly the world opened knowledge and skills and also to show
leave my village to further my studies. I up before me. What was a part of my the agency that I was really serious
was selected for the SECMOL (Student growing up experience could become a about my work. I first did mountaineer-
Educational Cultural Movement of way of life, a career option, She pur- ing course at the Nehru Institution Of
Ladakh) hostel in Phey, around 25 km sued this and together we went to meet Mountaineering and National Outdoor
from the Leh Town. with the organization “Snow Leopard Leadership School (NOLS India) . It was
In SECMOL I met many volunteers Conservancy” which runs such pro- here that I really learnt how to live in
and I went trekking with some of them. grams in the region. Although it did not the wilderness.
One of the women asked me to come quite work out with this particular orga- Generally in Ladakh, students
with her as a guide. Previously, she had a nization, the experience of this foreign work as a guide without any formal

ladakh in focus 42
Education
training. Men are hired by company LADAKH'S OWN TEXTBOOKS:

even if they do not have this train-
ing, any familiarity with trekking
routes or work experience. In spite
A Step Towards Autonomy
of my training though, in the begin-
ning it was very difficult for me to
get hired by the travel companies. I TSEWANG RIGZIN
faced a similar situation every-
where.
But I persisted in my efforts.
And my lucky break came in 2004
again through SECMOL. They opened
a travel company called “Around
Ladakh with Students”. Most of the
guides were women, all of them
were doing cultural guide and mon-
astery tours, except me. I was for
the first time a full-fledged trekking
guide! It was a dream come true and
my joy knew no bounds. This was
the beginning of a journey for me. I
observed that generally it was very
expensive for individual tourists to
travel to different regions in Ladakh
and get a sense of the local life
there. In my present capacity, we
use homestays for taking up groups
where tourists can stay in homely
comfort and at the same time expe-
rience the real Ladakhi way of life.
Over the time, a few travel
companies came to know about our
work and approached me to be a
trekking guide and I began to get
hired for their treks. This is what I
loved doing the most and such
F rom 'known to unknown' is what the education system supposed to be based on,
especially at the primary level. However, for Ladakhi students, it had been the
reverse prior to the launch of the Operation New Hope (ONH) – a movement by
the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh in collaboration with
opportunities encouraged me and Students' Educational & Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) aimed at overhauling
gave me a confidence, a renewed the education system to make it more close and relevant to Ladakh's life and culture.
faith in myself. As a part of the Operation New Hope government schools in Leh today have pri-
I have learnt a lot on my jour- mary textbooks published in the context of Ladakh's distinct cultural and geographical
ney and enjoyed it immensely. conditions. According to the introduction in these textbooks, “ONH books are based on
Women who are interested in the Ladakhi environment and culture which Ladakhi children will find easier to relate to
outdoor field or any field dominated and hence learn with joy”.
by men should be patient and keep Until mid 1990s textbooks in Ladakhi government schools, even at the primary
the competitive edge sharp. I have level, were completely irrelevant to the students of this mountainous region because
learnt that if a woman has the cour- these books talked nothing about Ladakh, its environment and its culture. It was more
age to do something in male world, like 'from unknown to known' thereby making hundreds of Ladakhi children to feel
it will be a lot of hard work, but the themselves and their culture as inferior to others since they wouldn't find a single word
sweet rewards of success will surely
about Ladakh in their textbooks. Under ONH, new textbooks were specifically
be hers in time.
designed for Ladakh because the founders' of the movement believed that the previous

43 ladakh in focus
METAMORPHOSIS
textbooks, which came from outside PASTURE DISPUTE

Ladakh, were meant for children living in
tropical India but not for children living high
up in Ladakh.
Trespassing
Under the ONH, a team of local govern-
ment school teachers, SECMOL staff and
experts from other parts of India, developed
cause unrest
teaching materials including eleven text-
books and four supplementary bilingual
in Rangdum
Ladakhi/English storybooks along with a set
of pre-primary material and many posters.
The textbooks are now the standard syllabus TSEWANG RIGZIN
in government schools across Leh District.
Architects of the ONH believed that “all
U
these books depict Ladakhi children, culture nrest is prevailing in Rangum area of Zanskar, a
and environment that students can identify place of huge historical and religious importance,
with, and retain their confidence and inter- after Bakerwal tribesmen from different parts of
est”. In the introduction of these books a Kashmir Valley have thronged the pastures with their sheep
special mention is found about some of the and goats. Since the place of religious importance, the
textbook making team members who had locals have written to the Ladakh Budhist Association for
been deputed by Eklavya: “These books their intervention in preventing the tribal herds from visit-
have been made possible with the help of ing Rangdum.
resource persons from across the country Rangdum residents have warned of leaving the area in
and collaboration provided by Eklavya, protest as they said that local authorities have been help-
Madhya Pradesh – an organization with 20 less in resolving the issue with Bakerwals. Informing about
years of experience in elementary educa- the issue, people of Rangdum, through Khenpo Stanzin
tion”. During the year 2001- 2002, Safe the Dorjay of the monastery, have asked the LBA to take care of
Children in collaboration of the Ladakh the management of Rangdum Monastery as there would be
Autonomous Hill Development Hill simply no one left to take care of the monastery if the vil-
Development Council Leh and the local lagers had to leave the place.
NGOs conducted a study to document the In a letter addressed to the President LBA, Khenpo
impact of ONH with an aim to derive lessons Stanzin Dorjay referred to some Court orders restraining
from the experience with the movement. the Bakarwals from entering into the area. “The orders
The study report observes that “there is posi- issued by the Honorable Courts are not being implemented
tive response to the textbooks prepared due to the interference of vested politicians which is a clear
under ONH. Participatory exercised found indication of the insecurity of the lives and properties of
that children are able to relate with and the natives living in the area. Therefore the entire inhabit-
learn from the textbooks and most teachers ants of the area have decided to leave the place and seek an
are comfortable with them”. It is pertinent alternative place for resettlements,” the letter warns.
to mention here that all the textbooks under Executive Councilor LAHDC Kargil, Mr Punchok Tashi
ONH have been published by the Jammu &
expressing grave concern over the situation told Epilogue
Kashmir State Board of School Education in
that he would approach the General Officer Commanding of
collaboration with the Ladakh Autonomous
the 14 corps for deployment of the army as the last resort
Hill Development Council Leh and SECMOL.
for the protection of the area and its people from intrusion
This article is generated with sup-
of Gujjar and Bakarwals. Tashi suspects the involvement of
port of National Foundation of India
some politicians with vested interests.
Fellowship Programme
A historical document says that the entire area of

ladakh in focus 44
METAMORPHOSIS
Rangdum from Osgom (Do-Khom) to Pentsela pass and ment debtor and also to ensure that the judgment debtors
Kanjila including all the big and small valleys and gorges be not permitted to violate the decree in future.
from the glacier to either side of the river, the entire unin- President LBA, Mr Lobzang Rinchen, has formally taken
hibited area with its pasture, water and herb, wood, its up the issue with the Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah ask-
possession and ownership, all had been offered to His ing him to intervene and resolve the issue peacefully before
Holiness Ngari Rinpochey, the supreme incarnate as a the situation got worsened. It is pertinent to mention here
pure religious donation by King Tsewang Namgail of that being the coldest place of the area, the Gonpa and the
Ladakh vide his government order in the month of tiger- people of the area depend upon the cattle breeding as the
year in 18thcentury. “The successive kings of Ladakh con- only source of income. The entire area of Rangdum is
firmed the donation orders. Similarly, the Maharajas of pastureland for both summer and winter seasons for the cat-
J& K and the successive state governments have also con- tle of the inhabitants.
firmed this donation by not altering the orders of the
king. His Holiness Ngari Rinpochey has constructed a mon-
astery over the hillock which at present is known as
Rangdum Gonpa,” said the letter referring to this docu-
ment.
“Since the year 1979, Bakarwals from some parts of
the Kashmir valley tried to intrude in the pasture areas as
trespassers and created many law and order problems. In
the year 2001, three lamas of Rangdum Gonpa were shot
PUBLIC ALERT
dead by a terrorist group under the guise of Bakarwals,”
recalled the letter hinting that another such dreadful inci-
dent cannot be ruled out. When asked the Deputy
Commissioner Kargil, M Raju admitted that there has PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF MALARIA
been some dispute between the locals and the Bakarwals DENGUE AND CHIKUNGUNYA
over some areas in Rangdum area. He said that there is Don't Let Water Accumulate In And Around
Ä
police post at Shafat to prevent the entry of Bakarwals your House To Prevent Mosquito Breeding.
into the area. “I will make sure that Court orders are
Keep All Water Containing Vessels, Overhead
Ä
implemented in letter and spirit,” he assured.
The Rangdum Gonpa filed suit for permanent injunc-
Tanks Tightly, Covered With Lids.
tion against some Bakarwals from interfering into the Dewater Desert Coolers, Drums, Flower, Pots,
Ä
“peaceful possession of the Rangdum area”. The suit was Bird Bath Etc. Every Week
decreed by the District Judge Leh/Kargil on November 29, Wear Full Body Clothes To Prevent Bite Of
Ä
1985 restraining the defendants and other Bakarwals Mosquito
from interfering in the suit property. The appeal filed by
the Bakarwals before the Honorable High Court against
Get Your Blood Tested For Malaria, Parasite, In
Ä
the decree and judgment of the District Judge was dis- Case Of Fever With Rigors
missed confirming the decree of the district judge.
Referring to court proceedings and judgments pro- KEEP MALARIA, DENGUE AND CHIKUNGUNYA AWAY
nounced, the letter recalls that even after the decree con- &
DIP/J-4954
firmed by the Honorable High Court, the judgment debtor STAY HEALTHY
tried to trespass over the area, so on the application for
execution of the decree, the learned District Judge has
issued a permanent direction to the Superintendent of KINDLY CO-OPERATE
Police Kargil with the direction to ensure that the decree Issued by :
of the court is complied in letter and spirit by the judg- State Malariologist, Directorate Of Health Services Jammu.

45 ladakh in focus
METAMORPHOSIS
A TRAVELER'S PERSPECTIVE brought some serious benefits too. The

German bakeries, which you can find all
Leh changed, over town, sell the most incredible col-

lection of sweets. I've tried delicious
plum pies, mouth-watering chocolate
and et it didn't cookies and tasty apple crumbles. Many

cafés make espresso now, a real delight
for a coffee addict like myself. And done
with the cold showers I remembered
ELINE GORDTS
from two years ago. My guesthouse has
warm water, night and day.
Yet whatever the luxurious benefits
I
arrived in Delhi on a warm July eve- a great deal Leh had changed over those that even a low-budget traveler can
ning, on one of those hot summer nights two years. I had expected to find the city afford in Leh, I'm a bit nostalgic to the
right before the start of the monsoon. It exactly the way I had left it last time, town I remembered from last time.
would be my second time in India, and I immune for change, immune for time. Maybe it's the heath, maybe it's because
thought I knew what I was up for. The par- Although my own life changed radically I'm more critical on this second visit or
ticular smell of Indian nights, the deafen- since I left Ladakh in September 2008, I maybe it's because I'm here for work, but I
ing sounds of cars and rikcshaws, and the was sure that no such thing would have hap- can't seem to find the tranquility and rest
endless masses of people sleeping in New pened in Leh. the I encountered here before.
Delhi railway station: I thought I had seen it I was wrong. Leh town is busier, nois- Yet right when I was ready to give
all before. Yet as the taxi from the airport ier. Cars and motorcycles make their way up, running from one appointment to
drove deeper and deeper into the city, and through scares of tourists, unable to another, clear my way through groups of
the noise, the smell and the bustle became resist touching the honk. Every time they tourists and noisy taxi's, it struck me: it
overwhelming, I desperately wished we pass, want to pass, or refuse to pass, was still there, that Leh of mine. I real-
had already reached the main destination there's that penetrating sound. I once ized how nice and warm everybody in this
of our trip: Ladakh. joked that if the government of India town still is, offering cookies and cups of
Two years ago I and a friend travelled would introduce a fine for honking, like tea, inviting me to discuss politics, take
from Benares to Rajasthan, spending five the police do in New York, she would me along on trips. I noticed how every-
weeks in India's bustling fairytale province. instantly be rich. Maybe the LAHDC body greets each other with a warm, hon-
Friends convinced us to end our trip in Leh. should consider a similar move. est smile. “Yullaj!”
They promised a little island of rest and The number of tourists seems to I decided to go for a walk. From the
peace, beading in sun, surrounded by have exploded. The number of shoe shin- Shanti Stupa I followed the canals back to
mountains, on the roof of the world. They ers seems to have doubled. The number Leh town. And there it was, Leh as I had
were right. Leh stole our hearts. of shopkeepers seems to have grown. imagined it: the cobbling rivers and the
While sitting in that taxi on New Delhi Travel agencies seem to have mush- green fields, the spring water, the fresh
highway, fearing for my life as we danger- roomed. Every corner seems to have its vegetables, the beauty of the Sankar
ously passed a truck while taking a curb, I internet café. Walking through the main Stupa, the colors of the praying wheels.
remembered the snow-covered mountains bazaar, I can't help but wonder: Is my mind Children were playing between the trees,
I was about to see again, Shanti Stupa and playing tricks on me? Did Leh seem so quiet laughing. “Yullaj,” they yelled, barely
Leh Palace , prayer flags and momo's, after those five weeks in Rajasthan, that I looking up from their game.
women selling vegetables in the main minimaize its traffic, its bustle? Back in the hotel, the owner
bazaar. Yet some interviews with Ladakhi's greeted me with a welcoming smile.
One week later, after a 20-hour drive learned that my memory is working fine. “How are you? Are you good?” The sun set
from Manali to Ladakh, we were finally The number of tourists has exploded. The behind the mountains, and a cool breeze
there: Leh. The Golden Gate doomed up number of shoe shiners has doubled. The lightened up the air. Shop owners laughed
in the darkness like a big welcoming sign number of shopkeepers has grown. Travel light-heartedly “How are you doing
and instantly reduced the motion sickness agencies have mushroomed. Every cor- Miss?” The smell of masala and sizzlers,
that had tortured me the hours before. I ner has its internet café. tea and soup zwierf through the air. A boy
went to bed, and immediately fell asleep. I Today Leh is full of tourists, and the was scrubbing a last pair of sheets on the
was home. Yet the next morning, heading whole town seems to be in for it. small river bank.
out for breakfast, I instantly realized what And it needs to be said, Leh's growth Leh changed, and yet it didn't.

ladakh in focus 46
Current Affairs
CONTINUOUS DISCONNECT
Ladakh in stone age, literally!
L adakh is increasingly becoming a preferred summer
destination for thousands of tourists from India and
abroad. Leh town and some other important places in
some place on the Leh Srinagar road. Regretting the poor
services of the BSNL, the Deputy Commissioner Leh Tsering
Angchuk Leh told Epilogue that he was aware of this
region become a hub of cultural exchanges for brief while situation which has been causing immense inconveniences
every year. Destination is though charming but the to all. “I have taken the issue with all concerned
facilities are not at near a bare minimum to offer comfort authorities at all levels for immediate redress”.
to even the local inhabitants, leave aside the tourists. In The next important thing without which life in today
recent months, thousands of people visiting the place have in a city comes to a standstill is the electricity. Very
gone through disappointed by the poor and inefficient disappointingly and annoyingly the power scenario in Leh in
services of the electricity and the telecommunications in the last two months has been too depressing because
Leh. This is indeed an embarrassment for the State people, especially in the tourism industry, had to
Government and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development experience frequent power cuts. Justifying the frequent
Council before all the guests coming from every nook and power cut, the executive engineer, PDD Leh says, “A part
corner of the glob and the country. of the machine was broken with the Martselang Hydel
The services provided by the BSNL and the power project. The part has to be brought from Delhi,” adding
development department in Leh in about two months have that efforts are being made to restore the machine to
been frustrating, embarrassing and annoying. Every other ensure a smooth power supply.
day the internet and telephone services, particularly those It is pertinent to mention here that in the month of
of BSNL, are out of order on one account or other. Most July alone Leh had many dignitaries including the Vice
often cited reason is breakage of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) President of India, some Union Ministers, the Chief Minister
line due to the execution of widening of Leh-Srinagar of the State and many others coming to host national and
highway. Availability of internet services is a lifeline for all international conferences on some important topics. They
tourism related business and also for thousands of domestic must have been aware of the difficulties being faced all
as well as foreign tourists, but even after days of internet people living in and around Leh. Had they been told of
disconnection and network problem with mobile phones, these problems, they would have preferred to address
concerned authorities seem unconcerned. them first before lecturing of visions and policies for
However, when it comes to the billing part of the future. Henceforth, apart from their visits to the famous
BSNL, it doesn't spare anyone. There is literally no tourist destinations including the Pangong lake and the
compensation for the loss that consumers suffer on account monasteries in Ladakh, mitigating of inconvenience being
of an unreliable system. According to the Telecom District faced by the public should also be included in the agenda
Manager, BSNL Leh the frequent disturbances with the of all the VIPS visiting Ladakh – which seems to be missing
internet and the mobile network are being caused partly agendas of the VIPS otherwise.
by road widening works and partly because of floods at -TSEWANG RIGZIN
Ladakhi girl represents India in Finland Ice Hockey Camp

A woman Ice-Hockey player named Padma Chorol of
Spituk village, who is a student of the Moravian Mission
School Leh in class 9, represented India in the international
performance and announced an amount of rupees 75,000
for her to successfully represent the country in an
international camp. On her return to Leh on July 15,
Women Ice-Hockey Development camp held in Finland in members of the Winter Sports Club, students and staff
July. Based on the previous performances, The Winter members of the Moravian Mission School, villagers of Spitik
Sports Club Leh and the Ice-Hockey association of India had and Padma Chorol's relatives along with her parents
selected her to represent Indian in the camp. On her accorded a warm reception in her honour at the Bakula
return to India, Union Sports Minister MS Gill hailed her Rinpochey Airport Leh.

47 ladakh in focus
Current Affairs
Dalai Lama spends nine days in Nubra
H
is Holiness the Dalai Lama after delivering sermons to poured in to have darshan of His Holiness and listen to His
the devotees at different places of Nubra during his sermons.
nine-day tour flew back to Dharamsala on July 28. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was also given ceremonial
Earlier on his arrival in Leh on June 21 he was according a reception by the Lamas of Samstan-ling Gonpa, playing
rousing reception Thoise Airport at Nobra in this district. religious symphony and also by the local musicians in a
According to the reports received from Nubra, a large number traditional way.
of people were seen queued up along the road side in all the After his nine-day tour, His Holiness was seen off at the
villages from Thoise Airport to Samstan-ling Gonpa to pay Thoise Airport by the Executive Councilor Art and Culture,
respects to Dalai Lama. Clad in colourful traditional dresses Tsering Wangchuk, Deputy Commissioner, Leh Tsering
the people showered petals to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Angchok, MLA Nubra Tsetan Namgial, Thiksay Rinpochey,
a very devotional and cheerful ambience. President LBA, Lobzang Rinchen, President LGA Rev. Tokdan
From Thoise Airport, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was Rinpochey, SDM Nubra, Pankaj Sharma and the prominent
brought to Samtanling Gonpa in a big motorcade. people of Ladakh.
While arriving at Sanstan-ling Gonpa, His Holiness the The Deputy Commissioner Leh, Mr. Tsering Angchuk said
Dalai Lama was given rousing reception by His Holiness that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was quite pleased and
Galdan Thi Rinpochey, Norboo Gyalson, Executive Councillor, satisfied on his 9-day successful tour in Nubra valley. The
Art and Culture Tsering Angchok, Executive Councillor Dalai Lama has committed to visit Leh and Lalok-Durbuk next
Minority Affairs Mohammad Khan, Councillor Stanzin Delex year, he added. The State Government had provided the
and Councillor Deskit Tsewang Rigzin, Monks, Nuns and a State Aircraft to airlift the Dalai Lama from Nubra to
large number of men and women of the nearby villages Dharamsala.

ladakh in focus 48
Current Affairs
PEACE WORKS
International conference facilitates
dialogue between Muslims, Buddhists
T rue to the basic character of Ladakh as a tolerant and
peaceful society, two organizations recently took a
major initiative of building greater understanding and
Gyalwang Drukchen Rinpoche emphasized the need to
maintain this tradition further by respecting each other's
faith. The Dharma Master, Hsin Tao, founder, Museum of
peaceful relations between Muslims and Budhists. An World Religion and President, Global Family for Love &
international conference on Buddhist-Muslim Dialogue, Peace, Taiwan, the Member Parliament Ladakh, Mr. Hassan
held at the Mahabodhi Campus at Choglamsar, was Khan, Prof. Ruben Habito from USA, Prof. Michael von
organized by the Mahabodhi International Meditation Brueck from Germany, Moalana Umair Ahmed Ilyasi,
Centre (MIMC), Leh in collaboration with Global Family for president All India Organization of Immams of Mosques,
Love & Peace and Museum of World Religions, Taiwan. New Delhi, Ven. Tokdan Rinpochey, President Ladakh
The Minister for Tourism, Nawing Rigzin Jora who Gonpa Association, President, LBA Mr. Lobzang Rinchen,
inaugurated the conference said that “religion is a code of President Moin ul Islam Leh Mr. Nazir Khan, Dr. Siddiq
conduct for the human beings to lead a peaceful life and Wahid, Vice Chancellor, Muslim University J&K and
therefore, every individual should know the fundamental representative from Immamia, Leh Mr. Syed Naqisha also
principles of religion to live and let live others in peace spoke on the inaugural function.
and harmony”. Terming the conference a great initiative to The President Mahabodhi International Meditation
ensure peace among co-exiting religions, the minister of Centre, Leh Ven. Sanghasena highlighted the main
State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani expressed that need of objectives of this conference and said that is Dialogue was
such dialogues as harmony is disturbed in many parts of the a part of an on-going series of worldwide discussions and
world. Recalling the history of congenial relationship joint meetings aimed at bringing together influential
between the Buddhists and the Mulims of Ladakh, representatives of these two great religious traditions.
JEWELS OF THE MOUNTAINS

Biodiversity resource kit for educators in Ladakh
R i Gyancha - a biodiversity resource kit for educators in
Ladakh was released by Union Minister of State for
Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh in Leh on July 10,
Ri Gyancha provides useful resource material for
educators who wish to implement a localised environment
education programme. The kit contains a handbook with
2010. The release took place at a national conference information on Ladakh's wild flora and fauna, threats that
organised by Defence Institute of High Altitude Research Ladakh's wildlife faces as well as conservation actions
(DIHAR) on seabuckthorn. The Minister commended the that are being undertaken by communities,
efforts of the Snow Leopard Conservancy-India Trust (SLC- government departments, NGOs, associations and
IT) based in Leh and Kalpavriksh (KV), a Pune based individuals. The kit also contains detailed descriptions
organisation, which has produced the resource kit. of 80 activities which can be conducted as part of the
Ri Gyancha (Ri Gyancha translates as “jewels of the programme. The kit is illustrated with a large number
mountain”) is an outcome of a collaboration between SLC- of photographs and drawings and is in full colour to
IT and KV to develop and implement a conservation make it appealing to teachers and children. The kit
education programme in Ladakh, focused on the includes ready-to-use educational material like
conservation of wild biodiversity of the local trans- posters, a board game, worksheets, puzzles and game
Himalayan region. The resource kit has been produced cards. The Chief Minister of the State Mr Omar Abdullah
after four years of field-testing the education programme and the His Holiness the Dalai Lama have both written
in schools in Leh and Kargil districts. forewords for Ri Gyancha.

49 ladakh in focus
Current Affairs
RS 7138.81 LAKHS OUTLAY FOR KARGIL INTERVIEW WITH NEW DC

Akhoon, Kachoo ask officers to Electricity to
pace up development every house is my
R s 7138.81 lacs plan outlay was
Ladakh Autonomous Hill
Development Council (LAHDC),
priority: Angchuk
Kargil for the current fiscal in a
General Council meeting held on
July 21 under the chairmanship of
Chief Executive Councilor, Kachoo
Ahmad Ali Khan. Out of the total
allocation, Rs. 5938.81 lacs have
been earmarked as state share
and Rs. 1200.00 lacs as loan
component. Minister for Transport
and CA&PD, Qamar Ali Akhon, MLA
Zanskar Feroz Ahmad khan, MLC
Kargil Syed Ahmad Rizvi, Executive
Councilors Haji Ghulam Amir,
Ghulam Rasool Nagvi, Syed Kazim
Sabere, Punchok Tashi, Deputy commissioner and CEO LAHDC Kargil M Raju
were present in the meeting.
On last year's achievements, Deputy Commissioner M. Raju said that
an amount of Rs.8111.52 lacs were allotted under the District plan,, of
which an amount of Rs. 5561.06 lacs were spent on implementation of
various developmental schemes and welfare programmes in the district. He After a gap of many years, a
said the main reason for low expenditure was due to early snow fall that
local officer has returned as
cut short the working season.
Highlighting the achievements registered during last year, Raju said District Development
28.90 KMs road length were black topped, 88.64 KM length Commissioner cum Chief
Mettled/Shingled and 112.36 KM made fair weather. He further said that Executive Officer of Ladakh
Rs. 289.88 lacs were utilized on completion of Phosathang Canal besides
boys hostel at Bemina Srinagar was also completed. He informed that 26 Autonomous Hill Development
new irrigation schemes were taken in hand under district plan. He Council in Leh. Tsering
disclosed that under PHE sector 35 hand pumps were installed. He also Angchuk recently replaced
highlighted the targets achieved under Health, Education, Power, Social
welfare, Agriculture, and other allied sectors. Ajit Sahu as DC Leh. In an
Addressing the meeting Chief Executive Councilor Kacho Ahmad Ali interview to Epilogue,
Khan asked the executing agencies to strive for completion of target both Angchuk says being a local he
on physical and financial with a fixed time frame without compromising
with quality. He impressed upon the officers to personally monitor the
sensitive to issues and is
development works and implement the programmes and policies of the fixing up priorities
Government as per set guidelines. accordingly.
In his address Transport and CA&PD Minister, Qamar Ali Akhoon asked
the HODs to work with dedication and endeavour to come upto the A Ladakhi officer taking over as the
expectations of people. He also complimented LAHDC, Kargil and district
Deputy Commissioner cum the Chief
administration for their sincere efforts towards boosting development of
Executive Officer Ladakh
the district and assured full support of the Government.

ladakh in focus 50
Current Affairs
Autonomous Hill Development Energy Initiative also has the industry. There are acute shortage of
Council Leh raises the expectations provision of Solar Photo-Voltaic (SPV) parking space and public
of everyone in Leh. What are your power plants, solar water heating conveniences.
priorities and what do you want to system, solar cooking system and We need to develop
achieve for the people of this green house facilities. We are going infrastructure in the areas which
unique region during your tenure as to install SPVs in Primary Health have been opened for tourism very
DC Leh? Centers, religious institutions, higher recently. I am aware of the problems
My first priority is to get the secondary schools and residential, we have in Leh city. For the time
electricity situation improved all hostels. being we have planned to develop
through the district in the coming Another priority sector for me old SSP residence area into a parking
few years because in today's time it would be to connect all the villages to minimize the load in the market.
is the electricity which enables us to with road connectivity which have Traffic management is something we
compete with the rest of the world. I been left out. Villages like Lingshed- need to focus on because a
want to see all unelectrified villages Dipling, Largyap and Hunder are still systematic traffic management will
electrified. The Nimo-Basgo Hydel not having road connectivity. considerably lessen this problem.
project is going to be commissioned
in the year 2011-2012 but this There are hundreds of educated Leh district has formulated a vision
project alone will not meet the unemployed youth in Leh. What will document called “Ladakh Vision
requirement of the electricity to be strategies to tackle the growing 2025”. This ambitious document
many remote areas. One of the unemployment problem of Leh? was launched by the Prime Minister
turbines of the Alchi project is going Employing the unemployed is in the year 2005. What your view
to be commissioned by the December something that needs to be tackled on this?
this year. But this will be subject to seriously before it is too late. In a Leh is perhaps the first district
whether BHEL will be able to design recent interview for fours posts in in the State to come up with a
the turbine by then. One turbine the medical department, there were prestigious and innovative document.
alone is estimated to produce 10 110 candidates. This is alarming. Keeping in view Ladakh's limited
megawatts of electricity. There is very good potential and resources, fragile ecosystem, and
Recently the Government of scope going for industrialization but unique cultural and historical
India has sanctioned an amount of it depends upon surplus of power. As backgrounds, a vision, a roadmap was
rupees 473 crore under Ladakh the power scenario in the district the need of the hour. Now we need
Renewable Energy Initiative for improves, we need to encourage to move ahead as per the concept,
Ladakh region. Under this project in youth to become entrepreneurs by on what parameters we have to go.
Nubra and Nyuma Sub Divisions, many setting up industries of different
Mini Hydel Projects will be installed kinds. Ladakh has a high potential of Any measures to check corruption if
which will produce enough electricity sea buckthorn produces. Experts say there is any?
to those villages which will be not be that Seabuckthorn can have over 200 Anybody, having a complaint
covered by the Nimo-Basgo Hydel products. This is a goldmine and such against any official, can simply file
project. The project Ladakh a avenue can drastically reduce the an application under Right to
Renewable Energy Initiative will be growing unemployment as youth, Information (RTI). In Leh where
executed through the Ladakh especially women, can be engaged. there is a Hill Council, every
Renewable Energy Development We have seen that Ladakh is councilor is equally responsible to
Agency (LREDA). LREDA is empowered becoming a famous destination for keep a vigil on the system and
to execute projects up to two tourism. However, Leh city doesn't therefore they should act as
megawatts. Besides the installation seem to be having the carrying watchdogs.
of MHPs, the project Ladakh Renewal capacity to meet this growing - TSEWANG RIGZIN

51 ladakh in focus
Current Affairs
Angmo reviews Lord Budha's rare statue

MSDP activities discovered in Kargil village
T o the excitement of all followers, a rare stone statue of Lord Budha
has been discovered in a village in Kargil. Incidentally, the beautifully
carved statue based on Montek Padma (lotus flower) with the dimension of
3'-5” in Height 1'-7” in width and 7” in thickness, was discovered from the
entrance gate portion of the house of Muslim resident in Tsangra-Gongma
village of Kargil district.
The house owner Mohammad Issaq son of Haji Mohammad Hussain
Barcha-pa, was undertaking renovation of his house when he came across
thus statue. As the news of this rare discovery spread, hundreds of people
from neighboring areas started thronging Tsangra village to have glimpse of
the statue. Mohammad Issaq meanwhile reported the matter to local
U nder Rural Development

Department, 40 nos of Model
Anganwadi building at a cost of Rs.86
authorities and the statue was handed over to safe custody of Police. A Sub
Inspector of Police Chowki Sangkoo, Mohammad Nissar and head constable
Ali Hussain have contributed in a big way for its proper preservation under
lacs was constructed during last Police protection. Their action has been widely appreciated by the locals.
The matter was meanwhile brought to the notice of Archives and
financial year and 15 model
Archeology department in Srinagar and on instruction of Director Archives,
Anganwandi Centre are under
the local Registering Officer in Leh visited Tsangra village for inspection of
constructions during the current statue. He held a discussion with the house owner and now it is being
financial year. This was revealed in a worked out whether the statue is to be preserved in Kargil or shifted to
meeting chaired by Spalzes Angmo, Leh.
member National Commission for The house owner, his relatives and other people in locality have
Minorities, to review the multi suggested that the statue be taken to Leh as its preservation in Tsangra
sectoral development programme. village may invite some mischief in future. As such, it shall be in the
It was informed in the meeting fitness of things to take the charge of the same in the Archives,
that works on 32 hand pumps are in Archaeological Department, Leh under the relevant Act and thereafter to
transport it with due decorum to the Leh museum for fool proof and
progress and eight numbers of hand
complete protection and also for public blessings and also they are
pumps have been completed during
demanding some compensation are financial assistant to the owner.
the current year under MSDP, a
centrally sponsored scheme.
Spalzes Angmo assured that she
would take up the matter regarding
release of funds under MSDP with the NOTICE
Union Government and also The Registration Certificate of Ladakh Amchi Sabha,
recommend the State and Centre
Government to redress the problems
Leh has been lost/misplaced at Leh and is not traceable. The
face by the executing agency and the Society is applying for a duplicate copy of the Registration
administration.
Certificate. Objections, if any, from any quarter may be
The Deputy Commissioner, Leh
Tsering Angchok while giving the brought into the notice of the Registrar of Societies,
overall activities and expenditure Department of Industries & Commerce, Srinagar or Ladakh
under MSDP in the district directed the
Executive Engineer, PHE to complete Amchi Sabha, Leh within a week’s time from the date of this
the design of Solar water pump for the publication. Phone: 01982-250827
residential schools of the district.

ladakh in focus 52
Statistical Profile
Literacy Fishing
ª
Leh district accounts for an immpressive literacy rate at There were 232 and 123
75.42% - 69.97% for males and 72.77% for females. These fishing licence holders,
figures are as per estimated literary rate by districts for year respectively in Leh and Kargil
2009. Estimated literacy rate in Kargil is 61.82% - 68.07% for in 2006-07. This number
males and 56.58% for females. Overall literacy rate in J&K is declined to 20 and 50 in 2009.
estimated at 67.89% - 74.96% for males and 59.71% for At present there are 13026
females. fishery licence holders in J&K.
Agriculture
Net Area Net Area %age of Gross Area Gross Area %age of
Irrigated Sown NAI/NAS irrigated Sown GAI/GAS
Leh 10212 10212 100 10619 10619 100

Kargil 9751 9751 100 10614 10614 100
J&K 308044 734003 41.94 463179 1133935 40.85
Forests Holdings
O nly 36 sq km of
total 59146 sq
km area of Ladakh
ª
Leh accounts for 16909 (area 12791 ha and size 0.75) and Kargil 19470 (area 13392
ha, size 0.69) operational holdings. There are 1442894 operational holdings in J&K
over an area of 962412 hectares and average holding size of 0.67 ha.
region in under ª
There is no rice production at all reported from anywhere in Ladazkh region. No
forest cover 29 sq maize in produced in Leh 2634 ha in Leh and 1764 ha in Kargil is under what
km in Leh and 7 sq production during Rabi season producing 23300 and 15200 qtls, respectively of what.
km in Kargil. This is No wheat, however, produced during Kharief.
only 0.6% of the
ª
A total of 5018 ha in Leh (301 Rabi, 4717 kharif and 4495 in Kargil (571 Rabi and 3924
total geographical
Kharif) under cereals production producing 1793 and 3169 qtls, respectively of
area of the region
cereals during Kharief and 27104 qtls and 31434 qtls, respectively, during Rabi.
and only 0.18% of
the total forest ª
There is 306 ha in Leh in 547 in Kargil under pulses cultivation during Rabi season
area in J&K. J&K accounting for production of 1392 and 4183 qtls, respectively.
has 20230 sq km
area under forest
cover which is 19%
of total Fruit Production
geographical area 6650 hectare area in Leh and 5550 in Kargil is under fresh fruit production. In J&K
of 101387 sq km 1474850 hect6are area is under fruit production. 110 hectare area in Leh and only 12
(Data excludes area hectare area in Kargil is under dry fruit production. In J&K 158283 hectare area is under
under illegal dry fruit production. There are no fruit grower cooperative societies in Leh while Kargil
control of Pak, has 4 with total membership 59. In whatever little quantity, Ladakh mostly prodcues
China) Apple ( ) pear (-) and appricot ( - )

53 ladakh in focus
Statistical Profile
Scheduled Tribe Scheduled Castes

ª
82.09% population of Leh and 88.32% of Kargil in listed an
Scheduled Tribes. 10.90% of total population in J&K is ST. T here are 188 persons in Leh and 89 persons
in Kargil listed as Scheduled Castes which is
0.5% and 0.12% respectively, of total population
Deecadal Population of individual districts 7.59% of total population in
J&K is listed in SC.
Year Leh Kargil J&K
1951 40484 41856 3253852
1961 43587 45064 3560976
1971
1981
51819
68380
53472
65992
4616632
5987389
Livestock
1991
2001
90076
117232
89334
119307
7837051
10143700 L eh accounts for 4.03% and Kargil 2.55% of
total livestock in Jammu and Kashmir. There
was total of 3.991 lakh in Leh and 2.520 lakh
ª
There are 113 villages in Leh and 129 in Kargil district. livestock population in Kargil in 2003 which is
J&K has 6652 villages. 12 villages in Leh and 4 in Kargil 57.93% up and -30.58% down, respectively, over
are with population of less than 200 persons while 41 and the livestock population counted in 1997.
48 respectively have population between 200 to 500 Interestingly, overage household livestock
each. 681 villages in J&K are with less than 200 population in per Ladakh 17 in Leh and 15 in
population. Kargil is much higher than any other district. For
ª
Leh is reputed to have 38776 main workers and Kargil overall J&K this is 6. Jammu and Kashmir had
38330. Thee are an estimated 19349 marginal workers in 98.993 lakh population in 2003 which was 7.89%
Leh and 17315 in Kargil. up 1997 count.
Population by Sex
Population Rural Population Urban
Area Total Male Female Total Male Female
Leh 45110 88593 46534 42059 28639 17772 10867
Kargil 14036 108650 58120 50530 10657 6835 3822
J&K Total 101387 7627062 3977652 3649410 2516638 1383274 113364
Connectivity Cooperative
ª Leh has a total of 54 small and big There are 107 registered cooperative societies in Leh and
post offices while there are 52 in 106 in Kargil. This number is impressive of seen in context
Kargil. Average area per post office in of overall cooperative scenario in Jammu and Kashmir Leh
Leh is 835.37 sq kms and in Kargil it is accounts for 6.22% and Kargil 6.16% of all cooperative
269.92 sq km. Average population societies in state. Average membership of each coop
catered by each postal office in Leh is society in Leh is 93 persona and in Kargil it is 670 which at
2541 persons which is 2685 in Kargil. state level it is 343. Functioning patterns are however,
There are a total of 1691 post offices in strange. While owned funds of all coop societies in Leh are
Jammu and Kashmir 227 in urban areas Rs. 471.13 lakh in Kargil it is only Rs. 3.06 lakhs and their
and 1464 in rural areas. At an average, working capital is Rs. 621.30 lakh and Rs. 18.46 lakh
each post office in state covers 60 sq respectively. Owned funds of all coop societies in J&K are
kms of area and 7021 persons. 2909.74 lakhs and working capital Rs. 28515.70 lakhs.

Column 54
History
Historiography in Kashmir
PROF JIGAR MOHAMMED
H
istoriography was one of the the 12th century A.D. Kalhan collected historical versions of the origin and
most effective and popular information from the popular growth of Kashmir in terms of historical
medium of intellectual traditions, Nilmatapurana, geography, political developments and
exercises of the world during medieval Kshemendra's Nrpavali, Helaraja's socio-economic life. For Kalhan, before
period. The Arabs. Persians and Central Parthivavali, the Chavillakara, the human settlement in Kashmir it was a
Asians made the historiography a source Mahatmyas and inscriptions etc. He has lake. It was drained by Kashyap Rishi
of discovering themselves and others in used these sources very meticulously. and became fit for habitation. Similarly,
terms of their achievements and According to Romila Thapar, one of the Kalhan traces the emergence of
failures from the 7th century onwards. most expert modern historians, kingship in Kashmir from the
But the science of historiography was “Kalhan's use of inscriptions as source Mahabharat period. He mentions
absent in the Indian sub-continent material is a strikingly original element Gonada I as the first king of Kashmir, a
before the 12th century. It was Kashmir in his historical writing. He refers to contemporary of the Mahabharat
which invented the science of inscriptions found in temples, the period.
historiography during the 12th century prashastis (eulogies) on past kings, the Kalhan's historiography
A.D. Kalhan was the first historian of inscriptions referring to grants, mainly established a tradition of preservation
Kashmir who produced first historical of land of revenue, made by earlier and propagation of the people making
work entitled the Rajatarangini. It is rulers. The reference to inscriptions in the history of Kashmir in multi-
important to mention that the itself is not what is so important as the dimensional forms. Kalhan records both
historiography's first and foremost fact that he uses the information they the indigenous and outsiders who
component is the source of information contain as a legitimate source of participated in the history of Kashmir in
from which a historian derives history.” (Romila Thapar, 'Historical a given period. Kalhan makes Kashmir as
information pertaining to the theme of Ideas of Kalhan as Expressed in the part of the Mauryan empire under it
his or her work. A writing which does not Rajatarangini' in Mohibul Hasan (ed.), emperor Ashoka (B.C. 273-232). Ashoka
mention the source of its information is Historians of Medieval India, Delhi, is credited with the foundation of the
not a history writing. Kalhan was the 1968, pp.1-2). city of Srinagar and the founder of the
first writer who established the method The introduction of the Buddhism in Kashmir. Kalhan presents
of using the sources of information historiography by Kalhan gave a concept Ashoka as the promoter of the Buddhism
pertaining to various historical event of regional identity to the Kashmiris. in terms of the building Stupas. Kalhan,s
concerning with the past and present. The latter started dialogue between depiction of the rule of Ashoka and his
Kalhan wrote his Rajatarangini in their past and present and assessed son Jaluka also made Kashmiris aware of
A.D.1148-49 in the Sanskrit. It is edited themselves in the light of the historical the rule of others in Kashmir. Moreover,
and translated by Sir M.A. Stein. It is events in the past. Kalhan's he presents Kashmir to be known to the
known that Kalhan was the son Lord historiography created the time world, since outsiders worked
Campaka, a very capable minister of consciousness in Kashmir. It provided politically as well as socially.
King Harsha (1089-1101) of Kashmir. information about the stages of social Kalhan also apprises the
Kalhan presents his work in form of the changes in Kashmir period-wise. It is Kashmiris of the religious changes in
narrative poem. He covers the historical important to mention that Kalhan Kashmir during the ancient and early
events of Kashmir from earliest times to mentions both the mythological and medieval period which created multi-

55 Column
History
colours society in terms of the followers intelligent persons in his court. Darpitipura, or the “City of Pride,” in
of the diverse religious trends. The Lalitaditya is shown to be provider of which he set up an image of Keshva. And
Nagas, a popular cult of Kashmir, the opportunity to the persons of multiple when his conquest were over, and he
Brahmanism and the Buddhism are background, virtually making Kashmir was enjoying the fruits of his victories,
presented in forms of religious changes as a region of multi-culturism. Kalhan he raised another city which he named
in accordance with the people's mentions that one of the most Phalapura (Phala signifies fruit or
inclinations. Similarly, he also shows the intelligent courtiers of Lalitaditya effect). He completed Parnotsa and
existence of the fatalism in Kashmir belonged to the Central Asia (Tukhara), built a house for amusement named
society. He ascribes the occurrence of known as Cankuna. The description of Krirarama, the name indicating the
famine to the will of the gods and prayer the conquests of Lalitaditya shows the purpose of the building. In the kingdom
of the queen as the source of the assertion of the armed power of of the females he set up an image of
removal of the miseries of people. His Kashmir and its participation in the Nrisingha-unsupported by any thing but
mention of the witch-craft in Kashmir world trend of the warfare. More placed in the air between two
shows people's superstitious believe. importantly, it also presents the loadstones, one above and one below.
Through putting these beliefs in Kashmiris' vision of world, according to When he was out in conquest, is viceroy
historical manner Kalhan contributes to which, though whole world was built a town after the king's name, but
spread a message of social changes as a inhabited by the persons of different he incurred the king's anger. In the town
continuous process of the history of of Lalitpura, there was an image of the
Kashmir. He also establishes that sun, to which he bestowed the city of
Kashmir incorporated new religious He raised the stone-house of Kanyakubja with the adjoining lands
trends either emerged at local level or Jeshtarudra and bestowed many vil- and villages. At Hushkapura he built an
came from outsides. His historiography image of the god Muktasvami and built a
conveys people that religious changes
lages and lands to it. He also planted large monastery with a stupa for the
were inevitable in a given society from a series of machines at Chakradhara Buddhists. He set out on his conquest
the ancient period onwards. More to draw water from the Vitsta. Also with one koti (ten millions) of cirremt
importantly, it speaks of Kashmir's cois. On his return he bestowed eleven
he raised a strong wall of stone
tradition of accepting changes as the kotis to Bhutesha for his purification.
historical developments and welcoming round the temple of the sun. He raised the stone-house of
the new trends. Jeshtarudra and bestowed many
The introduction of historiography ethnic backgrounds, all could be villages and lands to it. He also planted
by Kalhan made it possible for the brought together by a statesman and a series of machines at Chakradhara to
Kashmiris to estimate their political strategist like Lalitaditya. Thus the draw water from the Vitsta. Also he
capacity and strength of their region in historiography introduced a concept of raised a strong wall of stone round the
a given period. They also found the the empire building with the inclusion temple of the sun. He erected a town
prime movers of the history of their own of multi-identities. adorned with vines, and for the spiritual
state. Kalhan ascribes the stability and Kalhan's historiography associated benefit of the people, and bestowed it
strength of the state to those rulers who a warrior with construction and justice. with many villages to god Vishnu.”
believed in huge territorial According to Kalhan, “There was not a (Kalhan, Rajatarangini,I Eng. Tr. by
aggrandizement. He highlights the town or village, or island, or river, or Jogesh Chunder Dutt in Kings of
significance of the huge conquests of seas, where he (Lalitaditya) did not Kashmira, pp. 70-71).
King Lalitaditya –Muktapida (A.D. 725- raise triumphal monuments. These Kalhana conceives a ruler to be
53), belonging to the Karkota dynasty. monuments he named according to the visionary. His historiography establishes
He is not only described as a conqueror event or the time. When he set out on that though both the liberal and bigot
of many states of the north, south and his expedition, he felt certain of rulers were the parts of history, it was
east India, but also as a conqueror of conquest and built a town named the liberal and visionary ruler who made
Tibet and some parts of the Central Sunishchitpur, or the “City of not only the history of his own, but also
Asia. Kalhan gives huge credit to Certainty”. When in his pride of made parts of the history of his own
Lalitaditya for appointing some conquest, he built another named kingdom. For him, Lalitaditya was very

Column 56
History
much respectful to both the Kalhan presents women of Kashmir as power from one dynasty to another.
Brahmanism and Buddhism. Kalhan the participants in socio-economic They identified themselves more with
narrates the contributions of developments of the region. The their socio-economic problems than the
Lalitaditya to the building of both the political powers of the queens of ruling dynasties.
Hindu temples and Buddhist Kashmir such as Sugandha and Didda are However, Kalhan established that
monasteries in a very lucid manner. narrated by Kalhan in such a way as historiography created a mingling of
According to Kalhan, “He built a they made history for themselves. diverse thoughts, religious and lingual
beautiful town named Parihaspura. The Sanskrit historiography of identities. He has shown that both the
Here he set up a silver image of Vishnu, Kashmir not only produced a biography centripetal and centrifugal tendencies
named Shiparihasakeshva, and another of the region of Kashmir, but also the were parts of history of a region.
gold named, Shrimuktakeshva, also an adjoining states and other Similarly, both the constructive and
image of Mahavarsha, the mail of this contemporary regions of India and destructive elements were parts of the
last image being made of gold. He also foreign countries find some space. history of a region. But a region flourished
set up a silver image of Some of the important areas of Jammu in a popular manner when the constructive
Govardhanadhara. He planted a single hills such as Rajouri, Punch and elements outnumbered the destructive
piece of stone fifty-four cubits high, on Kishtwar etc. are presented by Kalhan elements. And these constructive
which was planted a banner, on the top with their historical events. Kalhan elements belonged to multiple
which he set up an image of Garura. He mentions Rajouri as Rajapuri and backgrounds. Uniformity was not the
likewise built a temple of Buddha, Kishtwar as Kashtwata. Through his popular and dominant historical trends of
which had a square court-yard, also a history writing Kalhan established that a Kashmir. Kalhan shows that both the king
chaitya, and a monastery. The image of region was not surviving in exclusive Lalitaditya and Awantivarman (855-83)
Muktakeshva was built of eighty-four term. But it was very much associated belonged to two different dynasties of
thousand tolas of gold, that with the others. He established that the Kashmir, former from the Karkota dynasty
Shriparihasakeshava was built of eighty history moved around the multi- and later from the Utpala; but both of
four thousand palas of silver. The image identities of a region. His narratives show them brought huge dividends for Kashmir
of Buddha which he set up was built of that the political, religious changes in in terms of economic developments,
eighty four thousand prasthas of brass. Kashmir were usual phenomena. He has promotion of the art and architectures
The monastery which had a squire shown that the historical changes took and social justice.
court-yard and the chaitya, were built place in Kashmir in a very usual manner. The emergence of historiography
for eighty-four thousand pieces of the The Nagas, Shaivites, Vaishnavites, in Kashmir made people conscious of
current coin. The rich king built gods of Buddhist and some others emerged and their regional identities. They not only
gold and silver by the side of the great grew in different phases. All these cults realized the significance of historical
gods of the country.” Kalhana's found their own followers in the region. sources in knowing the phases of the
historiography set a trend of publicizing Similarly, Kalhan shows that dynastic social changes at regional level, more
the constructive activities of the rulers changes in terms of political power importantly, they made history writing
so that society was to be mobilized in were also took place in continuous one of the most effective means of
the same direction. Along with the processes. No dynasty was everlasting preservation and promotion of the
ruler's constructive activities Kalhan in terms of retention of its rule in heritage of the region. It is important to
also highlighted the constructive Kashmir. The Karkota, Utpala, Gupta mention that Kashmir is one of the few
activities of other persons hold some and Lohara dynasties of Kashmir hill states of India which historical
political power. Kamlawati , the queen contributed to the political, social and heritage are well documented in
of Lalitaditya , is also shown as a rich economic developments in Kashmir. But historical terms. The local crafts and
person and the builder of a silver of common people of Kashmir did not craftsmen represent their regional
image of Lord Vishnu. Chakramardika, identify themselves to any particular identity in various parts of world with a
another queen of Lalitaditya has been ruling dynasty. The dynastic changes did sense of historical pride. Thus the
shown as a founder of a town named not influence the work culture in historiography has been instrumental in
Chakrapura with seven thousand Kashmir. For the common people, making dialogue between past and
houses. Thus through historiography dynastic changes were just transfer of present in a continuous process.

Ladakh Festival
SEPTEMBER 1 - 15, 2010
EVENTS:
Polo matches
------
Thanka Exhibition
------
Archery festivals
------
Chams (mask dance)
------
Music Concerts
------
Road Show
------
River Rafting
BY AIR: Major Airlines offer daily flights from Delhi. BY ROAD: 473 kms from
Manali via Rohtang Pass and 434 kms from Srinagar via Zojila Pass.
INTERNAL TRAVEL: Variety of comfortable vehicles available on fixed hire
charges apart from public transport by bus/minibuses.
Department of Tourism Leh 01982-252297. website: www.jktourism.orgf

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Tsewang Rigzin Column : RAKESH ANKIT

Ladakh’s onw textbooks : Historiography in Kashmir The problem

J & K ’ S M O N T H LY M A G A Z I N E ISSN : 0974-5653

L O G UE B G Verghese ? Inder Malhotra ?

Gul Mohammad Wani

Ladakh Women Writers Award

LANGUAGE : English, Hindi, Urdu and Ladakhi

TOPIC : Reflecting community perspectives on Education,

AWARD DETAILS : Ladakh Women Writers Award : 3 Awards of Rs.5,000/- each

EXPECTED OUTCOME : 6 articles by each awardee of word length 800-1000 with

TIME PERIOD FOR AWARD WRITINGS : Dec-June 2011

APPLICATION FORM : available on www.charkha.org from 15 Aug 2010 onwards.

LAST DATE FOR RECEIVING APPLICATIONS : 5 OCT 2010

Applications may be sent by email to: [email protected] or [email protected]

The Awards will be announced on 7 Dec 2010 in New Delhi

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B G VERGHESE GAUTAM NAVLAKHA NAEEM AKHTAR

RAMESH MEHTA DAYA SAGAR GUL MOHAMMAD WANI

ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB ERSHAD MEHMUD NYLA ALI KHAN

Q This is third year in row that Kashmir is

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Q What should State and Center

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Q Everyone is talking about dialogue. Your

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