epilogue aug2009

Epilogueb e c a u s e t h e r e i s m o r e t o k n o w

Jammu and Kashmir’s Monthly Magazine

NowTellingThe J&K Stories

RNI : JKENG/2007/26070 ISSN 0974-5653

Jammu, August 1, 2009 / Vol 3 / Issue 8 || Price Rs. 30 || Postal Registration No. JK-350/2009-11 || www.epilogue.in

EXPERTS’ OPINION GROUND REPORTSHow Kashmir Dispute AffectsSecurity in South Asia

‘That Smoke is from Pakistan...’

t

t

t

t

t

Beyond Kashmir:

Understanding

Ladakh and its Politics

Status of Muslim

Women in High

Himalayas

The Challenge of

Restoring Old Leh

Town

Rooting out

Alcoholism

The Crisis in LUTF

We show our true coloursWe show our true coloursWe show our true colours

UNFOLDING THE LAND OF MOON

Scope of work Allotted cost Population to be benefitted (souls)

Areas to be benefited:

Areas to be benefitted:

Areas to be benefitted:

Rawalpora to Tengpora bridge 32.94 crores Year 2009- 22000

Year 2039 -50100

Lalded, Goripora, Bagh-i-hyder, Qazi Bagh, Usmania, Ibrahim, Shahanwar, Shiekh-ul-aalum, Syedhyder and Ibrahim

colonies. Part of Rehmatabad, Hyderpora, Gulburg, Khaliqabad, Alnoor Gulbahar, Greenpark colonies.

Pohru chowk to chanapora bridge 41.70 crores Year 2009-20500

Year2039-46408

Govt. Housing Colony, Baghimehtab, Alama Iqbal Colony Partly, Alamdar Colony, Chaki-Methan, Gousia Colony,

Gulshan Nagar A-B-C, Usmania Colony(Bagh-i-mehtab), Shankarpora Partly, Iqbal colony(Wanabal) Wanabal

Nowgam, Shiekh-ul-Alam colony, S.K Bagh, Pohru partly, Railway Colony, Housing colony Nowgam, Basharat colony

partly, Palmuhalla Methan partly, TawheedAbad, Gousia colony Lalnagar, Shiekh-ul Nooruddin colony & Umer colony.

Bemina to Fruit Mandi 25.38 crores Year 2009-17800

Year 2039-40448

Parimpora (A&B), Gousia colony (A&B), Sirsyedabad, Police colony, SDA colony, Shamsha Abad, Tawheed Abad,

Owaisa Abad, Usmania colony, Ibrahim Colony, Boatman colony, Nundresh Colony, Mansoor Colony, Al-Farooq Colony,

Mohammadia Colony, Hamza colony and part of Bemina.

J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency under “Multisector Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (MIRP) by Asian Development bank has launched various drainage schemes to augment drainage system in Srinagar city. The J&K ERA committed to provide people of Srinagar city with improved urban services have earmarked Rs. 100.02 crores for drainage sub-component. The drainage system on completion will benefit large population who face cute water logging during rainy seasons.

Hotel Tramboo continental, Boulevard Srinagar 13 C/c Gandhi Nagar JammuTele: 0194-2450762,Fax: 0194-2450067 Tele:0191-24588832,Fax:01912451553

Epilogue Ø 1 × August 2009

B R I D G I N G T H E I N F O R M A T I O N D I V I D E

F O R T H E M O N T H O F A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

Taking J&K Closer to WorldBringing World Closer to J&K


32Volume : 3, Number : 8

ISSN : 0974-5653

RNI : JKENG/2007/26070

www.epilogue.in

The present issue is collector's choice and

special in presentation. No other news and

current affairs publication, at least

available in the public domain, has been

seen carrying such elaborate account of life

and its facets in Ladakh like the present

issue of Epilogue has done.

AR

E Y

OU

MIS

SIN

G O

UR

PA

ST

ST

OR

IES

A l

imit

ed

nu

mb

er

of

un

bo

un

d b

ack

vo

lum

es

is a

va

ila

ble

in

ou

r st

ock

s.F

or

bo

ok

ing

yo

ur

cop

ies

call

us

at

97

97

59

93

65

Feb. 2009

Mar. 2009

Apr. 2009

May 2009

June 2009

July 2009

AGENDA FOR OMAR GOVERNMENT :he coalition government of National Conference and the Congress headed by TOmar Abdullah Omar Abdullah took over on January 5 but it did not declare a

shared agenda. Epilogue's February issue put together opinions of well meaning people from across the country setting out an agenda for Omar Abdullah government

CONNECTING J&K

onnectivity is a major issue in J&K and people in many areas taunt the Cgovernment saying that roads were laid in remote areas only because they close to borders. Our March issue looked at the connectivity via roads, rail and air to bring to the fore the missing links.

TREADING FAILURE

s world watches keenly the new unfolding developments in Pakistan, our AConsulting Editor D Suba Chandran travelled to the troubled country to bring fresh perspectives for our readers in April Issue.

J&K MOVING FORWARD

ay issue was one of the rare collections of ideas where 12 natives from Mboth sides of Jammu and Kashmir poured their ideas out of the heart on how boundaries can be blurred and relations can be strengthened.

LOK SABHA POLLS 2009

ith Prof Rekha Chowdhary looking into various aspects, the May issue Woffered a complete view of the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. An interview with Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather explained most critical questions on the state's economy

THE FUTURE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

uly 2009 issue offered a rare insight into the whole gamut of Kashmir Jissue. An ACDIS, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign sponsored study, which was the cover feature, examined Kashmir issue from different perspectives.


www.epilogue.in

Editor Zafar Iqbal Choudhary

PublisherYogesh Pandoh

Consulting EditorD. Suba Chandran

Associate EditorsIrm Amin BaigTsewang Rigzin

General ManagerKartavya Pandoh

ManagerAdarsh Rattan Bali (Marketing & Advertisement)

Art EditorKeshav Sharma

Research OfficerRaman Sharma

Phones & emailOffice : +91 191 2493136subscriptions : +91 99060 27136Editorial: +91 94191 80762Administration: +91 94191 82518 [email protected]@epilogue.in

Printed and Published by Yogesh Pandoh for Epilogue NewsCraft from Ibadat House, Madrasa Lane, Near Graveyard, Bathindi Top, Jammu, J&K - 180012 and Printed at : DEE DEE Reprographix, 3 Aikta Ashram, New Rehari Jammu (J&K)

Disputes, if any, subject to jurisdiction of courts and competitive tribunals in Jammu only.

RNI : JKENJ/2007/26070ISN : 00974-5653Price : Rs 30

CONTENTS

In Verbatim 4Prologue 5Letters 6

Note Book5 Essential Entries 8

Current AffairsThe Discourse of Disgrace 12Zafar Choudhary

OpinionExperts Speak 15How the Kashmir Dispute AffectsSecurity in South AsiaJayshree Bajoria, C. Raja MohanM. Farooq Kathwari, Howard B. Schaffer,Daniel Markey and Hasan-Askari Rizvi

Column‘That Smoke is from Pakistan...’ 61Manisha Sobhrajani

Jahangir on the Horticulture 63of Kashmir Prof. Jigar Mohammad

Political After LifeRecent Engagements 66

IN FOCUSUnfolding the Land of Moon

Beyond Kashmir :20Understanding Ladakh and its PoliticsSonam Chosjor

Ladakh Asks :30Where Is All The News That’s Fit to Print?Rinchen Dolma

Status of Muslim Women in Ladakh46Ghulam Mehdi

Rooting out Alcoholism :48Ladakhi Women to the FaceYanghan Dolma

The Challenge of Restoring 50the “Old Leh Town”Living Testimony of Ladakh’s Cultural HeritageZainab Akhtar

LUTF : The Party is Over?52T Sewang Rigzin

Be the Change You Want to See54Anshu Meshack

Rewa Society in Service of 56Disabled Children in LadakhKarola Kostial

Customizing Housing Needs58Sajjad Bazaz


LADAKH ASKS

Where is allthe newsthat’s fit to

Print?An exclusive study on State of Media

Volume 3, Issue 8, August 2009


H&RAEH E A R

Who Said What

“On the basis of information supplied to him by Home Ministry, the Governor has felt that there is no need for the Chief Minister to resign”A Raj Bhawan spokesman on Governor's reply to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's resignation offer

“The Raj Bhawan has apparently accomplished in 48 hours what the state Police, the CBI and the Courts inside and outside J&K could not do in four years”A PDP spokesman on CM's exoneration by the Governor in sex scam charges leveled by the PDP

“Nothing to do with any security force, nothing to do with CRPF, yet in the Valley this becomes a major flashpoint and then immediately there is shut down and stone pelting…it is very sad”Home Minister P Chidambram in his observation on how petty personal disputes become a rallying point for demilitarization in Kashmir

“I have already done and am still doing what is expected of me but there is always room for improvement”J&K Congress President Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz who remained in thick of controversy for most of June due to factional fight in party after cabinet expansion

“Government wants separatists to be active and productive…I am willing to clap if they too contribute a hand” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a newspaper interview

L

From the EditorRP O O G U E

eople of Ladakh are quite vocal and full of expressions. They are always clear in their thoughts and actions. They have a very well defined identity of their own and the courage to pursue their Paspirations. These qualities make them to stand

distinguished. But still I have taken the risk of calling them as voiceless. They do not have the proper medium to make their voices heard and their expressions noticed. This scenario disconnects not only the territorial region of Ladakh but also its entire population from rest of the state, country and world at large. In today's world it is hard to imagine a society without media but the harsh reality is that Ladakh is such an example. With no medium of their own, the world does not know what Ladakh stands for and vice versa. It is much of a common practice these days that for any educated society the day begins with the morning edition of newspapers. Reading a daily newspaper in Ladakh is beyond anyone's imagination and being a newspaper reader, may be twice or thrice a week, can well be described as a luxury available to a selected privileged lot. Problem of living in such an isolation becomes more perverse and cursing when flow of information is absolutely one way. From the newspapers and magazine they get at intervals, Ladakhi people can have a belated idea of what is happening in rest of the world but there are no means of communication which can carry back their stories. Journalism, believed to be one of the oldest professions on world, has its strong roots in Ladakh but there is no medium available to Ladakhis for carrying their message. When it was made known in Ladakh that Epilogue is planning to bring out a special issue on the region, we received an overwhelming response from the local writers and journalists. They had a number of stories to tell. However, Epilogue's one special issue is not enough to satiate communications with Shanker Ghose and Anshu Meshak at Charka the information needs of a land which has been variedly described just strengthened our resolve to take the Ladakh stories to wherever by many as land of numerous passes, mystic lamas, the broken moon Epilogue is able to reach. Sonam Chosjar, a promising Ladakhi and the last Shangri la. There is imminent need of a vibrant local scholar, has been another motivating factor for our work on Ladakh. media and this cannot be achieved without a local initiative. No words are too high to express my gratitude to him for being Through this special issue we have just tried to pay a tribute to the with Epilogue right since the very first issue of this magazine. people of Ladakh and extend a commitment of giving them an outlet While extending my thanks to all these people, I have the of expression, though once a month. It is very important for me to let pleasure to inform our readers of Epilogue's and Charkha's 'in-it be known to the people of Ladakh that motivation behind this principle' commitment to give voices to the voiceless people in issue was from my Associate Editor Tsewang Rigzin who shared with Ladakh and elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir. me Rinchen Dolma's research work supported by New Delhi based Charkha Communication and Development Network. Further Feedback : [email protected]

This, for the voiceless

Zafar Choudhary


November-2007

T

Readers WriteL E T E R S

Truth at the cost of Rs 100 Crores

Needed, some corrections

Police and other government enforcement agencies need

to play a proactive role in anticipating these crimes and

making critical interventions so that spiraling crime rate is

controlled. Dear Editor,

The truth is out in Asrar Mushtaq Dar murder mystery! People, on their part, need to control their emotions and

By cracking the case and arresting two of Asrar's friends, Imran see that they are not led on the wrong path by vested

and Asim in a case of jilted lovers, police exposed all such interests, as in the case of Baramulla woman's claim of alleged

mysterious vested interests, which were playing with the indecent remarks by police officers, even overlooking the fact

emotions of the people of Kashmir. Some stories were that down the line, although not deliberately, they are helping

communicated through various networks that it was a those people with criminal bent of mind to think that they can

custodial death and some political opponents distributed now safely commit a crime and escape from the clutches of

money to professional stone pelters to cause damage to law as the blame in the first instance, one way or the other,

shopkeepers. Even thousand-year age-old Chinar tree was will invariably be put on the police or other law enforcing

burnt by miscreants playing into the hands of vested interests. agencies anyway.

Those defeated elements, who have evil designs to cause The ongoing turmoil has wrecked havoc on Kashmir's embarrassment to government on petty crime, give press economy with particularly summer tourist season being hit conferences and statements instigating violence. They never below the belt. The State is not rich enough to lose crores in realize that only these murderous love stories cause damage mindless hartals and the earlier we realize this the better. worth crores to people of Kashmiri and deprive them from Brand of sympathy politics indulged in by separatists and earning their bread and better for weeks together. some opposition parties tantamount to promising Kashmiris

The realization has come too late and at a heavy cost with peace through the barrel of the gun. Everyone knows that Kashmiris losing Rs. 100 crore in forced shutdowns and violent these forces are tucked safely in the back-pocket of their protests after the dead body of Asrar was found in Rainawari gurus and more they scratch Kashmiri wounds, the more it will area on July 7. unveil their own proximity to their masters.

Time and again, cases of routine crime have been twisted

and given political colour by forces which relish a simmering SHABIR AHMED Via email valley and know very well the art of manipulating facts for

their own convenience.

As details about the murder of Asrar unfolded, it also

peeled off layer-by-layer the credibility of quite a few of those

who wished to make hay out of a Bollywood style kidnap and

murder drama.Dear Sir,

People need to realize that Kashmiri society has I have gone through the latest issue of Epilogue. Articles

undergone a lot of churning in the last two decades. Our “The International Community and Kashmir” by Schaffer;

society is not insulated any more against 'normal crimes' like “The Kashmir Conflict: A Kashmiri Perspective “ by Hajni have

rape, murder, kidnap, eve teasing, stalking or robbery. A peep provided intellectual inputs in understanding the future of

into official statistics will reveal startling figures and episodes Jammu and Kashmir. It is pertinent to mention here that

like Asrar's murder by a jilted lover, which are to be seen as article “The Journey of Women in Kashmir” by Ubbot is not

events in the same chain of crime that has come to tie our connected to the theme 'Women'. Two figures given in the

society. The death of a young girl, Romana, who was stalked by article is mere repetition. Again Figure 1 mentioned in article

two boys and allegedly killed in cold blood on posh Airport entitled “Policy Making in a Terrorist Economy” by Sengupta

Road or the brute killing of another girl where a spurned lover pertains to the year 1980-1981which is no way connected to

inflicted innumerable wounds on her body are enough period of militancy. Explanation of the figure is also missing.

indicators of crime entrenching itself in our society. Moreover, the article is also found incomplete. (Page-36).

It will be running away from reality if we blame these

crimes which are outcome of our generational shift on police Dr DR KAPOOR,or security forces, just for the sake of some people who love to HOD, Educational Research,

MIER (J&K)keep Valley on the boil.


ECO-FRIENDLY PEST CONTROL ADMN.Integrated Pest Management Professionals

Pre & Post Anti-Termite Chemical Treatment / Anti-Rodent / Anti-Silverfish / De-Cockroach / Other Paper Born Pests Control Measures & Fumigation of Libraries etc.

Plant Protection of Orchards, Cereals, Grains, Vegetables & Plantation etc.Fumigation (Containers, Cereals / Grains / Wood etc.)

Placement, Land-scape & Gardening etc.

Seminars, Symposiums, Conferences, Agro-Tech Exhibitions / Fairs, Development & Training.

Agro Chemicals, Pesticides, Seeds, Equipment, Herbal Plants & Materials, Bio-Pesticides, Literature etc.

A. Cultivation, Processing & Marketing of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants.B. (Integrated Weed Management of Agro-Crops, Irrigation Canals, Parks & Lawns (Urban), Railway Tracks,

Highways, Old Buildings & Fallow Land etc.C. Organic Farming, Certification of Seeds, Mushroom Cultivation etc.

Our ServicesINTEGRATED PEST CONTROL SERVICES TO THE ARCHIVES, LIBRARIES & REVENUE RECORDS ETC.(Structural Pest Control Services)

(Agro Integrated Pest Management Services)

House Keeping Services

Organizers

Distributors

Super Consultants

Pest Management Professionals

4-H CLUB (INDIA)PEST CONTROL ADMINISTRATION DIVISION

Serving Since 60 Yearsfor Better Environment & Ecology

C.E.O.

Dr Naveen B.S.

4-H

CL

UB

(IN

DIA

)P

ES

T M

AN

AG

EM

EN

T P

RO

FE

SS

ION

AL

S8

07

-A, P.

B. N

o. 1

3. H

PO

. G

an

dh

i Na

ga

r, J

am

mu

- 1

80

00

4 (

J&K

)H

elp

line

: 0

19

1-2

45

06

99

, 2

43

36

79

, M

b.

: 9

41

91

-96

13

0,

99

06

04

58

99

H

H H

H

STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, JAMMUPolythene carry bags are banned within the

territorial limits of J&K as per SRO-182 dated 18 June, 2008

NO P

LASTIC B

AGS

J&K

SPCB

Sale/Storing/Stocking/Transporation/Use of Polythene Bags by any individual attracts legal penalty with imprisonment to an extent of one month or fine to the tune of Rs. 5,000/- or both, alongwith seizure and confiscation, as warranted under the Jammu and Kashmir Non-Biodegradable Material (M.H and D ) Act, 2007

THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC BAGSLocal Administration needs to ensure that the ban on polythene bags is adhered to by the shopkeepers and the public across the area. Traders should voluntarily switch over to alternatives, such as paper bags, jute bags, cloth bag,

starch based bags, etc.

Plastic Bags Bring Pain,To Save Environment,

Please Abstain

“Whenever a Polythene bag is used,Beware, our environment is abused

POLYTHENE SuffocatesHelp us to make J&K a “No Polythene Bag State”

For further information contact : State Pollution Control Board, Jammu Parivesh Bhawan, Forest Complex, Gladni, Jammu - 180006, Ph. : 2476926-27Any nearest district office of State Pollution Control Board.

ETON B O O K

5 Essential Stories


ndia and Pakistan's decision, at a

meeting between Prime Ministers IManmohan Singh and Yusuf Raza

Gilani in Egyptian City Sherm-el-Sheikh,

to carry on with the dialogue process

drew mixed response in Kashmir on with

mainstream parties welcoming it and

separatists insisting that the Sharm-el-

Sheikh meeting was "inconclusive"

without the participation of Kashmiris.

Among the mainstream political

parties, the Peoples Democratic Party

of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed felt that the

meeting at Sharm-el-Sheikh was

disappointing as there was no specific

reference to the Kashmir issue. J&K unit

of BJP pointed out that India should

have made cross-border terrorism a key

condition for resuming dialogue with

Pakistan.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister

Omar Abdullah welcomed the outcome

of the meeting between Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani

counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the

sidelines of Non-Aligned Movement

summit in Egypt [ Images ] and said that

dialogue is the only way forward to

improve ties between the two

neighbours.

"The cordial meeting between the

two PMs has become historical as both

the countries have agreed to delink

terrorism from Indo-Pak dialogue,"

Omar said in a statement.

Asserting that the agreement to

discuss all outstanding issues between

the two nations is a "positive

understanding," Omar said the past is

witness to the fact that stray incidents

of terror had delayed composite

dialogue as had happened after the

26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Jailed leader of the hardline faction

of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah

Geelani, however said, "The meeting

SHERM-EL-SHEIKH THAW

Mixed response in J&K

Following is the text of Joint Statement issued after the meeting between the

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yusuf

Raza Gilani in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on July 16:

The Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Prime Minister of

Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani met in Sharm El Sheikh on July 16, 2009.

The two Prime Ministers had a cordial and constructive meeting. They

considered the entire gamut of bilateral relations with a view to charting the way

forward in India - Pakistan relations. Both leaders agreed that terrorism is the main

threat to both countries. Both leaders affirmed their resolve to fight terrorism and to

cooperate with each other to this end.

Prime Minister Singh reiterated the need to bring the perpetrators of the

Mumbai [ Images ] attacks to justice. Prime Minister Gilani assured that Pakistan

will do everything in its power in this regard. He said that Pakistan has provided an

updated status dossier on the investigations of the Mumbai attacks and had sought

additional information/evidence. Prime Minister Singh said that the dossier is

being reviewed.

ETON B O O K5 Essential Stories


between the prime ministers of India resolved as per the wishes and

and Pakistan would be inconclusive aspirations of the people of Jammu and

without the participation of Kashmiris." Kashmir. We are a key party and our

aspirations have to be taken into Thursday's meeting at Sharm-el-consideration," Malik, who has been Sheikh recognised that "dialogue is the under house arrest since past three only way forward" and said "action on weeks, said. terrorism should not be linked to the

composite dialogue process..." The Chairman of moderate Hurriyat

Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, Geelani, in the statement, said, "Kashmir has been the basic cause of "The meeting is being projected as an tension between India and Pakistan for important step towards the resolution over 60 years and peace would continue of the Kashmir issue, but the world to elude the sub-continent till this issue needs to understand that Kashmir is not was resolved according to the wishes a territorial dispute between the two and aspirations of the Kashmiris."countries and it can't be resolved

without the participation of Kashmiris." State secretary of Communist Party

of India-Marxist M Y Tarigami said his Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir party "welcomes the delinking of Liberation Front Mohammad Yaseen composite dialogue from action on Malik said, "Unlike the past 62 years, terrorism and hopes that bold initiatives which saw several meetings and talks will be taken by the leadership of both between the two countries, we hope the countries to resolve all outstanding Egypt will finally break the trend of issues including Kashmir through fruitlessness of Indo-Pak talks over sustained process of dialogue and Kashmir."debate.”"It is a political issue and should be

Both leaders agreed that the two countries will share real time, credible and

actionable information on any future terrorist threats.

Prime Minister Gilani mentioned that Pakistan has some information on threats

in Balochistan and other areas.

Both Prime Ministers recognized that dialogue is the only way forward. Action

on terrorism should not be linked to the Composite Dialogue process and these

should not be bracketed. Prime Minister Singh said that India was ready to discuss

all issues with Pakistan, including all outstanding issues.

Prime Minister Singh reiterated India's interest in a stable, democratic, Islamic

Republic of Pakistan.

Both leaders agreed that the real challenge is development and the elimination

of poverty. Both leaders are resolved to eliminate those factors which prevent our

countries from realizing their full potential. Both agreed to work to create an

atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence.

Both leaders reaffirmed their intention to promote regional cooperation.

Both Foreign Secretaries should meet as often as necessary and report to the two

Foreign Ministers who will be meeting on the sidelines of the forthcoming UN

General Assembly.

Now

Telling

The J&K Stories


ABDULLAH NEWS AGENCYLal Chowk, Srinagar

***

RAINA NEWS AGENCYResidency Road, Jammu

***

ABC STATIONERS AND

DISTRIBUTORSLeh***

SHAHEEN NEWS AGENCYKargil***

CENTRAL NEWS AGENCYNew Delhi

***

OXFORD BOOK STORENew Delhi, Mumbai,

Calcutta, Bangalore,Chennai & Goa

Contact



bring down its Cost to Income ratio to 32.79 per cent from espite adverse market conditions prevailing in the state, D 37.66 per cent a year ago. Jammu and Kashmir Bank has registered a business

turnover of Rs 51,975.56 crore during the quarter ended June The Return on Assets has improved to 1.29 per cent

and operating profit of Rs.256 crore, recording a 41 per cent (annualised) compared to 1.16 per cent a year ago.

increase over the same period last year. The Bank made a net Due to improvement in yield on advances from 10.37 per profit of Rs 117.05 crore, an increase of 24 per cent over Rs cent in quarter one Financial Year 2008-09 to 11.55 per cent 94.56 in the corresponding period of the previous year, a bank for the current quarter, the interest income on advances went spokesman said. The spokesman reasoned the growing profits up by 19 per cent on a Year on Year basis. "vet our renewed strategy where we have focussed on J&K and Despite increase in Interest expenses by 20 per cent Year- our investment strategy in a declining interest rate scenario." on-Year, attributed to rising cost of

He said the bank had tailored a deposits, bank has been able to wide range of financial products to maintain its margins at 3.10 per cent suit various sectors of the economy due to a concurrent increase in the which contributed to the healthy lending rates, he said.performance of the Bank. This Operating Income (Net Interest initiative had resulted in "tapping Income plus Other Income) stood at the unexplored areas of our Rs. 381.67 crore for the quarter as economy and enhanced our outreach against Rs. 291.13 crore for the to unbanked areas in the state," the corresponding quarter of last fiscal, official added. registering an increase of 31 per cent.

The spokesman said the bank had also leveraged The Other Income of the Bank has gone up by 78 per cent to technology to maximise efficiency and bring down the Rs. 115.68 crore from Rs 64.88 crore a year ago, largely on operating expenses. The bank announced the unaudited account of trading income. financial results for the quarter, following the approval of its The Bank has restructured loans during the quarter to the Board of Directors. The spokesman said the Gross NPAs and the extent of around Rs 100 crore mostly by way of realignment of Net NPAs as a proportion of the Gross and Net Customer Assets interest rates.for the quarter ended June, were at 2.44 per cent and 0.77 per The Capital Adequacy Ratio under the Basel I norms stands cent respectively. The NPA Coverage Ratio, which is an at 14.33 per cent at the end of June 30 and Tier I capital indicator of safety and shows the level of provision a bank has amounted to 13.63 per cent.for its bad assets, has gone up to 68.79 per cent from 59.53 per

Net Worth of the Bank stood at Rs.2739.91 crore as on June cent a year ago.

30 compared to Rs. 2403.49 crore a year earlier, registering a It is now amongst the highest in the industry. As a result of growth of 14 per cent, the spokesman said.

efficient leveraging of its assets, the Bank has been able to

BANKING

J&K Bank profits grow 41%

he United States on July 16 once again ruled out the needs to be worked between India and Pakistan, and we do Tpossibility of appointing any special envoy on Kashmir, a not have plans to appoint an envoy," Blake said, on the eve

demand being made by certain quarters in Pakistan and of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's India visit.

Kashmiri separatists. "I can assure you we are not going to Despite pressure from certain quarters, the Obama appoint a special Kashmir envoy," US Assistant Secretary of Administration has been consistent in its stand that the State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake told reporters Kashmir issue could only be resolved by dialogue in Washington. between India and Pakistan and that there is no role for

"This is longstanding US policy that this is an issue that the US in it.

KASHMIR & WORLD

No special envoy on Kashmir: US



he highly surcharged Ttempers in Srinagar City

have substantially cooled down

for the while after City Police

confirmed that a local youth

was murdered by his friends and

not killed in custody of security

forces.

The murder of 20-year-old

Asrar Mushtaq that provoked

street rage in Srinagar, has been

solved with police claiming that

a friend-turned-spurned-lover is

behind the crime. Twenty-year-

old Imran and his friend Asim

are accused of killing their

friend Asrar after the latter

reportedly fell for Imran's

girlfriend. Asrar reportedly met

the girl, who is based in Delhi,

through a social networking

site.

Jilted by her an angry Imran and killed… allegedly bludgeoned Asrar to death, before dumping his

But with the case now solved, Asrar's family is appealing body at a graveyard in Rainawari.

for peace."The accused confessed to his crime during

"We are happy with the investigations. I request people interrogation. He used a rod used for body building and hit

not to take law onto their hands,'' Asrar's father Mushtaq the victim on his head," said A Mujtaba, SSP Srinagar.

Ahmad said.Jammu and Kashmir Police are now planning to send a

Now that the blind murder case has been solved, it has team to Delhi to get the statement of the girl in question.

not only given a sense of closure to the victim family but Violence had broken out in Srinagar last week after also eased some pressure on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

Asrar's body was found in a decomposed state with locals who was really getting bothered by almost daily doze of alleging then that he may have been picked up by police bad news.

CRIME IN SOCIETY

Srinagar cools down, for now

he Indian Government of India has said that terrorism the state in the year 2007 over 2006 while 35.16 reduction Tincidents in Jammu and Kashmir have decreased in the in 2008 over 2007," Minister of state for Home Affairs Ajay

past years and the state has received an increased number Maken informed Rajya Sabha on July 15. He also said, as

of tourists during the same period. "As per the report of per the available report, there were 4.37 lakh tourists in

the state government of Jammu and Kashmir, there was a 2006, 4.39 lakh in 2007 and 4.66 lakh in 2008 who visited

34.49 per cent reduction in terrorism related incidents in the state.

INSURGENCY

Violence declines by 34%

FATNERRUC F A I R S

Politics


rage and fury. Instead of taking House in hen S t a t e Leg i s l a t i v e confidence, the Government allowed Assembly met in Srinagar on W the scene to boil as a personal fracas July 27 for its delayed Budget between activists of National Session, uproar on rape and murder of Conference and the Peoples Democratic two women in a South Kashmir Village of Party –J&K's two premiere political Shopian and other cases of violations of parties locked against each other in a human rights was quite expected. The battle of survival. Rest of it was done by coalition government of the National Leg i s l a t i ve As sembly Speaker Conference and Congress led by Mohammad Akbar Lone who chided the youngest ever Chief Minister Omar opposition legislators as a street Abdullah has had its numerous errs on shopkeeper would scold a group of crucial issues since its formation on unruly boys quarrelling in front of his January 6, 2009 and the main opposition shop. Speaker's words like “kis khet ki Peoples Democratic Party has been seen mooli ho tum” (of which field's radish following these fai lures quite (vegetable) are you all) were widely vigorously. The way people have huge televised by India's leading news expectations in government, the channels over next two days with scroll's opposition too owes a lot to its running “Speaker uses st reet constituency and therefore its cries on language”. This media criticism, the issues of public importance cannot h o w e v e r, d i d n o t b r i n g a n y be dismissed as mere criticism for the improvement. sake of it. The scene on first day of

The next two days, July 28 and 29, Assembly, however, went far beyond the was perhaps most embarrassing not only normal course of opposition's right of for the highest institution of democracy, quest ion ing and government ' s the Legislature, but also for all peoples responsibility of answering. Peoples of Jammu and Kashmir. Former Deputy Democratic Party led by its leader Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Mehbooba Muft i took on the asked Speaker to grant him time for government with an unprecedented ZAFAR CHOUDHARY

The Discourse of Disgrace

After an overwhelming faith reposed by the peoples of Jammu and Kashmir, against heavy odds, in the

democratic institutions during the Assembly elections of November-December 2008 and Lok Sabha

elections of April-May 2009, the ruling parties and the opposition were expected to respect the mandate

and deliver on their promises. Unfortunately, the prevailing dominant political discourse in Jammu and

Kashmir is that of disgrace and ignominy which is causing a serious degree of dishonour and humiliation to

trust people put in their elected representatives.

FATNERRUC F A I R SPolitics


making statement on some important reacted. Omar Abdullah announced, at presented to the Governor on 28th July

issue. Time was granted. Baig, a leading the Floor of the Assembly, his 2009, the Governor has had the matter

lawyer of Supreme Court and orator par resignation and desisted dissuasions inquired into through the Union Ministry

excellence, began with the issues of from his party colleagues to rush to the of Home Affairs…The Governor, NN

human rights, security and governance. Raj Bhavan to handover papers to the Vohra has advised the Chief Minister

Entire House heard with rapt attention. Governor. In 20-minute drive between that, based on the information supplied

Towards the end of his nearly seven Assembly Complex and Raj Bhawan to him by the Union Home Ministry,

minutes long speech, the fiery orator came the change of mind. He wrote to there is no basis for Shri Abdullah

Baig, forwarded few papers towards the Governor “…immediately accept seeking to resign. Accordingly the

Speaker's chair for inclusion in the my resignation in case you are Governor advised the Chief Minister to

House records. An expert of satisfied that there is any basis most vigorously devote himself to

Constitution and Parliamentary Affairs, therein…”. For next two days the Chief discharging responsibilities of Chief

he ensured that the papers reach Minister, Jammu and Kashmir”. The high

Speaker's table before makes mention voltage embarrassing drama ended and

of what these papers meant. Then came the Chief Minister returned to office

the stun: “Honourable Speaker, few amidst a warm welcome by hundreds of

years back, there was a sex scandal Secretariat employees.

which is being probed by CBI and Chief Minister's return to the

monitoring of State High Court…we office did not close the sad chapter of

want the investigation on case polit ical disgrace the Peoples

expedited…there are many influential Democratic Party and the National

people holding public offices are Conference are bringing to the

involved…please look at the list…at institution of legislature and the larger

serial number 102 figures the name of public faith. Earlier on July 29, the

Omar Abdullah son of Farooq Abdullah”. Assembly Speaker Lone accepted a list

Having made the statement, Baig sat of questions from an NC MLA meant for

down relaxed but by that time House Muzaffar Baig. The questionnaire

was on fire. carrying six questions sought from Baig

Baig's action had absolutely his reply on his moral character as it

nothing to do with the public interests. linked him with as many women. While

By making such revelations if meant if five women were unnamed (though

meant bringing accountability and references were enough to understand

morality in public life then there are no who why were), the sixth one was

takers for that. If he actually meant named and identified as daughter of a

that, he should have made this former Chief Justice of India. Baig did

revelation in 2006 when he was the not react the way Chief Minister did.

Deputy Chief Minister and incharge of He tore apart paper and threw pieces Minister did not attend office even as NC the Departments of Law and in Well of the House. PDP is now and PDP workers fought pitched battles Parliamentary Affairs. Raking up such planning a second round of offensive on streets of Srinagar and Jammu. 48 issue that this stage did not serve any against NC. Assembly is now meeting hours later, Governor's reply to the public service as it was clearly meant to on August 9 and PDP says it has a larger Chief Minister was on expected lines. An discredit the Chief Minister and bring list of accused in sex scandal to be official spokesman of Raj Bhawan said instability in the government. The move presented in the House. on July 30: “In furtherance to the was, however, calculated. Chief The most important question here allegations leveled against the Chief Minister responded exactly as the PDP is: this is what people had voted for Minister in the Legislative Assembly and has wanted and not any manner a despite all odds to send their the letter that Shri Omar Abdullah had mature political leader should have representatives to the legislature. What

The way people have huge

expectations in government,

the opposition too owes a lot

to its constituency and

therefore its cries on the

issues of public importance

cannot be dismissed as mere

criticism for the sake of it.

The scene on first day of

Assembly, however, went far

beyond the normal course of

opposition's right of

questioning and

government's responsibility

of answering.

has been happening over past six months in Jammu

and Kashmir is nowhere close to what the parties

promised to electorate in last year's elections and

what they promised further as ruling and opposition

parties on declaration of results. Omar Abdullah had

said, on taking over as Chief Minister, “challenges are

numerous but the single largest challenge before me

meeting public expectations which are very high”.

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had said: “we have the

mandate to work as opposition and we are

committed to watching over public interests…we are

giving the government time and space to perform

and we are watching”.

Bringing to the Legislative Assembly an issue

which PDP as a part of the previous coalition

government had itself handed over to CBI and agreed

to its monitoring by the High Court and circulating a

questionnaire asking former Deputy CM to tell how

many women he slept with in life has certainly

nothing to do with what people expect their

representative to do for them. Both PDP and NC

claim to champion the cause of Kashmir but the fact

of the matter is that both are engaged in a

competition to secure the power. Their current

political engagements do not reveal anything beyond

that. Because, fighting it out in a graceful political

battle is years away (next Assembly elections are due

in 2014) they have, meanwhile, indulged in a

discourse of disgrace.

Both PDP and NC claim to

champion the cause of Kashmir but

the fact of the matter is that both are

engaged in a competition to secure the

power. Their current political

engagements do not reveal anything

beyond that murky competition. They

have discredited the legislature and

dishonoured the public faith

The Jammu Municipal Corporation has established a Control Room / Helpline for registering the compl-aints from General Public regarding unauthorised Illegal constructions. You may register your complaint on our Helpl ine / Control room Telephone No.

Control Room No. 2571308during office/after hours

You may also contact Chief Enforcement/Khilafwarzi Officers at

following Mobiles Nos

1. Jammu East 9419197482

2. Jammu West 9419142505

3. Jammu South 9419141474

Health Officer 9419180868

Municipal Veterinary Officer 9419102797

Executive Engineer (Electric) 9419150429

YOU MAY ALSO REGISTER GENERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING

SANITATION /DEAD ANIMALS LIFTING, REMOVAL OF STRAY CATTLE, STREET LIGHTS ETC.

HELLOJammu

Sd/-Commissioner,

JMC

KEEN TO SERVE U BETTER

Jammu Municipal Corporation

FATNERRUC F A I R SPolitics


rom the Indian perspective, there is India and Pakistan made the biggest Fa short answer to the question on progress on resolving their conflict over

what the Obama administration should Kashmir. From 2003-2007, Delhi and

do about Kashmir as part of its Af-Pak Islamabad unveiled many confidence-

strategy: nothing. There is also a longer building measures in Kashmir for the

answer to the question--nothing direct- first time since the partition of the

-that I would like to develop. subcontinent. Above all, Indian and

Pakistani leaders negotiated, through First, the empirical evidence. The many an official back channel, the framework direct U.S. interventions in Kashmir of a political settlement on Kashmir. over the last six decades were not only The talks, however, are stalled thanks unsuccessful but also prevented the to internal instability in Pakistan and construction of sustainable ties with the renewal of spectacular terror India. New Delhi saw Washington's attacks on India like the kind we saw in Kashmir interest as part of a broader tilt Mumbai last November. As it understood toward Pakistan that began in the early the costs to America's blossoming ties years of the Cold War.with India, the Obama administration If Kashmir has been at the heart of quickly stepped back from the initial India's accumulated distrust of the impulse to reinject itself into Kashmir. United States, the Bush administration The administration must nevertheless chose to ignore the issue as it tried to persist in building on Obama's one build a strategic partnership with India. important insight: The conflicts on the Paradoxically, it was precisely during eastern and western borders of Pakistan this period of American "neglect" that

O IP N I O N

US and Kashmir


JAYSHREE BAJORIA

.S. President Barack Obama has defined the elimination of terrorist networks in Pakistan and UAfghanistan as crucial to U.S. national security interests. Yet some analysts say the territory of

Kashmir could pose a problem to the administration's counterterrorism efforts in the region. Often

called one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints, Kashmir has been at the root of two large-scale

wars and one limited conflict between India and Pakistan since the August 1947 partition. Tensions

between the countries escalated in the 1990s with a rise in militancy in the Indian-administered region.

India accuses Pakistan's premier intelligence service, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), of supporting

militant groups in Kashmir, a charge Pakistan denies.

The two countries started a peace process in 2004 that explored options such as increasing trade

and greater people-to-people contact across the disputed border but talks have been plagued by

political crises in Pakistan and terrorist attacks in India. Analysts point out that the Kashmir dispute

distracts Pakistan's security forces from focusing on militants inside the country since a majority of

Pakistan's troops remain deployed on the eastern border with India. Five experts on South Asia--

DANIEL MARKEY, C. RAJA MOHAN, HASAN-AZKARI RIZVI, HOWARD B. SCHAFFER, and M.

FAROOQ KATHWARI--discuss U.S. interests in Kashmir and propose policy options for the Obama

administration to tackle this long-standing dispute.

Experts Speak

How the Kashmir Dispute AffectsSecurity in South Asia

C. RAJA MOHAN, Professor, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

onflict in South Asia poses serious Pakistan, and the peoples of the Ceconomic and security threats to Kashmir region--have come close to a

U.S. interests. The ongoing war in feasible solution. All sides now

Afghanistan and the fighting in Pakistan understand that their stated positions of

are serious and dangerous realities. In the last sixty-two years are not realistic

order to achieve stability, regional and that compromises have to be made.

cooperation and trust must be In this regard, I was involved in established, especially between India forming the Kashmir Study Group in and Pakistan. Resolving the Kashmir 1996 to help shape the debate toward a conflict will go a long way in bringing peaceful and honorable resolution to peace to South Asia. the conflict. The main features of the

There is greater realization in India proposed solution, developed in

and Pakistan that they need to settle consultation with the parties: the

the Kashmir dispute for their wellbeing establishment of truly self-governing

and that of the region. The conflict over entities on both sides of the present

the former princely state of Jammu and Line of Control; guarantees of human

Kashmir has been the chief source of and civil rights for the culturally diverse

tension between India and Pakistan, populations and minorities; and all

fueling three wars between the nations parties committed to demilitarization

since 1947 and resulting in tremendous and the renouncing of violence.

costs to the region--loss of life, impact India and Pakistan need to engage on economic growth, large defense in composite bilateral talks on all spending, and rise in extremism. important issues. Recurrent tensions

For Kashmir, the conflict has been over Kashmir will undercut any

a great tragedy and a disaster in all initiative to bring stability to South Asia

respects: a large death toll, human as well as perpetuate the risk of a

rights abuses, displacement of nuclear war.

populations, a devastated economy, While the ultimate responsibility serious environmental damage, massive of negotiating a solution is with the mi l i ta ry bu i ldup, and severe involved parties, it is also the right time psychological distress. The positive for the United States to pursue creative, news is that in the last few years, persistent, and discreet high-level t h r o u g h q u i e t , b a c k - c h a n n e l diplomacy to help move the peace negotiations, the parties--India, process forward.


M. FAROOQ KATHWARI,Chairman, President and CEO, Ethan Allen Inc., Chairman, Kashmir Study Group

are interconnected. support of violent extremism. This, in

turn, is possible only if the United States At the source of the trouble in can help Pakistan's civilian leaders wrest Kashmir and Afghanistan has been the control over national security policy Pakistani army's decades-old policy of from the army. If and when he makes nurturing extremist groups as strategic progress on these two objectives, Obama assets against New Delhi and Kabul. will find it no problem at all to convince Under Obama, Washington has come to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to recognize that defeating al-Qaeda and sign off on the Kashmir deal that he has the Taliban involves getting the already negotiated.Pakistani army to end its deliberate

O IP N I O NUS and Kashmir

find a propitious opportunity to play a he unsettled Kashmir dispute poses T more active role, the settlement it a potentially serious threat to the promotes should call for making the expanding interests the United States Line of Control a permanent border that now has in South Asia. Any conflict is porous; autonomy for Kashmiris on between India and Pakistan sparked by both sides; and joint institutions on an the dispute could escalate into a all-Kashmir basis.catastrophic nuclear war. Pakistan's

critical role since September 11, 2001, These elements were under

in shaping the future of Afghanistan has discussion in back-channel India-

given the issue a further major Pakistan negotiations until the talks

dimension. The traditional focus of the were suspended following the Mumbai

Pakistan armed forces on combating a attacks in November 2008. Both sides

perceived threat from India and the state that they wish to resume the

continuing patronage that Pakistani discussions on Kashmir and the broader

intelligence agencies provide to Islamic composite bilateral dialogue. But New

extremists in Kashmir make it more Delhi has served notice that it will be

difficult, both politically and militarily, unwilling to do so until Pakistan has

for Islamabad to help the United States taken satisfactory action against the

and its coalition partners combat the Mumbai [terrorist attack in November

Afghan Taliban and al-Qaeda. These 2008] perpetrators. Washington has

factors also heighten Pakistan's own urged the Pakistanis to do so. Nothing is

problems in contending with domestic to be gained, at least at this point, in

extremists. Pakistani support for armed the U.S. calling on the two governments

insurgents in Kashmir contributes to hold substantive discussions.

significantly to tension with India and

heightens Indian suspicion that

I s l amabad i s r e spons ib le f o r

perpetrating violence within India

proper. And until a settlement is

reached, there will be no dearth of

"spoilers" eager for opportunities to

inflame India-Pakistan relations.

Washington should look for

opportunities to play a more active role

in helping resolve the dispute while

recognizing that this won't be easy.

These opportunities will arise only when

there are strong governments in both

countries willing and able to make the

difficult concessions necessary for a

settlement. And before the United

States becomes more involved, India-

Pakistan relations must improve from

their present dismal state.

Any eventual U.S. diplomatic

involvement should be unobtrusive and

avoid fanfare. For instance, assigning a

high-profile special envoy would be

fatal to U.S. efforts. If Washington does


"If Washington does find a

propitious opportunity to

play a more active role, the

settlement it promotes

should call for making the

Line of Control a

permanent border that is

porous; autonomy for

Kashmiris on both sides;

and joint institutions on an

all-Kashmir basis."

HOWARD SCHAFFER

HOWARD B. SCHAFFER, Deputy Director and Director of Studies, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University


prompting an escalating spiral of here is little doubt that normalized T uncertain duration and violence.relations between India and

Pakistan, including a regionally Under these conditions, the

acceptable settlement on Kashmir, Obama administration should seek to

would offer tremendous benefits to the insulate the Indo-Pak rapprochement

United States. Indo-Pak tensions are process by devoting greater attention to

especially dangerous because they the specific group that masterminded

bring two nuclear states toe-to-toe; last November's Mumbai attack:

they distract Islamabad from the urgent Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The United

task of combating terrorists and States should press for more extensive

militants on its own soil; and they Pakistani investigations, arrests, and

contribute to Pakistani suspicions about military action against LeT and its

India's activities in Afghanistan. Thus, assoc iated organizat ions, and

the long-standing dispute over Kashmir Washington should also lend support

is one part of a wider regional dynamic where possible. Given the group's

that has direct implications for history of close ties to Pakistani military

Washington's ability to support a stable and intelligence and the extensive

Afghan state and to address the threat sympathy it enjoys within segments of

posed by terrorist groups in South Asia. the Pakistani public, undertaking a true

crackdown on LeT may well prove a Yet in spite of its central strategic difficult and bloody affair. But without importance, the United States is not tackling this threat, prospects for well positioned to tackle the Kashmir progress in Kashmir, for regional issue. Washington should not seek to stability, and for U.S. success in its insert itself in the diplomacy between counterterror and counterinsurgency Islamabad and New Delhi or to press missions will remain extremely dim.publicly for concessions from either

side. These moves would backfire, since

Indian and Pakistani leaders can ill-

afford to appear to their domestic

audiences as if they are caving to U.S.

pressure over an issue as sensitive as

Kashmir. Moreover, the recent history of

back-channel dealings between

Islamabad and New Delhi suggests that

the basic contours of a Kashmir

settlement are already well-known to

both sides; no need for Washington to

reinvent the wheel.

That said, the White House is

understandably eager to promote Indo-

Pak rapprochement. This urge is all the

more desperate because the United

States has every reason to fear that

Pakistan-based terrorists will attempt

another Mumbai-style attack in the near

future. In that event, the Indian

government might feel compelled to

launch reprisal attacks inside Pakistan,


"The long-standing dispute

over Kashmir is one part of

a wider regional dynamic

that has direct implications

for Washington's ability to

support a stable Afghan

state and to address the

threat posed by terrorist

groups in South Asia.”

DANIEL MARKEY

DANIEL MARKEY, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia, Council on Foreign Relations


mprovement of India-Pakistan India is publicly demanding action

relations and the resolution of the against these groups. Improved India-IKashmir conflict would strengthen Pakistan relations and resolution of

Pakistan's role in the ongoing U.S. major disputes, including Kashmir, will

efforts to eliminate extremism and make these militant groups irrelevant

terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan and increase the Pakistani government's

and stabilize those countries. ability to curb them.

This is especially important because The Obama administration is most

Pakistan's civilian leadership and suited to help ease tension between

military top brass are now unanimous in India and Pakistan and improve their

viewing all Taliban groups and their bilateral relations because it has

allies as a threat to the stability of equally cordial relations with both

Pakistan and the region. The military countries. It needs to encourage India

operation in the Swat area [of Pakistan] to revive the suspended "composite

has dislodged the Taliban and this area dialogue" comprising eight issue areas

is now under the control of Pakistani including Kashmir and terrorism.

civilian and military authorities. Pakistan would like the United Pakistan has launched another military States to play a mediatory role on operation in South Waziristan and such Kashmir. But, this is not possible operations will be launched in other because India is opposed to it. However, parts of the tribal areas in the future. the Obama administration can help the

Pakistan's attention will be partly two sides make the dialogue results

diverted from its tribal areas and oriented. If the less complicated issues-

northwestern border with Afghanistan -the Siachen Glacier, Sir Creek

to its eastern border with India if boundary, and the water issue--are

tension increases between India and resolved, this would produce enough

Pakistan. This was the case after the goodwill to resolve the Kashmir

Mumbai terrorist attack (in November conflict. The U.S. administration should

2008) when Indian leaders issued be more assertive in working toward

strident statements against Pakistan, improved India-Pakistan relations.

moved their troops from peacetime With special endowments from locations up closer to the border, and council on foreign relations. For more toyed with the idea of strategic analysis and interviews on India and airstrikes in Pakistani territory. foreign policy visit CFR.org. Epilogue is

Pakistan's political right and thankful to Lia Nortan, Associate Editor,

Islamic elements take advantage of Council on Foreign Relations, NY.

troubled India-Pakistan relations--

especially the non-resolution of the

Kashmir conflict--to argue that India,

rather than the Taliban, is a threat to

Pakistan. Further, the militant groups

based in mainland Pakistan, known for

the i r i nvo l vement i n I nd ian -

administered Kashmir, use the

stalemate on Kashmir to mobilize

popular support. The Pakistan

government finds it difficult to take a

firm action against these militant

groups when India-Pakistan relations

are marked by high-level hostility and


HASAN-ASKARI RIZVI, Independent political and defense analyst, Pakistan

KNOWLEDGEØTThe Railway network in J&K State is

the highest altitude railway network

in India. Presently the railway

network in the State exists upto

Udhampur district and the rest

between Udhampur to Qazikund is

under construction. Intra Kashmir

railway line from Qazigund to

Baramulla is near completion and has

been laid open for railway traffic from

(Nowgam) Srinagar to Anantnag on

11th October in 2008.


LSUCOFNI A D A K H

Politics & Identity


Ladakh in Politicsand Politics in Ladakh

Ladakh ' s h istor ical and racia l differences by the process of

tribalisation, or else acknowledge and

exaggerate them in distinctively

gendered forms so that backwardness,

barrenness, and dysfunctional sexuality he present day J&K, “on the

became characteristics of its women Indian side of the Line of Control,

and its soil.” These kinds of projections Tis formed of three distinct also preoccupy the premise of

regional identities, Ladakh is perhaps Bollywood and Hollywood movies based

politically most important of them all.” on, or shoot in, Ladakh. “[T]hey

However till date, Ladakh is counted as reinforce the structure in which the

no more than a “conflict-ridden border centre is masculinised and the border

land […] devoid of sweet and soft of becomes female and raced.” Not

nature”. In the perception of surprisingly then, even highly educated

mainstream Indian citizens then, India Indians use the racial stereotyped

s t r e t c h e s f r o m “ K a s h m i r t o imaginations to perceive the Ladakhis.

Kanyakumari”. Some popular Bollywood On the political front, the patriotic songs well depict this typecast picture

credentials of Ladakhis always have had of India. In realistic sense, then, Ladakh to face the acidic test of jingo remains, more or less, only on the nationalism because of their facial political map of India, not in the resemblance with the Chinese. Outside collective psyche of mainstream Ladakh, Ladakhis have generally been Indians. Aggarwal argues that “central looked down upon as Gorkhas and and state policies either domesticate

SONAM CHOSJORA former Scholar of Political Science, Author now works with J&K Government. Views expressed here are exclusively his and endorsed by Epilogue.

BEYOND KASHMIR :

Understanding Ladakh and its Politics

The high profile politics of Kashmir, and the compulsive focus of debate on the issue of separatism and

autonomy, substantially leads to the mistreatment of the colossal basis of plurality of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

Because of this proclivity, the issues of assertion of the regional identities of Jammu and Ladakh have, more or

less, escaped sober academic attention. This has led to a serious gap in acquiring a holistic understanding of the

internal dynamics of the politics in J&K, consequently leading to a hole in the academia vis-à-vis a peculiar

characteristic of rise of ethnic politics in India: that there has always been a parallel assertion of sub-regional

identities in J&K in relation to the more popular movement of autonomy and separatism in the Valley. The rise of

ethnic consciousness at regional/state levels has led to the rise of alienation among some minority groups at sub-

regional levels (like the rise of ethnic politics in Jammu and Ladakh vis-à-vis Kashmir) leading, consequently, to

parallel sub-regional movements along with the mainstream ones. These movements, by and large, have been

short of critical academic attention. The present article tries to present an analysis of the nature of politics in

Ladakh and its internal dynamics.


chinkis by the mainstream Indians, who both the countries subsequently. But

proudly cherish, at the same time, opening of the Demchok-Manasarovar

India's historic stand on the racial trade-cum-pilgrimage route, which can

apartheid in South Africa. It, however, prove to be a boon for the fragile

hardly matters that someone raised in a economy of Ladakh, is still a wishful

metropolitan city like Delhi or Mumbai thinking because of lack of political will

hardly experiences the ideas and senses on the part of Indian policy makers.

of Indianness that a person raised in a The media and, to a larger extent,

border area like Ladakh do. Aggarwal the academia, have been obsessed with

argues that more real “ideas of stereotyped portrayals of Ladakh

Indianness” can be experienced only in constructed mainly by the Western

areas and regions like Ladakh where the travelogues. Their projection of Ladakh

“border becomes a space where the has been that of a “romantic notion of

state expresses itself through a an idyllic land, eclipsed from time and

habitualised performativity and space” similar to the one the Western

repeatedly asserts the physical and travellers used to have about Tibet at a

symbolic authority over its citizens.” point of time. The academic imagining

'Ladakh in politics' has, hence, of Ladakh is preoccupied by the Tibetan-

become no less than a kind of misnomer centric view of Ladakh, and the

phrase inapt to comprehend and think Buddhist-centric perception of Ladakhi

of the region for officials and the identity. In the popular imagination,

academia. It hardly figures in the Ladakh, because of its geographical

official and academic political proximity and cultural/spiritual links

discourse of J&K at any level. The with Tibet, has always tended to be

academia and the media have never perceived as another Tibet. In fact, the

been serious about the political facet very interest of the academia in Ladakh,

of Ladakh. High profile academic which began only after the 1970s when

debates seeking solution for J&K have it was thrown open for foreign tourists,

never bothered to indulge Ladakh as a seemed to have been generated by

stakeholder. People-to-people contact Ladakh's proximity — physical and

has been reshaping the contours of religious — with Tibet, which had been

India's foreign policy vis-à-vis Kashmir closed for foreigners for many years. On

during the last few years. The the other hand, the interest in Tibet was

reopening of the road connecting two generated by “Western travel writings

conflict-prone regions, Srinagar and on Tibet through the ages”. Not

Muzafarabad, has been projected as a surprisingly then, Ladakh has been

success story. But the opening of the popularly known as “Little Tibet”,

Kargil-Skardo road still remains a “Western Tibet” or “Indian Tibet” in the

figment of the imagination as New academia and in the media, giving an

Delhi and Is lamabad are st i l l e r r oneou s imp re s s i on , a l be i t

apprehensive about letting the people inadvertent it may have been, about

of these two very peaceful regions meet Ladakh: that it is a 'Land of Lamaist

who, like the people of Srinagar, were Buddhism' like Tibet; and that its

also divided with their kiths and kin inhabitants are the followers of Lamaist

during the partition. Indo-China trade is Buddhism as the Tibetans, by and large,

booming and Nathula has been thrown are. This, however, is not to be in breach

open since July 2006 for trading of the fact that Ladakh used to have

purposes with very good dividends for excellent monastic, trade and

In the perception of

mainstream Indian citizens

then, India stretches from

“Kashmir to Kanyakumari”.

Some popular Bollywood

songs well depict this

typecast picture of India. In

realistic sense, then, Ladakh

remains, more or less, only

on the political map of

India, not in the collective

psyche of mainstream

Indians.

'Ladakh in politics' has,

hence, become no less than a

kind of misnomer phrase

inapt to comprehend and

think of the region for

officials and the academia.

It hardly figures in the

official and academic

political discourse of J&K at

any level.

Therefore, Ladakh has never

tended to be counted in the

realm of politics. The

popular Indian imagination

by and large rules out the

possibility of any kind of

politics in what many call

the 'peaceful trans-

Himalayan region'.

LSUCOFNI A D A K HPolitics & Identity


pilgrimage relations with Tibet at one understanding about the political it in the straight-jacket of the politics of

juncture of history. articulations of the region vis-à-vis the Union Territory (UT) being championed

state and national mainstream, and, by Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), But the obsessive romanticisation

more importantly, about the internal and lately by the Ladakh Union Territory of the past sometimes tends to eclipse

dynamics of politics within Ladakh — Front (LUTF). For almost all the the present reality in Ladakh: that about

like that of Kargil's relationship with outsiders, and even for many Ladakhis, half of Ladakh's population constitutes

Leh, and the Muslim's relations with the then, politics in Ladakh begins and ends Muslims, majority of those living in

Buddhists. with UT and the LBA/LUTF. Generally the Kargil. Such a constrained perception

internal dynamics of politics in Ladakh, as adds to the idyllic perspective of the Therefore, Ladakh has never

analysed later, escapes critical attention: seeing Ladakh “predominantly as a tended to be counted in the realm of

for example, why the Muslim leaders of quaint, colorful backdrop for adventure politics. The popular Indian imagination

Kargil oppose the LBA and its demand of holidays, populated by maroon-robed by and large rules out the possibility of

UT, and why there is a perceptible rift l amas l i v i n g i n wh i t ewashed any kind of politics in what many call the

between Leh and Kargil at large, or monasteries perched on hilltops.” Such 'peaceful trans-Himalayan region'. Even

between the Buddh i s t -Mus l im a dearth of attention in real-politic logic those who think of, or have heard of,

relationships, principally, in Ladakh?subsequently leads to the lack of politics in Ladakh generally try to define

o get a nuanced understanding of state (Jammu & Kashmir) to India, India. That is why way back in 1949, the nature of politics in Ladakh Ladakh also became a part of India in when Jawaharlal Nehru visited the Tand the space Ladakh has curved 1947. region, the Buddhist leaders sought

for itself in political discourse of J&K, it what they called “the bosom of … Becoming a part of India had been

usually becomes relevant to gracious mother (India)” for the recount the modern politico-betterment of the region and its historical background of

Ladakh. people. Coming out of the 100

In the middle of 10th years of 'autocratic' Dogra rule,

century, after the assassination it was easy for the people of

of King Lhangdarma, the Ladakh to fine-tune their

Tibetan empire broke up and p o l i t i c a l f o r t u n e w i t h

Ladakh became an independent 'democratic' India.

kingdom. Thereafter, Ladakh Two factors seemed to

remained an independent have contributed immensely in

kingdom for about 800 years, making the Ladakhis faithful to

ruled by its own kings – from India. One is the plunging of the

Spalkigon (990-1020) to Tundup Indian Army in Ladakh during

Namgyal (1829-1834). In 1842, the tribal invasion from Pakistan

in 1948 and liberating Ladakh Ladakh was annexed by the

from what many Ladakhis Dogra ruler of Jammu, after a

believed (and still believe) the series of expeditious forays by

brink of another era of political Zorawar Singh, the general of

enslavement after the Dogra the Dogra ruler Gulab Singh. well cherished by the Ladakhi leaders. rule. The elderly persons in Ladakh Then, for the next century, Ladakh Right from the very beginning, its would still tell the kind of indebtedness remained a part of the Dogra kingdom. leaders felt very easy to associate its they owe to India and the Indian Army With the accession of the Dogra-ruled political fortunes with democratic

Looking Back: Ladakhi History and Indian Nationalism


In 1949, Chhewang Rigzin, the president of

the LBA, submitted a memo to Jawaharlal

Nehru in which he expressed that Ladakhi

Buddhist were a “separate nation by all the

tests — race, language, religion, culture —

determining nationality.” The memorandum

further asserted that they (Buddhists) had no

affinity or “link of connection” with the

Kashmiris with the exception of a “bond of

cohesion” of common ruler in the Dogra

regime.


for what they did for the Ladakhis in India, and also for the conferment of a nation by all the tests — race, language,

1948. The second factor seems to be national status for Ladakhi language. religion, culture — determining

the relatively wider democratic space nationality.” The memorandum further Ladakh's relationship with the rest

and greater developmental spoils asserted that they (Buddhists) had no of the state and also the political status

Ladakhis enjoyed subsequently in affinity or “link of connection” with the of Jammu and Kashmir were not

democratic India in stark contrast to Kashmiris with the exception of a “bond resolved when ceasefire was declared in

hardships they had to suffer under the of cohesion” of common ruler in the 1949. At this juncture, Ladakhi Buddhist

Dogra rule immediately before 1947. Dogra regime. But these wishes of the leaders appeared to have preferred a

Buddhist leaders could not be Therefore, Ladakhis naturally partition of Jammu and Kashmir. In

materialised, and they had to adjust evolved as patriotic Indians despite the 1949, Chhewang Rigzin, the president of

their political fortunes once again in lack of earlier connection. From 1949 the LBA, submitted a memo to

J&K, but this time under the newly onwards there have been movements Jawaharlal Nehru in which he expressed

emerged leaders of Kashmir. for fuller integration with the Union of that Ladakhi Buddhist were a “separate

two-third of the state territorially (i.e. fact that Ladakh got a degree college as espite the democratic setup more area than the remaining 20 late as 1994! Hence, they claim that after 1948, a sense of deprivation D districts of J&K put together), Ladakh given the vastness of the area, and the vis-à-vis the ruling dispensation (both Leh and Kargil) has got only one very high cost of living there— because in the state — “predominantly Kashmir seat in the Parliament and four in the of lack of primary facilities like road, based” — and a demand for separation state Assembly; the Government of electricity, proper educational from J&K to form a UT-Ladakh has been India (GoI) is yet to include the Ladakhi institutions etc.— it is unjust to treat the preparatory juncture of the popular

the region as a couple of districts. perception of politics in Ladakh.

The second set of arguments Ladakhi Buddhist leaders have

(though related to the first one) always complained of neglect and

has been that Ladakh has got a maltreatment in the Kashmiri

distinctive regional identity with dominated government in J&K.

different sets of problems Ever since the memo of peculiar to the region and its geo-1949, the political discourse in climatic conditions. Therefore, Ladakh has, more or less, been the mainstream policies of the controlled by the LBA, and, of government, and its parameters late, it has always revolved of development, do not hold well around the issue of UT. The enough for its betterment. justification put forth for the UT

th Hence, it needs to have a language in the 8 Schedule of the demand has generally been based on the separate administration to frame and Indian Constitution despite the solemn articulation that the Kashmiri prioritize its own developmental wishes of the Ladakhis; also Ladakh is dominated government in the state has agendas. This claim is justified on the yet to get fully connected with the rest never been sensitive to the needs, basis of Ladakh's geo-climatic conditions of the country through an all-season aspirations and peculiar problems being and the problems caused by it, and its motor road as the only roads leading to faced by Ladakh and its people. Hence, geo-strategic importance along with the Ladakh passing through Kashmir (via Ladakh has lagged behind the other two unique socio-cultural heritage. Zojila) and Himachal Pradesh (via regions of the state in every sphere of

Rohtang and Taklang passes) remain However, one question that life. The leaders generally seek the closed for at least six months in a year; escapes critical thought is: Is UT, mainly attention of the state for the following

championed by the Buddhist leaders, and a sign of grave negligence is also the matters: despite constituting almost

Politics of Union Territory and Communal Claims

For the LBA, “Ladakhiness” and

“Buddhistness” are one and the same thing.

The LBA asserts that the Ladakhi Muslims

does not fit into the category of “Ladakhis”

because they are “connected by the ties of

religion with the majority population

[Muslims] of Jammu and Kashmir.”



the only solution to redress these that presenting letters and memoranda School, almost repeated the 1989

grievances? Of late there have been were not enough to get attention from episode.

divisions among the Buddhist leaders New Delhi and Srinagar. It launched a However, the LBA has always been regarding the question of the UT massive agitation with the slogan of paid off for communal agitations. The movement. Moreover, the LBA's “Buddhists in Danger”. The agitation central government, while persuading obsession of justifying the movement in was launched in reaction to a small L B A t o g i v e u p c o m m u n a l the name of religion makes the UT claim private incident over a family property demands/claims, conferred the more problematic. The LBA has always between a Buddhist brother and a Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in 1989 and been fixated with giving the movement Muslim sister. The LBA exploited the t h e L a d a k h A u t o n o m o u s H i l l a fanatic tinge. One can observe this situation and went on to the extent of Development Council (LAHDC) in 1995 as tendency right from 1949 (when LBA accusing the minority Muslims in Leh of a compromise for the UT demand. submitted its first memorandum to the causing damage to the Buddhists, their Nevertheless the LAHDC proved to be GoI), till the most recent memorandum properties, and monasteries. damp squib because the then Farooq in 2000. Ever since the NDA's “state Having seen the prospects of government in the state did not allow sponsored Sindhu Darshan”, there have success in getting the state's attention any quantum of autonomy to be been reports of “dangerous liaisons” of through communal agitations, LBA exercised by this democratically the LBA with the Hindutva forces in Indian launched another agitation in 1989, in elected body reducing it an inward politics that could saffronise the region which it forced the local Buddhists to appearance of mortgage autonomy. and transform its stability forever. The socially boycott the local Muslim In 2000, the LBA again presented a LBA has, now, started “openly and population, which remained in force for memorandum to the members of actively” associating “itself with the VHP, about three years. Initially, van Beek Parliament justifying the renewal of its RSS, and Panun Kashmir, not merely informs, the agitation was supposed to UT demand. By 2002, a new political accepting their expressions of support, be launched as a unified struggle of all conglomerate in the name of Ladakh but actually joining a common platform Ladakhis (including Muslims) to redress Union Territory Front (LUTF) had already with them for tr ifurcation—or their common grievances: for example, made its appearance on Ladakh's quadrifurcation, really, if one includes “little/non-representation of the political scene by what they called the demand for Panun Kashmir”. Ladakh in the State Assembly”; 'dissolving all party and political

One thing that the LBA has kept “sabotage of ST issue”; “dismantling of differences' to put forth a unified fight, repeatedly propagating, directly or Ladakh related institutions” (like the as they told, for UT. This initiative was indirectly, is that the Ladakhi Muslims Ladakh Affairs Ministry etc.) in the state hailed as a very good step forward not are not sincere to the region, and, Government, etc. However, it was only in Ladakh but outside Ladakh as hence, to the nation. That is why it transformed into a sectarian Buddhist well. The LUTF significantly had the generally constructs a very exclusivist movement culminating in the social support of both the Buddhist and the notion of Ladakhi identity restricting it boycott of the local Muslims. Given the Muslim leadership in Leh, and people to the religious domain. Not surprisingly LBA's claim that the agitation was a step had put great faith in this unfaithful then for the LBA, “Ladakhiness” and forward in acquiring UT for Ladakh, one organization (as it turned out to be later “Buddhistness” are one and the same could not understand what the need to on). thing. The LBA asserts that the Ladakhi boycott the Muslims was. Contrary to The fallacies and the shortcomings Muslims does not fit into the category of LBA's claims, the Muslims alleged that of the LUTF were exposed very soon “Ladakh i s” because they a re the agitation targeted the Muslims and when some of its key leaders decided to “connected by the ties of religion with their property. leave it to revive the Congress. Ever the majority population [Muslims] of In February 2006 again, breaking a since, Ladakh has witnessed a kind of bi-Jammu and Kashmir.” In fact, as van calm of over 15 years, the Muslims and partisan politics between the LUTF and Beek argues, the LBA knew the Buddhists of Ladakh region once again Congress. In December 2002, the importance of communal claims in the came to brink of odium with each other coalition government led by Mufti Indian democracy because of the wrong as communal tension once again broke Mohammad Syed, within less than two legacy of communal politics in India, out between the two communities over months of its formation, devolved perhaps one of the most persisting an alleged desecration of the Holy power to this body to enable it work in legacies of the colonial era. Quran at a mosque in Kargil. The LBA and its true spirit as apart of its 'Healing

Touch Policy'. By 1969, the LBA leaders realized its counterparts in Kargil, Islamia



rather than trying to redefine the every political party or organization ut regrettably the Ladakhi leaders political discourse in Ladakh by giving it provides only lip service to the UT have so far failed to think beyond B a more secular dose with long term movement. Once the elections are over, the UT politics. They still persist visions. UT is hurriedly pushed back on the with the same old mantra of politics to

backburner. The leaders feel very mobilize people for voting them. Even Pract i ca l l y, then, the UT comfortable with the empty promise of more unfortunate is the fact that the movement remains only a vote bank UT after all it helps them to shirk and leaders of the two districts (Leh and apparatus. All the political parties wriggle out of the real problems being Kargil) remain confined in their having their respective bases in Leh faced by the common masses in terms of respective cocoons and have never procure votes in the name or with the education, employment, road, concerned to fashion a common pledge of acquiring UT for Ladakh; and electricity so on and so forth. As the UT platform to articulate their political the leaders in Kargil purchase votes by issue looms too large in the collective demands in one voice. It is here that the opposing the same. Hence, every conscience of the people of Leh, they q u e s t i o n o f e m p t i n e s s a n d parliamentary election in Ladakh gets tend to forget (or are led to forget) the worthlessness of the UT movement basic issues that effect their daily life comes to the forefront. The first directly or indirectly.precondition for the realization of UT

for the LBA, or any other organization, is When all's said and done, one

necessarily going to be the winning of should not forget to ask whether 'UT-

the confidence of the Muslim leadership Ladakh' is a realizable goal or a wishful of Kargil. Without their support, the UT thinking. Given the present state of demand is going to be a completely J&K, it is very difficult for GoI to consider futile exercise as the Government of the UT option for Ladakh. Firstly, UT falls India is unlikely to heed attention to a in the trifurcation scheme, and any demand raised by one section of Ladakhi government at the centre will conceive population and opposed by the other the division/trifurcation of J & K as a bad half. Therefore, if the LBA (or any other ploy as it (J&K) is being, generally, hailed organization) is sincerely serious about as no less than a symbol of Indian the Union Territory, the f irst secularism. Secondly, UT for Ladakh, precondition is to take the local Muslims even without trifurcating the state, will into confidence. sharpen the demand for Jammu state, reduced to a UT and religion affair —

But with all its anti-Muslim again leading to trifurcation. But, even nothing more than a Leh-Buddhist rhetoric, the realization of UT seems to if the trifurcation is done with good versus Kargil-Muslim, or supporters and be a wild dream for the LBA (or other intentions, it may still be conceived as a non-supporters of UT. Whichever party parties with Buddhist base) because it weak strategy—a division on religious the people vote for, they vote with the has been completely reluctant to take same hope that they might get what lines, thereby indicating that different the primary step of taking the local they voted for sooner or later, but communities can't coexist in secular Muslims in confidence. This means two without exactly knowing (or without India. Thirdly, and most importantly, things: (1) either the LBA (or other being led to know by the leaders) as to India needs Jammu and Ladakh to recite parties supporting UT and the LBA) what UT is, how it can be realized, and the nationalistic hymn so as to help India is/are not serious about the UT what are the hurdles and complexities in render the separatist movement in the demand— meaning that they only use it its way. What they know (or are being Valley ineffective. In that way India can as a trump card for vote bank politics, or led to know) is that with the prove a point to the international (2) they do not have the capacity to homecoming of UT, all kind of problems community that the separatist spearhead the UT movement. Ladakh faces today would be movement going on in Jammu and Regrettably, the leaders of Kargil, on the completely done away with in one Kashmir is only a sectarian one— opposed other hand, remain happy to be in their stroke. by the Jammuites and Ladakhis who run own insulated space (sometimes also Nonetheless, apart from the their respective parallel movements for indulging in anti-Buddhist jingoisms) rhetoric during or around elections, fuller integration with India.

Beyond Union Territory Politics

But with all its anti-Muslim rhetoric, the realization of UT seems to be a wild dream for the LBA (or other parties with Buddhist base) because it has been completely reluctant to take the primary step of taking the local Muslims in confidence.



as “outsiders” or t a broader “ n o n - l o y a l level, the A L a d a k h i s ” , justification a l i e n a t e s t h e put forth for the UT Ladakhi Muslims. demand has been The LBA generally the distinctiveness p r o v o k e s t h e of Ladakhi identity m a s s e s b y and giving it a c o n s t r u c t i n g political expre-imaginary fears of ssion. Mr. Rigzin d e m o g r a p h i c Jora, MLA Leh and i m b a l a n c e , Minister for Tourism conve r s i on s , a and Culture, J&K future Mus l im-Government, told dominated Ladakh in an interview that and so on. All these “Ladakh region is a go just in line with unique cultural, the Hindutva myth geographical and follow the LBA bandwagon to collect

in the Indian politics. Such kinds of miss-ethnic identity. The problem there is cheap votes by evoking emotional projections of Ladakh have only that the uniqueness of this identity has issues. All the Buddhist leaders in alienated the Muslim Ladakhis as not got its full expression in the political Ladakh today are either still members of Ladakhi identity is much more than the terms.” However, the leaders of Ladakh the LBA, or had been its key members at distorted religious identity presented by have so far failed to come to a consensus one point of time or other. LBA and its followers. of what are the essential ingredients of

The LBA's construction of an At times the LBA even tried to Ladakhi identity. This may mainly be

exclusivist Buddhist identity as the real associate the Ladakhi Muslims with the because of the exclusivist and

Ladakhi identity, and its deliberate separatist movement going on in the communal politics of the LBA. It is

attempts to exclude the Muslims, Valley. However, it is important to important to mention here that why LBA

especially the Sunnis of Leh, from the mention here that there has not been a matters too much in the politics of

category of Ladakhis by branding them single stray incident of Ladakh despite secessionism or anti-hav ing popu la r national movement in political parties in Ladakh till this date. the region since Despite the fact that very long time. half of its population There has been a constitutes Muslims, huge overlapping in there has not been the membership of a single Ladakhi t h e c o m m u n a l Muslim so far been organizations and alleged for any kind political parties in of links with the Ladakh. More often s e c e s s i o n i s t t h a n n o t , t h e movement in the Buddhist leaders Valley. Rather they find it easy to

Politics of Ladakhi Identity and

the Alienation of Muslims

Rigzin Jora, MLA Leh and

Minister for Tourism and

Culture, J&K Government,

told in an interview that

“Ladakh region is a unique

cultural, geographical and

ethnic identity. The problem

there is that the uniqueness of

this identity has not got its full

expression in the political

terms.”

The LBA's construction of an exclusivist Buddhist identity as

the real Ladakhi identity, and its deliberate attempts to exclude

the Muslims, especially the Sunnis of Leh, from the category of

Ladakhis by branding them as “outsiders” or “non-loyal

Ladakhis”, alienates the Ladakhi Muslims. The LBA generally

provokes the masses by constructing imaginary fears of

demographic imbalance, conversions, a future Muslim-

dominated Ladakh and so on. All these go just in line with the

Hindutva myth in the Indian politics.



have always condemned the use of pedigree and claim that they were opposition to the UT movement, the

violence as a means of political bargaining brought into Ladakh by its King Jamyang leaders of Kargil seemingly lack any

by the militant groups in the Valley. Namgyal in the sixteenth Century as political wisdom. They apparently

Mkhartsong-pa (palace traders). For the oppose it for the sake of opposing the In fact, a more realistic and

legitimacy of their claims, they point LBA and the Buddhist leaders. The inclusive conception of Ladakhi identity

out that the accounts of Ladakhi history political short-sightedness of the Kargili has been propagated by the Muslims of

(including the indigenous 'Ladakh leaders was very well reflected when Leh and Kargil Districts in the aftermath

Chronicles') approved their existence as they rejected the mechanism of local of 1989-Buddhist agitation:

Ladakhis. They also argue that Ladakhis Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development “When one talks of Ladakh, one is as a whole faced discrimination under Council (LAHDC) Act in 1995, modelled talking about [2, 00000] people of the Kashmiri elites, not only the on the Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous mixed Indo-Aryan (Dard, Kashmiri and Buddhists. Hill Council, only because it was Indian Origin) and the Mongoloid

materialized at the effort of the It is, then, not surprising then that descent living along the course of the Buddhist leaders of Leh as a concession the Muslims of Ladakh, particularly high Indus and its tributaries; of a to the UT demanded. They blindly those of Kargil, always oppose the UT people who profess Islam and Buddhism rejected this political mechanism— now movement. Therefore, whenever the in equal numerical strength, and yet days being hailed from many quarters as Buddhist leadership raises the UT speak the same language in different a good model for developing the demand, the Muslim leadership of Kargil phonetic forms, share the same cultural peripheral regions— because of their losses no opportunity in rejecting and roots and life style despite the obsession for opposing the Leh-based criticizing the same. difference in faith”. leadership without any kind of This, however, does not mean that They accuse that the LBA has substantive long-term vision. Only when all is well in Kargil. Even in Kargil, the created a perception, “that the Muslims they saw that the LAHDC mechanism social and political discourses have of Ladakh”—Sunnis of Leh in was working well for the betterment of been, more or less, overtly controlled by particular—are “outsiders” and “recent the people in Leh district did they some fanatic Mullahs and Sheikhs. Apart settlers”. To bear out their Ladakhi accept the same in 2002 for Kargil. from the antipathy towards the LBA, the identity, the Muslims trace their Ladakhi

t is, then, quite apparent that, Ladakhi language is one of the essential However, the LBA and some fanatic

despite the pay offs of communal components of Ladakhi identity — leaders/scholars are not even ready to Ipolitics, the language and grammar because anybody from anywhere in accept Ladakhi language as Ladakhi

of the political discourse in the trans- Ladakh can interact with everybody because of their mythical beliefs. These

H ima l ayan r eg i on have been from every part of Ladakh easily uncompromising scholars from Ladakh

detrimental, among other things, in (without an interpreter). For the past propagate that the writing of spoken

alienating the Ladakhi Muslims, and many years, this secular component of Ladakhi language, should not be

hence kept them detached from the UT Ladakhi identity has also been tolerated all. A very popular news-

movement. So, unless and until the LBA politicised by the vested interests. magazine from Ladakh, Ladags Melong

and other stakeholders of UT in Ladakh (Mirror of Ladakh), was unnecessarily Spoken Ladakhi or Phaskat is a

secularize the language of their politics attacked by them for popularizing the Western Tibetan dialect, which is

with more rational ingredients, the Ladakhi colloquial. Their accusation was completely different from Classical

dream of UT is likely to remain nothing that this will dilute the purity of Tibetan or Choskat in terms of grammar,

less than a day dream. Classical Tibetan, thereby leading to the style, phonetics and vocabulary. But it

dilution of the Buddhist religious texts On another front, the language of can be written very conveniently in the

and teachings (which are, more or less, politics has also been harmful in shaping Tibetan script with minor changes in the

written entirely in Classical Tibetan) the politics of Language in Ladakh. grammar.

Language of Politics and

Politics of Language



through their possible translation into Consequently, the scholars who call the respect it deserves by discarding it

Ladakhi language. They even go to the themselves the protectors and the in favour of the Classical Tibetan, a

extent of saying that Buddhism is so preservers of Buddhism are, probably, completely alien language for the

intimately connected to the Classical afraid of interpreting Buddhism in common Ladakhis. The LBA and Buddhist

Tibetan language and script that any spoken Ladakhi as they fear that they leaders have since long been pushing

kind of its interpretation in Ladakhi might loss their elevated standing hard to make Ladakhi language be

colloquial will lead to its dilution. In among the common people as the counted as one of the national

short, Buddhism and languages by getting it

C l a s s i c a l Ti b e t a n , incorporated in the

according to them, can Eighth Schedule of the

not be separated, and Indian Constitution.

whosoever tries to do The Muslims of

this is bound to face Ladakh bear a grudge

serious repercussions. that if the Buddhist

However, the fact is leaders want Ladakhi

that a common Ladakhi l a n g u a g e t o b e

can not understand recognized as a national

Classical Tibetan. Even language, it should not

the Tibetans themselves be known as the “Bodhi”

have become very much (which is generally

liberal in deviating from a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

Classical Tibetan in Classical Tibetan) as

writing school text books pers isted by some

and news papers in Buddhist leaders. The

s imple and spoken Muslims endure that the

languages. It is quite language should be interpreters of religious texts and

understandable that for the common called “Ladakhi” to make it more teachings. They also panic that

Ladakhis, Classical Tibetan is an representative of the region. This is popularization of conversational

esoteric language. Only few people or apparently logical, because spoken Ladakhi would cut Ladakh off from the

scholars with special knowledge can Ladakhi has no affinity — in forms of more popular and wider Tibetan literary

understand it. These few scholars enjoy grammar, style, phonetics and world. Consequently, they refuse to go

great privilege as interpreters of the vocabulary — with classical Tibetan. along with Ladakhi language.

religious texts, all of which are written Hence, it is needless to say that for the The irony in Ladakh, however, is

in Classical Tibetan. Therefore, the Ladakhi leaders it becomes imperative that, on the one hand, its leaders and

popularization of spoken Ladakhi and that the logic of 'a language of secular scholars press Ladakhi language to be

the translation of Buddhist teachings politics' in Ladakh should also be included in the Eighth Schedule of the

into it are likely to substantially reduce inclusive of 'a politics of a secular Indian Constitution, while, on the other

their significance in Ladakhi society. language' in the region. hand, they do not give Ladakhi language

here is an ominous need to understanding the fact that the modern inter-community relations between the

under s tand the po l i t i ca l Ladakhi politics had originated with the Muslims and the Buddhists, which, of Tdynamics of the region in a more popular political sentiment against the late, has shown the tendency of

methodical mode rather than insulating Kashmiri-dominated government in the becoming very volatile. In 1989 and

Ladakh from the mainstream discourse. state, a serious effort is also required to again in 2006, the clashes between the

Nor should it be confined to the narrow understand the internal political two communities almost brought the

f r ame o f UT po l i t i c s . Wh i l e dynamics— principally in terms of the long basis of communal harmony in the

The language of politics has also been harmful in shaping

the politics of Language in Ladakh.Spoken Ladakhi or

Phaskat is a Western Tibetan dialect, which is completely

different from Classical Tibetan or Choskat in terms of

grammar, style, phonetics and vocabulary. But it can be

written very conveniently in the Tibetan script with minor

changes in the grammar. However, the LBA and some

fanatic leaders/scholars are not even ready to accept

Ladakhi language as Ladakhi because of their mythical

beliefs. These uncompromising scholars from Ladakh

propagate that the writing of spoken Ladakhi language,

should not be tolerated all.

To Conclude



region on the verge of extinction.

As of now, the intercommunity

relations in the region are far

from satisfactory. This might be

exploited by the rightist forces

from outside Ladakh for breeding

fundamentalism in the relatively

peaceful region.

Already there are reports of

links between the LBA and the

saffron forces outside the region.

The rightist forces from Kargil

have a l so shown s imi la r

tendencies of linking up their fate

with the sentiments of Islamic

fundamentalists rampant in the

not so far distant neighborhood.

At this instant, a hostile

competition between the saffron

f o r c e s a n d t h e I s l a m i c

f u n d a m e n t a l i s t s i n t h i s

strategically sensitive region is

the last thing that Ladakh and

India can afford to have. And so,

there is an urgent need to

understand the undercurrents of

the internal political dynamics

and to secularise the political

d iscourse, before Ladakh

“become[s] yet another political

battlefield where religion will

divide people, create dissonance,

change cultures, rewrite history,

falsify our past.” There is a

burning need to make both the

Muslim and Buddhist leaders have

a handle on the futility of their

present mutual antagonism based

on the politicised form of their

respective religions. Both will

have to be made to realise the

inescapab le necess i ty o f

secular i s ing the pol i t ica l

discourse to acknowledge each

other as equal stakeholders in any

k i nd o f f u tu re po l i t i c a l

mechanism to settle Ladakh's

political destiny.

ENDNOTES op. cit., pp. 4-5.

1. 13. For detail, see Balraj Madhok, Jammu, Moon', Epilogue, Jammu, Vol. 1(11), November Kashmir and Ladakh, op. cit., pp. 68-71; and 2007, p. 2. Ladakh Buddhist Association, Why Union

2. The phrases are taken from Ravina Territory for Ladakh, op. cit., p.2.Aggarwal, Beyond Lines of Control: 14. The phrase is of Zafar Choudhary. For Performance of Politics on the Disputed Borders details, see Zafar Choudhary 'Tribute to the Land of Ladakh, India, Duke University Press, of Moon' op. cit., p. 2. Durham and London, 2004, p. 14 and 110. 15. Sonam Chosjor, 'Winter woes in

3. Ravina Aggarwal, Beyond Lines of Ladakh', The Kashmir Times, Jammu, March 1, Control, op. cit., p.116. 2008.

4. Ibid., p. 105. 16. The phrase is taken from P. Stobdan, 5. In a seminar on 'Issues and Challenges 'Ladakh-Baltistan and the dialogue process— I

stbefore Ladakh in the 21 Century’ organized & II', The Kashmir Times, December 21 & 22, jointly by the University of Jammu and Ladakh 2006.Joint Students' Federation, Jammu, at the 17. This Phrase is of Martijn van Beek. For University of Jammu on January 9, 2008, a detail, see Martijn van Beek, 'Dangerous university Professor, with seemingly utmost Liaisons', op. cit., p. 213; and also see P. concern, asked one of the university Professors: Stobdan, 'Ladakh-Baltistan and the dialogue “What would happen to Ladakh if democracy is process' op. cit.,restored in China?” This, actually, sums up the 18. See Martijn van Beek, op. cit.; and also racial stereo-typed perception of Ladakhis in see P. Stobdan, op. cit.India even by the highly educated citizens. 19. Sonam Chosjor, 'Ladakhi Politics: Myths

6. Ravina Aggarwal, Beyond Lines of versus Facts and Rhetoric versus Reality I & II', Control, op. cit., pp. 11-12. The Kashmir Times, Jammu, January 4 & 11,

7. Ibid, pp. 13-17. 2007.8. For an elaborate analysis see Ravina 20. For more detail, see LBA's

Aggarwal, 'From Utopia to Heteropia: Towards memorandum to Nehru in 1949, reproduced in an Anthropology of Ladakh' in Hennery Balraj Madhok, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Osmaston and Nawang Tsering (eds), Recent op. cit., pp. 183-4. Research on Ladakh 6, Motilal Banarsi, Delhi, 21. These leaders accused that the LUTF is 1997, pp. 21-28. being dominated by few vested interest leaders

9. For an excellent account on this, see having royal and spiritual background.Martijn van Beek, 'Identity Fetishism and the Art

22. Daily Excelsior, Jammu, December 29, of Representation: The Long Struggle for

2002. Regional Autonomy in Ladakh', PhD

23. Told in an interview to Epilogue, dissertation, Cornel University, Denmark, 1996.

Jammu, Vol. 1 (11), November 2007, pp. 16-17.10. For detail analysis, see Sonam Joldan

24. Muslims of Leh and Kargil Districts, 'Traditional ties between Ladakh and Buddhist

History Repeated in Ladakh: The Muslim Tibet', op. cit., pp 69-88; and Sonam Joldan,

Viewpoint of the Ladakhi Agitation of 1989, Leh, 'Relationship between Ladakh and Buddhist

1989, p. 15.Tibet', op. cit., pp. 43-76.

25. Yoginder Sikand, 'Inter-Community 11. Martijn van Beek, 'Dangerous Liaisons:

Relations in Leh, Ladakh', available at Hindu Nationalism and Buddhist Radicalism', in http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-Satu P. Limaye, Mohan Malik and Robert G. sikand130206.htm>.Wirsing (eds), Religious Radicalism and Security

26. The entire episode of this attack on the in South Asia, Asia-Pacific Center for Security magazine, and the nature and contour of the Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2004, pp. 193-218; politics of Ladakhi language are covered up in also available at Ladags Melong (Mirror of Ladakh), Spring-http://www.apcss.org/Publications/Edited%20VoSummer Vol. 2(1-2), 2003.lumes//ReligiousRadicalism-

27. John Bray, 'Ladakhi History and Indian andSecurityinSouthAsia.pdf.Nationalism', South Asian Research, Vol. II (2), 12. This was conveyed in a memo by the 1991, pp 115-133.LBA in 1949. For details, see Balraj Madhok,

28. Pritish Nandy, 'Ladakh Is Too Innocent Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh: Problems and for Bloodshed,' Rediff on the Net, 9 November Solution, Reliance Publishing House, New Delhi, 2000, quoted in Martijn van Beek, 'Dangerous 1987, pp. 68-71; and Ladakh Buddhist Liaisons' op. cit., p. 193.Association, Why Union Territory for Ladakh,

Zafar Choudhary 'Tribute to the Land of



rint media as a mass communicator

possess the ability and capacity to

build a nation, by educating,

disciplining, motivating, exhorting Pand rewarding people, by promoting

tolerance, brotherhood and unity. The press can

help the nation to progress, and to usher in

prosperity and happiness for all by focusing the

attention of the people and of authorities on

areas and the people which are in need of

development and betterment. It is because of

these reasons that over the years press acquired

the status of 'Fourth Estate' in a democratic

system.

During the course of my Journalism degree,

I studied about the history of press, learned

what significant role it can play in the overall

development of an individual, of a society and in

turn of a nation. The entire knowledge was

enlighting and inspiring. Our history narrates

that press was born as an educator, and

informer, as a purveyor of news and a modular of

views. Press as a regular and constant

spokesman of the people and an unignorable

intervener on their behalf can bring out the

voice of the unrepresented sections of the

society, their problems, grievances, hopes and

aspirations and ensure their participation in the

governance.

LADAKH ASKS:

Where Is All The News

That's Fit To Print?Ladakh has its unique importance not only in India but also on the world map. This northern most corner of South Asia is surrounded by the countries of Central Asia has unique geography, topography and culture. Ironically, at a time when world has already shrunk as a global village, Ladakh is still a land in a perpetual incommunicado mode –there is no dedicated press to tell the Ladakh stories to world and bring the world stories to Ladakh. RINCHEN DOLMA looks at the society in isolation

MediaLSUCOFNI A D A K H


Relations Agency, lacking objectivity Thinking on the same line I came and accountability. There's an urgent to Ladakh but I was taken aback need to make people aware of their seeing the unfortunate fate of print right to be informed and right to media here. In the history of Ladakh express their opinion, and for that many a times press in some form or existence of an effective and other took birth but got killed at its accountable medium is imperative- a infancy. It was never nurtured to sustainable print media. attain maturity; as a result it could

Role of media is just not limited never build its credibility and

to inform, educate and entertain accountability among the people of

people but also motivate and inspire Ladakh. So, to have an insight of the

them in participating in development reasons behind it, I ventured in with

oriented efforts. It can mobilize this study as a stepping stone and

public in support of social issues like open a new avenue for putting forth a

f a m i l y p l a n n i n g , w o m e n b e t t e r p e r s p e c t i v e a n d

empowerment, girl child education, understanding of print media in the

minds of Ladakhi people. The p r i m a r y h e a l t h c a r e , s e l f

following pages trace the past, employment and eradication of social

discuss the present and cast the evils and blind faith. And press plays

future of Press in Ladakh. an effective function as a catalyst of

change by proposing developmental Regions like Ladakh having a

measures, schemes and projects of close nit society bonded together by

welfare of the people, by identifying social obligations and where word of

the neglected areas and the needy mouth is the most dependent medium

sections of the society. It's high time of communicat ion i t i s very

that the people of Ladakh realize the challenging to do a fair and free

ro le p layed by press in the reporting. Ladakh has a bureaucratic

development of a society and enjoy system where reprisal measures are

individual liberty, the most essential taken to silence the critical voices

ingredients of human happiness and and mediums like radio and television

progress.are more like a Government's Public

A post graduate in

Journalism and Mass

Communications from

Punjab University, Rinchen

Dolma (Nairpa) started her

career as a journalist in 2008

as Editor of Reach Ladakh-

pioneering web news portal

from Leh. Earlier this year,

she had an opportunity to

attend a workshop

organized by PANOS in

Katmandu, Nepal for young

journalists from both sides

of the Jammu and Kashmir.

A vivid photographer, she is

also a Radio presenter. She

undertook the present study

on media in Ladakh with

support from Charkha

Communications and

Development Network –a

New Delhi based non-

government organization,

under its Sanjoy Ghose

Ladakh Women Writers'

Award.

Ladakh has a bureaucratic system where reprisal measures

are taken to silence the critical voices and mediums like radio

and television are more like a Government's Public Relations

Agency, lacking objectivity and accountability. There's an

urgent need to make people aware of their right to be

informed and right to express their opinion, and for that

existence of an effective and accountable medium is

imperative- a sustainable print media.

LSUCOFNI A D A K HMedia


thto as early as 14 century,

when for the first time

scriptures in Tibet and

Ladakh came in print.

Scriptures are out of

the shelves rarely such as

during Chosil, an eventful

occasion organised at least

once in a year when monks

and laymen flip through

the texts reading aloud to

gain merit - a customary

practice followed even

today in Ladakh.

But other than sacred

books o r somet imes

chronological description

about origin of a monastery

(Chagrabs) it is hard to

trace any other form of

publication that existed in

the past. “The history book

Kunsel Melong I was able to hick volumes of Buddhist write was because of democracy,” says treatises printed on loose Tashi Rabgais, a renowned scholar and rectangular pages wrapped in T historian of Ladakh, while he was

muslins with nicely carved wooden explaining the availability of such covers held together by straps provided chance during the pre-independence for a ready and only source of reading era of monarchy. available in olden days of Ladakh. Older generations still pick up a

Hundreds and thousands of these scripture when it comes to reading, a block printed centuries-old treatises on habit that perhaps stems from the Buddhism, carefully shelved in limited or apparently restricted monasteries and houses, also tell that publication in the past. “I look for my people in Ladakh knew about printing daily prayer book when I feel like for ages. Historians believe that reading something,” says 65-years-old prevalence of block printing dates back Tsering Dolker.

Rich History and Uncomfortable Lacun AE



Post independent era in Ladakh saw in 2002, “the academic mouthpiece of the

many educated locals coming forward to CIBS” as the editor Sanghasen Singh has

write books, poetry or even novels beyond termed it in its preface, is devoted mainly

religious themes on a wide range of to researches on Buddhist studies. “The

subjects. Most of them received first issue in 2002 has incorporated ten

institutional support in their efforts. articles in all - two in English, five in Hindi

and three in Tibetan, the articles cover J&K Academy of Culture, Art and different aspects of Buddhist Studies in Languages and Central Institute of Buddhist general and Tibetology in particular,” says Studies (CIBS), having special funds for the editor. literary works, published many books and

journals over the last over 50 years. Similarly, the State Govt.'s J&K

Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Department of Information and All have so far published over 200 editions of India Radio too gave opportunities to many Sheeraza magazine. Most of the articles aspiring writers and poets. Eminent writer contributed by different authors are on Tashi Rabgias, who wrote History of Ladakh history, monasteries or simply descriptions (Kunsel Melong) in local language among his about the greatness of a past figure in many literary works, has served in literature, art or religion. Information department as the editor of

Yargyas Kongphel newsmagazine. Similarly, Such conservative approach to writing

Doongs Choong Choong, first fiction written prevail in varied publications at

in Ladakhi language was by an All India independent organisational level also,

Radio Leh news reader Tsewang Toldan. which could be a possible factor behind

preventing such published items gaining Hence, the past decades have seen much popularity as many cease after the considerable broadening in the scope and initial zeal and motivation, often after the horizon of writing and publishing, however, first issue. within a certain paradigm away from

controversies and issues affecting people. Recently published issue of Ladags

Ngada of Ladakh Gonpa Society highlights Institutions and organisations in Leh achievements of the incumbent executive bring out hordes of journals and reports to bodies at different times sans any objective be made available for masses - a trend that criticism or analytical approach in writing. set in during the recent decades.

Similarly, in monthly journal Voice of Annual journal called Sheraza or Himalaya by Ladakh Cultural Forum, having Shesrab Dzom by J&K Cultural Academy, articles mostly on glory of rich traditions Leh, Voice of Himalaya by Ladakh Cultural passed down from ancestors, authors tend Forum , Nangpa by Ladakh Buddhist to compete in taking to greater heights Association, Ladags Ngada by Ladakh Gonpa what may be termed as cultural fetishism. Association, Ladakh Journal by Central Story is no different with Ladakh Culture Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) Leh and Centre's Singhe Khababs magazine started more recently Senghe Khababs by Ladakh recently with an aim to promote Bhoti, a Culture Centre are among the prominent name coined for local language. series of journals apart from books and

other publications these institutes or Despite a rich repository of religious

organisations regularly bring out. texts and then reasonable works in modern

publications Ladakh always holding back Books and Journals brought out by from breaking the ice to come up with bold Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), presentations and write ups raising issues Choglamsar, Leh are mainly devoted to with independent opinions is an Buddhist philosophy, history and art. One of uncomfortable lacuna in its literary world. their publications Ladakh Journal launched

adakh claims to be one of

the first in the J&K State Lto own regular newspaper.

It was far back in early 1920s, a

Brirish Christian missionary Rev.

Walter Asboe s tarted a

newspaper in local language

with musthead called “Ladags

Phonya”. Since then a series of

publication in other languages

too in the form of news letters,

brouchers, pamphlets, books

and magazines appeared and

disappeared. However, it has

always been a challenge to

sustain a publication for long in

a geographically harsh region

like Ladakh. Sustenance of a

publication not only heavily

depended on the ski l ls,

materials, accessibility but also

dealing with the risk factors

which are high in a community

of close knit small population

which is essentially a tribal

society.

Despite all odds many

innovators took the courage and

risk to talk about social,

development, religious and

political issues using various

means o f p r i n t med ia .

Nevertheless, they had to bear

Fighting Against Odds - Ladakh’s Tryst with Journalism



the brunt, sometimes to extend of

discontinuing their endeavour and

threat to their lives.

There was no concrete effort in

journalism after the first initiative

taken by Christian missionary Rev.

Walter Asboe with the launch of Ladags

Phonya in 1913, which was the only

newspaper, handwritten, ever exist in

Ladakh for 40 years. A two page legal

size paper in black and white print

Ladags Phonya was a monthly news

publication brought out using a simple of the publication was devoted to zealous missionary. The missionary cyclostyled printing machine. It missionary talks, for the editor and write ups were under the headline covered other than the world news, publisher Rev. Walter Asboe was a “Shanskul” meaning “to mobilize” and national and local news. A good portion

There was no concrete effort in journalism after the first initiative

taken by Christian missionary Rev. Walter Asboe with the launch

of Ladags Phonya in 1913, which was the only newspaper,

handwritten, ever exist in Ladakh for 40 years. A two page legal

size paper in black and white print Ladags Phonya was a

monthly news publication brought out using a simple cyclostyled

printing machine. It covered other than the world news, national

and local news.



under this he would talk of the verses of psychosis for anybody to start a Melong started everything was against

Jesus and his life. But at the same time, newspaper in a society like Ladakh. us, except our determination to sow the

Phonya had bold and objective coverage seed of an independent print media in Ladakh continue to remain bereft of local news events. For instance, news Ladakh. Elders we asked about the of an independent media until in 1993, a about conflict between the Spituk viability of such magazine in Ladakh social activist Sonam Wangchuk made a monastery and villagers lead to the would say “who will read a magazine deliberate effort to launch for the first social boycott of six families here?” True, there were a very few time a magazine that talked boldly on pronounced by monks who warned readers and even fewer writers, jumping loopholes in the prevailing against any kind of support to these facilities or infrastructure were almost system whether it is government or the families including credits. non existent but we held on.” society. He was the frontrunner in

It seemed that this publication taking up the cause of overhauling the For its reportage and controversial

after independence was taken over and issues it raised, Melong, during its over

continued by District Information 10 years of appearances, came under

Department, Leh. Even today Phonya is bitter criticisms and even physical

brought out in a magazine form attacks at times. Of all, the language

however, it has somehow ceased to be issue drew more attention and

containing objective reporting instead generated anger and animosity,

it has become more of a government especially, among the local scholars

propaganda tool highlighting the who believed that using colloquial

administrative achievements and Ladakhi in Melong magazine and drifting

official tours. from classical language posed a grave

danger of losing the rich Bhoti language Parallel to Phonya and in the same based on the grammar of Thonmi line a few more publications mainly in

thSambhota- a Tibetan scholar of 7 form of newsletters were the source of century.The anger grew with Ladags information for a very limited Melong's editors led by Sonam readership among the local population. Wangchuk remaining steadfast on their One such publication was “Voice of belief that spoken language is more Himalaya” brought out by Ladakh communicable to readership. Cultural Academy which was second to

Phonya in the early series of news With some breaks in between

publications. In between with short life Ladags Melong continued for one more

span there were some controversial and year before it stopped further

sudden publications mainly to highlight publications. The circulation of the

the political rivalry at the time of the magazine had touched 5000 copies.

most popular leader of Ladakh late Currently, the magazine is under

Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. He was then suspension and Sonam Wangchok had to govt system especially education leading the Congress party which split abandon his education program mid way through his organization SECMOL ( into two groups with rebels forming and left for Nepal. His unexpected move Student Education Cultural Movement their own party and called it Congress B. out of Ladakh, leaving his dream of of Ladakh) and he used his magazine improving the education standard Similarly, whenever a major printed in English and colloquial concern for the future generation and controversy aroused anonymous letters Ladakhi language called “Ladags having a sustainable print media came and posters were flashed in the town Melong” meaning “Mirror of Ladakh” as about after a major controversy which can be called desperate social an effective medium to reflect the conspired around him. With him the job expression in absence of a proper burning issues. In September 2004 of Ladags Melong came to an end, but newspaper. Such under cover attempts Ladags Melong edition, celebrating the not without leaving an impression about to reveal information and to make completion of 10 years of its publication the importance of print media in the issues public are indicatives of crave for he had said, “in 1993 when Ladags mind of the local people.information yet there prevailed a fear

whenever a major

controversy aroused

anonymous letters and

posters were flashed in the

town which can be called

desperate social expression

in absence of a proper

newspaper. Such under

cover attempts to reveal

information and to make

issues public are indicatives

of crave for information yet

there prevailed a fear

psychosis for anybody to

start a newspaper in a

society like Ladakh.


BABA GHULAM SHAH BADSHAH UNIVERSITY, RAJOURIFollowing cancellation of Off-Campus Centres of various Universities operating in the State, BGSB University on the insistence of student community and parents announces admission to following ENGINEERING (Diploma) programme

Eligibility : 10th from any Recognised Board of Secondary

School Examination with Min. of 50% marks

(45% for ST/SC) Intake : 30 in each stream

ADMISSION FORMS will be available from any of the following

offices on payment of Rs. 800/- by Demand Draft in favour of

Registrar, BGSB University Rajouri payable at J&K Bank

BGSBU Branch Dhanore, Rajouri from July 27,2009

¦Assistant Registrar (Admissions), BgSBU University

Rajouri 01962-262616

¦Camp Office, Bye Pass Road, Opp, Channi Himmat,

Jammu - 0191-2464402

¦Regional Office, Rose Lande, Indira Gandhi Road, Parry

Pora Baghat Barzulla Near SSRB Srinagar - 9419011449

Note The university holds the right of not conducting

admission to such course for which the response may not

be adequate . In such eventuality the fee collected will be

returned to the applicants.

3 YEAR DIPLOMA ENGINEERING

Electronics & Communication Engineering

Electrical & Renewable Energy Engineering

Civil Engineering

ADMISSION 2009-2010Following cancellation of Off-Campus Centres of various Universities operating in the State, BGSB University on the insistence of student community and parents announces admission to following ENGINEERING (Diploma) programme

Eligibility : 10+2 from any any subject combination from any

Recognised Board of Higher Secondary School Exam. with

atleast 50% marks

(45% for ST/SC) Intake : 60 in each stream

ADMISSION FORMS will be available from any of the following

offices on payment of Rs. 800/- by Demand Draft in favour of

Registrar, BGSB University Rajouri payable at J&K Bank

BGSBU Branch Dhanore, Rajouri from July 27,2009

¦Assistant Registrar (Admissions), BGSBU University

Rajouri 01962-262616

¦Camp Office, Bye Pass Road, Opp, Channi Himmat,

Jammu - 0191-2464402

¦Regional Office, Rose Lande, Indira Gandhi Road, Parry

Pora Baghat Barzulla Near SSRB Srinagar - 9419011449

Note The university holds the right of not conducting

admission to such course for which the response may not

be adequate . In such eventuality the fee collected will be

returned to the applicants.

BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration)

BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications)

DURATION 3 YEAR

ADMISSION ADMISSION 2009-2010

For Details Please Contact :BABA GHULAM SHAH BADSHAH UNIVERSITY, RAJOURI

Mobile : 94191 73358, 94191 71665, Tel/Fax : 01962 262616

website : www.bgsbuniversity.org

LATERAL ENTRY TO B.TECH(3rd Semester)

Note The university holds the right of not conducting admission to such course for which the response may not be adequate . In such eventuality the fee collected will be returned to the applicants.

1. Electronics & Communication 2. Civil Engineering3. Information Technology Engg. 4. Computer Science Engg.ELIGIBILITY : 3 year Diploma Engineering in the relevant or allied stream with at least 60% marks

ADMISSION FORMS will be available from any of the following offices on payment of Rs. 800/- by Demand Draft in favour of Registrar, BGSB University Rajouri payable at J&K Bank BGSBU Branch Dhanore, Rajouri from July 27,2009

¦Assistant Registrar (Admissions), BgSBU University Rajouri 01962-262616¦Camp Office, Bye Pass Road, Opp, Channi Himmat, Jammu - 0191-2464402¦Regional Office, Rose Lande, Indira Gandhi Road, Parry Pora Baghat Barzulla Near SSRB Srinagar - 9419011449

2009-2010

ö

ö

ö

ö

Carbon Cell

bring established at

Janipur campus in Jammu.

Two brainstorming sessions held on CDM,

carbon mapping.

Two state level workshops held under National

Bamboo Mission.

MOU with SMVD University and BGSB

University for Joint Collaboration

in Research


readership has expanded beyond

Ladakh to as far as Arunachal Pradesh

in east and Karnataka in the south

besides other places such as

Dehradun, Darjeeling and Banaras

School mainly catering to a large

number of monks and Buddhist

scholars in these areas. Today, the

Ladags Sargyur circulation has

touched the 500 mark and it's still

growing but he also complains about

the non profitability, marketing and

printing problems. Besides, informing

and educating people his main motive

is to “promote Bhoti language through

this publication”- which drives him to

go on despite all odds.

Other than Ladags Sargyur, in the The need of a newspaper or a print media in Ladakh. “The main issue recent time a horde of newspapers

magazine was felt more than ever, the in sustaining the newspaper was to dedicated to Ladakh have come up. hope and responsibility was now rest maintain its regular publication in view Chief among them is Kargil Number or on some of the younger loy involved in of enough advert isement and Rangyul which gets published in media. A local journalist freelancing circulation to bear the cost of its Srinagar. Its editors and publishers are with different national newspapers printing, forget about any profit. all outsiders operating from a distance and magazines Tashi Morup started a Secondly, dealing with newspaper is in Jammu and Srinagar, where they do weekly newspaper in English called little tricky, there is always some other not have to worry about the logistics in “The Magpie” with the financial people agitated over trivial matters printing. Yet how accountable and support f rom Tundup Dor jey, shown up before you,” says Mr. Tashi credible this paper is, for its bases of Proprietor, Overland Escape (a travel Morup, Editor Magpie. The cost of the ope ra t i on ou t s i de L adakh i s agency). “A greatest matter of printing, arranging other logistics thus questionable. Besides, different State concern in a society like Ladakh is the does not match with the sale and little and National daily newspapers are also absence of an independent media, advertisements income. available in Leh town but on alternate realizing it, I decided to start a Similar view is shared by another days. newspaper for which I sought my writer Chimet Namgyal who brings out a With time the people of Ladakh friends support and he was happy to 4 page bi-monthly newspaper on A-3 have been exposed to the world obliged, that's how The Magpie, the size paper in black and white print outside, life in Ladakh is inevitably first English newspaper appeared in called “Ladags Sargyur” in Bhoti changing. And since, the process of Leh town in late winter month of language. It is the only existing print conventional development has began, 2005”. For the next over two years media by a local. “It is always a the need for mutual trust in the field of Magpie brought out some 100 issues mentally occupying task for it possesses information and education is strongly giving coverage to a wide range of a challenge to face and when required felt. So, in such situation need for a news and articles on development, deal with the orthodox attitude of the sustainable and independent print politics, environment and other social people belonging to the different media is the call of time. It's high time concerning issues effecting people and sections of the Ladakhi community. One that media professionals in Ladakh take sold around 1000 copies. has to be over cautious and careful,” up serious journalism and do not let the

The Magpie too met with the same says Mr. Chimet. sp i r i t in i t ia ted by the ear ly fate as Melong and died before it could O v e r t h e p e r i o d o f i t s entrepreneurs die – try again and again breakeven - a bitter truth in case of pub l i c a t i on L adag s S a r g yu r ' s until you succeed!

A greatest matter of concern in a society like Ladakh is the

absence of an independent media, realizing it, I decided to start

a newspaper for which I sought my friends support and he was

happy to obliged, that's how The Magpie, the first English

newspaper appeared in Leh town in late winter month of

2005”, says Tashi Morupp. For the next over two years Magpie

brought out some 100 issues giving coverage to a wide range of

news and articles on development, politics, environment and

other social concerning issues effecting people and sold around

1000 copies. The Magpie too met with the same fate as Melong

and died before it could breakeven - a bitter truth in case of

print media in Ladakh.


give them the distinct identity conservative. The sheer negligence adakh, an island of humanity worldwide. with which the social norms are treated interspersed by rising aspirations L somehow suppresses the ability of of a capitalistic economy and Ladakh is currently in a state of

Ladakh's society to evolve from within. deeply rooted mystic Buddhist tradition transition. Traditional culture is being In fact, the alarming level of has awed and inspired many for replaced by modern values, methods of submissiveness reflects in the lack and centuries. Being on the receiving end of development. Given Ladakh strategic

neglect of discourse on its social tussle between the warring tribes and importance, it has benefited issues. And one of the major magnanimous rulers, Ladakh has seen considerably by the reasons that can be attributed its boundary being redefined for long, creation to this cause is the mere which has probably led to its implosion absence of an accountable into an idiosyncratic and sustainable media, region.especially print media from From eternity the region itself.the people of this

The media landscape region of the country in Ladakh has always h a v e s o m e w h a t been ruled by Radio and remained secluded Te l e v i s i o n u n d e r from the rest of the government control. world. Most of the rural AIR Leh when first areas are inaccessible, launched in 1971 mountainous, remote g a i ned i n s t an t and isolated. There are popularity with its certain pockets within the reach in every district which remain cut nook and corner off for 6 to 7 months in a t a k i n g n e w s y e a r. U n t o u c h e d b y

world, national and local c i v i l i za t i on fo r many across geographical terrains to remote o f centuries these people had hamlet tucked in mountains. Despite a l o g i s t i c a l developed their own brand of the monopolistic control of this mass infrastructure, but it has yet to culture, religion and way of media by government. There is no doubt rece ive a push to indust r ia l life. From time to time many a religion about its popularity, and it continuous development of any kind. Urbanization or kingdom has touched these people to be most accessible media in Ladakh.is just getting underweight, but the thereby transferring some ethnic values

In 1984, Doordarshan stepped into intrusion of modernity is somewhat and systems which were retained by this Ladakh that too brought about a limited. It is probably the strong rooted people, though the original transferors revolutionary change in media, people cultures and customs which thereby have long bypassed such values and could see now world and national news make this place rigid towards systems. Although modernity has spread live on TV but again with no local inputs. acceptance of any kind of novel its tentacles the simplicity and the But in 2002, with the opening of local intervention like newspaper. ethnicity of this age old traditions has Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) Leh the remained embedded amongst the Something seemed to have waning popularity o national channel people of the region, who have blended transcended upon this historical land- was revived with one hour slot for local modernity in a fine mixture with people are aware yet ignorant, programmes engaging many local tradition. People here still retain their informed yet blinded, knowledgeable artists, film producers and media y e t s u b m i s s i v e , m o d e r n y e t long formed cultures and customs that

Is Ladakh Against Media



stake of annoying those, who are at the

helm of affairs and who are in one way

or other related to you. When it comes

to writing one has to bear in mind the

sensitive nature of the people and deal

cautiously with the sentiments of the

people of different sects in the society.

Moreover, doing objective writing is the

biggest challenge face by local

journalists in a society like Ladakh that

is culturally conservative and

pessimistic, where in seconds an issue is

blown out of proportion making the

concern person answerable to the govt

officials, political and religious leader professionals. DDK, Leh also engaged by the time the newspaper is out in the and to the agitated ignorant public, he many on contractual basis on meager market the news items become stale is left with nothing but to regret his salaries, however, they are clinging on because they come after a month the choice of profession. to it with a hope for a berth in the event takes place. Despite this fact, the

government job. But the major A 3 size two page newspaper printed in Such society follows a spiral of

drawback of TV is its poor accessibility Bhoti language, Ladags Sargyur has a silence where justifying oneself is

because of high altitude mountain readership of around 500 which clearly inviting more troubles because pubic

ranges that makes the transmission of reflects the crave in the society for an here blindly goes with the majority

the local channel restricted only to the information medium like print media. without bothering to know the other

Leh city and villages in and around it, side of the story. Word of mouth is the Keeping the people of Ladakh leaving the majority of population primary medium of communication bereft of an accountable media for 60 deprived of its reach. which makes the situation all the more years is itself today poses a challenge, a

worse. This situation can be dealt But if we talk of print media in problem to deal with and one has to systematically with launching a serious Ladakh, history narrates a very approach in someway or other by newspaper or magazine that can bring unfortunate tale; many a times press in adopting the surgical treatment here about a transition in terms of people's some form or other took birth but got and there. Ladakh is a close knit society, outlook, inculcating practical and killed at its infancy. It was never intricately bonded to each other. Here scientific approach to the problem they nurtured to attain its maturity; as a lies the challenge of putting yourself at

result it could never build its credibility

and accountability among the people of

Ladakh. Moreover, it's the passivity in

Ladakhi culture that restricts a

newspaper to flourish fairly and freely

in the society.

Ladakh claims to be the first in J&K

State to own a regular newspaper in

early 1920s but the irony is that today

Ladakh does not have a regular

newspaper published of its own. But

luckily a newspaper called 'Ladags

Sargyur' brought out by Mr. Chimet

Namgyal, one man editor, reporter,

publisher is the only existing paper in

Leh that too published bi-monthly and

The media landscape in Ladakh has always been ruled by

Radio and Television under government control. AIR Leh when

first launched in 1971 gained instant popularity with its reach

in every nook and corner taking news world, national and local

across geographical terrains to remote hamlet tucked in

mountains. Despite the monopolistic control of this mass media

by government. There is no doubt about its popularity, and it

continuous to be most accessible media in Ladakh.

But if we talk of print media in Ladakh, history narrates a very

unfortunate tale; many a times press in some form or other took

birth but got killed at its infancy. It was never nurtured to

attain its maturity; as a result it could never build its credibility

and accountability among the people of Ladakh. Moreover, it's

the passivity in Ladakhi culture that restricts a newspaper to

flourish fairly and freely in the society. Ladakh claims to be the

first in J&K State to own a regular newspaper in early 1920s

but the irony is that today Ladakh does not have a regular

paper.



day life. Ladakh covers an area of

approximately 86,904 km sq and it is

largest area, in fact, is twice as much as

the remaining area of J&K State. It is

one of the most sparsely populated

region with a population of 2,70,126

(acc. to 2001 census) and Leh city is the

largest area with 3 person per sq km.

Population criteria, when we are talking

about population factor, which in case

of Ladakh is too small given the size of

the land, literacy rate comes into play.

The current literacy rate in Leh district

is 65.30% (census 2001) which was

25.17% two decades back. But what's

saddening here is that as compare to the

population and literacy rate the

percentage of readership is almost

negligible and the reasons are many.face on day to day basis. It can motivate influences. Ladakh awaits a great social

the public to actively participate in the reform to gear up its social progress that Main among them is the lack of

developmental works and make them is dawdling like a tortoise and print reading culture among the people of

aware of their duties and rights. media could be the most effective Ladakh. In Leh one gets around 6 daily

medium that will provide with an open nat ional newspapers, 3 State Not only in Ladakh press has been ground to read and write on social issues newspapers and 5 national magazines playing a important role everywhere, it concerning local people in daily day to but their readership is very less. It's the ensures transparency, lateral sharing

with people by acting as bridge between

people and developmental agencies

which has always lacked in Ladakh,

therefore, has resulted in the serious

impediment in the overall growth in

development of Ladakh. Sometimes, it

can prove to be the futile ground for

rumours and gossips in the absence of

dissemination of proper information.

“Good health needs good food,

Great mind need good thought,

To increase knowledge there is

need to write.”

Society shapes its identity by

discovering itself through its literature.

In fact, it's about randomizing the

thought process discussing the issue in

versatility and not letting the society

impose itself in compartmentalized

capsules. This helps evolving societies

chalk out a way forward. Least of all, it

allow us to assess our fundamentals,

which increasingly come under varied

Such society follows a spiral of silence where justifying oneself is

inviting more troubles because pubic here blindly goes with the

majority without bothering to know the other side of the story.

Word of mouth is the primary medium of communication which

makes the situation all the more worse. This situation can be

dealt systematically with launching a serious newspaper or

magazine that can bring about a transition in terms of people's

outlook, inculcating practical and scientific approach to the

problem they face on day to day basis. It can motivate the public

to actively participate in the developmental works and make

them aware of their duties and rights.

The current literacy rate in Leh district is 65.30% (census 2001) which was 25.17% two decades back. But what's saddening here is that as compare to the population and literacy rate the percentage of readership is almost negligible and the reasons are many. Main among them is the lack of reading culture among the people of Ladakh. In Leh one gets around 6 daily national newspapers, 3 State newspapers and 5 national magazines but their readership is very less. It's the offices that subscribes to these newspapers and magazines and very few readers who cares to buy and read them. The literate population mainly constitutes students and working class. The school students have no routine of reading newspapers whereas the majority of college level students are studying outside Ladakh which comprise the major chunk of readership and that is one reason that the sell of newspapers increases in summers when these students come home for vacations.



offices that subscribes to these

newspapers and magazines and very few

readers who cares to buy and read them.

The literate population mainly

constitutes students and working class.

The school students have no routine of

reading newspapers whereas the

majority of college level students are

studying outside Ladakh which comprise

the major chunk of readership and that

is one reason that the sell of newspapers

increases in summers when these

students come home for vacations.

Another reason is the accessibility

of these newspapers. “The national and

State newspapers comes via air in Indian

Airlines that runs only three flights a

week, thus the newspapers are

available only on alternate days and

sometimes almost a week when the

weather remains bad,” says owner of

Fairdeal Stationers. This irregularity in

supply of newspapers makes the readers

lose their interest in reading and sort to

other options like radio and television.

This again indicates towards the need

for a responsible and reliable local

newspaper.

Now the onus is on the local

government, LAHDC, Leh to bring policy

inputs and chalk out measures to

encourage entrepreneurial ventures, in

other words, they need to play a

proactive role in creating opportunities

and favourable environment for

enterprises such as newspaper business.

And to initiate such ventures the people

of Ladakh needs to come together and

work for a reliable internal discourse

rather than being dependent on

external top-down information source.

Media professionals need to step in with

visionary ideas exhibiting strong will and

determination that normally Ladakhis

lack. It's high time that Ladakhis realize

true meaning of development and

broaden their vision to have a

progressive future.

here is no denying the fact gave education the top priority right

that the media constraints in from the beginning, which has TLadakh are directly or considerably improved the education

indirectly linked to the sheer standard and also raised the literacy

accessibility of the region and the rate to a record high of 70 percent.

resources available besides other Parents in Ladakh want to give best

challenges. education to their kids and in order

to ensure that many of them even go Future has many mega-projects for best schools in India. Readership in-stored for Ladakh; this coupled limitation restricts a media to grow with improving literacy rate and and circulate exponentially. education standard can actually

bring about the necessary changes These are the important

for a media to flourish in short period developments taking place in Ladakh

from now. 45-Megawatt each Alchi today that could create the

hydel power project on the River necessary forum for a natural

Indus and Chutuk project in Kargil are outgrowth of an independent media

near completion, and Govt. of India in tandem with the soc ia l

has also sanctioned equally potential transformation entailing such

geothermal project at Puga in infrastructure growth. Moreover,

Chanthang for the electricity- today being the age of Information

starved region of Ladakh which has Technology (IT) Ladakh has also

posed as one of the factors behind witnessed a tremendous use of it

any new enterprise to grow and especially in view of flourishing

sustain. tourism industry. This provide for a

scope for online journalism in this Government is also spending region where difficult terrains make huge amounts on road projects here other media, except for radio, to and works on National Highway reach out to every community (NH1D) between Srinagar and Leh are settled in remote corners. being carried out on war footing.

Manali-Leh railway line project is Meanwhile, with these changes

also on the card plus government's overall people's perspective in terms

decision to revive strategic airports of shifting their outlook from a

in border areas of Changthang conventional mode of thinking

(eastern Ladakh) can bring about towards freedom of speech and right

unp re ceden ted change s b y to express can give an impetus to the

ameliorating the core issue of emergence of more and more

accessibil ity to this region. independent media. And the fact

Accessibility factor has remained that with more exposure to outside

another major challenge in making a world and understanding of

venture like newspaper business run democratic principles by the people

profitably. could push the close knit community

to accept the modern developments Ladakh Autonomous Hi l l and the need to have an independent Development Council (LAHDC) Leh

The Future of Media in Ladakh


medium of interaction and discussion on drastic and gradually younger One of the aims of these organizations

issues affecting their lives. generations are getting accustomed to called International Association for

i t . L a t e l y, s o m e i m p o r t a n t Ladakh Studies (IALS) is to give a forum Many degree holders in journalism developments at organizational levels to young local aspirants in the field of from universities in Delhi, Chandigarh indicate the future occurrence of history, culture, art, anthropology and etc. returning to Leh are at their levels positive outcome such as organizing come up with more researched works try to create niche for themselves which conferences; seminars of national and based on Ladakh.in turn building up pressures to break internal levels here encourage more the lull over intriguing matters in socio- There are different organisations, interaction and debate with healthy political spheres prevalent at present such as Charkha, Panos within the criticisms. One such instance is the due to the lack of actively operating country keen to facilitate and promote interactive seminar to discuss bodies of independent media. The writers, journalists from remote regions objectively on outlooks of different state-run radio, Doordarshan and to encourage raising regional or local sects of Buddhism held in Leh and Information department enjoy least issues on national platform through promoted by a Head Lama of Drigung freedom and the staffs strongly feel their resource network and J&K in Kagyu sect of Buddhism with a purpose that they are operating under all kinds general and Ladakh in particular being to get to a common understanding and of pressures and control measures. And their special focus. remove misconceptions. the motivation of those who intend to or Already Charkha has five fellows

start independently a magazine or Research scholars on Ladakh from from Ladakh including four women newspaper eventually fizzle out due to different backgrounds and international writers. They are at their levels tremendous pressures and challenges institutions get together for their bi- struggling to be on their toes to traverse posed by the socio-political dynamics of annual colloquium to present papers on the difficult path towards that goal of remote border region of Ladakh. various topics, and bring out journals more freedom of expression and

and volumes of these works regularly. Nevertheless, changes are fast and emergence of independent media.

JAMMU & KASHMIRPOLITICSBUSINESSVIEWS & NEWS

CULTURESTRATEGIC AFFAIRS

www.epilogue.inMAKE YOUR CONNECTION TODAY



the very first year of her birth. Polygamy is his article attempts to provide an widely practiced, especially among the overview of gender and development T influential families of Kargil, Chuchot and concerns in Ladakh. It endeavors to Turtuk. Women are sexually exploited as examine the trends in women's health, and well. In many families, women are secluded their participation in political and decision-to zenanas (an exclusive section of the making processes. In Ladakh, the house, only for women). Some civil society challenges faced by Muslim women are workers and government school teachers manifold. attempted to educate and train girls in Women – whether married or school, and their work initially faced strong unmarried; young or old – face gender-criticism and resistance from the local and based socio-economic biases in some form religious fabric of Ladakh in the name of or the other on a daily basis. religion. In spite of these conditions, some Some people are of the view that in Ladakhi women have excelled in the fields earlier times, women enjoyed an equal Agriculture and Education. status to men in all the fields of life. They

Latest Census figures reveal that the were even free to choose their own Buddhist population in Ladakh has dropped husbands. However, some others differ in from 53.83 to 45.87 percent over the past opinion. During the time when conversions four decades, while the Muslim population to Islam took place, and when there was a has increased from 45.43 to 47.40 percent. revolution in the education sector (mention The Muslim population in Leh district a time period!!!), it was assumed that exhibited a phenomenal growth of 65.40 women's upliftment would be a natural percent, which even surpassed the overall outcome of it. However, it was not so. On growth rate of Muslims across Jammu and the contrary, women's freedom and rights Kashmir. The Hindu population, non-existent have declined. Several scholars have for four decades, now contributes 6.22 observed that Muslim women are mere percent of Ladakh's population. In Ladakh, puppets in the hands of their husbands. The Buddhist women have a better literacy rate conversion of Ladakhi people to Islam did (46.16 percent) than Muslim women (35.76 not give them the opportunity to come to a percent) (of which period??). (Is it relevant religious order (not sure what this means!). to give census figures related to Hindu-Women face confinement (what kind of Muslim population here, especially when confinement?), various other restrictions. there is no mention of the sex ration!!?)Child marriages take place even now. In

In the political sphere, although the most cases, a girl's marriage is fixed during

GHULAM MEHDI Author, a Scholar of Sociology at University of Jammu, comes from a remote village of Kargil

Status of Muslim Women in Ladakh

Muslim women's empowerment is much talked about, especially in the last few years. Muslim women form a considerable segment of society, and the Qur'an and the Hadis emphasize on protecting their rights, including rights to education, worship, freedom of opinion, choice of spouse, and economic freedom. Despite this, Muslim women remain extremely vulnerable.

SocietyLSUCOFNI A D A K H


Kargil Autonomous Hill Development long way to go, especially since very few far greater in number in the workforce.

Council nominated two women women are part of these organizations. However, as an exception, in

Councilors in the previous Council Agriculture, where 89.5 percent of the There are a few names to reckon Elections (year), it did not give the workforce is female, women are at par with in the Ladakhi society. Kaneez mandatory 33 percent reservation to with their male counterparts in terms of Fatima (Kargil), Zarina Bano (Chuchot), women candidates in the Council. In the wages and position at the workplace. Meena Bano (Chuchot), Amina Bano and 2008 Assembly Elections in district Many women work twice as many hours Rehana (Turtuk), who were the first few Kargil, 39347 females exercised their as men because they carry out most of women graduates; Ashia Sudiqa from voting rights as compared to 38,770 the household responsibilities as well as Turtuk, who became the first woman male voters. In fact, female voters working outside their homes. However, MBBS; Zahra Bano (Kargil), Rozi Bee outnumber male voters in both the their household work is unpaid and (Bogdang), Azima Bano (Chuchot) and constituencies of Kargil and Zanskar, unrecognized. Ama Bano (Chuchot) were the first which is unique. In 2002, of only 12,244 women politicians; Haji Marzia (Kargil) In most Muslim families, women do voters in the Nubra constituency of Leh and Zulikha (Kargil), who were the first not own any property in their name, and district, the number of female voters nominated Councilors; Zahida (Leh), do not get a share of parental property was 6,150 as compared to the 6,094 who was the first woman to be awarded either. Due to weak enforcement of male voters. Despite these figures, a PhD in History; Zenab (Zanskar), who laws, women continue to have little women in Ladakh are not given the became the first woman journalist; and access to land and property. The Muslim liberty to come out of their houses to Shahina, the first woman KPS (Kashmir personal law does not give women the participate in political, economic and Police Service) officer. However, there right to divorce. However, the husband other processes. is still a long way to go as women face can divorce a wife just by saying 'I

In some cases where there are atrocities, discrimination and violence divorce you', or 'Divorce, Divorce,

women representatives in a Council, in many spheres of life in Ladakh. Divorce' under the provision of Muslim

the representation in the real sense lies laws. To give a general sense of the with her husband. He interferes in all status of Ladakhi women, most of them Local records show a high decision-making activities. Zahra Bano wear salwar-kameez, and artificial incidence of crime against women in the (Kargil) and Rozi Bee (Bogdang) led a jewelry. However, some prefer to wear area. Half of the total number of crimes protest against male dominance during gold ornaments as well. The female against women reported in the area are elections in the Kargil Autonomous Hill literacy rate in the area is lower than related to sexual harassment and Development Council as well as the Leh the male literacy rate. Also, compared exploitation, and divorce. Even though Autonomous Hill Development Council. to boys, there are more girl drop-outs. the demand for dowry is illegal, it Women leaders united over issues such There is a big shortage of female continues to be present. Many cases of as female infanticide, gender biasness, teachers, doctors, nurses, and dowry-related domestic violence and women's health, female literacy, and administrators in Ladakh. wife-beating have been reported. In violence against women. in general. Muslim women have little control over The subdued status of Muslim They questioned the interpretation, their own fertility and reproductive women and girls in the society means especially by fundamental leaders, of health, because religion does not allow they are less likely than men to receive women's rights under the Shariat law, them to do so. They are not allowed to timely medical treatment or adequate and criticized the triple talaq system. use precautionary methods or nutrition. Unequal access to food,

A few years ago, grants from the contraception. Sex-selective abortions heavy work demands, and special government and other donor agencies are very common. nutritional needs such as for iron, make enabled the formation of women- women and girls more vulnerable to The principle of equality between o r i e n t e d N o n - g o v e r m e n t a l illness, particularly anemia. Anemia men and women is deeply rooted in Organizations (NGOs), Self Help Groups caused by lack of iron is widespread Islam. Prophet Muhammad was known (SHGs), full form (ASHA) and Mahila among Ladakhi girls and women and for his equal treatment of the sexes. He Mandals (women's groups). NGOs such affects the majority of pregnant women. insisted that a dowry be paid directly to as the Kargil Educational Society, Anemic and malnourished women give the bride rather than to her father or SECMOL, SKARCHEN (full forms), and birth to malnourished children. guardian, and he offered special Women's Alliance have played a major protection to widows and orphans. A large percentage of women in the role in the empowerment of women in However, the status of Muslim women area are far less paid for their work than the Ladakhi society, but there is still a today leaves much to be desired for.men, despite the fact that women are

LSUCOFNI A D A K HSociety


ine, women and song has been Reason enough for this band of

the bane of many a society dedicated women to come together to Wand the downfall of 'many a remove the menace from society and

good man'. In Leh town the prevalence restore the dignity and peace they were

of this culture as well as the rejection of so used to.

it by several groups is now taking a The women have adopted some

visible form. The seeds of this culture ingenious methods make their point and

lie perhaps somewhere in the lack of job win opinion. Early in the agitation at

opportunities coupled by a lack of Choglamsar in 2006 a meeting was

direction. Illegal wine bars operating called to draw attention of the political,

out of individual houses have religious and social leaders about the

mushroomed all over the place. These menace of increasing alcoholism.

function not only as watering holes but Group leader, Stanzin Dolma says, the

cesspools of anti-social activities. Many political leaders were asked to refuse to

of them harbour criminals and perform the opening functions of wine

prostitutes spreading a vicious net in bars while the social and religious

the area of their operation. leaders were invited to condemn liquor

Locals who have wizened up to the in the their religious discourse and

degeneration of their environment and social functions.

have taken upon themselves to clean up One of these was to quote the high

the act are interestingly a group of monk's religious discourse to condemn

women belonging to the village near the the bar business and encourage socially

Choglamsar village, 10 km from Leh on acceptable business like general store

the Leh- Manali road and on the bank of and vegetable vendors. This has led to

Indus River. In an age where the term actually few of them turning away from

'moral policing' is frowned upon as an their hoary trade to running normal

infringement of liberties of expression businesses.

and way of life, this gutsy group makes The women were instrumental in no bones about its role to wipe out the alerting the police to have raids alcoholism from the vicinity. conducted which exposed the use of

In their range of fire lies the poisonous materials in liquor, a common

roaring business of wine bars of Napali practice by unscrupulous illicit distillers

Sherpa and restaurants of Tibetan to make the drink more potent and

Refugees which were spreading their addictive for its hapless customers.

tentacles luring the Ladakhi women and While many of them remain or chose to

adopting the business. Theft, murder remain trapped in the situation, the

and rape, unknown in the Ladakhi raids had an overall effect of turning

society becoming order of the day. people away from visiting these. YANGHAN DOLMA

ROOTING OUT ALCOHOLISM :

Ladakhi Women to the Fore



thEven in the upper echelons of birth anniversary with Chaang on 10 of all began and found reverberating

society, the reverberations of this every Tibetan lunar month on revolving echoes even in distant areas like Dha-

movement have been felt. Ex councilor basis. The women now celebrate the Hanu belt, bordering Pakistan and a

o f L a d a k h A u t o n o m o u s H i l l festival with the same festivities but tourist spot, where village women have

Development Council, Leh Angdu without Chhang thus sending the initiated a complete ban of any liquor

Lachumir surrendered a government message loud and clear and yet other than Chaang.

license for opening a wine bar. retaining their traditional and cultural Literally and figuratively Ladakh

The movement however shows no beliefs. represents the 'roof of the world' and is

signs of slack. Ladakh Buddhist While the practice of saying cut off several months in the year from

Association Women Wing organized a “Cheers” or “Juley” in some of the the rest of India. Here far away from the

peace rally in Leh market to condemn Ladakhi villages may have ebbed, for influences and trends in various fields

illegal selling of liquor in the colonies. the women and rest of society there is and walks of life, a group of rural

They have protested against the plenty to cheer about. Instead of women has done what they believed in,

opening of two bars and a wine shop lamenting the fall in social and moral what their consciousness told them to.

opened recently in their area through values associated with illicit wine bars, And in the process, led to a small

the office of District Magistrate. Here they have shown that with collective transformation within society.

the objection is because it is too close to effort and clear determination, the rot

the School- Central Institute of can be stemmed. It is a sprit that is Charkha Features

Buddhists Studies and to residential spreading beyond Choglamsar where it

areas.

A circular also issued to the all the

village wings of LBA Women wing to

replicate the drive against alcoholism in

their respective colonies and villages.

The first ever movement in recent

history against alcoholism is not based

on a particular place or event but a

widespread reaction to stop and uproot

this menace from society.

Interestingly, in people have been

talking about how company made

brands of Wine Rum, Whisky and Brandy

have overtaken Chaang a local wine

brewed and fermented from wheat and

barley. And the need to revive the

practice of drinking Chaang as an

integral part of tradition and culture of

Ladakhi society.

However even in this arena, of

Chhang drinkers and propagators, the

reverberations of the anti-liquor

movement have been felt. The women

question the practice of drinking

Chhang based on the belief that it is

nectar of Guru Padma Sambava, a

Buddhist Scholar and teacher. Every

village has a tradition of celebrating his


NowTellingThe J&K Stories


ABDULLAH NEWS AGENCY, Lal Chowk, Srinagar

***

RAINA NEWS AGENCY, Residency Road, Jammu

***

ABC STATIONERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, Leh

***

SHAHEEN NEWS AGENCY, Kargil

***

CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY, New Delhi

***

OXFORD BOOK STORE

New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Chennai & Goa

Contact


motivated to act. n recent years more and more This came from outside through an Ladakahis have begun to publicly I Indo-German NGO, Tibet Heritage Fund lament the decline of what was once a

(THF) who were motivated to come up pride, their formal capital, the “old Leh

with a plan for stemming the decline and town”. Symbolic of a tradition and

restoring to the Old Town, its former glory. culture of this remote and desolate

region, in the Himalayas, the town is living Teaming up with Ladakh's first urban

heritage, a legacy to be proud of. planner, Ms Diskit Dolke, they began with an

extensive survey of 178 historic and But the ground reality is different,

traditional buildings . disturbing. Roads are crying out for

maintenance and historic monuments are The survey showed that over 60% of

all buildings in old Leh town were in need of open air. The houses that are inhabited by owners, either exclusively coming up in a haphazard way adds to the (37%) or with a portion rented (26%). Only a congestion, the clogging of the town. Yet quarter of buildings were in good condition apart from feeling the pangs of a decaying while 50% were dilapidated .10% of the town, the local Ladakhi did not feel ZAINAB AKHTAR

The challenge of Restoring the “Old Leh Town” Living testimony of Ladakh's Cultural Heritage

The Old Leh town.

HeritageLSUCOFNI A D A K H


buildings were abandoned and in a project but compounded by the rugged imagination of the local community who

decrepit state with poor drainage and terrain and harsh climate. Building were now sensing an opportunity for

water supply systems which could drainage systems into sheer rock in the economic betterment. Self help groups

hardly be of any use in the harsh winter sub zero temperature in winters was were formed to boost income

conditions. excruciating but had to be done. The generation and a growing interest in

challenge was met by identifying and sharpening their traditional skills to The THF had triggered a process by using traditional skills in construction, cater to the new-found demand took undertaking the survey. The next steps a departure from practice of using root amongst the community. was how to address this situation and it subs id ized cement and steel. was obvious that it could not be done in The idea was to create a model Interestingly, the strategy adopted was isolation without the involvement of area which could showcase the similar to conservation progamme for loca l bod ies and indeed the feasibility of conservation efforts as a the Lhasa Old City (1996-2000) also government. The Ladakh Autonomous m o d e l b a s e d o n c o m m u n i t y developed by THF. Hill Development' (LAHDC) which is the participation and traditional skills. The

body of local government in Leh To e n c o u r a g e c o m m u n i t y model could be used by communities

district, Ladakh, came forward to participation which ultimately meant and NGO's to garner support from

collaborate with the THF in the inputs into the overall conservation donors and government agencies. The

proposed make-over of Leh town. effort, co-financing schemes for efforts and ingenuity shown by the THF

upgradation of housing were offered. in taking steps for conservation and Apart from highlighting the The emphasis here was on upgrading resoration of the old Leh town won it physical condition of the buildings, the instead of restoring. The project the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage survey reflected the contrast between o f fe red 50% co- f inanc ing fo r Awards in 2006. the rhythm and pace of the modern Leh rehabilitation of homes on the condition town that was booming and the old Leh The old town of Leh is a cultural that indigenous labour and skills town which was declining. It reflected and historical hub of Ladakh region . prioritized. This rather ingeniously the contrast between the aspirations After years of neglect, the move served the dual purpose of conservation and way of life, the loss of traditional towards restoration has kindled a sense and an improvement in quality of skills no longer useful in modern of pride in this heritage town and a habitat and thus the quality of lives of economy, the loss of cultural identity community spirit for preserving it. local people . This brought the human due to migration and rapid economic Today the old Leh town attracts many interest, of participation so crucial to changes. Adding to the problem were more tourists making it a vibrant place the success of such a project.disputes over land, tension between and a source of income for the local

communities all of which have Improving compost pits of population.

contributed greatly in the decay of the traditional latrines and enhancing The people can see the benefit of old town. In a sense, the THF had traditional clay mixes used for interior bringing the old Leh town at par with its opened the veins and lifeblood of the finish and waterproofing roofs was part modern counterpart. THF has only old town exposing its weakness in toto. of this. Restoration of important public shown the way. And the people have

monuments such as Buddhist temples, THF then took steps to address the risen to the occasion and responded Muslim places of worship and historic problem in a holistic way, rather than with enthusiasm. The initiative needs to fortifications also was a focus area. piecemeal, not viewing it merely as a be now strengthened with steps by

restoration of buildings but of a life and The restoration work was coupled local and state government to

rhythm of the old town. They sought with moves to open up training and consolidate the work begun by the

partnership with the interested local employment opportunities for the local project to bring lasting value to the

communities and the locals contributed community. It began with training a heritage town's structures and enhance

enthusiastically in rehabilitation small team in traditional construction the traditional skills its people. And in

process, pitching in for construction skills. Two persons are being trained as the process give new life to the an old

projects whether a private home, a restorers two as surveyors and town and pay a tribute to its unique

Buddhist monument or a public road. To draftpersons. Addressing in the culture tradition.

keep up the morale dried apricots were process, a core social need of (This article has been written distributed and everyone joined in to do generating employment though on a

under the first “Sanjoy Ghose Ladakh their bit. small scale to those locals who had no Women Writer's Award 2008-09”)access to land and had little education The process was not without

Charkha Features. The project has caught the hiccups however , inevitable in any such

LSUCOFNI A D A K HHeritage


he Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF) exercise as only one year was left for the present

seems to be taking its last breath as the Hill Council to continue in power. The reshuffle TLUTF run Ladakh Autonomous Hill seemed to have irked many of its members rather

Development Council (LAHDC or also often called than healing any difference although it was a

as the Hill Council) in Leh has reduced to a mere political decision of the LUTF high command.

14 councilors minority group after seven more The constitution of the Hill Council was

councilors resigning from the party on July 29, realized in 1995, and since then Leh has seen

2009. This situation could also lead to witness an three Hill Councils including the present one. It

untimely dissolution of a Council in the history of was a moment of jubilation and proud when the

the LAHDC if any attempt for another Hill council was first granted to Leh as people

arrangement to manage the Council is failed. It is thought that after years of discriminations

pertinent to mention here that in the 3rd LAHDC Ladakh had suffered in the hands of non-Ladakhi

polls in 2005 LUTF had registered a thumping rulers, for the first time the future of Leh Ladakh

victory wining 24 councilor constituencies out of would be shaped none other than by Ladakh's

26 leaving only two constituencies to the Indian own sons of the soil. Indian National Congress

National Congress. There are total of 30 could win all 26 seats in the first Hill Council in

councilors in the LAHDC but of out which four 1995, however, after National Conference

members are nominated by the state formed its government at the state in 1996, it

government. used all tactics to destabilize and defunct the

The councilors who resigned in a press newly constituted Hill Council. Dr. Farooq

released criticized the LUTF run Hill Council for Abdullah's government had been very reluctant

being ineffective to the developmental activities to further empower the Hill Council. However

and also not taking steps to raise the UT demand some important powers were delegated to the

at appropriate forums in the last few years. All Hill Council in 2002 with the change of guard at

seven councilors assured the people of their the State by the Mufti led government.

respective constituencies that they would work When time approached for assembly

for their areas as independent councilors. elections in 2002 Leh's all political leaders came

on a single platform by disbanding their Sources say that efforts from the LUTF side are respective parties and formed the Ladakh Union on to convince the disgruntled councilors to Territory Font (LUTF). The newly formed party reconsider their resignations. The whole thing is succeeded to elect Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora and something to wait and watch for a few days. Sonam Wangchuk Norbu (Pinto) unopposed for The resignations of these councilors have the State assembly from Leh and Nubra come after the Chief Executive Councilor constituencies respectively. However the

exercised a reshuffle in the Executive Council members of the LUTF who previously belonged to

making three incumbent Executive Councilors different political parties with different

resign from the Executive Council and inducting ideologies seemed to have found it difficult to

three new members more than a month ago. adjust with one another and therefore some Observers say the reshuffle was an unnecessary

T SEWANG RIGZIN Author is Associate Editor of Epilogue statined in Leh. He is also a leading political activist in Ladakh.

LUTF: The Party is Over?

PoliticsLSUCOFNI A D A K H


political parties restored their local movement of Leh to reform the months ago to approve district plan has

units in Leh in 2004. Those who education system by making it more not yet happened. These are some gross

remained with the LUTF made it a local relevant to Ladakh's life and culture. violation of the LAHDC Acts. The other

political party. The movement did improve the factors that also weakened LUTF are the

education system in the last one decade egos and disputes within the party As the third or the current Hill to a great extent. During the reign of which led many of its active members to Council of the LUTF came to power with the present Hill Council under the resign from this party. an overwhelming majority in 2005 chairmanship of Sh Chering Dorjey, the people of Leh had immense expectation After years of struggles and second phase of the ONH – Ladakh Model and hence they had hoped that this agitations the LAHDC was granted to of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan – was Council would also formulate policies to Leh for the preservation and promotion launched by the then President of India, change the face of Leh and struggle for of the centuries old rich cultural Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in Leh in 2006 to Union Territory demand for Ladakh heritage and distinct identity of Ladakh achieve the goals envisaged through the since LUTF had promised before the while at the sometime developing the Operation New Hope. This project also public to strive for the UT demand for region by keeping its traditional got derailed due to unfortunate and Ladakh as its priority one besides taking wisdoms and values unaffected in the illogical differences among the care of the developmental activities of n a m e o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d members of the LUTF run Hill Council the district. However it was observed in modernization. When the negligence although it was this effort was the last few years that the UT demand towards Ladakh continued for the by appreciated by the State Directorate of came up only at times of elections to the then state governments, the Ladakh Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Ministry woo the voters. Buddhist Association launched an of Human Resources. agitation 1989 in support of UT demand. With the passing of about four

Last year the Hill Council had Three Buddhist youth were killed during years, the LUTF-led Hill Council turned assigned one executive councilor solely the agitation. The agitation was out to be somehow the most for the Consumer Affairs & Public suspended only when and the then controvers ia l , indecis ive, and Distribution department. Yet the Hill Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi ineffective Hill Council as it failed to Council was always found ignorant intervened and proposed the Hill meet the expectation of the public on about the problems that consumers in Council status on the pattern of the many fronts due to the narrow-minded Leh face from time to time. For instance Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. politics within the party. Most most villages in Leh didn't get their due Subsequently a tripartite agreement surprisingly some prestigious policies quotas of kerosene oil during the last was signed by the Center Government, initiated by the then Councils or the financial year. According to the norms State Government and the LBA and the present Council have also been framed by CA&PD department of LAHDC UT demand was suspended. derailed. Leh each family is entitled for 10 liters L e a d e r s o f L e h L a d a k h , It was a step towards a holistic of kerosene oil per month and irrespective of their association to development of the region when the additional 20 liters for Losar which different political parties, have always previous Hill Council under the becomes 140 liters over one year for a voiced to separate Ladakh from Jammu chairmanship of Sh Rigzin Spalbar family. Most beneficiaries have received and Kashmir. Ever since Ladakh became formulated the historical vision not more than 40 liters of kerosene oil a part of the democratic India, people document for Leh Ladakh called the so far. But there has not been any of Ladakh have always wished to have “Ladakh Vision 2025” – a roadmap for investigation into that despite the direct links with New Delhi and Leh Ladakh. Formulated after lots of pressure by the public and the party in accordingly the leaders of this trans-discussions and deliberations this opposition. Himalayan enclave have demanded prestigious document was launched by

From official records it is found different arrangements from time such the Prime Minister of the country in that Executive Council meetings, as North Eastern Frontier Area (NEFA) 2005. However the LUTF-led Hill mandatory to be held at least once a type of administration, Central Council has been very reluctant to month as per the LAHDC Act, have held Administration, and the Union Territory consult the vision document while only once in some six months and the status to preserve Ladakh's unique formulating plans and policies for Leh. General Council meetings, mandatory cultural, linguistic and the geo-climatic The Operation New Hope (ONH), to be held quarterly, have been conditions. With its unique conditions adopted as the official policy on conducted about two times a year. The Ladakh is like a different country to the education by the Hill Council in 1996, General Council that should have held rest of Jammu & Kashmir. was a nationally acclaimed education

LSUCOFNI A D A K HPolitics


the Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowships for Women n a wintry evening last year, six bright Journalists in Areas of Conflict in Jammu & young women came together in the Kashmir; and the first ever Sanjoy Ghose Oheart of Delhi as proud and vocal Ladakh Women Writers' Awards instituted in representatives of their people, from an 2008. The date was December 7, the Annual enigmatic land much talked about but little Founder's Day of Charkha Development understood. They hoped to expand this limited Communication Network, a Delhi based non-

awareness among the esteemed audience profit organization that seeks to integrate

gathered that evening; and use the opportunity diverse cultures based on the universal values

that had brought them together that unusual of equity and social justice. It also marks the

evening.birthday of Charkha's Founder, Sanjoy Ghose,

The occasion was the Awards function of who inspired people, even in the most

ANSHU MESHACKAuthor works with Charkha Communications and Development Network.

Be the Change YouWant to See

The Fellows and Awardees with their families and

Charkha's team on December 7, 2008,

CHARKHA'S FOUNDER'S DAY

Making DifferenceLSUCOFNI A D A K H


marginalized and disturbed corners of shared, again with a wide readership, involvement has developed beyond the

our country, to discover and build on through the award of the Sanjoy Ghose Fellowships and Media Awards to seek

beauty and hidden strength. Humanitarian Awards for Writing given ways to engage with the most

that year for stories that highlighted, disadvantaged among the people of this Since 2004, Charkha has been yet again, the hidden strengths and remote region. Earlier this year, an working through Fellowships and initiative of the common man in the initiative has been launched with the Awards to inspire young people in the face of adversity. Leh-based People's Action Group for state to share with a wider audience

Inclusion and Rights (PAGIR), a group of and readership, their perspectives on In 2008, Charkha brought together Persons with Disability who are making a social and development issues within select bright young women from remarkable effort to highlight the their societies, in a bid to generate a Kashmir who were interested in hidden strengths and development better and mutual understanding between highlighting the most pressing concerns of physically disabled persons diverse communities and seek ways to development concerns of their people for many years now. improve the lives of the most marginalized through their writings. Together, the

among them, viz. the disabled and women initiated the formation of a Headed by the charismatic Mohd

elderly, the women and children. Kashmir Women Writers' Forum. Based Iqbal, PAGIR is a leading advocacy

in Srinagar, the members of this Forum organization working for the rights and This initiative first took the form of are expected to use this platform to entitlements of Persons with Disability. the Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowships, come together as a collective and Charkha is involved with strengthening open to all residents of the state of highlight the development issues that their Livelihoods Initiative: a unique Jammu & Kashmir, being awarded for need urgent address. effort to protect the fragi le several years now. The selection follows

environment of Ladakh while also a rigorous procedure of screening and In addition to encouraging writings generating livelihood options for the evaluation by an independent Jury, from the region through the Fellowships differently-abled and talented comprising illustrious media persons and other means, Charkha's role is to individuals associated with PAGIR. The like Sir Mark Tully, Sayed Malik, Pushp disseminate these writings widely in group makes creative and useful Saraf and Sushobha Barve; and prominent national mainstream products out of waste paper and cloth convened by Ms Usha Rai, a pioneer in publications in three languages: and presently sells them through two the field of development journalism. English, Urdu and Hindi, through its sales outlets in Leh town. Charkha helps Fellows are expected to write articles unique Trilingual Feature Services. By them source the raw material for these based on extensive research on their doing so, Charkha seeks to give a voice products and strengthen them as an proposed theme. t o t h o s e w h o , h a v i n g b e e n organization to ensure sustainability of marginalized, have remained unheard Shortly after the earthquake that this extraordinary initiative. and their needs, unaddressed.rocked Kashmir Valley in October 2005,

Charkha's goal of improving the Charkha mobilized resources through The Kashmir Relief Project lives of the rural marginalized to the 'Friends of Charkha' network and progressed to the next phase, the achieve a better quality of life for sent relief material to the most remote Rehabilitation Project, in 2008, to themselves is furthered by the ongoing part of the devastated region: Dragad provide the opportunity for livelihood inclusion of promising individuals in the Village in Tangdhar in Kupwara District. enhancement for select women of the nation-wide network of writers who use The execution of this Relief Project was region who had been devastated by their skills to highlight the unheard rigorous and effective, as witnessed by the earthquake and had lost their issues and concerns of the common man the Charkha staff who visited the region livestock, hitherto their sole means in remote parts of India. This is after delivery of the relief material that of livelihood. An extensive training especially relevant in a region that has saw scores of families safely through program of teaching embroidery known decades of unrest and is now that winter. Glimpses of this experience skills is presently underway in Dragad striving to generate an environment and the responses of the appreciative Vi l lage, and is being closely conducive to equitable growth and survivors were captured in an monitored to enable the skilled prosperity for all.audio/visual documentation shared women to make good quality

with all major supporters of the Project. embroidered fabric and market their

produce for commercial viability of the The experiences of community (For more information, visit initiative.initiative and cooperation in the Charkha at www.charkha.org or write

aftermath of the earthquakewere In Ladakh, similarly, Charkha's to them at [email protected])

LSUCOFNI A D A K HMaking Difference


started sending professional physiotherapist ur work started with the German NOG and occupational therapist from Europe to Ladakh-Hilfe, a non profit organisation O help as volunteers. that was founded in 2003 by a German

In 2008 local supporters founded the NGO couple, Karola and Juergen Kostial. They came “REWA SOCIETY, Ladakh Disabled Children to Ladakh to treat a child with Cerebral Palsy. Group” in cooperation with Ladakh-Hilfe. This At that time they recognised, that there are local NGO will carry on the work and give many other untreated children with similar professional care to the disabled with the help conditions and that they and their families of our local employees, who are being trained desperately need support in how to deal with for the job.the situation. July 2004 the organisation

REWA Society in Service of Disabled Children in Ladakh

Making DifferenceLSUCOFNI A D A K H

KAROLA KOSTIALAuthor is Director Ladakh-Hilfe


How does Physiotherapy and Provide aids such as cast/splints, Our goals and visionsOccupational Therapy help Children special shoes, seats, tables for To provide the best possible with Disabilities? wheelchairs, aids for positioning, service and treatment for children and

appropriate toys and therapeutic Physiotherapy uses movement, young adults with disabilities material. manual techniques and aids in order to Close cooperation with different

encourage and increase the child's Consultation of the parents and governmental and non-governmental

ability to move as easy and functional families of disabled children in Leh, organisations

as possible. Occupational Therapy Ladakh on the road and the remote Working together with local

helps the child to perform daily areas in order to strengthen their professionals in order to learn from

ac t i v i t i e s a nd become mo re resources and to find ways to ease the each other

independent of the help of others. situation. Camps and workshops for Support all activities with the

Both Therapies support the child's health workers, teachers and other intent to improve early intervention in development and the families. interested personal in order to achieve order to reduce the consequences of basic knowledge about how to deal with We are not able to heal the cause damages before, during and after a child with special needs. of the disability but we work to make birth. the most out of the situation and We help our patients to get

Initiating Self Help Groups for improve the child's quality of life, to necessary medical care and medication. mothers who have children with give them a chance they may never have disabilities. otherwise. Activities of Ladakh/Hilfe in

Support schools and teachers to Germany:

integrate children with disabilities in Where are the Handicapped Increasing the awareness toward public schools. treated? the existing problems concerning Support and work c losely

In the RAC Therapy Centre (RAC = children with special needs in Ladakh by together with schools for children with

Rewa Ability Centre) of the Lions Club publication in magazines, our special needs, who do not have the

Building in Leh homepage www.ladakh/hilfe.de and chance to go to school due to problems

presentations. During regular home visits and with integration (e.g. children with

field trips, where we have the Finding, selecting and preparing s e v e r e m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l

possibility to observe what can be professional volunteers for the work in handicaps.)

changed to improve the activities of Ladakh. Education and equal rights for all

daily living for the child and the family. Raising funds to support the children with special needs.

In schools and institutions, which activities of the organisation in Ladakh. Including orthopaedic Engineers and

care for children and young adults with Collecting and transporting Rehabilitation workers in our program handicaps suitable aids, e.g. orthopaedic shoes. in order to help train locals to build

We take fieldtrips into the remote Book publishing in Germanysuitable equipment and aids for the areas at least twice a year. We treat the 2009 in March Karola Kostial disabled. patients in their homes or schools, published a book about her travels and

Finding local Ladakhi people and teach the parents, bring aids and experiences in Ladakh. It was organisations, who are interested in medication. published in German language with the our work, are passionate to work with Activities of the Organisations in title “The other side of Ladakh – children and young adults with special Ladakh: Adventures in the Indian Himalayans”. needs and would like to join us in our Our main act iv i ty i s the This books explains the almost activities. professional treatment of children and unbe l i evab le d i f f i cu l t i e s and

Increase the awareness and young adults with physical and multiple adventures they started this disability compassion of local people for the handicaps with Physiotherapy, work with, describes the building of the problems of the disabled, train them Occupational Therapy, Special bridges of love between Germany and

and release our activities into the Education, Orthopaedic Technicians Ladakh , a love for the children with

and Speech therapy. disability, the people and the country. hands of local Ladakhis.

LSUCOFNI A D A K HMaking Difference


regularly, toady he is keen to find a way ven as most of the products out to shift to some other bank which offered by various banks E offers low rate of interest. In simpler operating in the state of Jammu terms he is looking for switching of loan. and Kashmir are having almost similar What is switching of loan? What are the features, it is the J&K Bank alone, which procedures and costs involved if one has been developing a wide range of decides to switch the loan? If you take a customized products suitable to various new loan from another lender (bank) to local economies in all the three regions repay your existing loan it is called – Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Be it switching of loan. Today, a segment of agriculture, horticulture, industries, customers review their housing loans to artisan or services sector, J&K Bank has see if they can get a better deal by come up with special offerings bouquet switching, and this is not bad at all. This that contain economy specific products way you can ask your existing bank for re-like All Purpose Agri-Term loan, Apple pricing options, before checking with Advance scheme, Dastkar Finance, other banks.Zaffran Finance, Giri Finance,

However, before switching consider Khatamband Finance etc. to meet the if you are better off. Ask your current financial requirements of the people bank whether you will incur a fee for associated with these sectors. The bank terminating your existing loan or you can has even fine-tuned its traditional convert the loan to one which is more products to make them more customer-attractively priced. Check if any fees will friendly. And this range of products and be imposed on such conversion. Before services of the bank, which are region as switching to the bank whose refinancing we l l a s sec to r spec i f i c , ha s package you are considering, check how distinguished it from rest of the banks you will be better off with the refinanced operating in the state. package. One should note that the Today customers are always on a installment amounts and interest look out for better deal. The payments would change once there are competitive scenario has resulted in an changes to the loan package. Also, advantage to the customer and he compare the present repayment schedule always wants more for less. Some two for your current loan package with that of years back, one of my acquaintances the new loan package you are considering obtained a housing loan from a new and check the total amount of interest generation private sector bank. Even as payable and other charges.he is repaying the loan installments SAJJAD BAZAZ

Customizing housing needs

In continuation of its policy of devising customized products to suit the specific requirements of different customer segments in the state, J&K Bank introduced customized housing loan product for Ladakh region.

LSUCOFNI A D A K H

Banking


Yet another acquaintances wrote conditions. Under the scheme, the bank Repayment period of the loan

to me about the possibility of a housing provides a loan for purchase or ranges from 5 years to 20 years. For

loan to meet his small requirement of construction of house equal to the 60 construction of house, the borrower

money for repairs of his existing house. months net salary or 85 per cent of the shall be enjoying a moratorium period

“I am an average middle class person estimated cost with no ceiling on the of nine months. While as for repairs and

having an assured monthly income. I loan limit. For purchase of land, the renovation, repayment starts from the

own a house, but it needs some repairs bank provides 20 months net salary of a third month after the disbursement of

and renovation. For this, I need at least borrower with a maximum loan amount the loan.

Rs.one lakh. One of my friends of Rs 5 lakhs within J&K state and Rs.10 As far as rate of interest is

suggested me to raise a housing loan. lakhs for purchase of land outside J&K concerned, it varies according to the

But I don't want to put myself at the State. For repairs and renovation, a loan repayment schedule and has both

mercy of stringent norms for obtaining a to a maximum of Rs 10 lakhs or 20 options – floating and fixed. However, it

housing loan as I have heard that banks months net salary is given under the is cheaper than other banks in the

ask for so many formalities to comply scheme. current market scenario. Interest on

with, which exhaust loans up to Rs.20

a p r o s p e c t i v e lakhs repayable up

bo r r owe r. Wha t to 5 years is 9.50 per

should I do to meet cent (Floating rate

m y f i n a n c i a l option) and 10.25

requirement for per cent (Fixed rate

r e p a i r i n g a n d o p t i o n ) . F o r

r e n o v a t i n g m y repayment schedule

house?” above 5 years to 10

Basically, he years, floating rate

wanted to know as on date is 10.25

about an option per cent and the

where he could avail fixed rate is 11 per

loan facility in a c e n t . I f t h e

hassle free manner. borrower chooses to

There are so many repay the loan in 15

small prospective years to 20 years, he

In terms of security, the house to borrowers like him who need small has to pay 11.50 per cent rate of

be constructed or purchased will remain amount of loan to meet their housing interest. Notably, under fixed rate

mortgaged to the bank as a primary needs. But host of formalities keeps option the maximum repayment

security. Besides, collaterally the most of them away to avail housing loan schedule is 10 years.

borrower has to offer third party facility. Notably, the bank has introduced

guarantee of one person to the bank. Remarkably, while taking note of the customized housing loan scheme for

Even LIC policy can also be accepted as these small borrowers, J&K Bank has Leh and Kargil as the people in this

a collateral security.fine-tuned its housing loan scheme. region do not posses documents to

For repairs and renovation, only Loans up to Rs.1.50 lakhs are given for establish proprietary title/ rights on the

negative lien against the housing repairs and renovation of their existing land on which the house is proposed to

property is required as a security and house against the guarantee of two be constructed. So creation of mortgage

mortgage of property is not needed at persons and no mortgage of the of such property does not become

all. For construction or purchaser of property is required. JK Bank home loan possible in Ladakh region. To overcome

house, the borrower has to share 15% of product is efficiently priced with this difficulty, the bank modified its

the total cost and 25% for renovation or personalised service and above all housing loan for this region to enable

purchase of land.available at convenient terms and the customer to avail its benefits.

Remarkably, while taking note of these small borrowers, J&K

Bank has fine-tuned its housing loan scheme. Loans up to

Rs.1.50 lakhs are given for repairs and renovation of their

existing house against the guarantee of two persons and no

mortgage of the property is required. JK Bank home loan

product is efficiently priced with personalised service and above

all available at convenient terms and conditions. Under the

scheme, the bank provides a loan for purchase or construction of

house equal to the 60 months net salary or 85 per cent of the

estimated cost with no ceiling on the loan limit.

LSUCOFNI A D A K HBanking


Under the scheme, Ladakhis can case interest rate remains fixed for the the options of competitively lowest rate

obtain loan for construction or purchase first few years, thereafter, interest rate of interest, but also choice of different

of house to the tune of 60 times of their is re-fixed or becomes variable/or types of loans starting from the house

net monthly income subject to a floating. purchase or house building loans to

maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs. For In case of floating or variable rate house improvement loans etc.

renovation/ addition/ alteration etc. of home loan, interest rate is not fixed and Precisely, banks and financial

the existing house, they can get loan can be wide-ranging. The rate is linked institutions have a common product for

equal to 20 times of their net monthly to the prime-lending rate (PLR) of the financing housing sector with almost

income subject to maximum Rs. 5 lakhs. bank. If the PLR goes up, interest rate similar terms and conditions, which a

Repayment of loan taken for on the loan also goes up and customer has to fulfill for obtaining

construction or purchase of house is subsequently EMI will also go up. loan. Remarkably, relatively younger

fixed for 10 years while as the loan for However, if the PLR goes down, the segment of customers have entered into

renovation/ addition or alteration are interest rate and monthly repayment on the market or in other words we can say

to be repaid in 5 years. the loan will also go down. The bank that the buyers of the home loan

product are end-users and not the The security aspect has been fixes a spread between PLR and floating

investors. The banks need to continue relaxed. The borrower has to give third rate while sanctioning a loan. The

to fine-tune the home loan product to party guarantee of two persons and spread remains constant during the

make it competitive in the market.negative lien to be marked on the tenure of the loan. The spread can be

property/ house constructed. In changed with mutual consent of

addition to this, the borrower has to borrower and the bank. Usually, the

deposit installments in the shape of loan document specifies the reset

post-dated cheques. However, the period for changing interest rate.

employees of government/ semi Notably, some banks permit the

government and public sector borrowers to change from fixed interest

undertakings, autonomous bodies rate loan to floating interest rate loan

maintaining salary accounts with the JK and vice versa subject to certain

Bank branches shall have to give conditions.

guarantee of one person only. However, So it is advisable that the

they have to obtain letter of borrowers go through the terms and

undertaking from the bank. conditions minutely and never sign a

Here it is important for the paper without reading the content

borrowers to understand the difference therein.

between a fixed rate option and floating Meanwhile, we have observed that

(variable) rate option. In fixed rate like any other basic human need,

home loan option, interest rate is fixed housing has remained in demand. Banks

for the entire period of the loan. have come into housing sector at a time

Sometimes, it may be revised after the when credit off take in the corporate

first few years depending upon the sector was low. With lot of funds waiting

terms and conditions of loan. This to be deployed, the housing scene

option is preferable if prevailing presented an attractive option to the

interest rates are low when one takes a banks to channelise their funds. This

loan. For a borrower, the beauty of the happened because in the housing sector

option is that even if interest rates in advances are given against mortgage of

the market go up in future, interest rate assets, which continue to carry value,

on his home loan remains unchanged. and therefore make the loans

However, there are banks which considerably safe for the banks.

generally include a reset clause in which The customers today have not only

EpilogueAvailable at

Jawahar Book Center

Jawahar Lal Nehru UniversityNEW DELHI

---

India Book CenterTHIRUVANTHAPURAM

---

CNA Enterprises

DN Road, MUMBAI

---

KC Enterprises

Himayat Nagar, HYDERBAD

---

EBS News Agency

Sector 22-B, CHANDIGARH

---

Bhargave Book Center

University Center, ALLAHABAD

LSUCOFNI A D A K HBanking

C O L U M N

Reports From Ground


t is quite needless to mention that the similar gate a few steps away, and

status of India-Pakistan relations has a technically it is in Pakistan, and it, too, has Idirect impact on Jammu & Kashmir. the Pakistani flag painted on it on both

And that any proposed 'study' on Kashmir sides (I'm told!). Now between the two

is incomplete without the larger picture gates is the border, which is demarcated by

of India-Pakistan relations. J&K and Indo- pillars all along.

Pak relations are not just inter-linked, but One of the pillars is an old and historic

a l s o i n t e r - t w i n e d . S e v e r a l banyan tree, half of which falls on the

events/incidents have changed the Indian side, and the other half of it falls on

dynamics of the relations between the the Pakistani side. It is very difficult to

two nations. The terrorist attack on the express what I felt at that particular point

Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001, when I touched that Banyan tree. No

brought the two countries the closest they doubt, it was a beautiful experience:

have ever been to a nuclear war. something that I will cherish for my entire

Indo-Pak relations and the composite lifetime.

dialogue, or the lack of it, reached an all- I have always contrasted this

time 'low' after the terrorist attacks in experience of mine with another visit to

Mumbai on November 28, 2008. There was one of the border areas – village Laroka,

talk of 'hot pursuit', and war was a close Lam in the Nowshera sector. The area is

possibility. just a few miles away from the LoC, and

There is currently a ceasefire when I visited a school in the area, it was a

between the two South Asian nuclear unique feeling to see children sitting out in

powers, which came into effect from the open and studying, with no formal set-

November 2003, under the then Indian ups of classrooms and study boards.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and One of the children took me a little

the then Pakistan President General away from his 'classroom', and pointing his

Musharraf. finger towards clouds of smoke coming

A visit to the Suchetgarh border post from a distance, and said: “Do you see the

a few years ago remains the high point of smoke... that is Pakistan...”. Quite

all my trips to Jammu & Kashmir. honestly, I was speechless for a few

Suchetgarh is an international border post minutes. When I recovered, I was curious as

between India and Pakistan, and lies to what happens when relations between

ahead of the R S Pura sector in Jammu. India and Pakistan are tense, and there is

shelling and gun-battle in the border areas? It was an amazing experience.

The answer was quite predictable: “We Though it is hard to describe, I will still try.

have no school! We run away from our The post leads to a huge gate, which has

villages temporarily, and come back when the Indian flag, painted on it on both

things have settled.”sides. You open the gate and you can see a

MANISHA SOBHRAJANIAuthor is a Delhi-based independent researcher working on the various aspects of the Kashmir conflict. She can be reached at [email protected])

‘That Smoke is from Pakistan...’


I later on learnt about the 50-odd Valley, to name just a few... with us yet, but it would be fair to

villages that are sandwiched between suggest that… The mutually-acceptable These vi l lages, practically

the LoC and the Army fencing on the future border will be the present speaking, fall on the Indian side and not

Indian side! border: the line where the two armies in 'No Man's Land'. The fact that these

ceased fire on the first of January 1949, The Indian Army's decision to build villages are outside the Army's

and which they have guarded with such a fence along the 734 kilometres of the 'protective' fencing has given rise to

zealous ferocity for six decades. Six 742 km-long Line of Control was immense problems for the locals

decades add up to two generations of supposed to enhance the Army's belonging to these villages — since their

lost sisters, forgotten cousins, and a capability to detect and intercept land has been divided by the fencing,

relentless hostility that has aborted the infiltration and exfiltration attempts. they have to traverse long distances just

potential of two nations. Everyone has The fencing had to follow natural to till one piece of land; the fence can

heard the question: why do Indians and t o p o g r a p h y a n d s t r a t e g i c be crossed only at proper gates on

Pakistanis get on so well in a third considerations, as a result of which the roads, which are located at a distance

country, and how come they do so well fencing does not exactly coincide with of 500 metres to a kilometre; the gates

in a foreign habitat? The answer was the LoC. There is a distance between open and close at fixed times: this is

always simple: because they were not the fencing and the LoC, which varies extremely inconvenient and humiliating

living in India and Pakistan. Over the with the topography. for the local people, to say the least.

last decade India has begun to make So, sandwiched between the two There is an overwhelming fear in such jokes irrelevant, but that is lines are several villages -- Makri, Seri, their minds that if there is a settlement nothing compared to what it could Manika Maha Dev, Laam, Kalsian, of Kashmir between India and Pakistan, achieve in harmony with a natural Jhangar and Bhawani in the Nowshera if at all a solution comes along, India economic partner like Pakistan. It sector of Rajouri district; Sekhlu area, will give away these villages outside the would vitalise SAARC, and set the Haveli Assembly segment and Shahpur Army fencing to Pakistan. This is, of subcontinent, which still has the Panchayat of Poonch distr ict; course, a source of great anxiety and poorest parts of the world on its Hathlanga, Chiranda and Silikut villages worry for the locals.landscape, on the long route towards of Uri sector of Baramulla district; To quote my former boss and self-respect.”Chatkadiyan village in the Tangdhar mentor M.J. Akbar, “The solution is not

C O L U M NReports From Ground

Epiloguebecause there is more to know

Regional in Content

National in Presence

J&K’s only

news/current affairs

publication with

all-India presence

?Abhijeet Sagar Book Center ?JMD Book House

Pune, Shimla

MAHARASHTRA HIMACHAL PRADESH

?American Book Center ?Life Book House

Anna Salai, Chennai Himidira Road Bhopal

TAMIL NADU MADHYA PRADESH

?B N Dey & Co. ?Modern Book House

Pan Bazaar, Guwahati Lucknow,

ASSAM UTTAR PRADESH

?Deepak Kumar ?Rajesh Agencies

Magazine Agents, Patna Jaipur

BIHAR RAJASTHAN

?Dey & Bose Magazine Agent ?Shams News Agency

Howrah, Farmanwadi, Hyderabad

WEST BENGAL ANDHRA PRADESH

?Ideal Books ?Uniquality News Agency

Tutors Line, Trissur Bapuji Nagar, Bhubaneshwar

KERALA ORISSA

Ask for your copy at :

Oxford Book Stores

NEW DELHI, MUMBAI, KOLKATTA,

CHENNAI, BANGALORE & GOA

Central News Agency

NEW DELHI

C O L U M N

History


orticulture has been living heritage of various types of fruits, their quality,

Kashmir throughout its historical availability of wood and their uses for making Hperiod. It played and continues to play vinegar and pickles. Jahangir mentions that

dominant role in the socio-economic life of wood was available in Kashmir in abundance

Kashmir. Its history shows that it became and all the buildings of Kashmir were made of

instrumental in shaping the regional identity wood. These buildings were generally two to

of Kashmiris and Kashmir. Though Kashmir is four storied. The making of various types of

known in the world for various historical pickles with the vinegar has described a

developments, horticultural products display popular skill of Kashmir. The Kashmiris knew

Kashmir outside it in a very effective manner. the method of the extraction of oil from the

However, horticulture was not made a walnut. The walnut oil was an important

popular theme by the most of the writers of ingredient of the vegetable cooking.

the pre-modern societies. It was the Mughals The production of almonds, peaches, who gave huge publicity to the history of cherries (Shal-alu), apricot, grapes, pears, horticulture of India in their literary works. water-melons, walnut and ashkan (juicy fruit) The Mughal emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad had been an important source of the Babur (1526-30) narrated the different livelihood of the Kashmiris. For Jahangir, in aspects of horticulture of north India in a very Kashmir “the finest inflorence is that of the lucid manner in his Baburnama. But the almond and the peach.” Jahangir was very Mughal emperor Nuruddin Muhammad impressed from the quality of the apricot. His Jahangir (1605-27) surpassed him in terms of mention shows that the Mughals encouraged description of the horticultural products the cultivation of apricot in Kashmir. Praising region-wise. The information pertaining to the quality and expansion of the apricot the trees and their products contained by his cultivation Jahangir writes, “There (Kashmir) Memoirs entitled Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri show that were also apricot trees. The aforesaid the Mughal emperor Jahangir was very much (Muhammad Quli Afshar of Akbar's reign) concerned with expansion of horticulture and made them known in this country (Kashmir), garden culture in Mughal India. He is known to and now there are many of them. In fact, the have visisted Kashmir eight times in his apricot of Kashmir is good. There was a tree in twenty-two years rule. Though several the Shah-ara garden at Kabul, called Mirzai, aspects of the nature of Kashmir attracted better fruit ghan which I had not eaten, but in the attention of Jahangir, for his literary taste Kashmir there are trees equal to this in the he found horticulture a very popular theme. gardens.” Consequently, he highlighted the tradition of Jahangir made comparative study of the the cultivation of the fruit bearing and other fruits of Kashmir and their cultivation. He trees in his Memoirs. valued Kashmir as the producer of the best

Jahangir focussed on the horticulture of quality of pears (Nashpati). For him, the Kashmir in terms of the productions of the quality of the pears of Kashmir was better

PROF JIGAR MOHAMMEDAuthor is Professor of History at University of Jammu. He is associated with Epilogue as Editorial Adviser on History of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jahangir on the Horticulture of Kashmir


than Kabul, or Badakhshan (in loss of the crop of water melon because additional sweetness. The Shah-alu of

Transoxiana). Jahangir rated pears of of the attack of worm Jahangir writes, Kashmir is not inferior to that of Kabul;

Kashmir on par with the pears of “…for most part when they (water- it is even better grown. The largest of

Samarqand. It is important to mention melons) became ripe a worm is found in them weighed one tank, five surkhs.”

that the Mughal emperors intensified them that spoils them. But some of the Jahangir also recorded the quantities of

the processes of the foreign trade watermelons were preseved from the the cherries produced by the trees of

between India and Central Asia very worm disease and they were very nice. the Nur-afza garden and his efforts to

much. There were large demands of the expand the area of the plantation of Jahangir gave huge publicity to Central Asian fruits in India during the cherry trees. According to him, “From cherries of Kashmir in terms of the

th th four trees of the Nur-afza garden 1500 16 and 17 centuries. Abul Fazl, a court potentialities of the expansion of their and from other trees 500 had been historian of the Mughal emperor Akbar production and their market value. He plucked. I (Jahangir) strictly ordered and author of the Ain-i-Akbari, gives the used the Shah-alu term for the cherries. the officials of Kashmir to plant shah-name of several types of the Central He gave the credit of the introduction of alu in all gardens.”Asian fruits available in the markets of the cherries in Kashmir to his father

India. Abul Fazl terms the Central Asian Jalaluddin Muhammed Akbar. Jahangir The production and taste of fruits the Mewa-i-Turan. Generally, the himself participated in expansion of the one juicy fruit and sour cherry also Mughals compared the fruits of India plantation of the cherri trees in attracted the attention of Jahangir. He with the fruits of the Central Asia or Kashmir. He invented many terms for not only tasted them but also Persia in terms of their quality. cherries to highlight the huge scope of commented on their quality and weight. Similarly, Jahangir also compared some their cultivation. Describing the To memoise them and provide of the fruits of Kashmir with the fruits of introduction of cherries in Kashmir information of them to other Jahangir the Central Asia. When he equated the under his father, their expansion under describe them in these words: “In quality of the pears of Kashmir with the him and their quality Jahangir gives a Kashmir the most juicy fruit is the pears of Samarqand, he highlighted the very useful and interesting account. He ashkan. It is subacid (mai-khush), market value of the pears of Kashmir writes, “Before my father's time there smaller than the alu-balu (sour cherry), and encouraged the peasants or were no Shah-a lu (cherr ies ) . much better flavoured, and more horticulturist of Kashmir for huge Muhammad Quli Afshar brought them delicate. When drinking wine, one production of pears to get better profit. from Kabul and planted them (in cannot eat more than three or four alu

Kashmir), and there are now ten or balu, but of these one take as many as a Jahangir was very much impressed

fifteen fruit-bearing trees. …The Shah- hundred in twenty four hours, specialy with the quality of the apples of

alu (cherry), to my taste, is better than of paiwandi sort. I ordered that the Kashmir. According to him, “The apples

most fruits. Four trees had born fruit in ashkan should hereafter be called the of Kashmir are celebrated for their

the Nur-afza garden (laid out by khushkan. It grows in the hills of goodness.” Jahangir also saw the

Jahangir in Kashmir). I (Jahangir) called Badakhshan and in Khurasan; the people production of guavas (amrud), grapes,

one of these Shirin-bar, the second there call it jamadami. The largest of watermelons and pomegranates in th Kush-gawar, the third, which bore the them weigh ½ misqal.” Kashmir during the 17 century. For

most fruit, Pur-bar, and the fourth, him, the quality of the guavas of Jahangir mentions two types which had less Kam-bar. One tree in Kashmir was middling. Grapes were of mulberries grown in Kashmir But in Khurram's garden (Jahangir's son, better produced in huge quantities, but most Kashmir mulberry: 1. Shah-Tut, used as known) as Shahjahan) had also born of the grapes of Kashmir were harsh and fruits and very good in taste, and 2. Tut, fruit, and I call it Shahwar. There was a of inferior quality. Similarly the quality non-eatable, but mostly used for young plant in the little garden of of pomegrates was also inferior. The rearing the silk-worms. The second 'Ishrat-afza' (joy enhancing) and this I watermelon of best quality was types of trees led to flourishment of called Nau-bar (new fruit). Everyday I produced in Kashmir. Jahangir tasted sericulture in Kahmir and they sprang up (Jahangir) plucked with my own hand very sweet and creased watermelons in in abundance. Making difference sufficient to give a flavour to my cups. Kashmir. But he found that the most of between the Shah-tut and Tut, Jahangir Although they sent them by runners the watermelons of Kashmir suffered observes, “There are no shah-tut (some from Kabul as well, yet to pick them from the worm-disease at time of their kind of large mulberry), but there are oneself from one's own garden gave ripening and became useless. About the other (tut) mulberries everywhere.

C O L U M NHistory


From the foot of every mulberry tree a speak of his interest in saffron: have grown up around it. I (Jahangir)

vine-creeper grows up. In fact, the passed (one) night at this place.” How “In the whole country of Kashmir mulberries of Kashmir are not fit to eat, the trees around the Achaval spring there is saffron only in this place with the exception of some of trees attracted the people to sit under them (Pampur). On Thursday (1620)… the grown in gardens, but the leaves are Jahangir describes in these words: “The feast of cups was held (by Jahangir) in a used to feed the silkworm. They water of this spring (Achaval) is more saffron field. Groves on groves, and (Kashmiries) bring the silkworms from plentiful than that of the other, and it plains on plains were in bloom. The Gilgit and Tibet.” Jahangir's description has a fine waterfall. Around it lofty breeze in that place scented one's of mulberry trees of Kashmir shows that plane-trees and graceful white poplars, brain. The stem is attached (close) to the Kashmiris were very much bringing heads together, have made the ground. The flower has four petals, concerned with the mulberry trees for enchanting place to sit in.” Jahangir and its colour is that of a violet. It is of sericulture purpose, and little liked very much to enjoy the beauty of the size of a Champa flower, and from interested in growing those varieties of the trees grown on the banks of the the middle of it three stigmas of saffrom mulberry trees which fruits could be springs of Kashmir. Once he went ot grow. They plant the bulbs, and in a used commonly. But this trend of Sadapur and Lar valley and found there good year obtain 400 maunds of the

th very pleasant atmosphere created by mulberry trees growth existed upto 18 current weight or 3002 Khurasan the existence of some beautiful trees. century. Walter R. Lawrence, writing on maunds. The custom is for half to go to

th He observes, “I (Jahangir) went to make Kashmir in late 19 century, gives the government and half to the an autumn tour in the direction of change in the production of mulberry cultivators. A seer (ser equivalent to 910 Sadapur and the valley of Lar, situated trees in Kashmir in terms of their grams) and sold for Rs. 10. Occasionally downstream of the Kashmir River, it had varieties. According to Walter, “ When its market price is more or less, and it is a wonderful appearance, with trees of the first days of summer arrive the an established custom that they bring all colours, such as the planes, the mulberry trees are surrounded by the saffron flowers plucked, and apricot, and others, reflected in the villagers with their outspread blankets, according to the plan they have adopted middle of the tank, and very beautiful. and cattle, ponies, and dogs, who all from the old, they take half its weight in Undoubtedly the beauties of autumn munch the sweet black or white fruits. salt as wages. There is no salt in are not less than those of spring.”There are grated varieties, the best of Kashmir, and they bring it from

which is shahtut, purple and juicy, and Hindustan.” Jahangir ' s interest in the much esteemed as a preserve. With an horticulture and other plantation of Jahangir's study of the various eye to the winter the provident Kashmir inspired him to record the types of trees both the fruit bearing and Kashmiri stores away the mulberries he various features of them in his Memoirs. t imber-giving shows that tree can not eat, and they retain their His description of the trees and their plantation was very much facilitated by sweetness long.” (Walter R. Lawrence, productions provides huge materials to the huge availabity of water in Kashmir's Valley of Kashmir, Srinagar, 1967, p. the historians for historical study of river, lakes and streams. About the 348). Thus Jahangir's mention of the people of Kashmir in terms of their plantation of the trees around the a mulberry trees helps to understand the socio-economic dependence on stream, near to Panj Brara Jahangir economic history of Kashmir in terms horticulture and timber giving trees. writes, “In the neighbourhood of Panj people's association with the trees for More importantly, Jahangir's account Brara is a meadow (julga) exceedingly their uses for different purposes. es tab l i shes that the Mugha l s clean and pleasant, with seven lofty

participated in the process of the Jahangir rated the saffron as one plane-trees (Chinars) in the middle of economic growth of Kashmir. They of the wonders and specialties of it. The Kashmiris call it Satha Bhuli. It is respected their sentiments and inspired Kashmir. For him, saffron flowers were one of the great resorts of Kashmir. them to bring more and more areas the sources of both the enjoyment and Similarly Jahangir speaks of huge under cultivation in terms of financial benefits. He observed the potentialities of growing of trees horticulture. The Mughal gardens of cultivation of saffron very minutely. around other streams of Kashmir. Kashmir speak of the Mughals' concerns He gives very interesting account of According to him, “The beauty of this with indigenous culture of Kashmir and saffron production from its sowing to spring (of Inch) is more than one can the their inclusive policy for the cultural its flower plucking. The following describe, and large trees of ancient development in the region.description of saffron by Jahangir years, plane, white and black poplars,

C O L U M NHistory

RETFALACITILOP L I F E

A Reporter’s Diary


SAIF-UD-DIN SOZ

n summer last year when Peoples IDemocratic Party pulled the rug to

engineer unceremonious fall down of

Ghulam Nabi Azad government, his

senior Congress colleague and president

of the state Congress Prof Saif-ud-Din

Soz assumed a larger than life

prominence. Soz was then also a Union

Minister and member of the Congress

Working Committee. When Azad

resigned on July 7, 2009, he was left

with very little power at hand. Congress

leadership in Delhi felt that crisis

(Amarnath land row) in Jammu and

Kashmir was a consequence of Azad's

inept handling of the issue. In the given

situation, almost entire rank and file of

Congress party in state nearly deserted

RECENTENGAGEMENTS

I regret to say that a section of press in Jammu and Kashmir have published a

statement of a senior leader casting insinuation on my integrity and probity. The

statement gives an impression that I was behind the stories that got published in

Kashmir Times and Hindustan Times recently suggesting the role of the senior leader

in destabilizing the Cong-NC alliance in Jammu and Kashmir. The insinuations

directed against me are nothing but a pack of lies.

A two-page document full of ire against my person (his ghost writer going to the

extreme, in slander) is unbecoming of a senior leader.

I categorically say that I had not spoken to anybody in the Kashmir Times and

Hindustan Times, the papers that carried certain details regarding warming up of the

person towards PDP to destabilize the NC-INC coalition. I have no knowledge on the

background of these stories.

What the leader had spoken to groups of people during his long tours of the J&K

State recently and the leaks of his speeches is now public knowledge. All the stories on

that tour appeared in various news papers. As for the particular stories, against which

he directed his ire and extreme anger against me, the names of journalists had also

appeared and the truth could easily be nailed if he had tried to do so.

It is politically absurd and ethically obnoxious to indulge in character

assassination and blackmail of the kind his statement reflected. If he is prepared to nail

the truth and proves my involvement, I will apologise publicly. The media persons in

the length and breadth of the State know me for not saying anything off the record.

There was absolutely no justification for the leader to lose his cool and go to the extreme

of indecency, unnecessarily.

I believe in working transparently and in a cooperative manner with the cadres at

all levels to strengthen the Party.

As for the induction of seven Congress Party Ministers in the J&K Council of

Ministers, it is the Party high Command that had approved the list.

Sd/-

(Saifuddin Soz)New Delhi, July 14, 2009

RETFALACITILOP L I F EA Reporter’s Diary


Azad and started rallying behind Soz. Wisdom says that

'politics is the art of the possible' but still many people

don't understand. Scenario changed with the turn of

events. Congress brought Azad back to utilize his

energies for the March-April 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

He was re-inducted as General Secretary (a powerful

position in party) and made incharge of party affairs in

key states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Orissa. As UPA

returned to power at Center, roles for many also

changed. Soz, Minister in the previous government, did

not find place in new team while Azad was made a

Minister without much fuss and given key Ministry of

Health and Family Welfare. All those Congress leaders

from J&K who switched sides last year have now made 5-

South Avenue Lane (Azad's residence) in New Delhi as

their favourite and most frequently visited destination.

Azad had, last year, decided to take back seat in view of

new realities but in the latest scenario Soz is not coming

to terms. The fight between the two is now open and is

being fought through sections of Press in the state, which

both feel is loyal to them but is actually to none. Few

stories against Azad appeared in two important local

newspapers suggesting that Azad was snubbed by Sonia

Gandhi for his 'meddling' in J&K affairs. The stories had

quoted all unnamed sources. Few days later another

story appeared in a Srinagar newspaper based on Azad's

'interview' to an unnamed news agency where he goes on

say that a senior leader (not named but obviously Soz) is

running through a bad patch of frustration on feeling

isolated and sidelined. “An accidental politician is

jealous of my popularity when crowds in thousands pour

on Kashmir streets to greet me and he is not able to draw

even ten persons for him in his home constituency”, the

newspaper quoted Azad as having told the unnamed news

agency. Around the same time there was expansion of NC-

Congress coalition government which caused more bad

blood. A strong section of Congress leaders felt that Soz

blocked their prospects of becoming Ministers.

Prominent among them was Choudhary Mohammad Aslam

who resigned as leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

Since then there is a series of press conferences and

street protests both in Srinagar and Jammu and also in

other smaller towns of the state. Interestingly, these

protests and press conference are led by the second rung

or little known Congress men and, interestingly, all these

events revolve around Soz –one in his favour and the

other against him. As this alternative mechanism of

grouse and support continues, Soz put a statement in the

press against an unnamed “senior Congress leader”. The

statement is reproduced here in full and it needs to no

guess work to find out who Soz is talking about.

BHIM SINGH

mar Abdullah expanded his Ministry on July 11 and the Ofallouts were obvious. Many potential aspirants of

ministerial berths protested in open. After a week-long of

protests the anger now appears to be settling down but here

is one man who is not relenting –Bhim Singh. Singh's

Panthers Party has nothing to do with the ruling coalition

partners –the National Conference and the Congress –but

still his is the most vocal voice against composition of

Omar's Ministry. A master PR man of his own personality and

party, Singh is dishing out loads of press releases every

evening which read like this –“a convention of Panthers

Party leaders was held at (such and such place) where a

resolution was moved by Prof Bhim Singh and adopted by all

by voice vote seeking ouster of coalition government which

is headed by childish and immature Chief Minister Omar

Abdullah”.

RETFALACITILOP L I F EA Reporter’s Diary


SYED ALI SHAH GEELANI

ince early Sthis year,

aging separatist

hardliner has

rarely been seen

in open or on

television

screens. Yet, he

is one such

Kashmir

separatist leader

who has been

felt and read

the most in first

six months of

2009. Geelani

has most

remained under

'house arrest' or

under judicial or

unknown police

custody. Despite

a restricted or

almost no

movement, he is

the man who

controlled life in

the Valley. From

Shopian to Doru

in Anantnag and from Sopore to Baramulla in the north almost all shutdowns and the protest demonstrations have been held

at his call. The state authorities over past one month booked him in four cases. One by one, he got bail in all and the

authorities were ready with the fifth case. Geelani is again under detention. Government feels that placing Geelani under

detention will ease situation in Valley but an end to his strike calls is yet to come. “Under such a scenario when police

targets unarmed protestors we don't have any other alternative but to resort to shutdowns and strikes. This is only peaceful

means available with us to lodge our protests against the repressive measures being adopted by Indian government to crush

the freedom sentiment of Kashmiris,” says 79-year-old senior separatist leader, who is presently under detention.

MUZAFFAR HUSSAIN BAIG

his senior leader of the Peoples Democratic Party does a de nova. He appears with a band and Tdisappears without leaving a noise. And this happens twice or thrice a year. Baig is PDP's

intellectual capital of rare parallels but it is very difficult to get him to work when party needs. He

works when he likes. A leading Supreme Court lawyer before joining active politics, Baig has fallen

out with the Muftis quite often. When party feels that rumours are filling political space about Baig's

fallout with the Muftis, he is given an assignment of his taste to allay the apprehensions. Currently he

is on job to lecture the party workers on PDP's self-rule proposal. His first closed-doors convention

took off in Jammu recently.

801, Exchange Road, Jammu. Mb. : 9906299384, 9419133065

Anand GroupsAnand GroupsBest Coaching Classes for

SCIENCE & COMMERCE

GGAA

Hardwork & Networking Engg.

MCSE, CCNA, RHCE & MCPProfessional Accountant

Tally, Busy, Manual

Be a

F-32, Exchange Road, Kachi Chawni, Jammu. Mobile : 99062-86709

CHARMERS INSTITUTE

SPOKEN ENGLISH BY EXPERTSemail : [email protected]+91 0 94191 08291Fax : +91 191 2471956http:\\www.teragroup.co.in

RAGHAV SHARMA TERA

Terawww.teragroup.co.in

Group

H BOT ILLIONSFAST FOOD RESTAURANT

H BOT ILLIONS

Contact :Rehari Chungi, B.C. Road, Jammu

Ph. : 0191-2543498, Mb. : 94191 43214

HOT

BILLIONS

www.hotbillions.com


Classified MartREACH OUT TO DECISION MAKERS

For booking your advertisement on this page contact Bali @9419631610, 9906362115

M.JACKSON DANCING INSTITUTEImprove your Personality Special classes for Ramp Modeling for Boys & Girls

J.R. SHARMA (Jackson)Mb: 9419149906

Institute Timing :For boys and Girls 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M

Ladies Classes for 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon

MAIN CHOWK, JANIUR, JAMMU

M.J.C.I.SRegd. No. : 4515.S


Classified MartREACH OUT TO DECISION MAKERS

For booking your advertisement on this page contact Bali @9419631610, 9906362115

DVA solutionsDON’T WORRY ABOUT UR EDUCATION & CAREER PROBLEMSMBBS, MBA, MDS, BDS, MD/MS, B.Tech, BCA, BE, etc.In top most colleges in Indiaunder Management/NRI Quota

ContactJammu - DVA SolutionsF-32 IInd Floor Exchange Road, JammuMobile : 9205045005, 9018444122, 9796023451Delhi : 09813037731CO

NFIRM

ADMI

SSION

Kachi Chawni/Talab Tillo, Jammu. Mb. : 9419191624

FOUNDATION COURSESth5 th6 th7 th8 th9 th10

th 11 th& 12MORN MATINS

Xlusively for CBSE

COMMERCE

Corporate Office :

FWK Club Jammu :

FWK Club Kashmir :

Suite : 2, Sector-3, Extn., Khullar Market, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu - 180012Ph. : 0191-2470429 Voice : 9796236504-530, 9419131060, 9796237786, 9419131190, 9796237086

M/S SHARDA WORLDWIDE SERVICE370-A, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Ph : 9419190628, 9796236510

M/S KASHIEV TRAVEL INNSuite : 6, 3rd Floor, Alpine Complex, Near Tata Indicom Office, Karan Nagar, Srinagar (Kashmir) Voice : 9419763387, 9419551325, 9906717135, 9205146866

FLIGHTS TICKETS Compare and get the best prices on all Domestic & International Airlines/Hotel & Rental Car. Instant delivery of tickets by SMS & e-mail.

TRAIN TICKETS Instant train tickets on Indian Railways. You will be authorized railway agents from IRCTC. (We provide you Digital Certificate from IRCTC)

Adarash Bali @99063621159419631610

email : [email protected]

For booking your advertisement on this page call

JDA

Jammu Development Authority

ON THE PATH OF DEVELOPMENT

Jammu Development Authority prides itself in shouldering the responsibilities to

create, develop and maintain the infrastructure for the Jammuites. It creates

homes for homeless, business for unemployed and beautification of the “City of

Temples”. Colonies like Trikuta Nagar, Roop Nagar, Janipur, Bantalab (Rajinder

Nagar) etc. are living examples of our work. Commercial Centres like Transport

Nagar, Fruit Mandi commercial capital of Jammu the Rail Head Complex including

Bahu Plaza (A 21st Century Shopping Arcade), Kacchi Chawni and various parking

lots are inimitable stamps of JDA on the City’s Horizon.

JDA does not rests on its laurels but continuously strives to identify new changes

and in the days to come, JDA plans to gift Jammuites a Science Centres, Bahu

Plaza Ph-3rd, Bus Stands, ISBT, River Front Development and Sair Ghah at Trikuta

Nagar and much much more....

Vika Bhawan, Rail Head Complex, Jammu

epilogue aug2009

Documents