Dr. Mahesh Kaul
Patience,purity of thought and action are the seeds of integrity that sprout with the nourishment of centuries old wisdom.People of Ladakh uphold this tradition of Himalayan wisdom. Ladakh region of the state of Jammu & Kashmir is a place that has been in the forefront of bearing both climatic and man- made challenges from ancient times. And not only that it is the fulcrum of the geo-strategic equation in the Himalayas that has kept the people on the tenterhooks to make their life move on amid all odds of international politics eclipsing this region. Be it the India -China war of 1962 or the regular intrusion of the Chinese forces and border skirmishes; people of Ladakh have kept their spirits high.
It is not without a reason that the people of Ladakh have been able to develop sustainable socio-cultural mechanism that is more close to nature than to artificial intervention of the man.The source of this aesthetically eco-friendly human-nature dyad harmony is due to upholding of the tenets of spiritual truths that are derived from the realisation of divinity in all forms of surroundings that sustain the eco-system.
This spiritual heritage of continuous progression that catalysed with the increase of the sphere of influence of the practical teachings of Buddhism which was Sanskritised through Tantras makes it more a matter of nuanced research.As Tantras that have Sanskrit origin not in terms of language only but civilizational values as well need to be internalised for scientific aspects that make them more harmonious than artificial intervention.
The model that Ladakh has developed through collective will of the people is comprehensive as it is based on infinite wisdom of civilisation that has shaped the Northern Frontier of India.
This wisdom of Ladakhi people that has sustained them even in terms of lack of resources and deficit of infrastructure besides the discrimination that they have faced from successive regimes in terms of development should make other backward regions of India emulate our peaceful and eco -friendly brethren.
Labour of silent and dedicated love for the Motherland India amid all suffering that can’t be reflected by mere words but it can’t go un noticed either .When one is aesthetically harmonious with the bounties and resources of nature then silence of nature echoes it more profoundly than the empty human noise of propaganda.It is in this context that we should see the words of appreciation for the Ladakhi people that Prime Minister ,Narendra Modi showered a few days ago, when he was on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir and was speaking at the closing ceremony of the centenary birth celebrations of the Buddhist spiritual leader Kushak Bakula. Modi was not out place,when he said, “Despite hardships and inaccessibility,Ladakhis have set up an example in endeavouring hardships and yet continuing their march of progress and development. This example has to be followed by people of the valley and Jammu region.” It is a significant statement.When the so called Jammu and Kashmir experts that have always their tongue in cheek while suggesting solutions to mitigate the ethno-religious conflict in the state by adopting those models that have no significance to the present crisis as these models are grounded in separatism and unhinging the state from the national mainstream; Narendra Modi’s remark should be seen as a weapon to show such so called experts their place by recognising the Ladakh model of harmony and development as the key to success for the other two regions of the state.
He did not stop here,he recognised the entrepreneurial skills of the Ladakhi people ;especially the women.He said, “Your self -confidence has taken Ladakh to great heights from the days of backwardness.I am told today that the entrepreneurship of the women of Ladakh is an example for the rest of the country.”It is a very significant statement again, when seen from the national perspective. Experts have been suggesting entrepreneurship models from other states in Jammu and Kashmir for the skill development of women and youth but no one has identified the resourcefulness of the people of the state in developing their own models for growth and development amid nearly three decade long conflict.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi identified another policy paradigm ,when he underlined the tourist friendly atmosphere of Ladakh.This should been seen in the context of the killing of a tourist by stone pelters in Kashmir that has sent a negative signal in terms of tourism marketing of the state.It should be an eye opener for the tourism policy makers and marketers who paint the whole state as a danger zone for the tourists when Ladakh and Jammu regions are hospitable and tourist friendly; devoid of any threat to the tourists. He said, “With the population of just a lakh and a quarter,the people of Ladakh host two lakh tourists each year.”
With such statements ,remarks and identification of the Ladakhi resourcefulness by the Prime Minister himself ;one hopes that the neglect and discrimination faced by the people of Ladakh in terms of policy making and non-inclusion of the people in the national mainstream in the relative sense will come to an end immediately and open the floodgates of the development and participation of the Ladakhi people in the national reconstruction in the frontline Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir.This can be sensed from the following statement of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He gave a personal touch to his Ladakh visit and said, “The region is not new to me.I have come here many times.When I worked for the party and visited Ladakh ,my friends would ask me to bring some vegetables for them from Ladakh for the taste and purity of the local produce.He further said, “Ladakh was an example of great legacy of brotherhood and peace and connecting people of the country with each other was Kushak Bakula’s special attribute also known in far off Mangolia.”
This visit was the part of his main agenda that included laying the foundation stone for the Rs.6,809 crore Zojila tunnel spanning 14.2 km.Zojilla Pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway that is remains mostly closed in winters due to heavy snowfall leading to cutting away of Ladakh from Kashmir.It is expected to be completed in 2026.Expressing his views on this project he said, “Zojilla is not an infrastructure project.It is going to be a technological marvel. “He instructed the Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to finish this tunnel in a record time.
Underlining the importance of this tunnel for the development of the region and the people,he said that it will give Ladakh region round the year connectivity with the rest of the country.
Zojilla tunnel should be seen as the great strategic step that not only caters to the needs of the people but as a strategic tool as situates the region in a relatively safe geo-strategic paradigm to counter the Himalayan adversary that loses no opportunity to transgress into this region.
Prime Minister went ahead and made a comprehensive remark about the utility of the region and said, “There is no better place for solar energy development in the country than the Ladakh region.Aromatic industry is developing fast in the world.There is a shift from chemical aroma to natural aroma.This industry has a great potential here.”
It should be seen as acknowledgement of the agro and farm besides the horticulture resources of Ladakh region. There is a signal for the State Government to chip in and devise the policy measures to develop these industries to generate new avenues for employment and the apt use of local resources at the same time.
Health care has been the predominant concern for the people of Ladakh as there is no standard health care system that caters to the people.Narendra Modi was bang on target when he said, “People want a medical college here .I have taken the demand seriously and will ask the state and the Central Government to explore this possibility and furnish a report on setting up a medical college.”
Last but not the least,culture and heritage has been the anchor of Ladakhi people that has given them their identity and spiritual support to emerge as victorious amid discrimination and conflict in the state.The Sanskrit Culture and Tantra Shastra that reinforces the cultural and civilizational continuity of the region with the pan Indian Sanskrit civilizational moorings needs to be preserved as it is the anchor that has made this Himalayan Frontier region as the bulwark against the enemy designs till today.It is in this context that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s promise to make a state of art cultural centre and a digital museum for the region should be seen .It will act as the,conservation, preservation and heritage interpretation centre. Besides it will encourage the scholars to pursue their research in the local culture, Buddhism and influence of Shaiva Tantra from Kashmir that Sanskritised the Buddhism.Not only that it can lead to the new interpretation and findings of Gilgit manuscripts that have always fascinated the serious scholars from all over the world.
(The author is Chairman, Himalayan Heritage Foundation)
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