O P Sharma
Name of book : Buddhists Playing with Fire
Author : Prof Hari Om
Publisher: Har Anand, New Delhi
Year :2024
Pages: 264
Price : Rs 999
This 264-page book in English entitled ” Buddhists Playing with Fire” depicting recent political history of Ladakh in post-August 5, 2019 has been written by Prof Hari Om, former Dean, Social Studies and Head, PG History Department in the University of Jammu. It is an authentic and authoritative account of all the issues and political moves and developments in the last about five years since August 5, 2019 when Article 370 and Article 35A were abrogated resulting in re-organisation of J&K State into UT status for Ladakh as also Jammu and Kashmir headed separately by Lt Governors with stepped up administrative and development activities going on , especially in the Ladakh in the trans-Himalayan part of India.
True Perspective
Prof Hari Om has undertaken detailed and objective study of all issues and happenings in this Buddhist majority Union Territory in Ladakh of Leh district and Zanskar tehsil of Kargil while Shia Muslims have sizeable population in Kargil district. Both the districts of Leh and Kargil in Ladakh region have separate Hill Development Councils with autonomous status to carry on developmental work with the LG heading this UT.
Factual Account
This book throws light on the history of Buddhists struggle (1947-2019) for separation of trans-Himalayan Ladakh from Kashmir Division and Central Rule for the Ladakh region for abrogation of Article 370 and re-organisation of Jammu and Kashmir with UT of Ladakh. On August 5,2019 the re-organisation evoked positive response from Buddhists and “luke warm” response from Kargil district leadership.
Authentic Narration
The book record ” sudden and mind-boggling change in the political attitude of the leadership in Ladakh was noticed in 2020 with the non-BJP Buddhist leadership changed their goalpost. So much so, they and the otherwise highly hostile Kargil’s Muslim leadership joined hands to first demand Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution so that the Ladakhis could control the entire land and all jobs and subsequently put forth a demand for full statehood with legislature.
Geo-political Importance.
The author also gives account of parleys between the agitators and the Union Home Ministry for restoring peace in this geo-politically sensitive area.
The new status of legislature would negate what the great Buddhist leaders like Chherwang Rigzin; Head Lama of Ladakh Kushak Bakula Rinpoche, did after 1947 and cautioned against the nefarious political designs against Buddhists.
Prof. Hari Om has also headed Maharaja Gulab Singh Chair in the University of Jammu. Besides, he served the Indian Council of Historical Research for six years and also remained Professor of History in the NCERT quite some years back.. He co-authored “Contemporary India,” a textbook for the class IX students.
He has authored “Abrogation of Article 370: Supreme Court’s Landmark Judgement”; “The 1998 Jammu revolt: How Farooq Abdullah saved his Government”; “Nation Betrayed: Essays on Contemporary Jammu and Kashmir”. “Administration of Justice in Jammu and Kashmir”, “Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir”, “Debacle in Kashmir”, “Beyond the Kashmir Valley” and “Jammu and Kashmir: Conflicting perceptions”; co-edited “Politics of autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir” and “Burning issues in Jammu and Kashmir”; as also co-authored “Social justice of Dr BR Ambedkar”.
Asked what prompted/motivated to write on Ladakh, he replied it was the miserable plight of the peace-loving and God-fearing Ladakhi Buddhists who fought for the cause of the discrimination and being under-threat perception..
“It was only on August 5. 2019 that the Narendra Modi Government created a history of sorts and apart from reading down the seditious Article 370 and discriminatory Article 35A and bifurcated the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories- Union Territory of Ladakh and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Buddhists celebrated August 5 as a day of “thanks-giving” and as a day of deliverance.
The Buddhist leadership shifted their goalpost from the Union Territory status to full state status as well as elected assembly completely overlooking the dangerous ramifications for the region in general and for the minority Buddhists in particular; also jeopardised the nation’s geo-political interests in the region. This also posed a “live threat” to the Buddhists’ culture, religion, identity and society for the protection and promotion of which they themselves fought relentlessly between 1947 and 2019.
Must Read for All
The book contains six chapters like ” Struggle for UT in Leh between 1947 and 2019″ ; Jubilations in Buddhist Leh”; “Subversive Explosions in Shiite Kargil”; Changing Goalpost, Formation of Apex Body”, ” Buddhists Fighting for Their Own Slavery”; “Negotiations, Impasse Continues” and last of ” “Conclusion” form important document in the form of a finely printed book with good get-up but a bit high price, may be be due to high cost of fine paper, printing and production. Both the author Prof Hari Om and the publisher Har Anand, New Delhi deserve a good word for drawing a true perspective of the most sensitive border Ladakh region having a proud history and heritage. I went through this historical factual book with gret pleasure and profit adding many facts to my knowledge. It is worth reading by all-students, scholars, politicians, historians and the prominent citizens. It must be kept in our personal selves and libraries.
(starline.syndicate.service@gmail.com)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
