April-June 2013 - Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

A close look at the election pattern in Kargil before the formation
of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development reveals the close
alliance between the political and religious elites.
Religious institutions play a dual role during the elections; by
firstly mobilising and determining the voting patterns in Kargil,
and secondly, in providing legitimacy to the political elites. In the
present context, with the formation of the Ladakh Autonomous
Hill Development Kargil, the religious elite have not only limited
themselves to the role of 'king makers', but have also begun to
actively participate in the process by contesting the elections
themselves.
Muzaffar Hussain, Ph.D. Scholar at JNU; from Chushot (Leh)
The everyday engagement of armed forces in Ladakh, and its
interactions with the civilian population, shows the various ways
in which the military has become an important institution in
Ladakhi society.
From the very onset, the military was involved in a range of
activities, which affected the life of people both directly and
indirectly. It affected the economy by emerging as a key
consumer of domestic products. It also created job
opportunities for people, and fulfilled civic needs by offering
services related to health, transportation, and education.
By fulfilling some of the basic requirements of the masses, the
military filled the gaping holes in various areas of civic
governance. Such involvement of the military was
institutionalised in 2002 with the introduction of Operation
Sadbhavna in Ladakh, which was earlier launched in certain
areas of the military's Northern Command in 1998.
Zainab Akhter, Research Officer at IPCS, New Delhi, and Ph.D.
Scholar at JNU; from Zanskar (Kargil)
Ladakh is of great strategic importance to India. There is a huge
problem of connectivity; be it the issue of connecting the regions
within Ladakh, or connecting it externally to countries with
which it shares its borders.
The people of Ladakh face many hardships during the harsh
winter season, wherein the entire region remains inaccessible
for more than six months. The NH1 connecting Srinagar to Kargil,
and the Manali-Leh road, are the only connecting links (roads)
between Ladakh and other parts of India, which remain blocked
for six months owing to heavy snowfall.
Although Leh is connected aerially and a private air service called
Air Mantra was launched this year in an effort to connect Kargil
to Jammu, the ground realties still remain the same. There are
other alternative routes which can be explored as they have the
potential to remain open the whole year round.
Resource Person: SS Bloeria, Vice Chancellor, Central University
of Jammu
The LAHDC has played a vital role in bringing about development
in the region. Although Kargil accepted the autonomous body a
little later, it has nonetheless proven beneficial for the people.
The army has also contributed to the positive development of
the region, and has been able to open up schools and hospitals
in order to bring about affirmative changes. Earlier, the region
was totally inaccessible and people used to travel by foot or on
horseback; but now, the situation has improved to a great
extent. Despite this, a lot is yet to be done in order to improve
connectivity in the region during the winter season.
THEME II: Society and Culture
Chimat Ladol, M.Phil. Scholar at JNU; from Changthang (Leh)
There exists in Ladakh, a strong social structure which
subordinates women. The social structure is further
strengthened by cultural-religious norms which define, and
reiterate what women are, and how they should behave.
Women have to bear the brunt of tradition and culture, while
the men-folk not only escape the responsibility of preserving the
culture, but also define codes of conduct for women.
Ladakhi women still do not consider the personal political, which
then reflects the blanket cover over domestic violence. Women
are disciplined to reiterate their identity not only by maledominated
associations, but also by female-run organisations.
Though the lead by women in field work is seen as a matter of
pride by those claiming equality for women, one needs to look
into how even after taking care of everything - from fields to
households - the work done by women still remains inferior to
men.
There are two types of marriages in Ladakh, which Katherine Hay
has talked about, magpa and bagma. In the magpa type of
marriage, the male moves in with the wife's family, and is
generally sympathised with by the people in the sense that the
groom has to bear with the bride's family; while the latter
bagma, is seen as acceptable and 'natural' no matter how much
the bride suffers.
Sumera Shafi, Ph.D. Scholar at JNU; from Leh
In the pre-independence era, Ladakh boasted of a syncretised
society with a composite culture. It was, therefore, common for
people from the two religious communities to inter-marry and
possess names such as Rigzin Ali, Namgial Musa, etc. There was
an ideal sense of communal harmony, which has been eulogised
by some scholars who often referred to it as the 'last Shangri-La'.
It is true that Ladakh has been insulated from any sort of internal
violence of the magnitude experienced in its neighbouring area
of Kashmir. However, recent historical developments, especially
the induction of Ladakh into the national boundaries of India in
1947, and the influx of modernisation into the otherwise cut-off
area, has led to substantial transformations. Since then, not only
has there been an increased religiosity, but also an immense
politicisation of religion, with the syncretised Ladakhi identity
thus getting eclipsed by identities based on religious lines.
The politicisation of religion in Ladakh has led to communal
violence and identity politics, which has been detrimental to
peace in the region.
Fayaz Hussain, Ph.D. Scholar at Punjab University, Chandigarh;
from Kargil
The minority Buddhists claim that there was a monastery in
ruins in Kargil town, near general hospital, which they wanted to
renovate. However, the majority Muslims opposed this claim
after which the place has been declared disputed by the
authorities.
The demand to be declared an union territory, and for an
Autonomous Hill Development Council by the political leaders of
Leh in the early nineties, without consulting the political and
religious leaders of Kargil, created doubt and distrust in the
minds of people in Kargil.
Recently in 2012, tensions erupted in the Zanskar valley of Kargil
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