Author: Anuradha Nagaraj
Publication: The Indian
Express
Date: July 1, 2000
The tourists are in town
but the marketplaces are not bustling. For the last three weeks,
frequent strikes and bandhs have brought life in Leh to a standstill.
The shutters are down and the Buddhists are out on the streets. Led
by the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), protests against the recently
cleared Autonomy Bill in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly are growing louder
and the demand for the status of a Union territory stronger.
While the spotlight is
on Srinagar, the quiet movement in Ladakh is gaining ground. Tired
of being treated as ``second-class citizens'', the Buddhists are now saying
that they don't want to have anything to do with the state of J&K.
The monks are spreading the word around, the monasteries are holding meetings,
the LBA is doing all the paperwork and the people's voice is growing stronger.
The response to the last
call for a bandh on June 19 surprised even the organisers. People
never known to be part of any agitation got their act together and even
participated in some slogan-shouting. It is the home stretch, they
Ladakhis say, explaining why the movement has so much support despite the
fact that it is tourist season.
Sonam Yerphel's bookshop
does brisk business this time of the year. As the snow melts and
the tourists come, Yerphal makes a killing before retiring for winter.
The frequent bandh calls by the LBA have affected his cash inflow but he
says it is all for a better tomorrow. Yerphel says: ``We have educated
youth but no jobs, remote villages don't have basic amenities. Life
here is tough and the government hasn't done anything to make things easier
for us. If strikes are the answer, then we are willing to put up
with them.''
Skepotol Dorje doesn't
know how a Union territory status will make a difference in his village
but nods vigorously when Yerphel explains the logic. He, like most
other Ladhakis who are a part of the movement, does not understand the
issue well, but knows it is important.
Tsering Samphel, president
of the LBA explains: ``There is no homogeneity between the Kashmiris and
the Ladakhis. Our language is different, our culture is different,
our religion is different. We are not asking for anything unusual.
The movement for a separate identity began long ago. We do not want
to be a part of the J&K Government, more so after this whole autonomy
thing began.''
Initial protests resulted
in the formation of the Hill Council in 1995, which was created specifically
to look after the developmental needs of the region. It was a trade-off
between the government and the LBA. The Union territory demand, which
was first raised in 1974, was put on the backburner and the Hill Council
was formed. ``It was a substitute and we thought it was a fair one,''
says Samphel. ``But now things are different. The Hill Council
is marginalised by the government and has to fight for everything.
We are neglected and it is unfair.''
Agreeing with Samphel,
Hill Council chief executive Thupstan Chhewang adds: ``It is simple.
Autonomy means more domination. Everybody knows that Ladakh and more
specifically the Leh region is neglected. We are given a step-motherly
treatment. Something needs to be done and since the LBA has taken
the initiative and we are fully supporting them.''
While the present protest
in mainly from the Leh district, Muslim-dominated Kargil district is also
giving the Union territory issue a serious thought. While the Buddhist-dominated
pockets in this district have already pledged their support to the LBA,
the others are thinking about it.
