Leh is the historical symbol of the Buddhist civilisation heritage. This is how it earns a special status in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Many people do not know that Buddhism had its hegemony even in the Valley of Kashmir and Islam entered the Valley at a later date. A special feature of Jammu and Kashmir state is that the followers of three religions inhabit three separate regions. If Jammu is Hindu dominated Kashmir has Muslim majority. In the two districts of Leh and Kargil, Buddhists are in a majority. All told the state though Muslim-dominated agreed to accede to India thereby routing the two-nation theory propounded by Jinnah.

Jammu-Kashmir should have been accepted as a symbol of secularism. But the reality is that politicals and political outfits have mocked at the secular structure of the state for their selfish gains. The world knows that the Muslim population of the Valley sings its own tune. Jammu is caught up in a different sort of tension which is being invested with communal hues. Instead of tying the two regions in a unity-knot, they are being put on a course of collision. All such expectations have been dashed to the ground that the unity between National Conference and Bhartiya Janata Party would strengthen the relationalties between Jammu and Kashmir. The Bhartiya Janata Party wilds influence in Jammu and NC has an influence in the Valley. Bot are allies at the central capital. But is lamentable that tension has not ebbed away. Instead it shows an increasing curve. Their friendship is a mere political showmanship. The BJP leadership does not miss an opportunity to hurl invectives on the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah. A BJP leader went to the extent of calling him a traitor.

Now Leh is turning into an arena of the political activities of these two outfits. In the Buddhist dominated Leh Congress has also played its trump card. Everybody’s eyes are glued to the elections being held in August-September for the Leh and has decided to set up a regional branch in Ladakh which includes Leh and Kargil. A lot of effort has already been invested in this behalf. Ladakh now will not be a branch of the Provincial Congress Committee but will be subordinated directly to the central leadership of the party in the same fashion as Bombay is.

Congress has been in active politics in Leh for years. The party gained much ground as its leadership remained in the lands of P Namgyal, who is a simple person and has a clean image. It .. a fact that Namgyal lost parliamentary elections two times and its reason is not his tainted image but the soaring tensions between the Buddhists and the Muslims. Leh is inhabited by the Buddhists and Kargil is dominated by Shia Muslims. The parliamentary constituency is formed by Leh and Kargil put together. Shri Namgyal strained every nerve to maintain communal harmony, but in Kargil he does not poll sufficient number of votes because of fanatic Shia Muslims. It in itself is a separate saga.

It is feared that the battle to protect the Buddhist religion and civilisation may be put on a back-burwer because the increasing ambitions of the political parties. It may even put a question-mark on the integrity of the J&K State. That the Congress set up a regional branch in Ladakh pointers to the fact that the divergences between the provincial leadership and the local leadership cannot be bridged. The BJP has been firming its fool-hold in Leh for many years and has tried to establish its separate identity under the name of Sindhu Darshan’. NC has been avoiding well-known leaders of Leh even though a reputed Lama of Thiksay Gompa has NC connections. The party is trying hard to prop-up a dummy leadership. In this back-ground setting a question emerges as to what happens to the battle which the Buddhists have launched to maintain their distinct identity. The same battle was fought by Kushak Bakula in absolute peace and north great restraint. Lama Lobzang and his comrades have given the battle a fiercer colour and five years before Thupsam Chawang and his companions, namely Rigzin Zora, Tsering Dorjay and Spalbar gave it a further push and achieved a major success in the establishment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council.

The Council is an elected organisation and Tsawang is it chief executive. The functionaries of the Council contend that the state government creates hurdles in its normal functioning. Even the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, is not happy with the Council. It got established when Farooq though in Leh, did not attend the inaugural function of the council building built with its own moneys

The Buddhists have a deep grouse that they are not allowed to prescue, protect and shape their religion, civilisation and culture and are bereft of job opportunities in governmental structures. They harbour a deep sense of ire againsts attempts to convert the poor Buddhist girls. This got reflected when the Muslims were boycott in economic and social matters. The boycott was withdrawn when Namgyal and other supporters of the movement brought home to them that such acts generate communal tension which is not in sync with their thought and philosophy. But it never connotes that there is a shift in their though and change in their anger, especially of the youngsters. The anger is still there unabated and tension continues without a let up.

This is why they added a new dimension to the campaign by demanding union territory status. The return of Kushuk Bakula is a ray of hope in this otherwise dark scenario. Bakula returned to his home town after relinquishing his office in Mangolia as India’s ambassador. He has been ...during Ladakh extensively. In an interview at Leh he said that it is important for Ladakh to be within India and it is equally important that Buddhism should thrive in Ladakh. Bakula is a vigorous supporter of Leh and Kargil as one geographical entity. He holds that the Kargilis should be persuaded to be a part of Ladakh. As per him, the Shia leaders of Kargil act according to their wayward will, thus suppressing the commoners in the expression of their mind. Hence people need to be educated on political affairs.

In the context of India, Buddhism and Ladakh Bakuloa says that Buddhism is the connecting link between India and Ladakh. Buddhism originated in India and its story would have ended in Ladakh had it not been a component of India. He also said that Buddhism is the motivating factor for the locals to render tremendous co-operation to the army whenever borders become tense and active. It happened in the Kargil war. The ‘Sindu Darshan’ campaign started by BJP leaders, he believes, should remain a cultural programme and it would be wrong to tive it a religious colour. There is a growing fear among a section of the Buddhists that their civilisation might be targeted.

He also made it clear that the people of Leh are unhappy with the demand of autonomy mooted by the State government. If autonomy is conceded, they hold that the Buddhist culture in Ladakh will face extinction. It is largely correct that Leh people are opposed to the demand of autonomy as envisaged by the Farooq government. They believe that it will loosen the bonds and linkages with other parts of the country and their own religion and culture will be adversely effected. This is why the special session of Legislative Assembly to discuss the autonomy demand triggered off the demand for Union Territory status in Leh.

This tension can be reduced by the J&K government if it takes the popular leaders of Leh into confidence. The Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, must prove wise to tackle the situation and usefully utilise the presence of Kushak Bakula. He should be positive in accepting the Hill Council and should directly talk to Tsawang and his comrades. It is really important to demolish the walls of suspicion between Leh and Srinagar Abdullah must understand that he should grant the same status to the Buddhist Leh as he aspires to have for J&K in India.