The three regions of erstwhile state of Jammu & Kahsmir, namely- Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, are completely different in the terms of societal norms, culture, point of view towards history, religion and many other aspects. But, the Jammu and Ladakh division, which were minority in terms of demography, had to face the tyranny of majority- the Muslims of Kashmir region.
For decades, the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir celebrated Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday on 5th December and Martyrs’ Day – when 22 Kashmiri Muslims were killed for inciting violence against Dogra regime- on 13th of July 1931.
Now, according to ThePrint, the Union Territory of Ladakh has decided to drop the Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday on 5th December and the observation of Martyr’s Day on 13th July from the state holiday list.
The erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir, where more than 70 percent of the population is Muslim, has always had a Muslim chief minister since independence. Almost all the state policies, official holidays, laws, and decision were in favour of the Muslim majority. Therefore, there was discontent in Hindu and Buddhist population, which reside in the Jammu and Ladakh region respectively.
The region of Jammu and Ladakh used to observe the Kashmir’s Martyrs’ day as black day, as the new regime was unfavorable to them. Various organizations in the region like- Yuva Rajput Sabha (YRS) – used to hold protest against declaration of public holiday on 13th of July. Sheikh Abdullah, who is considered a hero by many Kashmiris, is seen as a villain by the people of Jammu and Ladakh region, given the second class citizen status of the people living in these regions in the new Kashmiri Muslim regime.
For decades, the people of Ladakh suffered from the ‘colonization’ of the region by the Kashmiri politicians and officials. The demand for separation of the region from the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir was a constant theme of Ladakh politics.
Previously, in a memorandum to Prime Minister, All Religious Joint Action Committee (ARJAC) leaders had said, “In modern times, when the whole subcontinent has passed through the process of decolonisation to enjoy the fruits of national Independence, we, the people of Ladakh, and our land still continue to suffer under the old concept of colonial administrative structure, which suited the imperial interests and feudal rulers under the name of the pseudo-state of Jammu & Kashmir.”
Ladakh region used to get step motherly treatment from the state government due to lack of bargaining power. Despite the fact that majority of the revenue of the state is central government grant, the spending on Ladakh region is very little. In the 70 years, the state government did not even provided basic infrastructure to the region and the Congress central governments also ignored it. Now Ladakh, being a separate union territory, will get funds directly from the Central government and could spend it in developing tourism in the region in order to generate revenues.
The Modi government has tried to develop the region since it came to power. Previously, a railway line connecting Ladakh to the National Capital has been approved by the central government. The railway line project will cut short the journey time between Delhi and Leh by almost half.
Among the various reasons for this demand is their inability to identify with the Dogras and the Kashmiris culturally and ethnically. Ladakh has a mixed population of Buddhists and Shias unlike the predominantly Sunni Kashmir and Hindu-majority Jammu.
Ladakhis have their own language, cuisine and culture. They look starkly different from the Dogras and Kashmiris and are closer in appearance to the neighbouring Tibetans. Ladakhis are people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent.
With the bifurcation, a historical injustice towards the Ladakh region has finally been undone, and now the region could decide its own fate, as seen in the aforementioned decision.