The installation of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji on the banks of the Pangong Tso lake, at an altitude of 14,300 feet, in Eastern Ladakh has sparked a debate ever since it was inaugurated on December 26, with some local leaders questioning the move.
The statue was inaugurated by officers of the Maratha Light Infantry.
“The towering symbol of valour, vision and unwavering justice was inaugurated by Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, GOC Fire and Fury Corps and Colonel of the Maratha Light Infantry,” the Ladakh-based 14 Corps, or the Fire and Fury Corps as they are known, said in a post on X.
However, Khonchok Stanzin, a councillor for the Chushul area of Leh and a member of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council (Leh), expressed discontent over the installation of the statue.
“As a local resident, I must voice my concerns about the Shivaji statue at Pangong. It was erected without local input, and I question its relevance to our unique environment and wildlife. Let’s prioritise projects that truly reflect and respect our community and nature,” he said.
Political activist Sajjad Kargilli also criticised the move, questioning the statue’s cultural significance to Ladakh. “There is no cultural or historical relevance for Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Ladakh. While we respect his legacy, imposing such cultural symbols here is misplaced,” he said.
Instead, he suggested that the people of Ladakh “would appreciate the installation of statues honouring local historical figures, like Khree Sultan Cho or Ali Sher Khan Anchen and Seenge Namgyal”.
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He also emphasised that even these statues “should not be placed in environmentally sensitive areas like Pangong, which require careful preservation”.
Mudtafa Haji, a lawyer from Ladakh, also questioned the logic behind installing a statue of Shivaji in the region and asked, “Why have a statue of a king in an ecologically sensitive area anyway?”
The lake, divided between India and China, is in an ecologically and strategically sensitive area.
Veterans from the armed forces have also been divided on the issue of the statue. Retired Major General Birendra Dhanoa commented on the 14 Corps’ post, and said, “In the armed forces, no flag ought to fly higher than the national flag or the regiment flag.” He also questioned the decision to publicise the inauguration of the statue on social media. “Why was a unit and ‘colonel of the regiment’ affair publicised on social media? Are all fixed class units erecting statues across the Corps Z that are in keeping with their ancestral satraps? If not, then SM isn’t the place for a one-off,” he said.
Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies.
Expertise
Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics.
Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers:
Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state.
Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights.
Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More
