A silent valley

A small district in the lap of rocky mountains, Kargil has been making headlines during all Indo-Pakistan skirmishes since Partition. Onc...

A small district in the lap of rocky mountains, Kargil has been making headlines during all Indo-Pakistan skirmishes since Partition. Once known for polo, archery and a variety of district folk dances, this entire area has since turned into a battlefield with hundreds of Pakistani shells wreaking havoc everyday.

A senior bureaucrat and scholar, Dr S.S. Bloria, who wrote the book Battles of Zojila 8212; 1948, believes there are three main reasons why Pakistan has opened this front: Kargil is the only major town and district headquarters of the state that comes in the range of Pakistan artillery fire; it is the main link between the entire Ladakh region and the state; and as it is completely free from militancy, no one could anticipate the infiltration in the area.

Situated in the north-east of Kashmir Valley, 205 km from Srinagar, Kargil district was carved out in July 1979 after the district of Ladakh was bifurcated. The district, spread over 14,036 km, is generally devoid of any natural vegetation and hasbarren rocky mountains all around. The population density of the district is seven persons per square km as against the average of 59 persons per square km in the state.

Kargil district has two tehsils 8212; Kargil and Zanskar 8212; with seven blocks. They are Drass, Kargil, Sankoo, Tai-Suru, Zanskar, Shargol and Shaknar Chiktan. Drass, Kargil and Shankar Chitkan are on the border, making them even more vulnerable. Kargilis are said to be the descendants of Mongol, Dard and Mon races, and had long remained under the cultural and religious influence of Tibet. A majority of the population of this Purik8217; area had been Buddhists before Islam came here in 14th century. Nowadays, a majority of the Kargilis are orthodox Shia Muslims. Kargil, in fact, is the only Muslim-dominated district of Jammu and Kashmir which has not been affected by militancy during the past 10 years of turmoil.

Kargil came into prominence during the 14th and the 16th centuries. The areas of the present Kargil district including some parts ofBaltistan were known as Purik after the name of the renowned Purik Sultan who had set up his kingdom in the valley of Suru river.

It is said that the name Kargil8217; was originally Kharkil8217; 8212; combining Khar8217; and Rkhil8217; 8212; which means 8220;the kingdom in between8221;. Interestingly, Kargil is equidistant from Srinagar, Leh, Zanskar and Skardu in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. According to another widely believed story, the name Kargil has been derived from Gar8217; and Khil8217;. Gar8217; means coming from any place while khil8217; is stop.

There are six ethnic groups living in Kargil 8212; Balti, Ladakhi, Purki, Zanskari and Dard Shin 8212; and around 99 per cent of the district8217;s population is scheduled tribe. It is believed that Ali Sher Khan Anchan of Skardu 8212; a contemporary of Akbar 8212; was the first to invade Purik8217;, annex it and influence the Purik8217; culture with the Balti culture of his native place.

Story continues below this ad

Later, it was the commander of the Dogra army, General Zoawar Singh, who invaded Ladakh in 1846 and finally annexed theentire region to the present Jamp;K state. The Dogra army invaded Suru valley through Warwan pass where they encountered Ladakhi forces at Langkerchey, 35 km from Kargil. The Ladakhi king Tsepal Namgyail was defeated in a fierce battle and the Dogras took over the kingdoms of Baltistan, Purik, Zanskar and the entire Ladakh region, and annexed it to their state.

Soon after the partition of the country in 1947, Pakistan had occupied the entire Skardu, Kargil and Drass, right up to Zojila. However, the Indian troops had pushed them back in November 1948 and taken over Drass and Kargil.Kargil has a diverse tribal culture and its tribal dances are distinct. The ancient Shina and Ani Talwar dance of Dard Shins of Drass is famous. Balti ghazals sung by folk singers exhibit the richness of Balti poetry and literature. Brokpa dance is generally performed in Batalik area. It is widely believed that the inhabitants of Batalik are direct descendants of the Aryans. It is said that when Alexander invaded India, some of hissoldiers were so taken in by the Batalik valley that they settled down there.Neyopa dance is performed in Wakha Mulbakh, 40 km from Kargil town on the Kargil-Leh road, while Seethot dance is performed in Losar and at marriage ceremonies in Bodh Kharboo. A seven-day cultural programme is held in the area every year 8212; attracting tourists from all over.

Mendok Lyanmo is a dance performed by unmarried youth on the advent of summer as a thanksgiving ritual to the gods for seeing them through the long cold winter. In Shankar Chiktan block of Kargil district, people have a penchant for folk songs and Royang Lhu is a famous cultural festival during which they sing and dance.

The peace-loving people of Kargil, Drass, Batalik and adjoining areas 8212; living now in constant fear with shells being dropped at regular intervals 8212; are, however, not too sure if they will be able to sing and dance again. 8220;All that seems in such distant past now,8221; says Mohammad Sadiq, a hotel owner in Kargil.