LaDaKh: A pEaCeFuL lAnD oN tHiS EaRtH

Ladakh or ‘Little Tibet’ encompasses a large tract of high mountains along the upper Indus river (Jammu & Kashmir, India), north of the main range of the West Himalaya. Comprising part of the Karakorum Mountains to the north and west, and the western margin of the Tibetan Plateau, Ladakh is evidently sheltered from precipitation almost throughout its extensive relief. The peculiar, though species-poor desert and high altitude flora of Ladakh has attracted the attention of botanists since the second half of the 19th century (Moorcroft & Trebeck 1841, Thomson 1852, Schlagintweit & al. 1861-66). Presently sandwiched between the borders of Pakistan (Northern Areas) and China (Xinjiang and Tibet/Xizang), Ladakh remained difficult to access, both on account of its physical geography and on strategic and political grounds.

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Leh (Ladakh) was known in the past by different names. It was called Maryul or low land by some Kha- chumpa by others. FaHein referred to it as Kia-Chha and Hiuen Tsang as Ma-Lo-Pho. It is said that the first Immigrants to this land appears to have been the Brokpas from Dadarstan who inhabited the lower reaches of the Indus Valley popularly known as Sham. Another wave of Immigrants who came from karja (Kulu) were the Mons an Aryan type who first settled in Gya and spread to Rong, Shayok, Sakti Tangtse and Durbuk, the area extending from Martselang to Khaltsi. Gia was the seat of government of the first Mon ruler having been elected by the whole tribe. His kingdom included the villages mentioned above, all of which was inhabited by the Mons people He was known by the title Gyapacho, derived from his being the master of Gia.

The ancient inhabitants of Ladakh were Dards, an Indo- Aryan race. Immigrants of Tibet, Skardo and nearby parts like Purang, Guge settled in Ladakh, whose racial characters and cultures were in consonance with early settlers. Buddhism traveled from central India to Tibet via Ladakh leaving its imprint in Ladakh. Islamic missionaries also made a peaceful penetration of Islam in the early 16th century. German Moravian Missionaries having cognizance of East India Company also made inroads towards conversion but with little success.

The present Ladakh was divided into two provinces while the third comprised western Tibet. The area of western Tibet slipped away from the kingdom but was reunited in 16th Century A.D.by the famous Ladakhi ruler Sengge Namgyal. Ladakh was an independent country since the middle of 10th century.In the post-partition scenario, Pakistan and China illegally occupied 78,114 sq. km and 37,555 sq.km of the state, respectively while the remaining part of the state acceded to India. Pakistan also illegally gifted 5180 sq.kms of this area to China. Ladakh, comprising the areas of present Leh and Kargil districts, became one of the seven districts of the State. In 1979 when the reorganization of the districts was carried out, the Ladakh district was divided into two full fledged district of Leh and Kargil.

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In 1995, the ladakhians created in its region the Autonomous Development Council. This way, Ladakh has an autonomous organization that will try to improve the economical and social development of the region, marked by climate and tradition. For the last two decades, Ladakh has been increasingly exposed to modern influences, brought on largely by tourism and 'development'.

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