Ladakh: The story of migration
Zojila the gate way of Ladakh is located on national highway
between Sonamarg and Drass. It is life-line connectivity
between the outer world and the unforgettable land known as Ladakh. All kind of trade, transport and
communication depends upon the opening and closing of this gate way.
Due to its different topography, the agriculture season is very
short and people have to stock up food grains, essential commodities and
provisions for the harsh winters during which they remain completely cutoff from
the rest of the world. During the winter season, people have to face many
challenges and difficulties because of extreme cold in the snow-covered mountainous
area.
Even when Zojila pass is
reopened for general traffic during the six months summer period, travelling
through it remains a great risk due to the presence of heavy snow. Traffic
cannot run smoothly for the whole year because of snow avalanches, blizzard and
landslides. These obstacles render the high way rough and narrow. These circumstances
have proved fateful for many drivers, passengers, who have not only lost their
property, but their life as well on this road.
With the advent of this harsh winter, many aged people from Ladakh
migrate to Srinagar, Jammu or other states of India because of the non-availability
of basic health care facilities in the region; and also in order to escape the
life threatening chill of winters. Youths migrate for their education because of
the paucity of good teachers and educational institutions.
Migration then what…?
Many of these temporary migrations over time have changed into
permanent ones on a significantly large scale. Many people from Leh, Kargil and
their adjoining areas now look for livelihood opportunities either in other warmer
and better connected cities of the state or in other states of India and even abroad.
Hence the temporary mobility of winters has slowly transformed into permanent adaptation
to new areas. This migration has made a great impact on the unique culture of
this snow land. For example, earlier the People used to wear home knit and home
spun woolen clothes obtained from their tamed lambs or sheep. Now these
domestic garments are limited to handloom centers and people prefer to purchase
imported dresses. This in turn has affected the livelihood of local artisans.
The migration also affected the language of this region. Now the
new generation that resides outside its land of origin does not prefer to speak
in its mother tongue. They rather prefer to speak in Urdu or other language
than in Balti, Purki and Shina etc.
Many in the region fear that if nothing is done to improve the
connectivity of this place with the rest of the state it will not lose its
inhabitants but also its culture.
Author:
Abdul Hussain Muntazree
Student
of Convergent Journalism
Central
University of Kashmir
Published in 'Samanbal'
