By Stanzin Dawa
30 Sep 2006

The Fear Factor

Couple of weeks ago I had a telephonic conversation with one of my Ladakhi friend who is a professional journalist. We have discussed about different issues related to Ladakh ranges from culture, language, development and politics. Interestingly most of our conversations were whirl-wind over the existing political situation in Ladakh. I have asked her to write on the “Political Turmoil” of Ladakh. After a pause she said “it’s not easy to write on political issues in Ladakh because people harshly maligned and affiliate you with certain political ideology or parties” Ultimately you become the victim. The “Fear Factor” of being victimized and stigmatized in the mind of people is an indication of a weak democracy.

Media is considered to be the fourth pillar of the democracy. How we can expect a strong, dynamic and resilient democracy if people are living with a fear to express freely and fearlessly? I don’t see any significance in the freedom that doesn’t allow you to express yourself freely, fearlessly and truthfully. I can understand one’s freedom has to accommodate with the freedom of others. What’s the use of that freedom in which we are living with a fear to express ourselves? Freedom comes with a great responsibility, a responsibility to protect social harmony, secularism, democracy, human rights, gender equity and of course freedom to raise the right issue at the right time. The foundation of all the education is Fearlessness, I repeat this is the foundation or you can say the beginning but of course not the end. If we are living with a “Fear Factor” and avoid our freedom to express than it’s the suicidal of our education, our humanity, our democracy, our religion, our peace of mind. Freedom should accommodate the freedom to make mistakes; otherwise it has no meaning at all. We all do make mistakes its either politicians, religious leaders, journalists, youth, farmers or any human being but we all strive for a change. Either the journalist/s is/are having fears of making mistakes or the politics in Ladakh is fearful enough by not allowing the freedom to express. I can understand it’s difficult for a free and frank journalism in places like Ladakh, because we are living in a close community. We all are imperfect in one way or other (either you accept it or not) but we all strive to live perfectly because we all have the ability to change our destiny no matter what.


I have discussed with many concerned Ladakhi about the potential threats and impacts of the existing conflict between LUTF and Congress over Ladakh’s development and integrity, goals and vision, peace and harmony, UT and autonomy. Many people with whom I have discussed were affiliated with either of one political party. They have their own logics and philosophies for the causes of conflict but everyone subscribed to the idea that ultimately it’s the people who are suffering. Why people should suffer? What are their faults? We have struggled for years and decades together in order to come out of the sufferings. We have achieved political autonomy to some extent with its own constraints. Still we are suffering! Why? When parents in the family fights or get divorced it affects the child’s development and personality, similarly if the leaders bully each other it affects the whole region’s development and integrity as its affecting now… The ripple affects can be clearly seen in the mind and behaviours of the people and leaders.

In a democratic system differences are bound to evolve. The strength of the democracy is to accommodate the differences. In fact democracy is such a beautiful and inclusive system it accepts and imbibes the differences provided if the leaders and people take it in a healthy way. I am least concerned with the breaking down of the LUTF, but I am indeed very much concerned about the unhealthy political differences and bullying culture. “Enemy’s enemy is our friend and enemy’s friend is our enemy” said, Machiavelli. Are we not busy in looking for enemy’s enemy? I am not at all affiliated with any political parties but of course very much concerned for the people’s politics. Every concerned Ladakhi must be affiliated with the people’s politics that is beyond the prejudices of parties, regions and religions.

“Society is not bad because of bad people but because of good people who are scattered and unorganized” said, Shiv Khera. I think the time has come for the leaders from both the parties to think over the resolution of the conflicts in a healthier and peaceful way to work together if not unite together, while accepting the differences. The history of Ladakh has a tradition of outsiders dividing Ladakh and ruled over us, if we not resolve this conflict it would be first in the history of Ladakh that Ladakhis are dividing each other and putting everything on the plate for the outsiders to rule and govern us. I am sure we will not let it happen, more significantly our dear leaders will not let it happen. Let’s collectively eliminate the fear factor for ever…

For a united Ladakh
stanzindawa@gmail.com

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