By: Dr Kavita Suri
09-10-2006

Illuminating Past

‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am Zorawar Fort and I was constructed by the great Dogra warrior General Zorawar Singh in 1836. I will take you on a journey through the life and times of the great warrior… ’ Kavita Suri watches a light and sound show in Leh

Reliving the life and times of the great Rajput Maharajas in the backdrop of their royal palaces in Rajasthan through enthralling light and sound shows might have impressed many but to watch such a unique show in a place known as “the Roof-Top of the World” could be an experience of a life time. The uniqueness of the event is attributed to the fact that such a show, first of its kind in the entire region, is no only running successfully in Leh, Ladakh but also because of the fact that this light and sound show is a gift from the Indian Army posted in Ladakh to the people of the region. And the backdrop here is none other than the historic fort of General Zorawar Singh, the great warrior of Jammu and Kashmir who led four expeditions to Tibet. Needless to mention that the Army hasn’t taken such a path-breaking initiative elsewhere in the country.

A little chill has already set in the high altitude mountain air of Leh where the temperature in winter plummets to 27 degree Celsius. In a crystal-clear night studded with stars and the pole star shining bright through the crisp mountain air, the 170 year-old Zorawar Fort is quite eager to narrate its history to an audience of over 500 people.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am Zorawar Fort and I was constructed by the great Dogra warrior General Zorawar Singh in 1836. I will take you on a journey through the life and times of the great warrior…”

As the sound reverberates and the lights create a mesmerising effect on the rampart, walls and the corners of the fort, which also houses a temple and a mosque, the Ladakhis watch with bated breath the synchronisation of light and sound, something never before witnessed.

Constructed by Thanedar Manga Singh on the orders of General Zorawar Singh, a warrior of Maharaja Gulab
Singh of Dogra dynasty, who is considered a military genius and a pastmaster in mountain warfare, the fort was in shambles till recently when the Army took up the task of renovation.

For years, J&K Militia used to live in Zorawar fort. At one point in time, over 300 soldiers of J&K Militia, a non-regular Army force, used to reside in the fort (after Independence J&K Militia later became Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment). Though the fort was already in dilapidated condition but the recent flash floods in Ladakh (which was quite unusual in this cold desert) damaged it further. A major portion of the fort wall collapsed. But the response of the Army, which was also engaged in rescuing people in flash floods at the same time in various parts of Ladakh, was so prompt in preserving heritage that the restoration work was started immediately.

After restoring the fort to its original glory, the Army, which was already toying with the idea of making it a tourist attraction, came up with the idea of setting up a General Zorawar Singh Museum and starting a light and sound show on his life and times which could also showcase the contribution of Ladakhis in Indian army. After all, the General is considered to be the great warrior who not only extended India’s boundaries to the north including Tibet but also introduced the concept of high altitude mountain warfare leading unique snow operations in history of Indian Army, a feat that could never even be achieved by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar or even Ashoka the Great. General Zorawar Singh had paid at least six visits to Ladakh between 1834 and 1841. After India attained Independence, Ladakh and Baltistan became a part of the new Republic. The credit for this goes to General Zorawar Singh.

Besides, Ladakhis have fought valiantly with the Indian Army in many wars including the 1948, 1962, 1965 and the recent Kargil war. Colonel Rinchen, a brave Ladakhi officer was conferred the second-highest gallantry award in Indian army-Mahavir Chakra twice for his role in two wars in 1948 and 1971. “Our idea was also to provide some entertainment to the Ladakhis in Leh where you don’t have any sort of entertainment in the evening. The evenings are mostly boring for the people here and they have nothing substantial to do,” says Major Sumeet Arya, who is one of the officers who took lot of pain to present one of the best light and sound show to the Ladakhis. But producing a light and sound show on the life of this great soldier in the backdrop of his own Fort was not an easy job. The question now was how to go about
it.

In Kurukshetra, Harayana, the tourism department has successfully been running a light and sound show on the Mahabharata and so do dozens of forts in Rajasthan to attract people. Even the light and sound shows have become regular features in Red Fort “Lal Quila” in Delhi where three shows are hosted everyday, two in English and one in Hindi. After doing his homework well, Major Sumeet Arya visited all these places and contacted agencies involved in such shows.

A museum showcasing the history related to Zorawar Singh and Ladakh as well as light and sound show at the fort was inaugurated by Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor, general officer commanding-in-chief, Northern Command in mid-September.

Though initially the show is running on every Wednesday and Saturday, the Army intends to make it a daily feature. It also aims to bring it to the tourist map and in the days to come, ultimately hand it over to the local people or the Archaeological Survey of India.

Courtesy-The Statesman