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The Rediff Special/ Chindu Sreedharan

'I have to do my duty'

The 2000-odd monks gathered in the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre in Leh that morning had a sprinkling of local populace among them. The next five-and-a-half hours, led by His Holiness Sakai Konema Rempochhe, they bowed their heads in prayer, chanting verses from the Buddhist religious text -- for the Indian army to emerge victorious in the Kargil conflict.

Such congregations have been common in the Ladakh district ever since undeclared war broke out between India and Pakistan. There are 18 major monasteries in Leh and some 112 smaller ones in and around it. Everywhere, monks hold special prayers for the welfare of their troops.

"The Ladakhis have always been with the Indian army," says Ladakh Buddhist Association president Samphel, "In '48, '64, '73... It's our duty."

Prayers, however, are not the only way these mountain people show their solidarity. Since June, people of all hues -- educated and uneducated, employed and unemployed, young and old -- have been volunteering as porters with the Indian army. Ask them why they do it and you get the same, solemn reply:

"It is our duty."

"This war is on the hills, from Drass to Turtuk. Nobody can do better than us on the mountains. Our lungs are bigger, our stamina is good and we are used to climbing," explains Tsering Angdo.

And so they volunteer. Teachers, students, government employees, drivers, businessmen, contractors, they all approach the LBA, the biggest socio-politico organisation in the region, which has now taken upon itself to group together volunteers. On June 23, the first of such, comprising 36 villagers mainly from Chubiwangtse, left for Dau in Batalik sector. Four days later, a second team left. A third is ready and will be on its way as soon as the army calls for it.

"We did it for our country," says Phunchok Wangchok, the Leh Taxi Operators Union secretary, who was the first batch, "From the base camp it is normally a six-hour walk. But our group reached there before that!"

His group, he continues, made five trips up, carrying provisions, ammunition etc.

"Our effort is to send a message to all Ladakhis about the importance of helping the army," says Samphel, "Even before, many villagers worked for the army on payment basis. But now the requirement has gone up manifold and the army needs to call on the villagers more often. They need over 200 porters a day in the Batalik region alone -- so our 40-member team once every few days doesn't make all that difference. But the idea is to motivate the villagers into offering their services. To let them know that this is not a time for rest, that they should do all they can for the country."

When the first batch left, it made news. The All India Radio covered it, reaching it to all corners of Ladakh. "Now I hear some 12,000 porters have been mobilised from the villages alone," Samphel says with obvious pride, "Everyone wants to go. Even retired people. For instance, in the batch that left last day, there was a 65-year-old man!"

When the conflict started in May, the people of Leh had come to know that the unacclimatised soldiers on the forward posts were short of even food items. The LBA immediately swung into action. Within days, with the help of the eager women folks in the town, it arranged for three truck-loads of barley powder, dry fruits and the like.

"Many of the boys who came with me went ready to stay back at the posts and fight. But the army wouldn't let them," complains Wangchok, "I plan to go again. But they say I will have to wait; there are others before me..."

Seeing Wangchok's enthusiasm, Angechok Tsao, a contractor, who was prevented from going in the second batch because of a swollen toe, is sad. "I will be in the next batch -- definite," he promises, "The soldiers are fighting for us and we need to do what we can for them. I have to do my duty."

The Rediff Specials

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