Conservation of Material and Ecological Heritage in the Trans Himalayas

This workshop aims to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange concerning various conservation-related issues within the Trans-Himalayan region. These include the ecological impact of tourism, traditional agro-pastoral practices, as well as broader themes such as market dynamics, spirituality, gender dynamics, and the preservation of cultural artifacts. Our overarching goal is to deepen understanding, identify best practices, foster collaborative networks, and formulate recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and local communities. Ultimately, we seek to safeguard the diverse cultural and natural heritage of the Trans-Himalayas, promoting sustainable development and community resilience.

 A note on the Karakoram Collectives : Karakoram Collectives is an initiative, conceived with the aim of fostering scholarly understanding and deep cultural appreciation for the rich heritage of Ladakh. Rooted in profound respect for the multifaceted aspects of Ladakh—its people, traditions, and landscapes—its mission is to illuminate this remarkable region through research, collaborative scholarship, and thoughtful preservation. The initiative of Karakoram Collectives is built upon principles of respecting local wisdom, committing to sustainable practices, and promoting insightful dialogue about Ladakh's unique identity.

Karakoram Collectives goes beyond academia, aiming to be a repository of knowledge and a forum for intellectual exchange. The initiative aspires to create a comprehensive archive, utilizing both digital and traditional means, to safeguard Ladakh's cultural and historical richness for future generations. Karakoram Collectives is also aimed to function as an advisory body, providing research-backed insights for policy-making. We strive to influence decisions that impact Ladakh's geo-political, socio-cultural, and environmental landscape positively. Collaborative and interdisciplinary networks are crucial elements of our approach, where partnerships with academic institutions, research bodies, and cultural organizations, both locally and internationally, create a platform for diverse perspectives.

A Report on the Workshop 

The workshop titled ‘Conservation of Material and Ecological Heritage in the Trans Himalayas’ was organised by the Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Karakoram Collectives, and Achi Association India at the Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence. The workshop took place on the 14th of March 2024 and consisted of three sessions and a special lecture by Mr. Ashish Kothari. The workshop started at 10:30 am and concluded at 6:10 pm. 

Dr. Rajat Kathuria, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Science, Shiv Nadar IoE, inaugurated the workshop with a brief opening remark. He congratulated the Centre of Himalayan Studies for its brilliant work over the past year since its inception and stressed the upcoming scholarship on Ladakh and Himalayas on different fronts: political, cultural, economic and environmental. He discussed the immanent trade-offs between security and stability, between policy and welfare, and between market and culture and called for critical evaluation of the trade-offs. Following Dr. Kathuria, Mr. Abeer Gupta of Achi Association India, working on material and cultural conservation and restoration in Ladakh, highlighted his experience in working “at the intersection of knowledge and action”. Mr Gupta welcomed all the stakeholders who were present for the workshop.

Session 1: People, Practices and Nature

Moderator – Mr. Fida Hussain

Presenters – Dr. Dorje Dawa, Ms. Padma Lamo, and Ms. Adina Ara

Discussant – Dr. Saloni Bhatia

Dr. Dorje Dawa presented a paper titled “Ecological Impact Assessment of Tourism Activities in Ladakh” and made a case for mountain tourism as an emerging industry that drives regional and local growth. Describing the steady rise of tourism inflow since the region was opened up to international tourists for the first time in 1974, Dr. Dawa argued that between 1989 and 1990, there had been a reduction in the inflow because of the political situation in J&K, but after 2002 there was a rise in the same. However, such an exponential, almost unregulated rise in tourism did not come without its pitfalls. One such was the impact on wildlife habitat. Since the region lay in a zone with rich biodiversity, tourism and its related activities could play a particularly destructive role. In conclusion, Dr. Darwa pointed out that there was no definitive tourism policy, and thus, not only the wildlife but also several other customs and cultural aspects were being forgotten – for instance, the Churpon and the Phaspun water management systems.

Ms. Padma Ladon followed with her presentation titled “Agropastoralism in the Mountains: Practices and Challenges in Ladakh’s Trans-Himalayan Region”.Discussing agro-pastoralism’s extreme significance throughout the Hindu-Kush Himalaya, Ms. Ladon described her study of three different pastures in the villages of Shang, Gya and Igoo. Igoo had been a temporary settlement but was ruined, showing that it had been abandoned. Gya village was intact, while Shang was dwindling. Pastures were being abandoned, in a dwindling state or intact. Ms. Ladon contended that the driving force was the shortage of agrarian forces created by an aspiration for higher education and nuclear families. There was declining recognition for traditional livelihoods, a sense of lack of respect for herders and a declining herd size. Ms. Ladon concluded her presentation by discussing how most cows were hybrids or jersey cows and how there was an increasing trend of the abandonment of traditional livelihoods. Next, Ms. Adina Ara presented her preliminary paper titled “Impact of Higher Degree of Market Integration on Economic Security and Social Capital: Empirical Evidence from Pastoral-Nomadic Community of Changthang, Ladakh”. Her central research puzzle was: how had the market economy impacted and shaped the traditional economy of the herders? She asked if there was a form of trust in the market economy or if it was suspicion. Discussing the existing literature, Ms. Ara stated that most scholars have argued that a rise in the economic freedom index brought about a surge in out-group trust. Meanwhile, an in-group trust did not change with the economic structure of the country. For her study, she chose Changthang and Harnaklin, the former being a rural region while the latter was an urban settlement. Ms. Ara discussed how she found that people still in Changthang believed most people could be trusted while in the other sites, people tended to be more careful. Pastoralists showed higher trust. Pastoralists were more out-group trusting than non-pastoralists when faced with economic worries. Ms. Ara concluded by presenting her case that when one moved to the city, there was less out-group trust and more in-group trust. 

The discussant, Dr. Saloni Bhatia, raised several pertinent points and issues that came up in the presentations. She pointed out that although everyone agreed there was value in preserving pastoralism, what was the desired endpoint? Where did we want to go, and who got to decide that? The discussant's remarks were supplemented by a rich input of thoughts and questions from the audience. The salience of economic theories in studying the lives of traditional communities was heavily debated. 

Ladakh at a Crossroads – a joint seminar by the Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies and the Department of International Relations and Governance Studies

Speaker – Mr. Ashish Kothari

In the talk titled Ladakh at a Crossroads, Mr. Ashish Kothari presented a big picture of the present state of Ladakh, the ongoing crisis, and the various ways out of it. He began the talk by questioning the current developments in the region – were they culturally appropriate and ecologically sustainable? He explained the three crises that Ladakh was facing: crises of governance, ecology, and livelihoods. 

There was a crisis in the local ecology, he argued. With water insecurity, reduced snowfall, and receding glaciers, public perception of climate change had become a serious concern. Additionally, there was a crisis of policy and governance. The administration’s power still largely rested with the Centre. Several policies were being implemented with a plains-bias, such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, with little regard for the ecological conditions of Ladakh. Third, there was a cultural crisis. Most of the local practices related to diets, agriculture, livelihoods, and crafts were being forgotten. Local crops such as barley and buckwheat were being abandoned. 

Having discussed the state of crisis in Ladakh, Mr. Kothari then focused on the existing alternatives that needed to be brought in. Most of the existing policies were either inefficient or not enough. For instance, to promote buckwheat and barley, the government organised festivals; however, a much more holistic policy intervention was needed to bring out a production and consumption change. He further gave more examples from education, infrastructure and traditional governance institutions of the goba, to make his argument.

Having discussed the alternatives in place and needed, Mr. Kothari asserted that none of these transformative visions would be possible unless Ladakh got political autonomy: the autonomy to take control of their governance and their local policy decisions and wield political authority. Having set the context for the ongoing demand for statehood in the region, Mr. Kothari engaged the audience with the seriousness of the cause. Finally, he stressed the need to think of Ladakh as a bio-region with a need to re-establish the cultural and natural flows that have historically existed in the region.

Session 2: Ideas, Impacts, and Challenges

Moderator – Mr. Deldan Namgial

Presenters – Dr. Fayaz Ahmad, Dr. Tashi Lundup, Dr. Rigzin Chodon, and Mr. Muzammil Hussain Munshi

Discussant – Dr. Anita Sharma

Dr. Fayaz Ahmad began with his presentation titled “Spirituality, Gender, Environmental Ethics in a Himalayan Valley: Studying Aspects of Life through Rishis Silsila of Kashmir”. Taking the audience through the three aspects of the rishis Silsila: religion and spirituality, gender, and ecology, Dr. Ahmad charted the influence of Nund Rishi and his spiritual order on the various aspects of the individual and collective lives of the people in Kashmir Valley. Discussing Nund Rishi’s legacy preserved in literary genres like Nund Rishi-namas, Dr. Ahmad brought out how deep the influence of Alamdar-e-Kashmir was on Kashmir’s spiritual culture. Aspects like the introduction of Islam in Kashmir by adapting its practices to the region’s unique ecological context, thereby making it accessible to the local populace and the critical role of women in being stakeholders by eschewing their ecological consciousness were just some of the granular details that Dr. Ahmad brought out in his presentation. He closed with Nund Rishi’s impact on Kashmir as having potential relevance in other Himalayan regions.

Dr. Tashi Lundup followed with a presentation on the heavy impact of tourism on Ladakh’s socio-cultural landscape. Dr. Lundup posed pertinent questions about the authenticity and commodification of Ladakhi culture and explored the catalyzation of a self-reflective discourse among the local population of Ladakh regarding their unique history. Arguing how some recent political movements were using this discourse to demand autonomy from Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Lundup wondered if this shift had resulted in the introduction of debates around cultural authenticity with a vexed position that tourism occupies. On the one hand, tourism provided a platform and opportunities to represent the Ladakhi identity, but on the other, it also brought challenges that struck at the very core of the region’s unique identity. Dr. Lundup critiqued the notion of a static culture and the logic in preserving one, arguing for the fluidity of culture. Underscoring the contradiction between the tourists who sought an “authentic” experience and the locals who aspired for “modernity”, Dr. Lundup brought to the fore the sharp contestation in the local and the perceived imagination of the region and its people. Dr. Lundup closed with a pertinent point about Ladakh facing a critical phase in its history and highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between tradition and modernity.

Dr. Rigzin Chodon presented her work discussing the historical contributions of the Moravian missionaries in Ladakh, focusing on their work in publishing newspapers in the Tibetan script during the early 20th century. She highlighted that the importance of these newspapers went beyond serving as a medium for Christian teachings and bringing out the local news, moral stories, and cultural insights. She also discussed the role of the missionaries in cultural preservation and ethnographic documentation. The newspapers, filled with illustrations, maps, and articles on diverse topics, offered the local population a new window to the world, blending local traditions with global knowledge. Concluding with the role of the Kalimpong Press in maintaining the tradition of publishing articles for Tibetans and Ladakhis, focusing on local and international news, Christian moral tales, and featuring a rich array of illustrations and ethnographic sketches, Dr. Chodon argued that these efforts represented a pivotal chapter in the exchange of cultural and material knowledge in the region.

Mr. Muzammil Hussain discussed his work on the preservation of the cultural and ecological heritage of Kargil. He ran Roots Ladakh and co-managed the Munshi Aziz Bhatt Museum for Central Asian and Silk Route Trade Heritage, where they showcased a private collection that revealed Kargil’s often-overlooked rich history as a cosmopolitan trade hub as opposed to just being made into a warzone. Mr. Hussain’s family heritage of silk route traders was crucial to the multiple initiatives that he ran and managed. Discussing the transformation of an abandoned settlement into a community museum, Mr. Hussain focused on the importance of vernacular architecture and the role of preserving the architectural heritage in reminding us of the human cost of conflict. He brought out the challenges of conservation in areas with significant military presence and multiple human-brown bear conflicts, underscoring the complex relationship between national security interests and conservation efforts. His work demonstrated a concerted effort to engage the local communities in heritage preservation and highlighted the necessity of including defence forces in conservation dialogues.

Dr. Anita Sharma’s rich intervention as a discussant for the session brought another opportunity for a reflexive discussion of the themes under study. 

Session 3: Convergence of Policy Research and Conservation Action

Chair – Prof. Rajeswari S. Raina

Presenters – Mr. Muzaffar Hussain, Mr. Abeer Gupta, Dr. Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi and Prof. Siddiq Wahid

Closing remarks – Dr. Jabin T. Jacob

Mr. Muzaffar Hussain’s presentation discussed the complexities of conservation, arguing that an eagle-eyed view of the subject could not be very useful without considering the complex interaction between politics, environment, and culture. Mr Hussain argued that the modern nation-state system and the territorial anxieties brimming out of it were exacerbated by the strategic significance of the Himalayas to the three nuclear states that surrounded it. Domestically, Mr. Hussain pointed to the low number of representatives from the Himalayan region in the Parliament, which diminished local presence in national policy-making. He stressed that their experiences, combined with academic insights, offered a crucial perspective often otherwise overlooked in traditional, purely academic approaches from the outside. Underscoring the importance of a transdisciplinary approach in providing effective solutions to the challenges facing the Himalayan region, Mr Hussain referenced the work of Karakoram Collectives and other organisations in integrating academic inquiry and local insights into conservation strategies.

Mr. Abeer Gupta, Director of the Achi Association India, presented a talk that struck right at the intersection of cultural anthropology and conservation. Highlighting the introduction of educational programs aimed not only at educating the local populace of Ladakh but also at facilitating a dialogical learning process for the organisation and its researchers through engagement with the local community, Mr Gupta contemplated the potential expansion of the Achi Association into new domains. He continued to highlight the work done at Achi Association India, describing Project Choskor, helmed by an all-women team of conservationists. The project, Mr. Gupta argued, showcased an effort based on partnership with the local experts as opposed to a big-brotherly attitude from the outside. Mr. Gupta highlighted the absolute importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts. Such an effort was important to not relegate the local community to the margins and to respect the local knowledge and experts.

Dr Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi, a scientist at the Nature Conservation Foundation, offered unique insights into the conventional model of protected area conservation. Dr. Suryawanshi argued that such a model failed to consider the ownership of the land under conservation and thus negatively affected individuals and communities from that region. Dr. Suryawanshi stressed the need to create a more holistic model where humans and wildlife could live together. Posing sharp questions regarding land use, engaging with local knowledge forms, and efforts from outside the region to ecologically homogenise the region, he pushed for participatory action that privileged the traditions and knowledge forms of the local population. Using the example of the dangers of invasive tree species taking over the local ecological climate while blindly trying to just plant trees, Dr. Suryawanshi called for an effort that put the locals first.

Prof. Siddiq Wahid, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar IoE, reflected on the resilience of the Ladakhi community in the face of grave challenges. Highlighting the need for local solidarity to chart the trajectory of a sustainable and, more importantly, an inclusive future, Prof. Wahid underscored the importance of agency at the level of the local community. Addressing a distinguished gentleman from Ladakh, Prof. Wahid argued that time and again, Ladakh had shown that the local populace could handle change. Stressing the importance of not falling into the trap of nativist thinking and yet being grounded to the core foundation of where you came from, referencing Donald S Lopez’s The Prisoners of Shangri-La, he asked the audience to be careful not to become prisoners of their thinking. While concluding, Prof. Wahid wondered whether New Delhi’s continued effort to disempower the local populace was in a bid to discount the natives because of their low numbers. He asked for a pluralistic approach to getting over the different kinds of local divisions across sub-regional, inter-religious, and intra-religious divisions that plagued the region.

Finally, Dr. Jabin T. Jacob offered his concluding remarks. He congratulated all the stakeholders for bringing the workshop to fruition. Alluding to future collaborations and possibilities, Dr. Jacob offered constructive suggestions to the various presenters with research ideas they could build upon and assured them that the Centre was keen on providing a platform to researchers. He reminded the audience that it was the responsibility of researchers and academicians to make their research accessible to the larger public. 

Report prepared by Aishwarya Sanas and Rishabh Kachroo, with the assistance of Adithya Kumar, Aditya Ramakrishnan, Apurva Jha, and Naisha Khan.