Contemporary politics in Ladakh: contestations and identity construction
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Date
2025
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Ladakh, with a population of around 3 lakhs, is known for its
significant socio-religious diversity, with nearly equal proportions
of Buddhists and Muslims. In Ladakh, the primary determinants of
identity, namely, region, language, and tribality, are overtly
divided along religious lines despite their overlap. This paper
reviews the politics of identity and outcomes in Ladakh from the
late first half of the twentieth century to the second decade of
the twenty-first century to understand how external forces and
internal shifting ties and needs within and between Buddhists
and Muslims have shaped Ladakhi identity. Furthermore, the
article analyses the evolution of Ladakhi identity throughout
history, its current state, and its potential future trajectory,
particularly in light of the socio-political changes that have
occurred in the region since 2019. I conducted this analysis using
interviews as a research method, seeking to address gaps in
existing literature specific to this period in the region. This paper
is
part of my doctoral research, in which I analysed and
demonstrated the ongoing evolution and transformation of
factors that influence collective Ladakhi identity. The interviews
were conducted with 20 community activists in 2023, taking into
account the religious, cultural, and spatial plurality of the region.