Spitians have nothing special to celebrate in Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav in their icy desolate desert. Spiti literally is a Far-Away homeland of Buddhist tribals and it still remains so for the successive Himachal Pradesh governments.
Spiti straddles its sensitive border with China-occupied Tibet. Spitians have got an old genuine grouse to wake up the government in this Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav.
The children of Spiti in both, New India and Old India, continue to be the victims of government's apathy. Some of them who are lucky enough to manage money, go 350 kms away to Solan, Shimla, Mandi, Dharamshala and Kullu for seeking higher education after they pass out from their schools.
But an odd 200-300 poor children whose families, have no means to support this, have to rough it out in the cold desert for the rest of their life. Reason: Spiti, one of biggest but sparsely populated region in the state, does not have a college even after 75 years of independence.
This time Spitians had a prized cache to take on the government. It is nothing less than # Prime Minister of India Narender Modi. On December 27, 2022, Modi while addressing the rally in Mandi on completion of four years of the Jai Ram Thakur’s government had declared that “BJP double engine governments believe in Vikas Ki Vichardhara, not in Vilumb ki Vichardhara", raising finger against the rival Congress.
Then why the Spiti college matter was kept in deep freeze for last five years, Isn’t it “Vilumb”, delay, questioned the tribals.
Spiti is the only sub-division in Himachal which has been denied college facility for education of the children of Spiti tribals, most of whom are Buddhist. In fact, Spitians and NGO federation have been raising the college demand since 2000.
Acknowledging the genuine demand of Spitians the six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, known for his education revolution in Himachal, had said the college was necessary for learning and higher education of the children of Spiti for their better future. Finally, he laid the foundation stone of the college in Kaza on September 26. 2017(see photo).
Spiti in the yore used to be governed by rulers of Ladakh before it was included in Punjab province and after Himachal became state, it became a sub-division of Lahaul-Spiti district with a single line administration.
Spiti is not only the remotest and highest place, it is also the toughest highland desert in Himalayan region ever inhabited by humans. Spiti boasts of ancient Buddhist monasteries of likes of Kee and Tabo, know as Ajanta of Himalaya.
In the aftermath of the sudden attack of Ladakh by the Chinese in 1959 and due to tough living conditions, the then Chief Minister of Punjab Pratap Singh Kairon had offered Spitians to shift and settle in Punjab province, but they refused to move out from the monastic society and homeland.
“The seed fund of Rs one crore was allotted and was with the PWD Kaza, but not even a brick was added in the name of building for last five years”, said Kadak Dorje Bodh, Chullim Dorje, the Spiti tribals.
Ventilating the genuine anger, Dorje Bodh, Chullium, Nawang Chering, Kunzang Tampheil, Sonam Tobgey, Tanpa, Kunzand Tashi, Cherring Tempa, and Dorje Angchuk Tandup Tashi urged Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and education minister Govind Singh Thakur to take cognizance of the college matter to give justice to people of Spiti.
All the subdivisions in Himachal have got the government colleges, but their homeland has been denied the institute of higher education for last 22 years.
Spitians rued that neither the classes were started nor any brick was added in the college building at Kaza, the headquarter of Spiti for the better future of children. Spiti literally means a Far-Away place and remains so for the governments over the decades.
Spitians say even if the notification has lapsed, the state government can move in fresh one that can be passed by the Cabinet. The government is Constitutionally-bound to open college in Spiti, which is the strategic sub-divisional that borders China in its northeast.
Also, Spitians have raised the demand of the college at Janmanch programme of the present government, but nothing happened on the ground after bare assurances”, they rued. “We took the matter with the MLA, Dr Ramlal Markdande, who is also Cabinet Minister, but there is a pin drop silence from his side on this so far”, said Dorje and Nawang.
Their tribal cousins in Keylong, Udaipur, Pangi, Bharmour and sub-divisions in Kinnaur have got the colleges and children are getting higher education in their tribal land. But only Spitians have been denied this facility even after 75 years of Independence, which is being celebrated as Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav in the country.
(Kuldeep Chauhan is Editor, HimbuMail) Email:
