ANCIENT LADAKHI ROCK CARVINGS Ladakh is in India – at its extreme northern most point connecting the country
with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, Tibet and China. To its south lie the valleys of the Rivers Chenab, Beas and Sutlej as well as the Ganga. Little wonder then that it has been the hub of
cultural activity and interchange. This vast remote inaccessible area retains the footprints of bygone days on its scattered rocks and hidden caves.
Ancient people left their thoughts and stories of their day to day lives on the glazed surfaces of magnetite boulders. It is a treasure trove of ancient economy, religion and cultural records. Only recently in 2001 an army personnel posted in these heights, Sri Shivdarshan Singh Jamwal has brought the matter to focus. One day his vehicle broke down and while waiting he began to aimlessly wander about. It led him to stray from the beaten path and stumble upon tales as yet untold. Not only has he brought to light these lost chapters of history but he is creating an
awareness against the twin attacks of vandalism and so-called development that is impeding conservation of one of the greatest wonders of the world – ancient Ladakhi rock carvings.
Very few in the region and outside know about the rock carvings scattered through Ladakh. Rock art consists of images and designs that are either petroglyphs or pictographs. Petroglyphs are of four kinds. Pecking consists of striking with tools to form a design on the rock, incising is scratching on the hard surface, chiseling is hammering on it and drilling involves making holes with metal instruments. Pictographs are paintings done in protected places like caves and cliffs with the use of natural colours like plant dyes and animal blood or urine.
Today ruthless development pace is spelling doom as more modern roads are being built. Bits of exquisite ancient art can be found in the rubble discarded by the road builders. The other danger is that with the spread of awareness locals and tourists are resorting to outright thievery.
Some scholars have previously worked on them – but never inside Ladakh. As a security personnel Jamwal could travel to forbidden regions by road or air carrying his recording equipment and camera with him. The initial problem faced by him and his select team was that none of them were trained archaeologists. The government department of archaeology did not have Ladakh on their lists and could do nothing. Neither was there any law to prevent vandalism. So Jamwal took the angle of creating an awareness amongst the locals about their own heritage. This task meant dotting locations, informing the police and talking to monks, shepherds, villagers and workers of the development programmes. About one thousand photographs were shown to them. It meant trekking miles and miles. The help of print and electronic media was taken.
For the sake of convenience Ladakh was divided into five zones and the rock carving finds were marked on a map using Garmin-120 or GPS system to record the exact location. Their work has already thrown up interesting facts. Masks speak of a link with the Okunevo culture of Mongolia (2nd/3rd BC). ‘S’ patterns depicting animal bodies have been dated to 8th/9th BC.
If drastic steps are not immediately taken the story of Ladhaki rock carvings will be lost forever. Jamwal saw to the occupation of a large tract of land and began transporting scattered pieces after recording their exact location for future reference when the pieces of the jigsaw would be made to fit into the entire picture of the times. The Jammu and Kashmir Police department is now actively involved in this task of preserving this cultural heritage of mankind. Scientist groups from Germany and Buddhist conservation centres have started showing interest and perhaps the silence of yesterday will once more see the light of day.
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