Sir,
The introduction of “Special Feature Village Weekly” is a welcome initiative. It will give insight to the readers about the village life in different parts of our State. Such write-ups shall given an insight into the landscape, social and cultural life of the people and other features.
The Selection of village Chuchoot in Ladakh as the village is welcome as the village has its own significance. But the author has either relied on heresay or failed to cross check the details as there are many gaps in the write up. I would like to share some information as it may prove beneficial for the readers.
First of all the village is said to be the longest village in the world. Whether it is true or false but it is a reality that the village stretches from Choglamsar upto around 12 KM long stretch and is mainly spread between the river Indus and the Choglamsar-Matho road called as “Upper-road” in local parlance. The village has three main parts-Chuchoot Yokma, Chuchoot Shama and Chuchoot Gongma with Yokma, Shama and Gongma probably meaning lower, middle and upper respectively.
The author has traced a primary, a middle and a high school in the village. But to my knowledge there is one higher secondary school, two high schools, three middle schools and a number of primary schools in the village as a whole.
The writer claims that all households use LPG and no much of cow-dung cake, wood or kerosene is used for cooking. It is a fact that almost all households have switched over to LPG but in winter months, people use traditional fuels including cowdung for cooking and heating purposes.
Almost every household uses scientific “Bukhari” in the winter that serves twin purpose of cooking and healing.
It has been observed that none of the villages is engaged in taxi operations but to me it is one of the main means of earning in the village and not less than 100 taxis in Choglamsar or Leh will be traced to be owned and drivers by Chuchoot people. Tractors are equally used alongwith traditional ploughing in Leh. Many tractors, thrashers and even JCBs can be traced to be owned by people there.
The forest in the village is not on hills but in plains alongside the Indus. It is a good pasture as people push their cattle in the morning to be returned in the evening.
Hope that this writing may add to the information of readers and help the author to focus on future write ups in a better way.
Yours etc…
Satish Mohan Pandit, Jammu
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