The news of Buta Sigh passing away on Jan 2, 2021 reminded me of few moments, I had spent with him long ago. But before that I would like to pay my tributes to this simple but affectionate person.
I was working in Mumbai in the year 1989. In the month of July 1989, riot took place in Leh in Ladakh which is usually very quiet place as far as internal situation was concerned. To quell the mobs, police had to open fire which witnessed the death of two persons. J& K Government was headed by Farookh Abdullah and there was distrust against his government in Ladakh from Buddhists which was a dominant community there. Government of India was represented by Indo Tibetan Border Force (ITBF) in Ladakh. This consisted mostly of Buddhists from Ladakh. Ladakh also has sizeable presence of Shia Muslims and a few Sunni Muslims who are mostly from Sri Nagar valley visiting there as traders. For various reasons, the rift between Buddhists and Muslims had reached to a flash point and resulted in the instant riot leading to unfortunate killing of two persons in police firing. Mr Buta Singh was Union Home Minister and Mr Dulhat in charge of SIB at Sri Nagar. The post of Assistant Director in charge of ITBF was vacant and there was urgent need to fill up the same. In mid-September, I got a call from Mr Padmanabhan, Special Director in Delhi asking me to proceed to Leh immediately and take charge as Assistant Director of ITBF. He further added, I need not go to Sri Nagar in the beginning as was the routine. Appreciating the urgency of the situation, I obtained termination certificate for my son, Kanad from Bombay Scottish School and I and Arundhati along with Kanad proceeded to Leh via Chandigarh before the end of September.
On reaching, Leh after making assessment of the local situation, I found there was deep mistrust among the two dominant communities, namely Buddhists and Muslims particularly against Shias. Buddhists had declared boycott of the Muslims and were also vociferous in demanding status of Union Territory for Ladakh to free them from the domination of Farookh Government in Sri
Nagar. I initiated patient talks with both the sides. Akbar Ladakhi, President of Ladakh Muslim Association was frank in admitting that action may be taken against Muslim miscreants, but the entire community need not be suspected. The Buddhists, on the other hand feared backlash against them as they suspected that the Muslims were being instigated by Farookh Government in Sri Nagar. After protracted negotiations with both the parties, both the warring sides agreed to live in peace. Akbar Ladakhi remarked, after witnessing my fair actions to both the sides, his trust in Indian Constitution has been restored about its impartiality.
As a culmination of these negotiations, it was proposed that the two sides would enter into an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Buta Sigh. Accordingly, on Oct 30, 1989; Buta Singh arrived at Leh. The Government Rest House was packed to its capacity as representatives of both the sides had come there with enthusiasm. Buta Singh exchanged pleasantries with both the sides, but before signing of the agreement, excused himself to a side room and beckoned me to follow him alone. He listened to me for about twenty minutes with patience about the agreement as well as about the demand of Union Territory from the Buddhists. Happy with efforts put in by me, he advised me in a lighter note about a practice in Punjab; unless you have stomach full in
the morning, don’t step out. Smilingly, Buta Singh and I stepped out to the place where the agreement was to be signed. The crowd cheered up and the ceremony ended the acrimony among the two communities to the satisfaction of all including Government of India.
My efforts were appreciated by Mr Dulhat who became the Secretary, R & AW later and Mr M K Narayanan who was DIB at that time. Once again, let me pay my homage to Buta Singh for his simple and kind heartedness and pray that his soul may rest in peace!
