Educator and activist Gitanjali J. Angmo on Saturday (September 26, 2026) questioned the timing of the administration’s Ladakh Festival, which coincides with the ‘Martyrs Month’ being observed in the Union Territory to remember the killing of four Leh residents and the arrest of her husband Sonam Wangchuk last year during an agitation demanding Ladakh’s Statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.
The four locals were killed in firing by security forces on September 24, 2025. Two days later, Mr. Wangchuk was arrested and jailed under the National Security Act. This year, the Ladakh administration is holding a festival from September 26 to 28, “to bring together local artisans, performers, and visitors from around the world to honour the true spirit of Ladakh”.
“These dates carry memories far heavier than any festival. Around these very days last year, Ladakh witnessed violence, police firing, deaths, injuries, arrests and imprisonment. These are not distant events from another era. They happened on these very streets, at this very time of the year. Today, the 26th of September also marks one year since Mr. Wangchuk’s illegal detention. So, as the Ladakh Festival arrives so close to Martyrs’ Day and the anniversary of Sonam Wangchuk’s detention, ask what this moment should mean. Ask whether celebration should be allowed to numb memories that are barely a year old,” said Ms. Angmo, in a post on X.
‘An opium that numbs memory’
In an appeal to the people of Ladakh, Ms. Angmo said, “If you believe that the struggle for Ladakh’s constitutional safeguards, environment, identity and democratic rights represents Ladakh’s future, mark these days with remembrance and solidarity rather than allowing festivity to drown them out. Question the timing. Remember what happened. Remember those who died, those who were injured, those who were arrested, and those who spent months behind bars.”
A year is not long enough for such memories to become comfortable, she said. “Stay awake. Stay focused. Keep your eyes on the larger goal. Do not allow celebration to become an opium that numbs memory. Do not let music become louder than the questions that remain unanswered. And do not let festivity make Ladakh forget what happened on these very days last year, or what remains at stake today,” Ms. Angmo said.
Ladakh and Tibet
Meanwhile, Mr. Wangchuk tendered an apology over earlier remarks comparing the situation of Ladakh with that of Tibet. “If I hurt any sentiments, I tender my apology for the same. I understand the sufferings of Tibetan friends and have always opposed Chinese repression, but if you had seen what people in Leh went through on that unfortunate day, you might not disagree,” Mr. Wangchuk said in a video statement.
In his earlier remarks at a public event on September 24, Mr. Wanchuk had said: “Ladakh had China on one side and India on the other. Ladakh chose India because we believed we would be able to live with our heads held high in India where there is democracy. But today, such oppression is being inflicted on Ladakh, which, in my view, even China is not doing to Tibet.”
The Central Tibetan Administration, Tibet’s government-in-exile, had objected to these remarks, terming his comparison of the situation in Ladakh with that inside Tibet “misplaced” and “inaccurate”.
‘Last year was the worst’
In his video statement on Saturday (September 26, 2026), Mr. Wangchuk said that although Ladakh has always been happy and prosperous in India, “the last six years have been different and the last year was the worst”.
“It’s not about India but the current regime. In a small town of 20,000 people, four killed brutally, one suicide, 80 injured, 75 arrested with charges like attempt to murder. While in Delhi, the Parliament came to a halt demanding Amit Shah’s resignation for use of pellet guns and lathi charge at Jantar Mantar. Shouldn’t he resign for this?” he asked.
Published – September 26, 2026 10:43 pm IST
