Peace is Everybody’s Business by Arjun Ray

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been ravaged by terror for over two decades. The scourge of terror, which was largely limited to the Kashmir valley and Jammu region, cast a shadow on Ladakh, the largest district of the state. In 1999, Ladakh, and in particular the area of Kargil, earned fame for the bloody battle that was fought between India and Pakistan. The inhabitants of Ladakh, largely Muslims of the Shia faith and Buddhists, were alienated, victims of apathy and neglect, living in abject poverty and denied governance. They were a potentially vulnerable society, ripe to be drawn into the vortex of terror. Or so the author wants the reader to believe. This book is an account of the author, a retired Lieutenant General and former Corps Commander of the Ladakh region, and his singleminded commitment to transform an indifferent, alienated, deprived, and traditional people from shunning the lure of the gun and embracing the national mainstream of Indian society. The main discourse is on the use of conflict prevention; proactive action, pre-emption, and initiative coupled with humane and people-friendly strategies to integrate underprivileged societies.