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Reopening Shipki La Pass
Context
The Himachal Pradesh government has reopened Shipki La Pass, located in Kinnaur district, for domestic tourism without requiring prior permits. This move, while not yet restoring commercial trade, holds cultural, historical, and strategic significance, and has revived hopes of cross-border trade with Tibet (China) and the reopening of traditional trans-Himalayan trade routes.
Location and Geography:
- Shipki La Pass is located at an altitude of 3,930 metres in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, on the India-China border (Tibet Autonomous Region).
- It is one of the three operational India-China border passes designated for trade:
- Shipki La (Himachal Pradesh)
- Nathu La (Sikkim)
- Lipu Lekh (Uttarakhand)
Historical and Cultural Significance:
- Ancient Trade Route: In use since at least the 15th century, with oral traditions dating back even further.
- Bushahr–Guge Trade Nexus: The Kingdom of Bushahr (now Rampur) in India and Guge in Tibet were central to bilateral commerce.
- Folkloric Trade Oath: A poetic oath between communities symbolized trust and continuity of trade until recent geopolitical disruptions.
Goods Historically Traded:
- Imports from Tibet: Wool (most valuable), yaks, goat skins, prayer items (thangkas, rosaries), borax, turquoise, gold.
- Exports from India: Grains (barley, wheat), dried fruits, spices, tobacco, iron tools, and copper/brass utensils.
- Cultural Impact: Items like turquoise and gold were integral to Kinnauri jewellery, influencing local crafts and diets.
Reasons for Closure:
- Sino-India War (1962)
- Post-Doklam Tensions (2017)
- COVID-19 Pandemic (2020–21)
Current Significance:
- Tourism Boost: Aadhaar-based access for domestic tourists could enhance regional tourism.
- Cultural Continuity: Shared religious traditions (Tibetan Buddhism), pastoral lifestyles, and surnames like Namgyal exist across borders.
- Strategic Utility: Reopening could serve as a community-driven confidence-building measure and possibly reduce pilgrimage time to Mount Kailash by 14 days.
- Soft Diplomacy: Potential for a development-led peace corridor, distinct from high-level diplomacy.
PYQ:Consider the following pairs: (2014)
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
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