After several decades, some hustle and bustle of the elections is nowadays apparent in the valley. One of the novel ways to persuade the voters for active participation in this democratic process by the north Kashmir constituency administration has been the holding of tonga/tanga rallies. The initiative ‘first of its kind’ in the valley drew attention and the events were highlighted by several newspapers, and videos uploaded on social media.
Horses have profoundly influenced the way human development took place in the past. After the advent of the automobiles and modern military logistic services, those used for draft purpose decreased considerably. The tonga, a two-wheeled cart pulled by a pony has been the most popular means of transport locally. It was commonly used in colonial India by British officers and civil servants on long distance mail routes and travel. Although excluded from Srinagar city, the tonga and raida are still visible in several villages and towns. The apple town, Sopore known for “rab, raida and ropye” perhaps holds maximum number of such carts.
Despite decline in number, Jammu & Kashmir ranks second in equine population, first being Utter Pradesh. Due to its species specific attributes they continue to play a positive role in our rural life. For many tourists, the tonga ride may be a unique source of fun or entertainment, for Amarnath yatris the only means of transport and once a lifetime experience. But for the native rural population wherever available, it is a cheaper option than a taxi or a rickshaw. The slow pace is a disadvantage but unlike diesel and petrol vehicles this traditional mode of transport produces minimum pollution and damage to the environment.
Ponies are owned only by the socioeconomically weak and mostly illiterate section of our society. The real needs of these animals are poorly met. The pony-walas are left with the traditional and crude methods of rearing this animal. In contrast, the race horses (wherever reared) are always well fed, receive class care and attention with access to all available innovations and technologies.
Unlike other livestock animals, the equines have been ignored particularly in our valley where major part of the landscape is mountainous and ponies without or with carts (raida & tonga) were well adopted as the most popular means of transport. Surprisingly, the first time high-budget (Rupees Five Hundred and Sixty Crore), ambitious Holistic Agriculture Development Project (HADP) operated jointly by multiple related departments and institutions and claimed to revolutionize in near future the agriculture and allied sectors in J&K also has no component pertaining to the development of equines or environment friendly draft animal power.
Improved protocols and practices in pony breeding, feeding, housing, shoeing, disease prevention and management along with development of refined carts can raise the welfare and prolong the lifespan of these animals. It would consequently multiply the economic returns from their use. Installation or provision of equine specific infrastructure in veterinary centers and specific and regular trainings to veterinarians and para-veterinarians (particularly those working in areas with good equine population) deserve initiation with continuation. Provision of credit & subsidiary facilities and animal insurance facility would be beneficial in motivating youth of the border areas and the tourist and pilgrimage routes to their traditional occupation. The routine use of tonga and raida for short distance travel and transport if made mandatory may also help sustainability at a time when the climate change is already unfolding its hazardous manifestations.
Whoever wins the 2024 election, part of the credit for the public participation should go to the ponies and their owners. These dumb creatures and their generally unheard marginalized owners both facing atrocities in silence deserve due attention of elected members and administration. After this first tonga rally, hope the elected Member of the Parliament particularly from north Kashmir will represent the “community” instead of the population and render helping hand to the ponies and their owners in their joint ‘struggle to survive’.
Dr. Mujeeb Fazili, Ex- Professor & Head, Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & AH, Shuhama, Srinagar