Why is the Galwan valley in Ladakh named after a Kashmiri?

Galwan valley, which is in news these days as one of the hotspots on Line of Actual Control (LAC) is named after a Kashmiri - Ghulam Rasul Shah alias Galwan, who was of Kashmiri origin. His forefather, Karra Galwan, had run away from Kashmir and settled in Baltistan owing to the fear and suppression by the then Dogra rulers. Ghulam Rasul was born in 1878 in Leh and at the age of 12 years, he started guiding British travellers and explorers through the terrain of Ladakh and its routes from the Karakoram to central Asia.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): With India and China locking horns at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, one of the places in this particular hotspot which has been in news, in addition to the hostile atmosphere, is the Galwan Valley and its Kashmir connection.

While experts have been discussing on how the tense atmosphere at the LAC will be doused off and how the relations between the two armies in the mountainous region will be improved, locals in Kashmir and elsewhere are puzzled how a Kashmiri surname - Galwan - has reached Ladakh and now became a focal point around the world.

Galwan valley near LAC is the name of a place where a stream known as Galwan is flowing down from glacial Himalayan mountains. The Galwan river, which runs 80 km westwards from its origins in Karakoram range through Aksai Chin and east Ladakh to join the Shyok river, a significant tributary of the Indus, is deemed to be of strategic significance in this region, with simmering border tensions between India and China. The valley was also a flashpoint during the 1962 India-China war.

This place is named after Ghulam Rasul Shah alias Galwan, who was of Kashmiri origin and his forefather, Karra Galwan, because of the fear and suppression by then Dogra rulers, had run away from Kashmir and settled in Baltistan.

ETV Bharat spoke with Galwan scion to know the place's history and about the person on whom it is named. Muhammad Amin Galwan, the grandson of Ghulam Rasul Galwan said that in during the Maharaja rule of Dogras, Karra Galwan had run away safely from the oppression and stayed in Baltistan.

Amin said that Ghulam Rasul was born in 1878 in Leh and at the age of 12 years he started guiding British travellers and explorers through the terrain of Ladakh and its routes from Karakoram to central Asia.

Amin said that Rasul Galwan's sons and grandson settled in Leh and all their extended family is living in the region.

About the situation in Leh due to the Indo-China flare-up, Amin said that people are worried over the situation and the movement of India army towards LAC has increased from the past few weeks.

However, he said that people of Ladakh are in full support of the Indian army and will render them all assistance in the given situation.

Two weeks ago, ETV Bharat had spoken to one of the historians and writers of Ladakh, Gani Sheikh about the Galwan valley and Rasul Galwan.

Sheikh had told ETV Bharat almost the same story which Muhammad Amin Galwan narrated in today's interview.

Sheikh said that Ghulam Rasul helped the British expeditioners in the mountainous routes of Himalayan range to reach central Asia.

Amid this flare up, social media feed of Kashmiri users was full with excerpts from a book, “Servant of Sahibs' written by Ghulam Rasul Galwan. The foreword of the book is written by British explorer Francis Younghusband. The book is being recommended and its soft copies are being circulated.