ABSTRACT
Three months into my fieldwork in 2003, an entourage of ministers, member secretaries, and bureaucrats from Delhi and Kargil, arrived in Garkone to congratulate Brogpas for playing an integral part in securing India's frontiers during the Kargil war. Amidst great fanfare and a flurry of introductory speeches, the member secretary from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, wearing the characteristic Brogpa kho (headdress) and standing on the makeshift podium in front of at least 50–60 Brogpa men and women, prepared to deliver his congratulatory speech. Gazing at the massive stretch of mountains that surround the village, the secretary thanked Brogpas for demonstrating utmost rashtra prem (love for the nation) and for protecting Bharat Mata's honor at a critical moment in its history. For him, their sentiment of wafadari (loyalty) was particularly noteworthy because Brogpas lived in the pahaads (mountains) in such “harsh and inhospitable conditions,” without access to electricity, water, health care facilities, and quality education. After acknowledging their indomitable spirit to withstand the rigors of life on the India—Pakistan border, the secretary promised to improve their “condition” in the coming years. “You have shown us your culture and dance, your faithfulness and resolve, we promise you that adivasis will develop (adivasis ka vikas hoga).” Laced with affective imageries of hope, compassion, and healing, the minister finally concluded: “we came here to bring joy to your faces and to make sure we didn't just gather statistics from Kashmir or Delhi. We came all the way to see your faces light up with the promise of progressive change and transformation.”
