INTRODUCTION

Gilgit is situated between lofty mountains on northwest of Indian subcontinent.

The region is called Dardistan and the people living over there called Dardic by ancient

and modern writers.1 The population of District Gilgit is scattered in different valleys.

Towards west its boundaries are expanded to Bargo Sharote, Baseen Hanzal, and

Kargah while Bagrote, Haramosh, Sai Juglot, Jalalabad, Oshkhandas and Danyore are

situated in east and northeastern side of Gilgit and Nomal, Jutal, Raheemabad and Guro

Juglot are located in north. Gilgit city, Danyore, Jutial and Baseen may be declared as

urban or town areas. It is the most populated district of the region which area is 4,208

square kilometer and estimated total population is 2,90,000 according to the 2017

census. Urban and rural both kind of life exists here. The ratio of urban and rural

population is almost 30:70 which shows more rural population while the urban areas are

facing the load of rapid urbanization during prior two decades. 2 The dist. Gilgit has

three electoral constituencies for Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA-1 to 3).

Throughout history Gilgit has been the crown seat and capital of the regional kingdoms

in ancient and medieval era3. When the Dogra annexed the region and later British

colonials of India established an agency there, Gilgit remained as regional

headquarter/capital by the invaders. It is the place where meets three great mountain

ranges of the world i.e. Himalaya, Hindukush and Karakorum. Formerly almost entire

1
G.W. Leitner, The Language and Races of Dardistan, (Lahore: Government Central Book Depot, 1877),
8,105.
E.F. Knight, Where Three Empires Meet, (London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1893), 258.
2
Zafar Iqbal, Gilgit Baltistan: Diverse and Adventures Dynasties,(Gilgit: North Book, 2017), 26-27.
3
E.F. Knight, Where Three Empires Meet, (London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1893),106.

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people of the region were Shina speakers but due to urbanization mostly in last two

decades this region now become the region where lives the speakers of multiple

languages like, Shina, Brushaski, Wakhi, Khowar, and other mini fragments of the

speakers of a different language but the Shina is still a langua franca of the region. The

tribal speculation is similar as the speakers of different languages. The bigger tribes are

Shin, Yashkun and somehow may be included Kamin or Kramin also bigger tribe living

over the region, all of whom are the speakers of Shina language. Other than the bigger

tribes there are many other fragments who live here i.e. Brusho (Brushaski Speakers),

Kashmiri, Dom, Pakhtoons, Gujjar and many others. The Rono and Syeds are the sole

fragments who declared themselves as separate tribe but they are the speakers of Shina

while the Doms (Musicians and potters) said to have their own language Domaki which

is been obsolete and they are now also Shina speakers. The Yashkun tribe is biggest

tribe living over the region, Shin tribe occupies the second in number of population.4

There is evidence of human settlement from early ancient times as Greek writers

hinted about and rock art and archeological monuments proves it. Most part of the

history this region has been autonomous and for some extent alien towards the external

world as it is naturally fortified by great lofty mountains all over the region. 5The Sikh

forces of Punjab very first time invaded by crossing the gorges of Indus in 1842 A.D,

somehow they been on and off due to severe resistance from the region especially by

Gohar Aman (A Khoshwaqt prince of the kingdom of Yaseen). They get complete

4
Hashmatullah Khan, Mukhtasar Tareekh Jammu Kashmir, (Jammu: J.K. Book House, 1939), 766.
5
Abdul Hammed Khawar, Tareekh Aqwam Dardistan,( Karachi: Z. Enterprizers, 2009), 20-22.

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annexation in 1860 after Raja Gohar Amans death under Dogra raj of Kashmir 6. In

response and precautionary measures to avoid former USSR expansion the British

colonials of India decided to establish an agency over the region to create a buffer zone

to curtail the Soviets fear of expansion. So the dichotomy in governance prevailed here

until through a mutiny by then Gilgit Scouts succeeded to get independence from Dogra

of Kashmir four months later of India and Pakistan's independence from British rule on

1st Nov, 1947 and laid the foundation of a republic of independent Gilgit-Baltistan

which handed over to the Pakistan just few days later on 16th November, 1947 without

having any agreement. The point from Sikh invasion till the independence from Dogra

of Kashmir is well documented while there is much controversy and ambiguity

regarding the history of prior to 19th century of the region.7

When the Greek father of history Herodotus writes about the region by calling

them "Daradae" and narrates a mythical type story about the people of the region by

saying that the place where "gold digging ants" have been found. The scholars

unanimously percieved his epical type story by saying that the kernel of the story has

some germs of truth in it. Apart from his story the truth which cannot be denied is that

the region where Dardic people are living is full of gold mines 8. Other Greek

counterparts of Herodotus also narrated similar stories about the region. Instead of the

stories full of myths they didn't quoted anything further on which one can get enough

information about the people they called "Daradae". They left a dubious clue by saying

6
Ibid. 21.
7
Hashmatullah Khan, Mukhtasar Tareekh Jammu Kashmir, (Jammu: J.K. Book House, 1939), 755.
8
A.H Dani, History of Northern Areas of Pakistan, (Lahore: Sange-e-Meel publishers,2007),120-121

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that this region was tributary to ancient Persian Empire 9. These are the oldest source

about the region with some rock art and archeological monuments. Though these

sources aren't enough to make any assumption on first settlers of the region, their social

and political structure and belief system. There is some doubts amongst the scholars

about the Greek father of history Herodotus and other explorers writings of the region

by assuming that they might never been at this region while the stories they quoted is

actually the Indian narrative about the region which they adopted because their writings

about the region are almost replica of ancient Indian and Kashmiri writings of the

region. So it is difficult to assess in which extent the Greek writings about the region is

their own thinking and judgment or they adopted these stories from another perceptions

of the region. But still there is an undeniable fact narrated by them is that this region

was politically subjugated by ancient Persian Might. This notion somehow clarifies the

Persian expansion towards the east at their apex. So it is the first and oldest source

about the region with some rock carvings and archeological monuments. Similarly, the

ancient Indian, Kashmiri and Chinese explorers and writers also written precisely about

this region which may not solely provides a base to make any assertion about the

history of the region.

The Buddhism getting savage in northern India during later ancient era from

where the transmission of Buddhism to Central Asia and China had been possible. In

this regard this region played a pivotal role in transmission of Buddhism to beyond the

consequences of Indian subcontinent to Central Asia and China been located at the

9
Ibid.121.

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junction between these three parts of the world 10. It is evident that in later ancient times

the Buddhism also penetrated and prevailed all over the region. There is not enough

historical sources on the basis of which it is to know that which religion or belief system

was prevailed prior to the Buddhism. Scholars belief that the Bon and Zoroastrianism

might prevailed there prior to Buddhism on the basis of some archeological

monuments11. For some extent traditions and customs of the region hints about the

Zoroastrianism as fire is still significant element in the culture of the mountain peoples.

But the cultural beliefs, oral narratives on their origins and history illustrates more of

these religions. It is claimed by native scholars and orators that their foremost religion

was Shamanism which was for some extent a native religion of the region which

modified into cultural beliefs and with passage of time became just a tradition and

custom in response to penetration of external religions i.e. Zoroastrianism, Buddhism 12.

There is strong Shamanic tradition still prevails and practiced by the people which

provides a strong logical base for above narrative of Indigenous people.

Apart from very little commentary by foreign explorers, manuscripts and

writers and archeological monuments there isn't any other source to trace and validate

the historical assumptions made about the people of the region by scholars and writers.

So the history of Gilgit is still an un-known vacuum to be filled. The assertions made by

foreign writers are sometimes contrary to each other's assumptions, so their writings are

10
Ibid.11-13.
11
Ibid.164-165.
12
Ghulam Hussain and others, Interviewed by Author, Danyore, 17 August, 2020 at 2 to 6 P.M.
Anwar Ali and others, Interviewed by Author, Gilgit, 13 May, 2019, at 7 to 10 P.M.
Mazhar Ali, Interviewed by Author, Danyore, 16 March, 3 September, 2020 at 2 to 8 P.M.

5
more of their own point of view of the region. The Greek and Chinese ancient writings

are best example of this, that they narrated what they percieved about the region.

Among the series the second major source to trace history is archeological monuments,

rock art and manuscripts. Somehow the dilemma not completely vanished here,

according to the archeologists major carvings and manuscript fond here belongs to

foreign travelers and explorers.13 The kernel of the argument is that the indigenous

society has been oratory instead of writing, resultantly it is to assume that the oral

traditions, customs and cultural beliefs of the region has strong roots in history. So these

are must to document carefully to trace out the historical roots in it by investigating

them on historical context. The traced results may be useful to validate the already

made assumptions and trace an indigenous view of the history.

It is a fact that oral traditions and customs are the weak source of history.

Because they can't provide any rational justification and scientific base for their claims.

While in complete absence of other sources than this source may not neglected to trace

some notions on history by using it with other available sources. With respect to its

worth this is a fact that these traditions, customs and cultural beliefs plays a vital role in

making and shaping the patterns of society. Assertions of oral traditions, and customs

may be somehow unrealistic and dogmatic somehow in some extent they has some

germs of truth and facts in them which has to be trace by careful assessment of these

traditions and customs on scientific way. Prior to their assessment it is necessary to

collect and document them as they are getting obsolete day by day.
13
A.H Dani, History of Northern Areas of Pakistan, (Lahore: Sange-e-Meel publishers,2007), 98-99.

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 The social structure of the Gilgit is witnessed almost complete change

anticipating to the influence, expansion of non local cultures and languages. The impact

of globalization and modernism changed the traditional way of life. The traditional way

of life and social structure lost its essence. The social structure and way of life modified

into a new style of life and society in which no space for traditions and customs which

is been practiced by their former generations. Resultantly these traditions and customs

rapidly been obsolete within a passing day. Therefore, the collection and documentation

of these oral traditions, customs and cultural beliefs are much necessary prior to

complete absence of information regarding them. So, this study is a serious effort to

collect and document of these tradition and customs. Though tried best to collect and

document as more as possible within a time canvas but still there is a lot more to collect

and document.