Ancient tribal settlements
In absence of written history it
is very difficult to trace out the actual historical account of the people of
Gojal. However, it is understood that the people of Gojal had migrated from
Wakhan, Badakshan, and other Central Asian States including Tarim Basin. Every
village in Gojal has its own tribal historical account and stories of migration
but evidently vast majority had migrated from the Central Asia, Badakhshan and Wakhan etc. the European
Scholars based their research on the travelogue of the European explorers,
diaries of the Buddhist Chinese pilgrim, and recently after translation of the
ancient Chinese text into English and other European language. The most
reliable historical facts have been collected from the archeological sites and
rock engravings in Gojal Haldikish Hunza Wakhan and Badakhshan etc. An endeavor
has been made to link the historical account of the Wakhi Tajik people living
in the region in different time under different kingdoms. The migration routes
have been identified to facilitate the readers to understand that how tribal
migration had taken place. The historical background and cultural civilization
of the people of Wakhan and Badakhshan including the migration routes,
explained with reference of the findings of the foreigner scholars to prove the
direct connection of the people of Gojal with the neighboring kingdoms.
Pir Nasir Ali of Taghtumbash in April 2011 at
Tashkurghan, China
Other difficult area is the
chronology of first settlers in different villages of Gojal. Although the
Tarakhane rulers of Gilgit provided some relief to understand the chronological
issue of the settlers of the main villages in Gojal but even then clear picture
could not be painted. The archeological evidence and rock art of ancient tribal
empire and kingdoms indicates the earlier settlers in different village, but it
could not provide detailed historical account of the first settlers. The
historians are depending on rock inscriptions, local traditions and folk tales.
The people in different villages of Gojal were settled in different period of
time and migrated from different areas ad regions. The traditional historical
account and verbal stories of the tribes and settlers narrated by the old
people provides foundation for the undated history, of each village and
settlements. The genealogy and historical account of different tribes, who
transmitted their stories traditionally from generation to generation which is
the main source of historical account of each and every village. Such kind of traditional
and verbal historical accounts some time proved correct and became marked fictitious
and unbelievable myths.
The Region under the major Empires/
Rule of Achaemenian and Sakas
It is general understanding
among the Wakhi people that they are the descendent of the Saka tribe who were
the rulers in Wakhan and the adjacent tribal kingdoms but before the Sakas,
Achaemenian of the Persian Empire were historically the first rulers and settlers
of these regions. After the downfall of the Achaemenian rule, Sakas came into
power in the region and established their rule. The Kushan King Kujula
Kadphises defeated the Sakas in the 1st century A.D, as narrated
earlier. However, the tribal migration of the Achaemenian, Sakas and Kushan
were inter-connected. It is general phenomena that the weaker tribes always
accept subjugation of the powerful tribal kingdoms and diversified themselves
with the invaders; consequently the powerful tribe dilutes existence of the
weaker ones.
Some people are of the opinion
that Tajik tribes and Kirghiz nomads were using the areas of upper Gojal valley
as their winter pastures and grazing land. No doubt, the Tajik and Kirghiz were
leaving in the Pamirs side by side but the Kirghiz are spending more nomadic
life from century’s compare to Tajiks. It was the general habits of the Aryans
that they remained in constant fighting and rivalry between each other for the
sake of batter life and batter grazing pastures.
Col. R.F.C. Schomberg has
described that once Gojal was little Kingdom having their-own system of
governance and freedom. They have quite lost their former habits and have
settled down to agriculture. Indeed, they have become modal cultivators but
they have preserved their skill in tending cattle, a relic of their old
pastoral life.[i]
The main source of history is
the folklore and folk songs, which were sung on occasions of festivals. The
tribal history and traditions preserved among different tribes has been derived
from these occasions. A large number of archeological sites including
graveyards are available at different places in Gojal especially in Yeshkuk,
Chipursan and Passu, but unfortunately, the treasure hunters and wealth seekers
have looted and destroyed these graveyards, which are the national treasures. Carbon
dating of all such treasure is required to carry out to understand the actual
age. According to local traditional folklore and tales, Yeshkuk of Chipursan valley, Passu and Boibar Avgarch including
Gircha are the oldest settlements in Gojal, having their own tribal and
historical civilization.
Sir Muhammad Nazim Khan,
K.C.I.E., K.S.I.E., the Mir of Hunza described that Khawaja Arab from one of
the five soldiers settled in Gulmit. This historical account has no
confirmation and has rejected by Prof. Dani[ii] and
declared it a fictitious story. He however, agreed that the region of Gilgit
was a territorial part of the Achaemenian Empire[iii] in
the first century B.C. The Achaemenian, Scythian [Sakas], Parthian and Kushans
divided the conquered area and appointed local rulers over there to establish
their authority, as proved from the rock graphic that the local Raja Gopadasa
along with his two sons Godapasa Akshaputa and Godapasa Balaputra surrendered
before the King Moga i.e. Maues the Scythian ruler[iv] in
the first Century B.C. Prof. Dani further described that the evidence is clear
that Moga Raja came here along with his Scythian horsemen, defeated the local
rulers[v]
and established his authority in this region. The Scythians were succeeded by
the Parthians after two generations of kings in the first century B.C and A.D.[vi]
The rock inscription in Kharoshti at the sacred rock of Hunza, Chilas and Alam Bridge indicates the name of
the Kushan King Vima Kadphises,[vii]
which proved the rule of Kushans over the regions.
Kushan Rule
B.N. Mukherjee has traced the
whole genealogy of Kushan Rulers. A large number inscription have been found in
Hunza, which
gives the name of Kanishka and other rock inscriptions were found by Fussman at
Alam Bridge, which attributed to the Kanishka rule from A.D, 78 and between
166. The Hunza inscriptions attributed to the same period, which falls 85 to A.D,
169 A.D. The rock inscriptions found in Thalpan Chilas and Hunza mentioned names
of the local rulers Bhuilakadla,
Budhamitra, Kshatrapaputra, Mahakshatrapas, Kai Kaiu, Budhavarma and
Dharmarakshitawere. All are Buddhist names and who were the local rulers.
Professor Danni narrated that the evidence clearly shows the administrative
pattern of the region. From the time of Scythians to the end of the Kushans the
rulers, Kshatrapa System of administration was maintained in the region. Most
probably this system was a continuation of Achaemenian practices when actually
the Kshatrapa system of the local administration was introduced. As such the
Saka Ruler Moga uprooted the local Raja system and appointed his own local
rulers. Similarly the Kushans adopted the same practice.
According to the Chinese source,
San-kuo-chih compiled by Ch’en Shou in AD, 233 – 297, refers to an envoy of the
great king of Yuezhi, Pot’iao who went to the court of Wei dynasty
on 26 January 230 A.D. The King, Pot’iao is usually identified with Vasu-deva of
the Kushan Emperor.[viii]
Vasu-deva-II seems to be the last ruler of the house of Kanishka ruled the
region between A.D, 224 to 242. Chinese
General Ban Cho had probably defeated the Kushans in the territory of China and
also crossed the Cong-lings in first century A.D. The famous Silk route
was established, which provided access for the Buddhist pilgrims to travel from
Khotan to Gandhara. As Such the Buddhist pilgrim Fa-Hien traveled from China to
Gandhara in AD 399.[ix]
Similarly Wu-Yung along with other Buddhist priests travelled to India in AD
399- 524 who identified the Darel valley by following the difficult route of
Pamir and Indus valley including Fa-Hien.
Sassanians Rule
The Sassanians established their
rule in the region of Gilgit in the 4th century and in the beginning
of 5th century AD, their influence probably ended and they shifted
toward India. The Huna (White Han) Supremacy was established in 5th
and 6th AD in the region. The Huna Ruler Gullas conquered the
country, which was famous for gold extraction. In AD, 518 he sent a Chinese ambassador
of the Northern Wei dynasty of Sung-li Temple of Lo-Yang to Gandhara who
reached the kingdom of Gandhara in 520 A.D. Professor Danni narrated with
reference of Atreyi Biswas that Tigin was the father of Toramana and was the
first Yatha Chief who established the rule of white Hans permanently in
Gandhara and extended his Empire up to Kashmir. We can date him A.D, 465 for
his living two generations before Sung-Yun’s visit in A.D, 520.[x]
In A.D, 629 and 645 another Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang travelled to this part of
the region during the Han’s rule.
Rule of Patola Shahi and White Hans (Hapithalists)
Professor Danni found name of
the rulers of 5th and 6th century A.D, engraved on the sacred rock of Hunza and
the earliest of them was the Mahyura who had a son with the named Harikala.
Balamitra over threw Mahyura. Simhamitra whose father Simha-deva was later
defeated but the most important person was Kasyapa-deva who bears the title of
Maharajasa and called Virnka bearing the symbol of a hero. He is also called
Rana Simha (line of war). All of them appear to have been wiped out by Deva-Sri-Chandra-Vikramaditya
who had his strong connection with the Tibetan rulers.
Professor Ma-Yong author and
contributor of the volume II of History of Civilization of Central Asia
translated the Chinese inscription; who stated that Gu-wei-Long, of Great Wei Dynasty
was dispatched by Mi-mi during A.D. of 386-556 of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Mi-mi also sent envoy to the Wei ruler in response of Chinese envoy between
A.D, 444 and 453, almost 70 years before Sung-Yun. Mi-mi covered the upper
Zarafshan Valley and its capital was probably Panjikant. Thus the Chinese envoy
Gu-wei-Long left the capital Dai (modern Da-Tong) of Northern Wei dynasty for
Panjikant and passed through Hunza and left behind these inscriptions on the
rock. It started from Pi-Shan country, which was 1340 li from the state of
Wu-Cha according to Professor Ma-Yong, the word Hunza is probably developed
from the word Wu-cha[xi]
but the assumption of Prof. Ma- Young is not correct.
The Tibetans conquered the
region of Gilgit Baltistan, as they were mainly interested to established
controlled over the routes passing through this territory to get excess to
Central Asia and invade Chinese Turkistan. In AD, 722 the Tibetan occupied nine
(9) townships from Mo-Chin-mang as he was at that time ruler of Gilgit
Baltistan regions. However, with the Chinese support the region was again
conquered and took back from the Tibetans. In AD, 737 the Tibetan made another
attack on the region of Gilgit Baltistan (Polu). Mo-Chin-mang the Chinese ruler
of the region defeated the Tibetans. Mao-Chin-mang died in AD, 741 and he was
succeeded by his son Su-chih-li-chih who was won over by the Tibetans to marry
a Tibetan princess and thus obtained and secured a footing in this territory.[xii]
According to Aurel Stein in AD,
747 the Chinese commander Kao-Hsien-Chih or Gao-Hsien-Chih completely defeated
the Tibetans who invaded and occupied Yasin and Gilgit and was planning to
cross over to Chinese territories. Professor Danni with reference to O.H.
Hinuber described that the Chinese name Su-shih-li-shih was Surendraditya, as
he was the last ruler of Patola Shahis of Gilgit. The evidence of Hunza rock inscriptions, the
last ruler was Sri-Deva-Chandra-Vikrama-ditya, whose last date is given as AD,
749-50, confirmed the activities of Chinese general Kao-Hsien-Chih in the
region of Gilgit. Therefore, Deva-Sri-Chandra was the last ruler of Patola
Shahi dynasty in Gilgit and Hunza. The Chinese sources confirmed that Mo-Chin-Mang
defeated the Tibetans in Gilgit with the help of Chinese Emperor in AD, 722 as
well.
Chronology of Ancient Rulers of Gilgit and
Travelers
Chronology of the ancient rulers
and the Chinese pilgrims who established their rule in the region and travelled
to Gandhara, worked out as under:
Rule of Achaemenians
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BC. 550
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BC 330.
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Han-Hsiung-nu [Xiongnu]
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BC. 209
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AD 93
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Scythians [Sakas]
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BC. 200
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AD102
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Yuezhi
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BC. I76
|
AD 30
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Kushans Empire
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AD. 30
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AD 375
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Moga Mahataka Saka Ruler
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AD. 78
|
AD 100
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Kujula Kadphises
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AD. 30
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AD 80
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Vima Tako
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AD. 80
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AD 90
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Vima Kadphises
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AD. 90
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A.D 127
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Kanishka I
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AD 127
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A.D 140
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Kanishka II
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AD. 230
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A.D 240
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Vasudeva of Kushan
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AD. 230
|
AD 190
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Visit of Saiwang
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AD. 220
|
AD 264
|
Sassanians Rule
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AD. 230
|
AD 350
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Fa-Hien Visit
Gandhara
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AD. 399
|
AD 400
|
Rule of Turkish and Kidaras
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AD. 465
|
AD 500
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White Hans- Hephthalites
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AD. 408
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AD 670
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Visit of Gu-Wei-Long
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AD. 444
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AD 453
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Sung Yun
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----------
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AD 520
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Hiuen-Tsang
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AD. 629
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AD 645
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Jayamangala-Vikramaditya Nandi
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AD. 612
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AD 653
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Nava Surendraditya Nandi
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AD. 653
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AD 696
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Nandi Vikramaditya Nandi
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AD. 696
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AD 722
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Mo-Chin-Ming
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AD. 722
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AD 749
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Su-shih-li-Chih defeated
|
AD. 749
|
AD 750
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Deva-Sri-chandra-vikrama-ditya =Shri Badat
|
AD. 749
|
While commenting on the rulers
of Gilgit, Prof. Dani, explained that “the inscriptions
named the first ruler Vajraditya-nandi and all the succeeding rulers bear the
title of Vikramaditya. In the name Bagar-Thum one could recognize Bagr-Thum.
Thum is certainly Thuma, meaning ‘a ruler’ and Bagr is most probably identical
with Bagr or Vajra, and thus Bagar-Thum should be easily taken for Vajraditya,
the first ruler. The second ruler Agar-Thum could be recognized in the generic
title of Vikrama, i.e. Vakram or Vakr, or Akr or Agar. The tradition preserves
the title of only one ruler but the inscriptions speak of more than one. The
last ruler according to Hunza Rock Inscription is Chandra Sri Deva
Vikramaditya. This ruler should be identified with the last ruler Shri Badat,
whose minister Harishena is also named in the inscription. All these rulers are
known to be Buddhist. The last known date of the ruler, according to
inscription, is A.D, 749. Thereafter there is a change in dynasty.”[xiii]
British rule
The kingdom of Hunza remained
unconquered from the very beginning of the great divide of Hunza and Nagar
between Girkis and Maghlot in 1440 AD. The British Government hatched a
conspiracy to lunch an offence against Hunza and Nagar to establish their rule over
the region with the main objective to have clear excess with China. The
European travellers and authors degraded the rulers of Hunza and Nagar
declaring them as ‘robber’ rulers of the states and the Thams of both the
states were declared ‘ungrateful’ on the grounds that they were recipients of
small subsidy from the Government of India and from the Maharaja of Kashmir. It
was a well-known fact that the rulers of Hunza many times attacked and plunder
the region of Gilgit and conquered Chalt being part of the Hunza State.
N. S. Nash author of Chitral
Charlie in respect of the ‘rise and fall of Major General Charles Townshend’
narrated some historical fact regarding the Hunza expedition. Although detailed
historical account of the war between Hunza Nagar and the British Forces had
been provided in my book ‘Diverse and Adventurous History of Hunza’ and E. F.
Knight war correspondence of the Time of London, who was part of the expedition
and serving as infantry officer under the command of Lieutenant Charles
Townshend given day to day progress of the war keeping especial consideration
the British Interest in his book ‘Where the Three Empires Meet’. N. S. Nash
while explaining the autobiography of Charles Townshend he described, at page
41 of Chitral Charlie published by Pen and Sword books limited 47 Church Street
Barnsley South Yorkshire London 2010, that “Knight
who had an abiding interest in the matters military, became an infantry officer
and placed under the command of Charles Townshend; he took to soldiering like a
duck to water and proved to be an asset. He took charge of the troops placed
under him and from all account he not only thoroughly enjoyed the exercise but
he acquitted himself well. Knight was able to observe Townshend from close
quarters in the weeks that followed and wrote vivid description of the battles
of Nilt and Thol in his book Where the Three Empires Meet. It is a readable
account and Knight’s journalistic background is quite evident. The measure of
the quality of Knight’s book is that Durand commended it as an accurate record
and, did not, himself, write a detailed account of the two engagements.”
The British Government decided
Hunza expedition and proper instructions were given to Colonel Durand. Before
the start of the expedition Durand recalled Lieutenant Charles Townshend to
Gilgit on 17 November 1891 and told him that after the campaign he was going to
install him as military governor of Hunza. This was ‘beyond the imagination and
aspiration’ of Charles Townshend as narrated at page 37 of the book as already
referred above. While discussing the invasion he explained that the initial
advance was unopposed as within half an hour the Nilt Fort was blown up and
conquered by Lieutenant Aylmer. The Wazir of Nagar was killed in the fort of
Nilt. According to Lieutenant Charles Townshend total 7 soldiers were killed
and 27 were wounded including Durand but 80 of Nagar people lost their life in
the attack.
Townshend emphasized that “the
absence wounded Durand, who had by now been evacuated to Gilgit, had required
Dr. Robertson to take on the political responsibilities while lest L. J. E.
Bredshaw, 35 Bangol Infantory was given military command. It is curious that
the most senior officer below that of a Colonel was a Captain.”
It appears from the record that
the British Officers were mentally prepared to wind up the campaign because of
the fact that they could not be able to cross Nilt Nallah despite of more than
15 days endeavors therefore the senior officers proceeded to Gilgit to discuss
the issue of withdrawal with Colonel Durand. The Junior British Officers were
successful because of the conspiracy hatched by Wazir Humayun Baig of Hunza and
Prince Skinder Khan of Nagar already discussed in detailed in the book titled ‘Diverse
and Adventurous History of Hunza’.
However after the conquest of
Hunza and restoration of peace Lieutenant Charles Townshend was installed as
the Military Governor of Hunza. He remained as the first Governor of Hunza for
short term and was posted to Skardu in the month of February 1892. Christmas
1891 was celebrated at the Hunza fort as the new governor Lieutenant Townshend
chose to call his new domain as Hunza Castle. He issued proclamation that Hunza
now belonged to the British Government and that as long as the inhabitant tends
to obey the British Officer, Hunza will go well for them. (Reference. Page. 47. ‘Rise and Fall of Major General Charles Townshend’
by N. S. Nash.)
|
|
Mr. Knight was a war
correspondent and author of ‘Where the three Empire Meet’, Lieutenant Aylmer VC
who was later Lieutenant General and he blew up the Nilt Fort. He was decorated
with Victoria Cross
|
|
Townshend was the first
Governor of Hunza (26-12-1891 to
22-3-1892)
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Wakhi tribe
The Wakhi people belong to an
ancient Iranian stock of people, whose language is Wakhi and the most primitive
form of Persian still spoken in different regions, which differs from the Persian-Tajik
language. They have a rich folklore of songs and tales, in their language now endeavored
to write in Roman and Arabic alphabets. Some experts are of the opinion that Wakhi
language belongs to the southern group of the Pamirian and Iranian group of Indo-European
family of languages, quite distinctive from Ishkashimi and other languages of
Bam-i-Dunia, but having many common characteristics with other languages of the
region, commonly called (Haft Zaban) region of seven languages. The
Wakhi language is very rich in archaisms, differs considerably from the Pamiri
languages, having certain common characteristics. Although the regions have
divided by borders but the Wakhi language is still very much the same, and
dialectal differences are not so great to digest. The language is used for
mutual communication, and the written language of the Ismailis in the small region
is still Persian. The Wakhi oral tradition is also bilingual influenced with
spoken regional and national languages of different countries. For example on
the Upper Wakhan Darya, there are noticeable Turkic influences. Similarly in
Tashkurghan, Xingjian China, Turkic impact and in Pakistan
Urdu and English influence can be noticed. Wakhi-Kirgiz contacts
are maintained even today. Many Wakhis also speak the multiple local languages.
The common
character of the Wakhis is the religious heritage dating back from the
beginning of Islam. In the early 20th century, a complete handwritten books in
two volumes’, ‘Umm-al-Ki tab’ was found in the Wakhan corridor in Arabic and
Persian text originating from 8th Century AD, in Iraq, which provided a
distinct identity of Islamic faith to the Tajik community of the region.
When the Persians and Tartars
dominated the areas north of the Hindukush in the 12th century, the southern
valleys of the Hindukush gained a diverse identity under different names as
Bolor, Dardistan, Tibet, Gojal, Kashgar etc., which were divided to
safeguard themselves by the strong dynasties, although the chains of mountains on
the northern and southern sides of the Hindukush and Karakorum close to each
other created natural obstacle of the mountain chains. Invaders, trade caravans
and pilgrims from eastern Turkistan used to cross over the Krum-bar, Baroghil, and Darwaza passes into Chitral and Kilik, Mintaka, Dilisang, Irshad, Wakhjir and Shimshal passes
in to Gojal Hunza and these important caravan route served as a permanent link
between these regions. Many people from Chitral and Gojal crossed into Wakhan
for permanent settlement and similarly several people from Wakhan migrated in
to Gojal and permanently settled there.
|
|
In picture: L/R. The author,
Local notable, Chief Pir Shah Saidullah of Taghdumbash, Pir Syed Karam Ali Shah Governor
Gilgit- Gilgit-Baltistan S.J. Hotiana Chief Secretory GB, Police Chief of
Tashkurghan, local notable. Behind. Jarghalik, Syed Akbar Hussain and Ibadat Shah.
The historical accounts of
migration of Wakhi people to their present settlements are very interesting. It
is significant character of the Wakhi people to remain loyal within the
parameters of natural justice and to the law of land. It is also the uniqueness
of Wakhi people to always remain content and comfortable with the limited
resources. They never took interest beyond their own borders according to the
political and religious situations, unless situation becomes troubled and all
the peaceful means overrun beyond the law of natural justice for them.
The people of Gojal mainly the
large settlements of Passu, Gulmit, Avgarch, and Chipursan were enjoying their
independent status before the establishment of Hunza State by the Tarakhane
rulers of Gilgit in 1440. The four Wakhi small kingdoms were functioning
directly under the Kingdom of Gilgit. Defense of the region and payment of
taxes were the main responsibility of the people of Gojal as usual. After
establishment of Hunza State in A.D, 1440 the payment of taxes were diverted to
the Mir of Hunza, who accordingly forwarded the share of taxes to the ruler of
Gilgit. However, the governance of the Mir was confined with in the three
ancient settlements of Brum-Khan (Altit), Haha Yul (Baltit) and Chughtai Kot
(Kanish). The tribal conflict of the newly establish state was so severe and
dangerous that fight and murdered were the common practice in the center.
Hatching of conspiracies ware becomes regular feature of the fostering tribes.
The rulers and the fostering tribes always persist in constant fighting and remain
frightened of their lives. On the other hand defense of the state was very
imperative as the ruler of Nagar was continuously invading Hunza to conquer the
state but always badly defeated in the hands of the brave people of Hunza. Under
such circumstances it was very difficult for the rulers to expend their rule up
to Gojal. However, Mir Saleem Khan-I had visited the region and Shah Baig took
shelter in Gulmit Gojal after his defeat. Mir Saleem Khan-II was the only ruler
of Hunza who established his proper sovereign over Gojal during 1775 to 1823. He
was mostly residing in Gulmit Gojal. He might be the first ruler of Hunza who
embraced his death purely under the uncompromised Ismaili faith and an Ismailia
Pir of Badakhshan conducted his rituals according to his will in Gulmit. His
graveyard is still existed with the tombstone in good condition.
According to the Gazetteer of
Kashmir of 1890,Page 370 of there was two Wazir in Hunza. Sirang Muhammad (Sarhang
Muhammad) of Passu was functioning as Wazir of Gojal. He was the only educated
person in the whole of Hunza and was appointed as Secretary of the State (Chief
Munshi) by the Mir of Hunza. In the
Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladakh it is narrated that, “In every village there is
a Wazir, a Trangfa (Mukaddam) and a Charbu (Kotwal), all paid servant of the
raja. The Wazir of Hunza by name Dadu and of Gujal, Sarhang Muhammad, are
immediately under the Raja. (Ahmad Ali Khan, 1889).” (Page 370. The Gazetteer
of Kashmir and Ladak: complied and published by the Government of India, Calcutta-1890).
|
|
In
the picture, sitting from Left to right in the first row with the delegation to
negotiate for Peace and to avoid war with the British forces with Col. Durand
the British Agent Gilgit on 23-27 November 1891
Sirang Muhammad (Sarhang
Muhammad) was hailing from a respectable family of Passu, having the ancestral
name of Sirang Quli in the fourth generation of the family. The famous Sirang
Quli who was leader of his tribe. left Passu and migrated to Badakshan because of
an ugly incident. He could not get himself settled neither in Badakhshan nor in
Chitral despite of great opportunities and lucrative offers from the local
rulers because of the sweet memories of his own village. He migrated to Gilgit
and the Tarakhane ruler of Gilgit got him arrested on some false and unfounded
complains lodged against him. However, he was released after some inquires by
Tarakhan the ruler of Gilgit during A.D 1449 to 1479, probably in the year
1474.
Sirang Muhammad got his education from
Badakhshan because of the facilities available to him due to his matrimonial
relations in Zebak. After his return he was appointed as Chief Secretary to the
Mir of Hunza. The families’ members of Sirang Muhammad in Passu are very
prosper and having excellent moral character. Muhammad Najat and Muhammad Sifat
were the Arbabs of Passu. Muhammad
Hasanat son of Muhammad Nishat was serving in the army and later in PIA. After
his retirement he is spending rest of his life in Passu village as social
worker. His elder son Muhammad Darjat is serving as hydro electrical engineer
in AKRSP and his son Wahjahat is serving as an Officer (Captain) in Pakistan
Army.
Difficulties and troubles
The Wakhi people of Wakhan found
themselves in troubled in the second half of the 19th century. The first group
of Wakhi refugees crossed into Chitral in 1886. The next major migration
occurred from 1919 due to the effect of war, deprivations, unfair treatment on
religious grounds and Bolshevik takeover of Central Asia. The final migration
did take place till 1937, due to pressures and persecutions from the rulers in
Afghanistan, food shortages, and compulsory recruitment of Wakhis into the
army. The Wakhis still live as semi-pastoral society, depending largely on
agriculture and cattle growing. The migrations have been seriously disturbed and
disordered the occupation in the region.
According to the Oxford Research
Encyclopaedia of Asian History, the boundary making of the Pamirian region was
decided according to the European blueprint in the 19th century.
Boundary settlements was a bilateral process between the neighboring states but
it has been decided between the British Government and Russia keeping their own
political interests and preferred to divide the region, making the river course
as the boarder lines. Th Amir of Afghanistan was forced to sign the agreement
in the year 1893, which was defined as the Durant line, the present boarder
between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The remaining sections of the boarder of the
Pamirs were demarcated in1895 by the boundary commission. As a result of the decision
of boundary commission the principalities of Darwaz, Roshan, Shighnan, Ghurran,
and Wakhan regions were divided in to two parts with in the running river
functions as the boarder lines, as agreed by the British and Russian Government.
The northern section of the previously independent kingdoms of Wakhan and
Pamirs were combined into the Territory of Bukhara of the Russian Turkestan.
After the creation of Tajikistan
the northern region of Wakhan was vanished and lost its political existence as
independent states and merged these regions with Ishkashim in Gorno- Badakhshan
in 1932. The remaining part of Wakhan became the integral part of Afghanistan. Although
Abdul Rahman Khan the Amir of Afghanistan demanded more area of the Pamirs but
did not insisted because of the hand some money offered to him as bribe by the
British Government.
Mir Ali Mardan Khan the ruler of
Wakhan was constrained to flee away from his country in 1883 with one quarter
of the population and took refuge in Chitral. Later, on the innervations of the
British Agent Gilgit after negotiations with Kashmir Darbar, Mir Ali Mardan
Khan with his people migrated to Ishkoman, in the administrative division of
Gilgit Agency.
As indicated in the above lines
that the division and divide of the politically powerless and economically poor
small states along the rivers sides were badly hampered while making the boundary.
The family relationship, common language and cultural heritages of the people
of the region have suffered, which have now become the bones and foundations of
contentions and conflict even today.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons
that Wakhi people in Chitral, Wakhan Corridor, and High Pamir are widely
addicted of opium. It is presumed that the poppy growers have designed some
unique strategies to get the Wakhi people involved in opium addictions. A UN
investigative survey declared that in the ancient past use opium was a sedative
element of the rulers, royal families, and elites of Central Asia. Later on
when the importance of the Ismaili Pirs grew, these rulers of the kingdoms established
matrimonial relationship with the Ismaili Pirs. Consequently by taking
advantage of their relationship the Ismaili Pirs started to use opium as an
obsession because they wanted to consider themselves at par with the royal
elites. Since the Ismaili Pirs were the representative of Chief Pir of Khurasan
and had deep cultural and religious influence over their follower (Murid)
because they had spiritual relations with the Chief Pir and through the Chief
Pir to Imam of the time. The followers of Pirs when witnessed the use of opium,
they considered it part of the religious manner and commenced to use it from
the leftovers (of the opium). First it was started from the royal elites and
then to the Ismaili Pirs their disciples, believers, devotees, supporters, and
domestic servants Afterwards the followers adopted the method as a fashion on
the grounds of close religious afflictions with the Pirs. Under these
circumstances the dangerous opium addiction spread over among the poor Wakhi
people. This also had disastrous effects on health and income generation.
The inhabitants of Wakhan, Baroghil and Gojal-upper Hunza are
the Wakhi tribe who belong to an ancient Iranian stock. A thin segment of
Wakhan corridor of Afghan territory separates Tajikistan from Pakistan, which
is the homeland of these Wakhi nomads. The Wakhis pronounce Wakhan as Wokh.
According to Lt. Colonel Schaumburg, Gojal was known as Little-Gojal having its
own significant independent territorial status, while Wakhan was known as Gojal.
In the past the Wakhis were lived as a semi-pastoral society, which depends on
agriculture and cattle rising. The Wakhi houses were made of mud subject to
climate conditions. All rooms in the house are interconnected and have one
outlet at a convenient place well protected from the wind. There is a small
outlet for smoke and light. Cooking is done in the center of the living room by
the ladies and served to each other in a transparent manner. This kind of
Arabian culture may be derived from Central Asia. Grain storage is connected with the house as
a separate room.
The only place where the Wakhi
people have developed and prospered has been in the Gojal region of the upper
Hunza valley. Here they predominate and live at unity with their fellow Ismaili
Hunza Burusho neighbors. Benefiting greatly from contact with this progressive
people group and the business and tourist opportunities presented by the
Karakoram Highway now linking Pakistan with China. The people are peace loving
modest and friendly. Crimes do not exist in this society and the people have a
peaceful frame of mind and living with peaceful co-existence. Tran’s border good
relations of the frontier people are very common in areas where borders shaped
unnatural barriers.[xiv]
Many foreign scholars are of the
opinion that the region of Gojal was pastureland of the Kirgiz tribe and the
Wakhi people migrated to this region might be in the seventeenth 17th
century. On the other hand these foreign authors have admitted that the Tajik
and Kirghiz people were living together from many centuries. No doubt there are
ancient remains in Gojal with the old Kirghiz names similarly as of names in
Burushaki. These are evidences that some time in the past these tribes have
established their hegemonies over the region and made endeavored to settle in
the region. But the Wakhi tribes pushed them out being the decedents of Achaemenian
including Saka and established their own domains in different parts of Gojal
despite of numerous problems and difficulties.
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