Sunday 15 September 2019

A Chapter from my book Gojal Diverse and Tribal Domains

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.

 Figure 12: L/R. Sultan Allana Director AGFID, the author, Syed Sultanat grandson of
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
BC. 550 
BC 330.
Han-Hsiung-nu [Xiongnu]
BC. 209
AD 93
Scythians [Sakas]
BC. 200
AD102
Yuezhi
BC.  I76
AD 30
Kushans Empire
AD.   30
AD 375
Moga Mahataka Saka Ruler
AD.   78
AD 100
Kujula Kadphises
AD.   30
AD 80
Vima Tako
AD.   80
AD 90
Vima Kadphises
AD.   90
A.D 127
Kanishka I
AD  127
A.D 140
Kanishka II
AD.  230
A.D 240
Vasudeva of Kushan
AD.  230
AD 190
Visit of Saiwang
AD. 220
AD 264
Sassanians Rule
AD. 230
AD 350
Fa-Hien Visit   Gandhara
AD. 399
AD 400
Rule of Turkish and Kidaras
AD. 465
AD 500
White Hans- Hephthalites
AD. 408 
AD 670
Visit of Gu-Wei-Long
AD. 444 
AD 453
Sung Yun
----------
AD 520
Hiuen-Tsang
AD. 629
AD 645
Jayamangala-Vikramaditya Nandi
AD. 612 
AD 653
Nava Surendraditya Nandi
AD. 653 
AD 696
Nandi Vikramaditya Nandi
AD. 696 
AD 722
Mo-Chin-Ming
AD. 722
AD 749
Su-shih-li-Chih defeated
AD. 749
AD 750
Deva-Sri-chandra-vikrama-ditya =Shri Badat
AD. 749

            Table 1: Chronology o Ancient Rulers and few Travellers

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.)

                  
  

Figure 13: E. F. Knight                           &              Lieutenant Aylmer VC     
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     

                          
           

Figure 14:Major General Charles Townshend
       
Townshend was the first Governor of Hunza (26-12-1891 to 22-3-1892)





Figure 15 Roof of the world

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.


Figure 16: The author among government delegates of Gilgit-Baltistan with Chinese Pirs
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).


Figure 17: Picture of Sirang Muhammad, the secretary of the Kingdom of Hunza
   

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.
                  

Figure 18:Fort of Yamchun

The ruined Fort of Yamchun Wakhan is located high above the valley and commands views running up and down the Wakhan and across to Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was most likely built to monitor the invaders and trade caravans descending from China. The fort is most similar to the Ondra fort of Gulmit.



[i]           (Col. R.F.C. Schomberg; page.215. Between Oxus and Indus)
[ii]          Prof. Dani; History of the Northern Areas of Pakistan; 116
[iii]         Ibid.
[iv]         Ibid, 119
[v]          Ibid, 120
[vi]         Ibid, 121
[vii]        Ibid, 122
[viii]       San-kuo-chih; Ch’en Shou Page: 130
[ix]         Ibid 133
[x]          Ibid, 138
[xi]         Ibid, pp. 144
[xii]        Page: 17; Ancient Khotan; Sir Aurel Stein
[xiii]       Prof. Dani; History of the Northern Areas of Pakistan, P. 6
116   https://www.synapsenow.com/synapse/homepage/view.cfm?edit_id=40&w            ebsite=NorthernPakistan.com

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