Journal of Academic Research for Humanities (JARH) is a double-blind peer-review, Open Free Access, online Multidisciplinary Research Journal
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Vol. 3 No. 4 (2023)
The International "Journal of Academic Research for Humanities"

Research Articles

History And Development of Cultural Proxies of Wakhi People of Gojal-Hunza Pakistan

Published 28-12-2023

  • Zeeshan Rasheed
    • ,
  • Dr. Muhammad Kashif Ali

Zeeshan Rasheed
Ph.D. Scholar, Department of History & Pakistan Studies, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.

Dr. Muhammad Kashif Ali
Lecturer Department of History & Pakistan Studies, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.

Abstract

This article attempts to probe into the history, origin, customs, rituals, fairs, festivals, and development of the Wakhi People of Gojal-Hunza Pakistan. They are Indo–Iranian people of central Asia and were forced to migrate from their original homeland Wakhan to different areas of northern Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and China in search of peaceful livelihood. From 1870 to 1948 they migrated in waves from Wakhan. They are an agro-pastoral community and due to their special skills in animal husbandry, they succeeded in surviving even in those remote areas where life is not so easy. The festivals are the pivotal activities of the Wakhi Society. Both the happiness and the sad events are celebrated with complete decorum. A detailed view of the festivals has been shared to understand what the dimensions of society were. The merging of Hunza as an independent state to Pakistan was a major factor that affected many changes in the social, economic, and political life of the Wakhi people of Gojal. This aspect was focused on and explored. How life has changed in terms of modernism is also reflected in this study. Historical descriptive and analytical methods were used to carry out the research.  For the qualitative research of the Wakhi people, access to primary and secondary materials was expanded, and the primary author spent a significant amount of time with the community, observing their daily and social lives and conducting interviews after forming a very excellent relationship.

Keywords

Wakhi People, Wakhi Culture, Wakhi of Gojal, Hunza, Karakoram Highway

PDF

Author Biography

Dr. Muhammad Kashif Ali

Lecturer Department of History & Pakistan Studies, University of Gujrat, Gujrat

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