Life Pattern in the Karakoram Hindu Kush
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2000
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Area Study Center (CENTRAL ASIA), University of Peshawar
Abstract
The study presents life pattern in the valleys of Darel and Tangir as reflected in their social institutions. The main objective of the study was to document the traditional social institutions of the area. Besides recording and analysing the impact of development schemes since the construction of the Karakoram Highway (1978) on already established socio-economic practices prevailing the area. The valleys are located in the south of Gilgit, the administrative centre of the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The area had remained a concern of colonial India during the Great Game. However, the British administration left the area to survive as a part of Yaghistan – The land of the wild and the independent people. The area was merged with Pakistan in 1951. The methodology involved collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data was gathered through the review of literature, case study of the social institutions and Participant Observation. The quantitative data was obtained through extensive fieldwork in the area during 1993-96 and a sample household survey. The social institutions of the area were found to reflect traits of an acephalous society. They are underdeveloped and undifferentiated. The wesh being mother of all institutions is a set of social institutions. It is basically a system of land ownership and periodic reallotment of land. Wesh manifest through heli, a social facet of wesh. Sigas