The Wakhi people: discovery of an ancient civilization

The Wakhi Pamiri people live around the Pamir knot that overlaps four countries – Gojal, Ishkoman and Chitral districts in Northern Areas of Pakistan, the Kohistani Badakhshan Autonomous province of Tajikistan, Wakhan corridor of the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan and the Yarkand, Srikol and Tashqurghan regions of Sinkiang province, China. The region serves as a confluence for some of world’s highest mountain ranges and being the territory through which the ancient Silk Route passed it has also been a place of cultural cross currents. A very rough estimate of the population of Wakhi (Xhik) people is over 200,000 worldwide.

Colonial expansionism of the 19th century initiated by Great Britain and Russia known as the Great Game further fragmented the region and created zones of interest. The Pamiri people became embedded within the conflicts between Russia, Britain, China and Afghanistan; their destinies became intimately linked to the political histories of the emerging nation states in the region. Gilgit-Baltistan as part of the British Empire in India were integrated into Pakistan. Afghan Badakhshan went through endless periods of turbulence under various Afghan dynasties, followed by the communist-led revolution and subsequent wars between the Mujahideen and the Taliban movements.

The Pamiris of the eastern mountains were incorporated into China and experienced the various ideological struggles that have dominated Chinese history since the revolution. But Pamiris in Gorno-Badakhshan under communist rule made tremendous progress in education, higher fields of knowledge and culture in comparison to the Pamiri people of Gojal, Ishkoman and Brughil who suffered decades of oppression under the Mirs as well as the isolation of centuries that benighted that region. It was only in the 1974 when the princely states were abolished and the Pamiri region of Pakistan saw development and education flourish which has since brought noticeable change in the economy and life of the people.

GOJAL Valley

Gojal valley is famous for its rich natural wealth, landscape, picturesque locations, lofty mountains, breathtaking scenic beauty, wildlife and nature, glittering glaciers, valleys of lush green foliage and fruits, beautiful meadows, and pastures. The valley is comprised of 25 villages, including Ghawooshben (Ainabad), Shishkat (Nazimabad-1), Gulmit, Ghulkin, Seesoni (Hussani), Passu, Khyber, Ghalapan, Moorkhon, Jamalabad, Gircha, Sarteez, Nazimabad, Sost (Aminabad) Khudabad, Misgar, Qalandarchi, Avgarchi, Raminj, Yarz Rech, Kirmin, Reshit, Sharisafz, Kumpirdior, Zowoodkhon, Oston and Shimshal. Gulmit is Gojal’s largest settlement and Tehsil headquarters.

Gojal is geographically the largest Tehsil of Hunza-Nagar District in Gilgit-Baltistan spreading over an area of about 8,500 sq.km. The valley borders with the Xinjiang-Uighur region of China and Wakhan Corridor or Little Pamir of Afghanistan. There is no written history about the earlier settlement of people in Gojal valley. Most of the historians and researchers are of the view that Wakhis migrated from Wakhan and settled in Yishkook, Chupursan valley and later to Boibar areas. It is commonly believed that the first settler came to Avgarchi valley. As the population grew, people spread out and moved down to Ghalapan, Gircha, Sarteez, Jamalabad, Moorkhon, Nazimabad and Sost. The local people attribute an old house in Sost with the Tara Khan Dynasty of Gilgit (1310), much earlier than the creation of Hunza state and older than Altit and Baltit forts.

Chupursan is said to be resettled many times due to floods. The valley now comprised of different villages from Yarzrech to Zowood Khoon. Raminj is a Burusho village while others are Wakhis. The valley is populated by the migrants from Wakhan, Gulmit, Passu, Ghulkin and Seesoni (Hussani).

Passu was first inhibited by Quli from Wakhan. According to local elders, the old Passu was once home to some 300 households but Shimshal flood and continuous erosion destroyed the old Passu settlement. Later, Passu was resettled by a man named Quli, who is today generally recognized as the ancestor of the majority of Passu’s population. Due to this reference the people of Passu are called Qulikutor. People from Quli Kutor (tribe) are also inhabited in central Hunza, who later adopted the Burusho way of life and now speak Burushaski language.

The first settlers to the remote valley of Shimshal are estimated to have arrived some 400 to 500 years ago. Their ancestor, Mamo Singh, came from Chaprot’s Tushat tribe. Shimshal is thel argest village of Gojal.

Misgar served as the last outpost between British Empire and China. Most of its population speaks Brushuski.

Gojal remained an independent valley for many years and rulers of Hunza extended their administrative control over the area later during Silum Khan Mir. New settlements in Gojal were made by constructing irrigation channels in Shishkat, upper Sost, Nazimabad and Raminj during the reign of Mir Nazim Khan (1892-1931) bringing Burusho people from Hunza to these villages.