Book Review: Remoteness and Modernity Transformation and Continuity in Northern Pakistan by Shafqat Hussain

 

Hussain’s work is an anthropological inquiry into the idea of remote areas. He examines the diverse ways in which the people of Hunza have been viewed by outsiders over the past century. He also writes about how the local people used their remote status strategically, ensuring their own interest were served as they engaged with the outside world.

There are a number of errors in the book. The author states that Nazeem Khan was appointed as the ruler of Hunza state when he was seven years old. Here the author is mistaken because Nazeem was in his 20s when he became the ruler of Hunza with the help/support of Hamayun Baig. At another point Hussain says that Mir Silim Khan settled the area of Gojal and gave the land to Wakhi peasants and Kirghiz nomads (p. 64). Hussain’s source seems to have misinformed him as Wakhis were already living in Gojal, even before Hussain’s estimated time period. On page 70, the author mentions that the Wazirs of Hunza criticized the Mirs of Hunza for excessive taxation. Hussain does not mention the time period and does not mention the basis for his claim. Even if there was any criticsm he does not mention the nature of the criticism is not mentioned.

Further in the book, the author states that after the British invasion of Hunza in 1891, selection of the local ruler was taken out of the hands of the local clan leaders (p. 77). In fact, Humayun Baig played an important role in the appointment of Nazeem Khan, after negotiating with the British. Later Muhammad Jamal Khan who became the ruler in 1945 became the ruler of Hunza with the help of Inayatullah Baig, who was the Wazir of Hunza. There are still people in Hunza  who are alive and clearly remember the day when in 1945 Jamal Khan’s father Mir Ghazan Khan II was allegedly murdered in Gulmit village of Hunza. Many oral history accounts suggest that Wazir Inayat had instigated the murder. Hussain’s knowledge of the local history seems to be limited.

In 1905, the Mir of Hunza asked for compensation for withdrawing from Raskam, and the resident in Kashmir, on the recommendation of the political agent at Gilgit, recommended a compensation amount of 1,000 rupees from the government of India. Hussain says that Nazeem Khan’s tactics were on some ways equally influential in dictating the course of frontier politics in the region (p.71). In 1935, when Nazeem was negotiating a subsidy for the loss of grazing rights in Raskam, according to the political agent the Mir wanted the title of His Highness. Moreover, the author stresses that in 1935 Nazeem Khan did not allow the Wazir’s son to visit Srinagar. In October 1934 Ghazan Khan II (eldest son of Mir Nazeem) for Imam Yar Baig’s (younger brother of the incumbent Wazir Shukurullah Baig) murder. The author remains unaware that the ruler Nazeem had conflict with the Wazir’s family, so why would he send the Wazir’s son to Srinagar for education?

Hussain avoids using real names. He relies on pseudo names throughout this book. He describes and quotes Ghazi Muhammad (real name Ghulam Muhammad) of Passu, Kamran Ali (Farman Ali of Shimshal), Munawar (Muzaffaruddin of Shimshal), Master Daud Ali (Daulat Amin) and Hamid Shah (Hasil Shah). Hussain quotes Kamran Ali. Kamran Ali says that ‘up until recently the Wakhis were not socially mobile, but recently they have left behind the Buroshoski Ismailis of central Hunza. Wakhis are now in senior level government positions, in the Ismaili councils, and the Buroshos feel jealous’ (p. 116).

In the book, Hussain also overlooks the reality about Aga Khan Foundation when he states that ‘while the Pakistani state tries to integrate and assimilate Hunza into mainstream Pakistani society, the AKF and its institutions make Hunza part of a global Ismaili community.’ He avoids commenting on the important role of  Aga Khan Development Network in creating linkages between the people and the government through its different agencies.

Further in the book, the author discusses the life in Pamir, Shimshal Nature Trust, Khunjerav National Park and Hideki Yamauchi (Japanese photojournalist). Hussain says that Shimshalis represent themselves as a ‘society that is a perfect and unique hybrid of modernity and tradition’ (p. 205). Hussain mentions that Muzaffar (who served at a senior position in the AKRSP management) was ‘also conscious of the fluid nature of identity such that it can be deployed strategically depending on the circumstances (p. 204). According Hussain, the state is an important source of resources and development assistance that Shimshalis tap into when opportunities arise (p. 207).

According to the author ‘Hunza as the ideal rural society was not constructed by romantics; they were often scientists who used romantic language and discourse to critique industrial agriculture and, indeed, the wider capitalist ethos that had become, in their view, the defining characteristic of Western society’ (p. 107).

This book in an attempt to present a new perspective regarding various facets of Hunza. The author could have done much better if a detailed anthropological study was carried out. At some point, it seemed to me that the author was writing just for the sake of writing. This does not mean that one should not read this book!

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Book Review: High Road to Hunza by Barbara Mons

 

This book is a travelogue of a couple who travel from United Kingdom whom visit Hunza in the spring of 1956. Peter Mons, the author’s husband is accompanying her on this exciting journey. The couple had written to the ruler of Hunza in 1955 about their desire to visit Hunza. The ruler Muhammad Jamal Khan said that if we could get permission from the Government of Pakistan to enter Azad Kashmir, he would be delighted to welcome us in his territory. The couple started from London in a Land-Rover. They passed through Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and then entered Pakistan. Almost half of the book is about the journey from London to Pakistan. During this section of the journey the author describes the various cities they passed through. On 4^th of April 1956, exactly four weeks after leaving Istanbul, the couple reached Lahore where they were hosted by their friend Manzar Bashir.

On 10^th April 1956 the couple arrived in Rawalpindi. The author says that ‘To reach Hunza you must fly from Rawalpindi to Gilgit; there is no other way, except the jeep-track over the Babusar Pass that is open only for a short time in the height of summer.’ Meanwhile the couple was waiting for their permit from Karachi, they went to Peshawar and over the Khyber Pass to the Afghan frontier and back again. After telegrams were exchanged with the Mir of Hunza, the permit arrived. Now the only wait was for good weather. After ‘several unnerving false starts’ the couple finally landed in Gilgit on May 2^nd. The time spent waiting was instead invested in two trips. One to Swat and one to India for a week via the Grand Trunk Road.

The author had got special permission from the Director of Civil Aviation in Karachi to photograph Nanga Parbat. They were in a Dakota plane. Humayun Beg, the Secretary of the Political Agent General Kiani received the guests at Gilgit airstrip. They were driven to the Agency house. The guests brought a letter of introduction from General Shahid Hamid, Master-General of the Ordnance in Rawalpindi. They were driven to Kargah Nullah where Colonel Cobb, the then British Political Agent had planted trout in 1918. The author discovered Gilgit under the wing of Rhabar Hassan. The General lent his jeep to the guests along with a driver. Rhabar Hassan was also accompanying them, sitting on the top of their rucksacks. The jeep drive started from Gilgit and ended in Sikanderabad.

After waving goodbye to the jeep they set on foot. Mayun, the village opposite Nilt was the halting-place for the night. The guests reached the Mir’s rest house at five. After supper the Mir talked with the guests on the telephone. The next morning at six, the travel party was again on track. The author describes the twenty miles between Mayun and Baltit as ‘torturous track’. The author gives reference to previous writers on the area. This includes Knight, Durand and Lorimer- all having military backgrounds.

Mons says that the ruler of Hunza wore European clothes and his eldest son Ghazanfar also wore a tweed suit. The author says that the guest-house was built in 1925 by the present ruler’s father, Muhammad Nazim Khan. Before dinner there was ‘Black and White Whisky and a cut-glass decanter of Hunza pani.’ The photographs in the ruler’s house included that of Aga Khan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Shah of Persia’s brother. The schoolmaster Sultan Ali was introduced by Jamal Khan to the guests. He ‘spoke some English and was to be our friend and guide and constant companion.’  Chapter twelve ‘Looking back’ reflects on the past of Hunza through the lens of foreign writers. This includes E.F. Knight, Younghusband and Colonel Durand. The battle of Nilt is also covered.

The author is of the view that in the comparatively new settlement of Aliabad, where the cultivable shelf is much wider and less steep than elsewhere, there are many quite large flat sites, and here most of the houses are of the new, so-called Wakhi, pattern. Sixteen to twenty poplar tress go to the making of a house, says the author. In addition, she says that a Hunza house rivals any Swiss home for order and cleanliness; there is a total absence of unpleasant smells. The author mentions: “Hunza has been aptly called nicknamed ‘The Land of the Just-Enough’. They have just enough for their own essential needs, but not enough to make anybody else want to take it away from them.” The author quotes Muhammad Nazim Khan. Nazim states: ‘Marriage is not allowed between near relations, and whenever possible people marry into a clan different from their own.’ The author adds that child marriages do not take place now and unhappy marriages are said to be rare. Small girls and boys have the center of their heads shaved. In addition to that, the author views the Hunzakuts as ‘empiricist’.

Mons continues that Hunza has one doctor named Safdar Mahmood, a Pakistani. The little hospital in Aliabad is maintained by the Pakistan Army Medical Corps in Aliabad. The author adds that the mysterious immunity to disease in Hunza is not true. Dr. Safdar Mahmmod sent the authors husband analysis of all the cases of illness during the past year. It contained 348 cases of dysentery, 1 of typhoid, 734 of intestinal disease, 290 of malaria, 113 of rheumatic fever, 426 of goitre.

The chapter on ‘Custom, Faith and Language’ revolves around the ruling family. According to the author Jamal Khan’s milk father was Inayatullah Beg, the present Wazir of Hunza. Mentioning the ruling family, the author views it as forming a ‘class or tribal division by itself, called the Thamo, sub-divided into the Kareli, the royally-born on both sides, and the Arghundaro, of common origin on the female side.’ Mons observed that the school in Baltit had three other masters besides Sultan Ali. This included Haji Qudrat Ullag Beg, Thara Beg and Sangi Khan. The school in Baltit had 60 pupils under four masters. Urdu, Persian and English were taught there.

On Festival, the author says that only the ‘royal family’ kept the fast. Wazir Inayatullah Beg’s age was given to the author as ninety-four. The author disagrees and says: ‘with his virile looks it seemed impossible that he could be over seventy.’ Ayub was Ghazanfar’s milk-father. He played in the team of the ruling family whereas Ayash Khan kept the score during a polo match.

Every man possesses enough land to grow the necessary grain for himself and his family, says the author.Moreover she adds that this land is ‘generally owned outright, passing from generation to generation, but can be on lease from the Mir, in which case a small rent is paid in kind once the ground is producing.’ The author of this book states that there is no police or soldiers in the state. And persistent evil-doer can be banished for a few years to higher less hospitable valley. Jamal Khan goes on hunting trips to the north of his state following his grandfather’s footsteps. In Hunza fuel is so scare that fuel in winter is a serious problem, stresses the author. Furthermore, not many animals can be spared for meat, so the regime is mainly vegetarian. Fresh butter is unknown. The author seems to have based his claim by observing things in Central Hunza and did not visit the upper parts of the state where the situation was quite different. Barbara Mons writes that ‘the Mir of Hunza gets fairly clear drinking water for his guests, but he himself, like everyone else in Hunza, drinks pale-grey silty water with no ill effect, and in fact prefers it.’

Master Sultan Ali was also the Postmaster. He guided the couple to Altit fort. The author says that the fort is said to have been in existence for seven hundred years. The Mir comes into residence at Altit every February for the initiation of the spring festival ceremony. In the chapter on Hunza crafts, the author discusses the Bericho people of Hunza. These are the people who are blacksmiths and musicians. The Mir Jamal Khan told the guests that ‘he had recently had to put a stop to the Bericho sending their boys to the school, not from snobbery or race bar, but because it had been observed that when they started being ‘educated’ they ceased to want to be blacksmiths and musicians: and upon the first of these two professions the very life of the community depends.’ There are around half a dozen flour-mills around Baltit.

On her stay in Hunza the author remembers the deputations from villages who brought presents in honour of the forthcoming marriage of Princess Durri Shahwar to the Prince of Yasin. The Mir invited the author to sit next to him. The gifts included coffee-pots, sheep, ponies, hats, plates, rolls of materials, teapots, goats, rifles, tiny bags of gold-dust from the river, and hundreds of rupee notes which were counted by one of the retainers helped by the Crown Prince, while Ayash Khan, Court Scribe, worked very hard entering it all in a large red book. Mons says further in the book that there is a refreshing absence of superstition in Hunza, which I do believe is a doubtful claim. Mons says that Gilgit Scouts was enlisted in 1913 to replace the inadequate and half-trained fighting levies that existed up to that time. The new plan was suggested to the Mir of Hunza Muhammad Nazim Khan by Major Macpherson, the Political Agent back then. This was formally sanctioned by the Government of India.

At the farewell party for the guests many presents were exchanged between the guests and the hosts. The couple set out at dawn to ride the easy four-mile stage to Sikanderabad to meet the jeep. The jeep was not there. It arrived after three and a half hours. The couple reached Gilgit agency house. There they met another guest- an American the advance guard of a team who were contemplating a Cinerama film of Hunza, to be entitled In Search of Paradise. The book ends with the grand reception and dinner given by United States Military Assistance Advisory Group to the traveling couple at the Officers’ Mess at Chaklala.

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Book Review: The Asian Paradise Hunza by Rahmatullah Beg

Rahmatullah Beg got his education from Hunza and Gilgit and Srinagar. Later he moved to Karachi after the partition of United India. He held various portfolios during his lifetime. Most of these portfolios were honorary positions within his community. This particular book of the author covers numerous themes. Most of the chapters in the book are written by the author.

Some of the others include speech, radio address, and articles from Dawn newspaper, personal letters and proposals. Beg has named the book Asian Paradise only because an American Film company had visited Hunza in the past and shot a film titled Hunza as Asian Paradise. In the introduction Beg mentions the presence of a Tarkhan house in Sost, Hunza. He further writes about Liaquat Ali Khan. While addressing people in Gilgit Liaquat Ali Khan expressed his hope the people of Gilgit would liberate Kashmir. I was unaware of Liaquat Ali Khan’s visit to Gilgit. The author mentions his visit. Beg further talks about the development and challenges of Tourism in the Northern Areas. Writing about Marcopolo he states that he had travelled from Gilgit to Hunza. At that time Hunza was under Buddhist rule.

In the 15^th century 200 individuals arrived in Hunza with the bridegroom from Shigar. Among them some families settled in Altit as they are known as Musinkuz. Moving on he says that Mir Nazim Khan of Hunza built a special guest house for VIPs in 1925. After Nazim Khan’s death his son Ghazan Khan shifted residence from Shumolbog to the old castle in 1938. He remained there till his death in 1945.

The author narrates an event from the Saint Gazette of London 1898. He writes that Queen Victoria made Aga Khan sit on Pope’s throne. Beg elaborates on Lord Curzon and Lord Kitchner’s visit to Hunza.  In addition to that he briefly writes about Queen Victoria’s monument in Hunza.

Aga Samad Shah’s visit to Hunza in Oct 1921 is briefly mentioned. He spoke Persian. Wazir Inayatullah and Subedar Muhammd Rafi served as interpreters. Aga Samad went to China via Hunza in Oct 1921 and returned in March 1922. He had gone to China for the enquiry of the murder case of Counselor at Chini Bagh, where the British Counselor was staying. Pir Subjally Ramzanally, Aga Khan Radio address of the 1940 to the Jamat of Northern Areas, Nanga Parbat expedition of 1953, Aga Khan IV visit to Hunza in Oct 1960 and education development in Hunza are covered in the subsequent chapters.

Construction of Karakoram Highway, Pak-Sino Boundary agreement, Haseegawaa Public School, Health in Northern Areas, and KADO and AKRSP’s efforts are also mentioned. Woes of Hunza are interesting chapters to read. PIA is severely criticized by the author. Referring to PIA he says: “I have been flying for the last many years between Rawalpindi and Gilgit but there is no improvement. People suffer as they are made to waste their precious time and money at Rawalpindi. PIA has failed to serve people on this route.”

The last pages of the book consist of colored and non-colored photographs. The rulers of Hunza from Ghazan Khan I to Jamal Khan are included. Others photographs include that of the author with different dignitaries in Hunza and elsewhere.

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Book Review: Imperial Gazetteer Provincial Series Kashmir and Jammu by Sir Walter Lawrence

The articles in this volume are written by Sir Walter Lawrence, Bart., G.C.I.E. Physical environment, history, archaeology, population, agriculture, forests, minerals, arts, commerce, political relations, administration, education and means of communication are discussed in great detail with relevant statistical data.

Back then covering long distances was a troublesome task for any traveller. The distance from Gilgit to Srinagar was 228 miles, Srinagar to Leh was 243 miles, and from Leh to Yarkand was 482 miles.

In this book languages, population and castes of Kashmir and Jammu have been briefly discussed. Dogras, Gujars, Gaddis,Pathans, Galwan and Dum presence is mentioned.  Dogra is defined as a territorial name. In the Hunza -Nagar campaign of 1891 these Dogra Rajputs rendered their services for the Kashmir government.

In Kashmir cherry is known as gilas. Other produce includes buck wheat, rice and tobacco. The minerals found are gypsum, limestone and gold. Kashmiri arts and embroidery are also appreciated and its export to the west is encouraged. Srinagar which means “Godess of God” has been described in significant detail.

In addition to that topics relating to women of Ladakh, history of Baltistan, end of polyandry among Baltis, importance of cow in Astore and mountain passes in Kashmir territory have also been taken into account.

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Book Review: Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh by John Biddulph

Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh written by British colonial officer John Biddulph, spans over fourteen chapters which include themes related to topography, habits, customs, festivals, history, ruling families of the region and local languages. It can be considered as an account of Biddulph’s travel to the regions which we now know as Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Kohistan and Xinjiang. The writer makes frequent mention of the Chinese traveller named Fah Hian, who is also known to have travelled through these mountainous territories. Mentioning about Kohistan, the writer is of the view that Kohistan is also called Shinkari, ‘the country of the Shins’, by the Kohistani people themselves. Moreover the valleys of Tangir and Darel are discussed in great detail. The prevalent languages, ethnic composition and traditions of small states are also explained. Conflicts, political relations and issues of grazing rights between Tangir and Yasin are highlighted. Moving north towards Gilgit town, Biddulph estimates the population of Gilgit to be of 4500 inhabitants.

About Hunza state, the writer mentions the raids in Yarkand by the Hunza people and also says that animal slaughter in Hunza is not according to the Mohammedan law. Ghazan Khan the ruler of Hunza is known for organizing orgies. Pointing towards the various ethnicities of that time Biddulph believes that Shins could be considered Hindus from the South and Kashmiris residing in Gilgit are basically weavers and carpenters. Various official positions of administration are debated. Some of these include Yerfah (Steward), Charboo (Assistant to the Trangfa), Trangfa (Village Head), Ataliks in Chitral (Military commander and Revenue officer) and Charwelo (In charge of a group of villages). The Chitrali ruler receives an annual tribute of children of both sexes from the Siah Posh community. The punishments for elopement, adultery and extra marital affairs in these tribal regions are also mentioned. The importance of foster relations, especially with the ruling families has been brought to notice.

In the second half of the book the writer compares Shin and Yeshkun names. He considers Shin names as having a suffix of ‘sing’ in them. While explaining the presence of old religious influence in the region, Biddulph opines that the old towers in Wakhan represent Zoroaster religion’s cradle.  Adding on to that, he further narrates that the practice of suttee (common among the Hindus) was practiced in Gilgit, Gor, Hunza and Nager. The author even claims the presence of Hindus in Darel valley till 1877. In addition to that the appendices portion of the book includes languages such as Brooshiski, Shina, Chiliss, Torwalak, Bushkarik, Gowro, Narisati, Khowar , Bushgali and Yidghah. Here the author makes a very valuable anthropological contribution by listing vocabulary, numerals, verbs, nouns and pronouns in the local languages of the region.

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Book Review: Holiday in Hunza By Jewel Hatcher Henrickson

Holiday in Hunza is a travel piece by a group of Americans who live and work in Karachi. When Muhammad Jamal Khan, the last ruler of Hunza visits Karachi he meets Dr. Nelson. Dr. Nelson the medical director of Karachi hospital invites Jamal to visit his hospital. Jamal Khan gets impressed by the hospital management and invites Nelson and his staff to visit Hunza. The following year the Americans with help from Iskander Mirza’s son travel to Hunza. All of them arrive in a train at Rawalpindi. Later on they move to Gilgit in a Dakota plane with a fight which gets delayed. From Gilgit Jamal Khan arranges a jeep and himself excuses the guests, as he has to attend a meeting with the political agent at Gilgit. Jamal promises to join them later in Hunza. The jeep ride to Hunza has a chapter in the book. Rest at Nomal, Nagar and the arrangements made by the Mir of Hunza have also been mentioned. Furthermore a chapter regarding the Mir’s wife is separately given in the book. Her way of life, children, fashion sense and even minute details such as her smoking cigarette have also been stated. Rani gave birth to eleven children and four of them died. The author mentions that it is suspected that they were poisoned as the circumstances were the same in all the cases. In addition to that those tourists who were doctors setup temporary clinic to facilitate the population. The wife of Jamal requests them to open a temporary clinic especially for the Hunza women. These missionary tourists also perform their religious practices and also frequently setup their Sabbath school. Sightseeing in Hunza is facilitated by Master Sultan Ali especially the trek to Ultar glacier. Other than that the tourists also observe a funeral ceremony. Jamal Khan on his return from Gilgit to Hunza requests the tourists for the construction of a hospital in Hunza. Later on before departure from Hunza gifts are exchanged between the tourists and Jamal Khan’s family.

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Book Review: Between the Oxus and the Indus by Colonel R.C.F Schomberg

Between the Indus and the Oxus was written in the earlier half of the twentieth by a British traveller known as R.C.F Schomberg. In the introductory chapter the writer briefly explains the Gilgit Agency, including themes such as the geography, people, languages and political administration of the area. Thereon he gives accounts of the places he visited and the observation he made while travelling.

The writer’s team consists of Abdullah Beg and Daulat Shah belonging from Hunza; his cooks Abdullah Rathar and Aziza Rathar were both from Kashmir. Later on another man named Hasil Shah from Hunza joined the group.Starting from Punyal he informs the reader about the adventures he came across there.  One of the observations made by Schomberg while travelling through Punyal was that the Raja of Punyal lived on the opposite side of the river. This raja would cross the river on a narrow rope bridge and meet the passengers on the road. This act of his saved him from spending on his guests as he would meet them on the road. Schomberg adds on that the chiefs of Punyal are largely of Chitrali descent. Shah Kutor and Shah Burush being the grandsons of Shah Khushwaqt. Moreover he compares the people of Hunza and Punyal. He is of the view that the men of Hunza are better climbers and fighters. Punyalis on the other hand hate agriculture.

Schomberg also briefs his reader about his travels through Kuh and Ghizr.  Kuh and Ghizer had one governor. This governor was appointed by the British government as the other governors of Yasin and Ghizer too were appointed by them. At various places he mentions the issue of food security in the region. He believes that the staple food in Hunza was apricot unlike Kuh and Ghizer where things are differet. Furthermore Schomberg confirms the presence of English trout in the Ghizer River. Moving on, in his account the author refers to the murder of George Hayward, a British traveller, in the nineteenth. This mysterious murder took place in Yasin where Schomberg was travelling now. Yasin exported wheat and Barley as it had these crops in abundance, but there was a shortage of pastureland in the territory. Schomberg categorizes the people in the Gilgit agency in terms of strength and intelligence. He refers to the people of Hunza as superior among all the people in the whole expanse. Being a keen observer he writes that in the upper Yasin valley, women did not work as they did in Hunza and Punyal. He praises the Yak, a domesticated mountain animal at Ishkoman and describes its role in detail. According to him the wakhis fully use the yak for their different tasks. Other than this the author has mentioned details about Ali Mardan Shah, an old wakhi chief from Wakhan who used to live in Imit. With that on page ninety the pirs of Chatorkhand have also been discussed. Throughout his account various comparisons of Hunza and Nagir have been made by Schomberg. The Mir of Hunza at that time was Mir Nazim Khan who was from a peasant mother. Nazim hated to see his people leave his valley. Furthermore in the book local folklores, festivals and superstitions have been highlighted in great detail. The practice of fratricide was very common in those days. For instance in Hunza Mir Ghazan Khan had murdered his father Ghazunfur Khan. He also murdered his uncle Abdulla Khan.  The roles and responsibilities of various functionaries have been outlined by Schomberg. Under the Mir worked the Wazir, Trangpa, Uyum, Chirbu,  Yarpa and Elchi . These were the elements of his power and influence in the area.

In chapter twelve different castes/ races in Gilgit region have been identified by the author.  Schomberg believes that Yeshkun, Ronos and Shins are not necessarily different races. Some of them are castes and the categorization of races in the region is false. Doms consist of muscians, blacksmiths and cobblers while wakhi to him are a race of an old ‘Persian stock’. According to him Ishkoman had been colonized many times by Gilgit and Bagrot. Before that it belonged to Yasin. In this book the major events of the Hunza-Nagir war of 1891 have also been discussed. The foster relationship of the ruling family with the locals has been reflected. Schomberg says that the locals of Hunza, Nagir and Punyal had to pay money to their respective rulers. This money was used by the rulers for the marriage of their offspring. Schomberg’s account also includes his th local tales and stories. He mentions stories of witch and wizards in Hunza. He considers that the apples of Passu are famous. On his tour to Chupursan he wrote that there were 60 families in Reshit, a small village in Chupursan Valley. He narrates that the body of Baba Ghundi is not buried at the shrine in Chupursan. In the last chapter of the book Darel and Tangir are discussed in great detail. The various attempts by rulers to rule the area have been mentioned. Schomberg considers Pakhtun Wali, son of Mir Wali from Yasin to have ruled this area for 12 years.  He stands to be the only one to do so under an autocratic rule.

R.C.F Schomberg while travelling through the region has in some of the cases included minute details and in other instances just overlooked many important details which if included would have given a comprehensive outlook to his account.

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Book Review: Three Cups of Deceit by Jon Krakauer

Three Cups of Deceit written by Jon Krakauer is basically a reply to Greg Mortenson’s book Three Cups of Tea. Published in 2011, this book has been divided into three parts. 

The first part named the creation myth addresses the creation of Greg’s story in Baltistan, which according to Krakauer is a fake one. Krakauer simply refutes the narration of Greg Mortenson. At various places in his book Greg has mentions that after returning from a failed attempt of K2 in 1993 he lived in a small village called Korphe. But Krakauer contests this narration on page 8 of his book. He is of the view that Greg along with two others had walked down to Askole and from thereon they hired a jeep which took them to Skardu, the district capital. The author Jon Krakauer refers to Darsney, Greg’s fellow who returned with him after the failed attempt of K-2, who says that according to him he and Greg had stayed at Skardu for several days after the failed attempt. After that they hired a jeep and went to Khane, a village in the Hushe Valley. It is there where Greg proposed the construction of a school, as the village did not have one. Furthermore Mortenson mentions in his account that he had met Niamat Gul Mehsud for the first time in Peshawer, whereas Mahsud remembers meeting Mortenson in Rawalpindi, in front of the latter’s hotel. Greg shows in his book that he was kept hostage in South Wazairistan by the Taliban back in1996.  However the author of Three Cups of Deceit makes it clear that the kidnapping story of Greg is entirely fabricated. He gives references of various credible people who surely believe that the story was fabricated. Naimat Gul one of his accomplices also believes that Greg had invented a false story.

The second section of the book is titled accountable to no one. For the funding of his schools Greg believes that it does not matter where the money comes from, as it is in the service of God. Known for not returning phone calls and emails Mortenson also does not arrive on time for his engagements. Karakauer has repeatedly referred to various instances when Mortenson maintained this careless attitude. Mortenson said he had a salary of $28000 in 1995, but in reality he was drawing a salary of about $75000. This means Mortenson was not honest about his salary. Further on page 30 the author mentions that an article on Greg suggested that the schools constructed by Greg helped in countering the influence of fundamentalist Madrassas. This question further complicates and creates doubts about the authenticity of Greg’s story. Mortenson in his first book narrates the story of a long conversation with King Zahir Shah in 2003, in a PIA flight. Krakauer on inquiring from Zahir Shah’s grandson made it clear that no such meeting had taken place. In fact his grandson said that King Zahir Shah had never travelled on any PIA flight from 1973 to 2007. Hence Mortenson’s story seems to be made up. Not only that but Mortenson used CAI’s credit cards and never produced any receipts for them. Mortenson used chartered jets, received royalties from his books and also purchased thousands of copies of his book for the attendees of his events. Along with that Mortenson charges hefty amount of money when he speaks at events. He charges $30,000 plus per event and travel expenses too.

The final part of the book is regarding the school constructed by the Central Asian Institute headed by Greg Mortenson. Many of the schools constructed by Greg, according to Krakauer, have turned into ghost schools. Going on further Greg has referred in one of his books that Wahabbi influence present in the region where he works is strong. But in all those areas where his projects have been established there is no presence of Wahhabi elements. The working mechanisms of CAI are dubious. In 2010 when an auditor was asked to audit CAI finances, a fraudulent document was produced by the CAI staffers. Adding on to that Parvi from Baltistan, who resigned from CAI confessed to embezzle $50,000 from CAI. Further in the Three Cups of Deceit, the gallstone attack on Safaraz Khan, the then program director northern Afghanistan is covered in detail. Greg is alleged to have produced a tampered account of the incident in his book. In 2007 with respect to an incident, Mortenson in one of his email’s to Sarfaraz believed that, AKDN an international NGO, was planting false rumors against CAI. According to the author of Three Cups of Deceit the school in Boazai Gumbaz Wakhan district, was built primarily for the sake of Greg’s book.

Jon Krakauer believes that Greg lied about his first visit to Korphe, lied about eight day armed kidnapping by the Taliban and also bluffed about the building of schools in areas which were on the frontline of war against terror. In the concluding remarks the author has rightly made a remark considering Greg as a murderer of his ‘own creation through his duplicity’. 

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Book Review: The Story of Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral by F.M Khan

Being a veteran of war and later a successful businessman F.M Khan wrote the story of Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral. This was about the war of freedom of Northern Areas of Pakistan. Khan in his book has described the various events leading to the change of government in Gilgit. The night of Oct 31 and 1 Nov 1947 has been discussed in particular, which led to the overthrow and arrest of the Dogra governor at Gilgit.

Quoting from various passages of Major Brown’s book, Khan believes that Major Brown was primarily working for the Dogra government up to the night of October 31, 1947. The author has recorded the events of the Gilgit revolution very honestly and has also admitted his own reluctant participation in the looting of Hindu shops in Gilgit after the revolt.

From 1860 to 1947 Northern areas was governed by British India and the Dogra state of Kashmir. The British Indian government had established schools, hospitals and had also installed telephone, telegram and post offices. Developments such as these were basically for the benefit of the colonizers.

Apart from that the history books in Pakistan are silent about Gilgit Baltistan. Khan has highlighted the ethnic and cultural diversity in the region also including ancient history and the various battles fought by the people of the region in the more recent history. These battles include the battles of Tragbal, Guraiz, Zojila, Drass, Kargil and Ladakh.

The book is of interest to students of politics, geography, history, warfare and strategic studies. Furthermore the main purpose of this book is to provide a way to future historians to expand upon the subject of Gilgit Baltistan and carry out detailed research.

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