Anthropos: Anthropos, 92.1997,1/3

Anthropos, 92.1997,1/3

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Strukturtyp:: Zeitschrift

Werks-URN (URL):: https://digi.evifa.de/viewer/resolver?urn=urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-714820

URN:: urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-714820

Persistenter Identifier:: BV043334262

Titel:: Anthropos

Erscheinungsort:: Fribourg

Verlag:: Ed. St. Paul

Erscheinungsjahr:: 1906

Sammlung:: Zeitschriften und Zeitungen > Zeitschriften zur Ethnologie

Wissensgebiet:: Sozial- und Kulturanthropologie > Allgemeines

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Strukturtyp:: Zeitschriftenband

Werks-URN (URL):: https://digi.evifa.de/viewer/resolver?urn=urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-711886

URN:: urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-711886

Persistenter Identifier:: 1513768301723

Titel:: Anthropos, 92.1997,1/3

Erscheinungsjahr:: 1997

Signatur:: LA 1118

Sammlung:: Zeitschriften und Zeitungen > Zeitschriften zur Ethnologie

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Strukturtyp:: Zeitschriftenheft

Titel:: Bd. 92, 1997, Heft 1-3

Sammlung:: Zeitschriften und Zeitungen > Zeitschriften zur Ethnologie

Zeitschriftenartikel

Strukturtyp:: Zeitschriftenartikel

Titel:: Migration and Society in Gilgit, Northern Areas of Pakistan

Sonstige Person:: Sökefeld, Martin

Sammlung:: Zeitschriften und Zeitungen > Zeitschriften zur Ethnologie

Anthropos 92.1997: 83-90 Migration and Society in Gilgit, Northern Areas of Pakistan Martin Sökefeld Abstract. - High mountain areas like the Northern Areas of Pa kistan are frequently regarded as having been isolated from the surrounding world before the development of modern means communication. The paper argues that Gilgit, the modern Ce nter of the Northern Areas, had been subject to immigration ar| d thus contact with the outside long before the era of road construction. The relationship between immigrants and people °f Gilgit changed according to the conditions and (political) context of migration. Modernity did not start migration but it caused new patterns of migration and of relations with immi grants to emerge. [Pakistan, high mountain areas, migration, c hange, conflict] Martin Sökefeld, M.A. (Köln 1990), Dr. phil. (Tübingen *^96); 15 months field research in North Pakistan (1991-1993); " bis main interests are South Asia, ethnicity, action theory, et hno-hermeneutics; - publications: see References Cited. Introduction High mountain areas are often considered to be special habitats because they are largely isolated a °d secluded from the outside world - at least before they have been “opened up” by mod- ern techniques like road construction. They are s aid to be a kind of “ethnographic museums” w here archaic cultural traits are preserved because 110 or only extremely limited exchange with the surrounding countries existed. The same views have been expressed frequently about the Northern ^reas of Pakistan, situated at the meeting point of Karakoram, Himalayan, and Hindu Kush ranges, bor somebody coming from the plains of Pakistan ° r Europe this assumption seems quite natural at hrst sight. For those not used to life in high moun- ta in environment, the physical structure of the area w hh its high peaks and deep river gorges indeed Se eins to be very inimical to mobility and commu tation. The Northern Areas of Pakistan are said have been “opened up” by the construction of Karakoram Highway, a metalled all-weather r °ad that connects the plains of Pakistan with Kashgar in the Chinese province Sinkiang and that has been completed in 1978. The Highway follows the valleys of the Indus and Hunza rivers and enters China on top of Khunjerab Pass. No doubt, the completion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) has intensified exchange between the mountain area and the lowlands extremely, but not at all have the mountains been isolated before. Of course, high mountains restrict mobility in many respects. But they do not prevent people from moving. Man always finds his way even in very adverse surroundings. Mobility in the North ern Areas has not started only with the construc tion of the KKH. Only its form and extent has been changed by road construction. Thus, there has always been migration within and into what is now the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The area was never secluded from the outside world. Still more important, migration was and is not just a minor occurrence in the region. It is a condition that has decisive influence on the structure of society. In this paper I want to show some of the effects migration had on society in Gilgit, the largest town in the Northern Areas. Today Gilgit is in every respect the center of the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Situated at the confluence of the rivers Gilgit and Hunza, not faraway from the junction of the Gilgit River with the Indus, it was accessible from all sides both through the valleys and over mountain paths. Dur ing its eventful history, Gilgit had been in turns both center of regional power and target of attack from outside. Today, Gilgit has more than 40,000 inhabitants and houses all modern and administra tive facilities. Its population is characterized by its extreme diversity. Fifteen different mother tongues are spoken in the town. 1 The fact of migration to Gilgit is proved by the presence of a large number of migrant groups. Many of them have come before the British started to construct more convenient paths in the mountain world. It is impossible to date the arrival of these 1 These languages are: Balti, Burushaski, Domaki, Farsi, Guj- ri, Hindko, Kashmiri, Khilli (Kohistani), Khowar, Pashtu, Punjabi, Shina, Turki, Urdu, and Wakhi.

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