Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook THERE was a time—not very long ago—when Gilgit-Baltistan was a land almost entirely untouched by vehicular traffic . Until the 1960s, motor vehicles were virtually absent from most parts of the region. The valleys, mountain slopes, rivers, streams and settlements existed in an extraordinarily pristine state. The silence of the mountains was broken principally by the sound of flowing water, birdsong, livestock, the movement of people on foot, and the occasional traditional means of transport. The landscape was not merely beautiful; it was ecologically quieter, cleaner and far less disturbed by human activity . Today, that world has changed dramatically. The expansion of roads, the arrival of motor vehicles, increasing tourism, rapid urbanisation and growing dependence on private transport have brought enormous econ...

By  Syed Shamsuddin Oral Historians: The Living Archives of Gilgit-Baltistan History does not survive only in books, official records and archival documents. In societies where written records are limited, fragmented or absent, it also survives in the memories, narratives and lived experiences of people who inherit and transmit knowledge from one generation to another. Such individuals may aptly be described as oral historians, oral tradition-bearers or folk historians . They are, in effect, the living archives of their communities. This is particularly true of Gilgit-Baltistan , where a considerable part of the region’s social and cultural history has been preserved through oral traditions. Elderly men and women in its villages and valleys may possess extensive knowledge of ancestral migrations and settlements, customary laws, clan and kinship relations, irrigation systems, agricultural practices, grazing routes, traditional medicines...

By  Syed Shamsuddin IN A WORLD increasingly driven by competition, impatience, and material pressures, societies that invest in the moral growth of their children stand out as islands of stability and progress. Japan remains one of the most compelling examples. In Japanese schools, the first three years of education are not dominated by examinations or memorization. Instead, the focus is on shaping character—teaching children ethics, manners, responsibility, and social harmony. Children learn how to stand in line, eat on time, tidy their utensils, and brush their teeth regularly. Punctuality is emphasized as a core discipline. They are encouraged to speak truthfully, work cooperatively, and help one another. Through such grooming, they grow into responsible adults whose honesty and civic sense are admired worldwide. It is no surprise that Tokyo—the world's most populous metropolitan region—remains peaceful, orderly, and remarkably cl...

By  Syed Shamsuddin A Facebook post published by Bagrote Valley, Gilgit, on 25 August 2026 draws attention to a small but deeply meaningful linguistic gesture: the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan speaking in Shina while addressing people in Shina-speaking areas. The post observes, with a touch of irony, that while some elected representatives struggle even with English in their own constituencies, the Chief Minister’s decision to communicate in the local language is certainly welcome and commendable. It then makes a broader and more important assertion: the preservation of local languages is both a collective obligation and a national responsibility. That observation deserves to be taken considerably further. In a region as linguistically diverse as Gilgit-Baltistan, language is not merely a medium through which people exchange information. It is a repository of collective memory, a vehicle of cultural identity, and an archive of ...

By  Syed Shamsuddin A poignant chapter in the mountaineering history of Rakaposhi has recently been brought to a dignified close with the recovery and burial of the remains of Gerald Fellner , the Austrian mountaineer who lost his life on the mountain more than four decades ago. According to the Diran TV report dated 24 August 2026 , Fellner was a member of an Austrian expedition to Rakaposhi in 1985. During the descent, after the team had undertaken a demanding climb, he suffered a fatal slip at an altitude of approximately 4,700 metres. Contemporary mountaineering accounts record that he sustained serious injuries after falling on an ice slope and subsequently succumbed to those injuries. For nearly forty years, the mountain preserved the remains of the brave mountaineer. It was only in recent years, when the melting of snow and ice exposed the long-lost remains, that the mystery surrounding his final resting place began to be resolv...

By  Syed Shamsuddin An insightful reflection attributed to Ubaid Khan (Facebook post, 5 December 2024) offers a profound meditation on the exercise of power, its impermanence, and the moral consequences that accompany public service. It draws attention to a reality often overlooked by those in positions of authority: that while power is transient, the imprint of one’s conduct endures long after official roles have come to an end. At the heart of this reflection lies the reminder that authority is inherently fleeting. No office, no matter how powerful, is permanent. Those who occupy positions of command ultimately return to ordinary social existence once their tenure concludes. This transition from authority to anonymity is not merely administrative; it is deeply social and moral, revealing how one’s earlier actions are remembered and judged. The legacy of those in power is shaped not by titles held, but by the manner in which those t...