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Monica of Bagrote: When Anthropology Became a Bond of the Heart

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By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook THERE are people who visit a place for a few days, admire its scenery, take photographs and return home with pleasant memories. There are others who enter a community not merely as visitors, but as students of its people, culture, language and way of life —and, in the process, become so deeply attached to it that the distinction between an outsider and an insider begins to disappear. When Anthropology Became a Bond of the Heart Monica, an anthropologist from Germany, appears to belong to the latter and rather rare category. Nearly three decades ago, some 28 years back, Monica came to Bagrote Valley in connection with her anthropological research. What began as academic fieldwork gradually developed into something much deeper. She did not remain a distant observer of the community. She lived among the people, int...
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From Hop Shoots to Green Tea: An Emerging Agricultural Opportunity from Nasirabad, Hunza

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By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook A video circulating on social media on 3 September 2026 from Nasirabad in Hunza  has brought an intriguing agricultural experiment into the public spotlight: the cultivation of hop ( Humulus lupulus ) , particularly its tender young shoots, which are reportedly harvested initially as a vegetable, while subsequent growth is being explored for use in making a green-tea-like beverage. If the observations being reported are substantiated through scientific trials, this could prove to be an interesting addition to the agricultural possibilities of Gilgit-Baltistan. It becomes ascertainable that “Hop Shoot plant”  means  Humulus lupulus , which is actually a large perennial climbing vine , not a small vegetable plant. Reportedly it can be propagated from cuttings as well. Vine length: commonly 4–7 metres...
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Gilgit-Baltistan’s Invisible Environmental Threat: The Rising Tide of Vehicular Pollution

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...
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The Folk Historian as a Living Archive: What Oral Tradition Transmits to the Present Generation

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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...
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Learning from Japan: Why Early Moral Education Is Essential for Gilgit-Baltistan

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...
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When a Political Leader Speaks the People’s Language: A Welcome Gesture Towards the Preservation of Shina

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 ...
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Gerald Fellner: Four Decades Later, Minapin Gives an Austrian Mountaineer a Final Resting Place

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...
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