Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin   The turning point in the scientific progress achieved today has, in fact, generated a resonance at the jubilant NASA in the United States signifying man’s, rather superman’s preparedness with an alacrity, to leave for the Mars to find a breathing space there on a swift departure from this choking planet. The access of the man to Mar is undoubtedly a hallmark which will go down in the history of mankind. This is also in the sense that it is taking place on the very threshold of the 21st century where the man instead, seems poised with all optimism, to make a safe flights to the said planet obviously for making it habitable as the one already occupied by him has reached the abyss of pollution caused by him whether intentionally or otherwise. The premonitions like direct penetration of ultra violet radiation in the earth as a result of a perforated ozone coupled with unabated ozone emission of obnoxious chemicals and the radiation caused by perennial nu...

The Muslim dated September 22, 1997 Author: Syed Shams ud Din In short, the people of these areas were, in one way or the other, undergoing enormous stress and strains resulting from the incessant taxation vis-à-vis the economic doldrums they were always in. In the rest of the agency, no development whatsoever, was ever underway except a water channel the construction of which would at the most, be undertaken with hundred per cent participation of the public or construction of a track in the same manner. The arrival of a government official to a village those days would be heralded with the beating of the drums signifying a ‘specific emergency’. It is noteworthy that the musicians here are apt in these specific tunes from times immemorial. These are halved into those of war and peace, etc. This practice seems to be rife here from olden times, where beating of the drum by the village musicians on a specific tune would abruptly call the village folk to gather at once signifyin...

The Muslim dated September 20, 1997 Author:  Syed Shams ud Din Viewed in retrospect, the Northern Areas seem to have, all along, lagged behind other parts of the country insofar as over all development and human-resource building is concerned. The situation naturally persisted until the construction of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) was completed about two decades ago. The economically infernal state resulted directly from the ominous geographical setting that always impeded overall progress in the complete absence of perennial outlet for an access to the outside world except the ‘legendary Silk Route’ of the ancient times  -  a journey along which was extremely difficult due to the vagaries of weather and allied natural catastrophes which obviously precluded ordinary people from a free and unfettered journey. However, in the aftermath of independence, a jeepable road called the ‘Indus Valley Road’ linking the Northern Areas with the rest of the country via Ba...

NAs geography need be grappled-II, published in The Muslim dated September 10, 1997 By Syed Shamsuddin   The plantation of acacia (Keekar) tree in the Northern Areas long ago, proved to be a very good experiment in the sense that it acclimatizes the area where rain fall has been quite negligible. This plant requires care and watering at the preliminary stage whereafter it can withstand the rigours of the weather – both summer and winter. The first experiment of the kind seems to have been undertaken long ago along the area available between Sakwar and Jutial in the outskirts of Gilgit town but this exercise, though fruitful, was halted insofar as afforestation on governmental level on a large scale is concerned. For instance, the vast arid land along the flood prone mountains, say of Gilgit. Danyore, Sakwar etc could have easily been turned into such afforested area that could have averted the danger of intermittent flood that has long been endangering the population alo...

NAs geography need be grappled-I, published in The Muslim dated September 9, 1997 By Syed Shamsuddin   The unpredictable climatic conditions obtaining in the Northern Areas during the current year have abruptly caused unimaginable devastative effect on the otherwise scant agricultural economy of the region. The preceding unparalleled hot-spell, also shown on the television after ‘Khabarnama’ each passing day, topping that of the rest of the country with all horrific effects, perhaps caused tremendous alarm amongst the enthusiasts world over keen to visit the Northern Areas during summer. The traditional influx of foreign tourists except those who want to scale the gigantic peaks, trickled down this time. Nowhere in the past history from times immemorial, was such a terrible hot spell ever witnessed setting the whole ablaze as as being recalled by the elders here. Besides causing a dent to the standing crop that withered under its abnormal impact, the climatic conditi...

By  Syed Shamsuddin     A new book titled “A History of Bon Philosophy” - on the origin, evolution and impact of Bon religion in Tibet, Ladakh and Baltistan authored by Ghulam Hussain Lobsang launched recently is a veritable trouvaille on the Bon studies ever undertaken by a native. Hopefully a very heartening reception would be accorded to it not regionally but globally in due course of time by those keen in the Bon studies. The subject matter of dissertation of the present writer quite luminously unfolds certain things which remained heretofore quite unresearched hence unearthed for long despite persistent spadework underway by numerous by numerous enthusiasts of Bon Po in the Tibetan territory. The writer is, indeed, the only person among the local people who undoubtedly seems to have endeavoured to bring out this valuable and prodigious material inspite of pecuniary impediments. Had he not been a native, it would definitely not have been possible for an...

Social and Economic transformation of Northern Areas, The Muslim dated December 21, 1997 By Syed Shams ud Din The Northern Areas spreading over an area 72,496 sq km constitute a territory which is unparallel due to its unique geographical composition and immense natural beauty that has all along been a source of unabated attraction the world over. Leaving its touristic significance aside, the area has a great potential in terms of its untapped mineral wealth and immense glacial network which serves as veritable life-vein to the rest of the country. Its geostrategic importance redoubled with the construction of the Kakoram Highway (KKH), linking Pakistan and China via Khunjerab Pass. The KKH will also serve the Central Asian Republics (CARs) as is evident from the agreement between Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, China and Pakistan in early 1995 regarding transit trade which if implemented, will surely turn these areas as a hub of activity in commercial context. The population of ...