Alija Noor Hayat of Baltit & First Teacher of Shimshal shows socio-political Face of Hunza [in Urdu]

This video interview of Alija Noor Hayat son of Khalifa Afiyat of Baltit (Thara Kuts clan of Diramiting tribe in Central Hunza) conducted and documented by Aafiyat Nazar son of Sultan Nazar of Gulmit (S̃harel clan of Budul’e tribe in Upper Hunza) is highly important in different contexts. It boldly reveals the socio-political landscapes of the former Hunza State eliminated in 1974. Late Alija Noor Hayat Bulbul as a key informant himself was born in 1914 and he has witnessed two of the rulers such as the regimes of Mir Muhammad Nazim Khan son of Ghazan Khan 1 (r. 1895 to 1935) and his grandson Mir Muhammad Jamal Khan son of Ghazan Khan II (r. 1945 to 1974). However, Alija Noor Hayat hasn’t seen the seven years rule of Mir Ghazan Khan II son of Mir Muhammad Nazim Khan (r. 1935 to 1945), as he describes that he was in Kashmir and pursuing his study during this timeframe. He talks about the levied taxes on the subjects of Hunza State, particularly on Gojal and Shinaki. He reveals the socioeconomic conditions of the people and the ruling families. Two of the princes including Prince Ayash Khan (Secretary of Hunza State) and his brother Prince Jamshed Khan have been classmates of Alija Noor Hayat in the primary school of Baltit established in 1912 where Ustad Inayat and Ustad Ghani Khan have been the first teachers.
Alija Noor Hayat clearly describes about his interest areas when in youth but how in compulsion he had to become Khalifa (clergy) on the request of the then ruler. When the Diamond Jubilee School project was established at different places in Hunza State in 1946, late Alija Noor Hayat was requested to be teacher to the students of Shimshal valley, a remote place from the center. He thus leaves for this sacreed mission and serves the targeted community for almost a year. He so nicely captures the socioeconomic and political landscapes of the native community in relation with the communities of other rural settlements in additioin to the levied taxes, especially the salt and its compulsory production.
I hope this video will be beneficial to all those who are interested with the historical evolution and development of Hunza Society in a holistic context. Kindly, appreciate the efforts of Aafiyat Nazar for his earlier but genuine passion in research pertaining to his professional master’s degree in education from Aga Khan University (Karachi) and also the wonderful narration of the elderly key informant late Noor Hayat on the subject matter. My gratitude and appreciation to Aafiyat Nazar for his kind consent to publish such important videos on EaglesWorld TH-cam channel.
Interview and videography: Afiyat Nazar in 2009
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Website: www.fazalamin.com
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