Balti people
Encyclopedia
The Balti are an ethnic group of Tibetan
descent with some Dardic
admixture located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and Ladakh
, a region in Jammu & Kashmir, India; as well as scattered in Pakistan's major urban centres of Lahore
, Karachi
and Islamabad
/Rawalpindi
. The Balti language
belongs to the Tibetan language family and is a sub-dialect of Ladakhi. Balti, Ladakhi
and Burig
are mutually intelligible.
prior to civilisation, and these groups eventually settled down, creating the Balti people. It was believed that the Balti people came under the sphere of influence
from the kingdom of Zhang Zhung. Most of the rich and affluent Balti people are of Arabic descent.
The modern world Balti people, however, are not all from Tibetan stock. With the passage of time, many other tribes namely, Shins, Yashkuns (Dardic people), Kashmiris (called Khache in local language), Arabs (mostly Sayeds), Persian (Sufis) and Turks (especially Uygurs from central Asia) made their enroads to Baltistan and gradually merged with the local population. After second or third generation they became Baltis. Today, in Skardu
(land of Saka
s), the capital of Baltistan region of Pakistan, the most hardened Baltis are outsiders namely Kashmiris or Dard tribes.
Baltistan came under the control of the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo
in the 7th century. Under Tibetan cultural influence, the Bön and Animist Baltis began to adopt Tibetan Buddhism
from Indian Buddhism. Religious artefacts such as the Gompas and Chörtens were erected, and Lamas played an important role in the lives of the Baltis.
History of Islam in Baltistan starts with arrival of Ameer Kabeer Syed Ali Hamadani (A legendary [Sufi] saint of Muslim history) from Iran during 15th century. He was followed by other Sufi legends afterwards, such as Shah Syed Muhammad Noorbaksh & Syed Shansuddin Iraqi. Soon the whole region converted to Nurbakhshi
order of Islamic Sufism. During the start of 19th century, however, the predominant population converted to other Islamic schools of thought such as Shias and Sunnis.
The pure Islamic (Nurkbakhsi) sect is still there. Today, the Baltis are; Shi'a denomination (52%), Sofia Nurbakhshia (45%), and Sunni-Ahl al-Hadith sect (3%).
With the decline of power of Central Tibet during the 11th century, the Balti people came under the control of the local ruling families namely Maqpon in Skardu, Amacha in Shigar and Yabgo in Khaplu. They fostered a close relationship with Ladakh in the east. Similar linguistic and cultural characteristics of Baltiyul and Ladakh helped in forging an administrative unit that existed until 1948 when Balties revolted against the Dogras and joined Pakistan. The Dogra Maharajas of Jammu kept the administrative unit intact and converted it into a province called Ladakh Wazarat (a province composed of Baltistan, central Ladakh, Purik, Zanskar and Changthang areas). Skardu, became the winter capital of the province while Leh, capital of Central Ladakh became the summer capital. The province was divided into three districts namely Skardu, Leh and Kargil.
Tibetan influence can be seen in its architecture, where houses with flat roof painted white and sloping inwards are built, and the most notable artifacts of the Balti/Ladakhi architecture include Kharpoche in Skardu, Khapulo Khar in Khapulo, Chakchan and Shigar Khanqah and Baltit Fort
of Hunza. Like the Ladakhi Muslim architectures, older mosques show a mix of Iranian and Tibetan architecture, although strong Iranian and modern influences can be seen in the newer mosques.
Little remains of the pre-Islamic Buddhist culture of Baltistan, largely destroyed and supplaced by the dominant Punjabi and Iranian culture which arrived with Islam; this can be evidenced in the near-extinction of traditional Balti festivals such as Mephang, Mindok Ltadmo and Srup Lha. Folk literature such as those of Lha Kesar and works of Ali Sher Khan Anchan prevail among the Balti literature, which has experienced a revival in recent years.
Although climatic conditions are harsh and inhospitable, the village people of Baltistan are among the most friendly and hospitable of mountain peoples in Pakistan. Evolved out of 106 years of slavery under the Dogra rulers and innumerable decades under local despotic Rajas, the predominant population of today’s Baltistan is religiously and ethnically homogeneous.
Baltistan is proud of her thousands of years of rich civilization. Her architecture, costumes, cuisines, festivals, dances, language, script and epics make her unique among her neighbors, especially within the contemporary Northern Areas. The local culture is a blend of that of Ladakhi and Islamic rituals. Since partition, the residents of Baltistan have remained essentially people of Baltistan’s soil. They are devout Muslims, and in effect including two generations borne since the annexation and occupation of Baltistan by India have never distanced themselves from the cultural and linguistic ties to what ninety percent of the Baltis regard as Ladakhi cultural and linguistic heritage.
Of late, modern Balti scholars such as Ghulam Hassan Lobsang
, Ghulam Hassan Hasni, Syed Abbas Kazmi and Mohammad Senge Tshering Hasnain have contributed greatly to the re-discovery of the Balti culture. Plans for the excavation of an ancient monastery and the preservation of the Buddha rock are planned, as the Balti go through a process of merging their culture with those of their brethren in Ladakh.
Recently a book (Balti Tamlo) has been produced by Ghulam Hassan Hasni that contains 900 Balti/Ladakhi proverbs, idioms and expressions. Further, books have been written by authors including Hassan Lobsang on local Bön traditions and pre-Buddhist Baltiyul.
, the Himalayan and Ladakh mountain ranges, the Baltistan region is highly valued for its strategic geo-political location. Its trade routes in the past have served as economic lifelines for the inhabitants of this region, who bartered goods while visiting Xinjiang
, China, Central Asia, the Indian Sub-continent, Central Tibet
and beyond. Today, the region is sandwiched between three nuclear powers of Asia: China in the north, India in the east and south, and Pakistan in west.
Baltistan contains some of the highest mountains and longest glaciers in the world. Further, the rivers and streams have formed numerous valleys over the course of time, which are inhabited and cultivated by the residents. Innumerable rivers and rivulets including Shyok, Siachen, Saltoro, Suru, Shingo and Shigar rivers, augment the mighty Indus River
, which after bisecting Baltistan enters Gilgit
. Glacial lakes are abundant in Baltistan and are of high touristic value. Baltistan possesses approximately fifty peaks with heights of more than 20000 feet (6,096 m) above sea level. Mighty K2
- the second highest peak in the world at 8,611 meters in height – is situated here, overlooking the Shigar
valley. The glaciers - the longest in the world outside the Polar Regions, reaching to a length of 90 kilometers – surround Baltistan in the north and west directions, separating her from China and Gilgit.
Baltistan has four seasons; a short spring, summer and autumn, with a longer winter. As winters approach, temperatures drop to –25 degrees Celsius in the residential villages and towns. Rainfall is less than 300 millimeters per annum as the region falls outside the monsoon zone. Vegetation is scarce in Baltistan and found only in areas fed by streams and rivulets. The Deosai Plains, also called Byarsa in Balti, around 5,400 square kilometers of sheer plateau at an elevation of 14000 feet (4,267.2 m) from sea level, are a refuge for the most endangered wildlife species both flora and fauna, including the magnificent snow leopard
.
Skardu
, the urban capital of Baltistan, is located at 7400 feet (2,255.5 m) above sea level. Formerly the capital of the Rajas of Skardo, it is the widest valley in the whole of Karakoram mountain belt, and is the site of the longest airplane runway at such an elevation. Skardu or Skardo is a major tourist attraction in Pakistan, attracting thousands of visitors and tourist both domestically and from abroad, notably by Europeans.
Several historical trade routes under utilization by Baltis for thousands of years open towards Leh, Kargil, Srinagar
, Simla
, Manali, Yarkand (to China through Karakoram Pass
of India), and Tibet. However since the war between Pakistan and India in 1971, the local population has not been able to access the trading regions in the east and north, which has had a significant impact on the local economy.
Subsequent political events in Pakistan, the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir, and red tapism in government policies and lack of federal funds considering Pakistan's current fiscal deficit have hampered development of this tourist friendly region. Baltistan has remained one of the most poverty stricken areas within Pakistan, a position further made difficult by the location of region and difficulties in reaching it by road. The establishment of a runway and the Karakoram Highway
in cooperation with China has drastically improved the situation in the region but more needs to be done in order to bring the region at par with other parts of the country. Subsidized supplies from other parts of the country are still the bulk source of essential goods when the region is cut off for months due to avalanches and landslides affecting the only road linking Baltistan to rest of Pakistan. This road was only built in 1982, prior to which the only source of transportation to Baltistan (which has an area three times the size of the Kashmir Valley) was by air, and dependent on good weather. The government of Pakistan, has signed several agreements with China to the effect of establishing a Duty-Free Export zone in adjacent Gilgit with the subsequent establishment of industries and skills-training workshops, it is hoped that this development will help accelerate development in the region along with Skardu and other parts of Baltistan. The Aga Khan Foundation
is active in developmental projects in the region, and has initiated several projects such as water purification, educational and vocational training centres.
In recent years, many in the region have been yearning for greater political representation in the Federal Government of Pakistan.
The literacy ratio in Baltistan was very low, approximately 20 percent for males and 3 percent for females. In valleys like Basha, Braldo etc. female literacy was almost non-existent. Health facilities are severely limited and joblessness has compelled many to leave the region over the years. With the construction of the highway along the Indus river and its linkage with the Karakuram Highway has opened up this area and progress during the last twenty years has been rapid and visible. Aga Khan Rural Support Ptogramme (AKRSP) and Marafie Foundation has played a major role in progress of this area. While AKRSP contributed in social mobilization, infrastructure development and agriculture, Marafie Foundation invested in education and health. AKRSP also acted as catalyst for birth of thousands of active community based organizations working in the area in variety of fields. In the field of education the role of Marafie Foundation is a success story. A recent survey by AKRSP shows that the male education today stands at 70% and that of female at 35%. All this has resulted in increase in the per capita income which is now almost at par with the national per capita income.
Like the Ladakhis, the Balti are agriculturalists. However, being a mountainous region, availability of cultivable land is scarce. Subsistence farming and animal husbandry are the main sources of livelihood for the Baltis. They grow wheat, barley, millet and buckwheat, and raise goats and sheep for wool, and yaks for hair, meat, milk and skin. These animals are also traded for cash. Horticulture also forms a significant source of income for the Baltis. However, there is only an average of 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of land per household available for cultivation. Security issues compel the villagers to store rations for both humans and animals, which is then utilized during the long winters. During the six or seven months of long winter, economic activities virtually cease to exist and people leave for Pakistan to seek job opportunities.
Balti staple cuisine includes cha-phe (Tsampa), Ladakhi salt tea (Balti cha), marzan (cooked dough and yak butter); thsodma (greens), balay (noodles cooked with meat), thaltakh (salty cake of refined flour mixed with eggs and butter) and chuli-chhu (apricot juice).
Cereals are planted in late spring and at lands with elevations not above 2,500 m, particularly along the Indus River
(Sengge Chhu) and Shyok River
.
During the years when it is relatively calm and peaceful, a modest number of tourists both local and international visit Baltistan, providing much needed financial support. The region lacks major industry. As permanent sources of job opportunities are lacking, thousands of people have left the region either temporarily or on a permanent basis to go to other parts of Pakistan and the Middle East.
The re-opening of roads eastwards linking Baltiyul with Ladakh and Kashmir would allow the local economy to improve and thousands of divided families of Ladakh and Baltistan to reunite. Per capita income, which is a quarter of national Pakistani average (US$ 120) may also increase as trade opportunities and tourism catch pace.
Religion=
Islam came into Baltistan by different scholars from Iran during 15th century A.D. Soon the whole region converted to Shia.
During the start of the 19th century, the predominant population converted to other Islamic schools of thought such as Nurbakshia and Sunnis. Today, the Baltis are; Shi'a denomination (52%), Sufia Nurbakhshia (45%) and Sunni sect (3%). Today, Nurbakhshis are found in Baltistan and Ladakh regions of J&K, as well as a small number of Nurbakhshis are native to Iran, Kurdistan and Central Asia.
Local Muslims, who converted from Bön-po and Tibetan Buddhism still retain many traits of pre-Islamic Bön and Lamaist rituals, which makes Islam of Baltistan and Ladakh unique from other Muslim societies. Swastika (Yung drung) sign is considered auspicious and is carved on wooden planks that can be seen in historical mosques and Khankas. Showing respect to Lha and Lhu (Bön gods) is customary during many village rituals.
The Balti, who converted to Islam from Tibetan Buddhism
in the 16th century, regard congregation in the Mosques and Khankah as an important religious ritual. The Khankahs are a kind of typical training school to which was introduced by the early saints arrived in the region. The students gain spiritual purity (tazkiah
) through these trainings (meditations and contemplations) under well-practiced spiritual guides, who have already attained certain degree of spirituality. Mosques in Baltistan are mainly built in the Tibetan style, though several mosques constructed have wood-finish and decorations of Iranian origin which can also be seen in Ladakh and Kargil
. On every Friday, the men folk would generally attend the prayers sometime a little after noon. All Muslims will fast by day during the month of the Ramadan, and a celebration will be held at the end of the celebration.
Small pockets of Bön and Tibetan Buddhist believers that amounted up to 3000 people are found in Kharmang valley of Baltistan and in West Kargil. East Ladakh (Leh district and Zanskar) are predominantly Buddhist.
was used for written Balti between the 5th to 6th century. However, with the introduction of the Tibetan script
under king Khri Getsung-Brtan in the 727 AD, Balti literature flourished. It remained in use until the 16th century, when the Persian script replaced the Balti script. However, Persian script is not appropriate for Balti language as it restricts accurate pronunciation of the words due to deformation in writing form.
In contemporary Baltiyul, youth like Senge Thsering, Bakir Posingpa, Hassan Shesrab, Raza Tassawor, Zakir Shukur, Taki Akhunzada Namgyal, Nisar Ali Machulo and many others are trying to reintroduce Tibetan/Ladakhi script so that the richness of the Balti language could be promoted and restored. Today one can see many signboards on shops and offices in Tibetan script, a project started by Senge Thsering and Bakir Posingpa in year 2000.
Baltistan Cultural Foundation is an organization trying level best to promote the indigenous script Yige. A primer has been produced by BCF that will be introduced in private schools. Plans are to send Balti teachers to Nepal to learn Tibetan script that could be then taught in local Balti schools. Friends are requested to send funds to BCF in order to support the vital financial arrangements required in this regard.
Baltis of Kargil have also initiated school projects where Yige (Ladakhi/Tibetan) script is taught at primary level to local students. Muslims of Kargil and Baltistan have started showing enthusiasm in reviving the indigenous Tibetan script and enhancing cultural ties of Ladakh and Baltistan.
Tibetan people
The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
descent with some Dardic
Dard people
The Dards are a group of people defined by linguistic similarities, and not common ethnicity, predominantly found in Eastern Afghanistan, in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir and in the Northern Areas and North West Frontier Province of Pakistan...
admixture located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
, a region in Jammu & Kashmir, India; as well as scattered in Pakistan's major urban centres of Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
/Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
. The Balti language
Balti language
Balti is a language spoken in Baltistan, in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan and adjoining parts of Ladakh. Baltistan, before 1948, was part of Ladakh province. The Balti language is a dialect of the Ladakhi language, a form of Tibetan. It is mutually intelligible with Ladakhi proper and Burig...
belongs to the Tibetan language family and is a sub-dialect of Ladakhi. Balti, Ladakhi
Ladakhi language
The Ladakhi language , now also called Bhoti, and by linguists more generally called Western Archaic Tibetan when the Balti and Burig or Purig or Purki dialects are included, is the predominant language in the Ladakh region of the Jammu and Kashmir state of India, and is also spoken in Baltistan...
and Burig
Burig
The Burig, or Purik, are another group of Tibetan Muslims with small Dardic admixture, who live south of the Balti in Ladakh. Most of them live in Ladakh and Baltistan, especially in Kargil, although significant numbers reside in Leh....
are mutually intelligible.
History
Tibetan Khampa and Dardic tribes came to BaltistanBaltistan
Baltistan , also known as بلتیول བལིུལ་ in the Balti language, is a region in northern Pakistan which forms Gilgit-Baltistan, bordering the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. In addition, a part of Baltistan also falls into Jammu and Kashmir of India. It is situated in the Karakoram mountains...
prior to civilisation, and these groups eventually settled down, creating the Balti people. It was believed that the Balti people came under the sphere of influence
Sphere of influence
In the field of international relations, a sphere of influence is a spatial region or conceptual division over which a state or organization has significant cultural, economic, military or political influence....
from the kingdom of Zhang Zhung. Most of the rich and affluent Balti people are of Arabic descent.
The modern world Balti people, however, are not all from Tibetan stock. With the passage of time, many other tribes namely, Shins, Yashkuns (Dardic people), Kashmiris (called Khache in local language), Arabs (mostly Sayeds), Persian (Sufis) and Turks (especially Uygurs from central Asia) made their enroads to Baltistan and gradually merged with the local population. After second or third generation they became Baltis. Today, in Skardu
Skardu
Skardu , is the main town of the region Baltistan and the capital of Skardu District, one of the districts making up Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan....
(land of Saka
Saka
The Saka were a Scythian tribe or group of tribes....
s), the capital of Baltistan region of Pakistan, the most hardened Baltis are outsiders namely Kashmiris or Dard tribes.
Baltistan came under the control of the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo
Songtsen Gampo
Songtsän Gampo Songtsän Gampo Songtsän Gampo (Tibetan: སྲོང་བཙན་སྒམ་པོ་, Wylie: Srong-btsan sGam-po, 569–649?/605–649? was the founder of the Tibetan Empire (Tibetan: Bod; ), by tradition held to be the thirty-third ruler in his dynasty. In the Chinese records, his name is given as 'Sōngzàngānbù'...
in the 7th century. Under Tibetan cultural influence, the Bön and Animist Baltis began to adopt Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
from Indian Buddhism. Religious artefacts such as the Gompas and Chörtens were erected, and Lamas played an important role in the lives of the Baltis.
History of Islam in Baltistan starts with arrival of Ameer Kabeer Syed Ali Hamadani (A legendary [Sufi] saint of Muslim history) from Iran during 15th century. He was followed by other Sufi legends afterwards, such as Shah Syed Muhammad Noorbaksh & Syed Shansuddin Iraqi. Soon the whole region converted to Nurbakhshi
Nurbakhshi
Baha' al-Dawlah ibn Siraj al-Din Shah Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Husayni Nurbakhshi , was a 15-16th century Persian physician.He obtained court favor in both Persia and Baghdad...
order of Islamic Sufism. During the start of 19th century, however, the predominant population converted to other Islamic schools of thought such as Shias and Sunnis.
The pure Islamic (Nurkbakhsi) sect is still there. Today, the Baltis are; Shi'a denomination (52%), Sofia Nurbakhshia (45%), and Sunni-Ahl al-Hadith sect (3%).
With the decline of power of Central Tibet during the 11th century, the Balti people came under the control of the local ruling families namely Maqpon in Skardu, Amacha in Shigar and Yabgo in Khaplu. They fostered a close relationship with Ladakh in the east. Similar linguistic and cultural characteristics of Baltiyul and Ladakh helped in forging an administrative unit that existed until 1948 when Balties revolted against the Dogras and joined Pakistan. The Dogra Maharajas of Jammu kept the administrative unit intact and converted it into a province called Ladakh Wazarat (a province composed of Baltistan, central Ladakh, Purik, Zanskar and Changthang areas). Skardu, became the winter capital of the province while Leh, capital of Central Ladakh became the summer capital. The province was divided into three districts namely Skardu, Leh and Kargil.
Culture
Centuries of Tibetan, Islamic and Indian influence have shaped the Balti culture into its modern form. Islam plays an important role in Balti culture.Tibetan influence can be seen in its architecture, where houses with flat roof painted white and sloping inwards are built, and the most notable artifacts of the Balti/Ladakhi architecture include Kharpoche in Skardu, Khapulo Khar in Khapulo, Chakchan and Shigar Khanqah and Baltit Fort
Baltit Fort
Baltit Fort or Balti Fort is an ancient fort in the Hunza valley in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.In former times survival of the feudal regimes of Hunza was ensured by the impressive Baltit fort, that sit on top of Karimabad. The foundations of the fort are said to date back around 700 years, but...
of Hunza. Like the Ladakhi Muslim architectures, older mosques show a mix of Iranian and Tibetan architecture, although strong Iranian and modern influences can be seen in the newer mosques.
Little remains of the pre-Islamic Buddhist culture of Baltistan, largely destroyed and supplaced by the dominant Punjabi and Iranian culture which arrived with Islam; this can be evidenced in the near-extinction of traditional Balti festivals such as Mephang, Mindok Ltadmo and Srup Lha. Folk literature such as those of Lha Kesar and works of Ali Sher Khan Anchan prevail among the Balti literature, which has experienced a revival in recent years.
Although climatic conditions are harsh and inhospitable, the village people of Baltistan are among the most friendly and hospitable of mountain peoples in Pakistan. Evolved out of 106 years of slavery under the Dogra rulers and innumerable decades under local despotic Rajas, the predominant population of today’s Baltistan is religiously and ethnically homogeneous.
Baltistan is proud of her thousands of years of rich civilization. Her architecture, costumes, cuisines, festivals, dances, language, script and epics make her unique among her neighbors, especially within the contemporary Northern Areas. The local culture is a blend of that of Ladakhi and Islamic rituals. Since partition, the residents of Baltistan have remained essentially people of Baltistan’s soil. They are devout Muslims, and in effect including two generations borne since the annexation and occupation of Baltistan by India have never distanced themselves from the cultural and linguistic ties to what ninety percent of the Baltis regard as Ladakhi cultural and linguistic heritage.
Of late, modern Balti scholars such as Ghulam Hassan Lobsang
Ghulam Hassan Lobsang
Ghulam Hassan Lobsang is known for his contribution in promoting and serving for Balti language and Balti culture in Baltistan, a region in the Northern Part of Pakistan. He is active in the literary sphere of the region and his parts in promoting the local culture, tradition and language is...
, Ghulam Hassan Hasni, Syed Abbas Kazmi and Mohammad Senge Tshering Hasnain have contributed greatly to the re-discovery of the Balti culture. Plans for the excavation of an ancient monastery and the preservation of the Buddha rock are planned, as the Balti go through a process of merging their culture with those of their brethren in Ladakh.
Recently a book (Balti Tamlo) has been produced by Ghulam Hassan Hasni that contains 900 Balti/Ladakhi proverbs, idioms and expressions. Further, books have been written by authors including Hassan Lobsang on local Bön traditions and pre-Buddhist Baltiyul.
Lifestyle
Sandwiched between the KarakoramKarakoram
The Karakoram, or Karakorum , is a large mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China, located in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan , Ladakh , and Xinjiang region,...
, the Himalayan and Ladakh mountain ranges, the Baltistan region is highly valued for its strategic geo-political location. Its trade routes in the past have served as economic lifelines for the inhabitants of this region, who bartered goods while visiting Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, China, Central Asia, the Indian Sub-continent, Central Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
and beyond. Today, the region is sandwiched between three nuclear powers of Asia: China in the north, India in the east and south, and Pakistan in west.
Baltistan contains some of the highest mountains and longest glaciers in the world. Further, the rivers and streams have formed numerous valleys over the course of time, which are inhabited and cultivated by the residents. Innumerable rivers and rivulets including Shyok, Siachen, Saltoro, Suru, Shingo and Shigar rivers, augment the mighty Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
, which after bisecting Baltistan enters Gilgit
Gilgit
Gilgit is a city in northern PakistanGilgit may refer to other terms related with the area of the city:* Gilgit River* Gilgit Valley* Gilgit District* Gilgit Agency * Gilgit Airport...
. Glacial lakes are abundant in Baltistan and are of high touristic value. Baltistan possesses approximately fifty peaks with heights of more than 20000 feet (6,096 m) above sea level. Mighty K2
K2
K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest...
- the second highest peak in the world at 8,611 meters in height – is situated here, overlooking the Shigar
Shigar
Shigar is a town in Baltistan near Skardu in northern Pakistan. Nearby is the Shigar River.-External links:* *...
valley. The glaciers - the longest in the world outside the Polar Regions, reaching to a length of 90 kilometers – surround Baltistan in the north and west directions, separating her from China and Gilgit.
Baltistan has four seasons; a short spring, summer and autumn, with a longer winter. As winters approach, temperatures drop to –25 degrees Celsius in the residential villages and towns. Rainfall is less than 300 millimeters per annum as the region falls outside the monsoon zone. Vegetation is scarce in Baltistan and found only in areas fed by streams and rivulets. The Deosai Plains, also called Byarsa in Balti, around 5,400 square kilometers of sheer plateau at an elevation of 14000 feet (4,267.2 m) from sea level, are a refuge for the most endangered wildlife species both flora and fauna, including the magnificent snow leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
.
Skardu
Skardu
Skardu , is the main town of the region Baltistan and the capital of Skardu District, one of the districts making up Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan....
, the urban capital of Baltistan, is located at 7400 feet (2,255.5 m) above sea level. Formerly the capital of the Rajas of Skardo, it is the widest valley in the whole of Karakoram mountain belt, and is the site of the longest airplane runway at such an elevation. Skardu or Skardo is a major tourist attraction in Pakistan, attracting thousands of visitors and tourist both domestically and from abroad, notably by Europeans.
Several historical trade routes under utilization by Baltis for thousands of years open towards Leh, Kargil, Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, Simla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
, Manali, Yarkand (to China through Karakoram Pass
Karakoram Pass
The Karakoram Pass is a mountain pass between India and China in the Karakoram Range. It is the highest pass on the ancient caravan route between Leh in Ladakh and Yarkand in the Tarim Basin...
of India), and Tibet. However since the war between Pakistan and India in 1971, the local population has not been able to access the trading regions in the east and north, which has had a significant impact on the local economy.
Subsequent political events in Pakistan, the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir, and red tapism in government policies and lack of federal funds considering Pakistan's current fiscal deficit have hampered development of this tourist friendly region. Baltistan has remained one of the most poverty stricken areas within Pakistan, a position further made difficult by the location of region and difficulties in reaching it by road. The establishment of a runway and the Karakoram Highway
Karakoram Highway
The Karakoram Highway is the highest paved international road in the world, but at its peak at the China-Pakistan border it is only paved on the Chinese side. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass, at an altitude of as confirmed by both...
in cooperation with China has drastically improved the situation in the region but more needs to be done in order to bring the region at par with other parts of the country. Subsidized supplies from other parts of the country are still the bulk source of essential goods when the region is cut off for months due to avalanches and landslides affecting the only road linking Baltistan to rest of Pakistan. This road was only built in 1982, prior to which the only source of transportation to Baltistan (which has an area three times the size of the Kashmir Valley) was by air, and dependent on good weather. The government of Pakistan, has signed several agreements with China to the effect of establishing a Duty-Free Export zone in adjacent Gilgit with the subsequent establishment of industries and skills-training workshops, it is hoped that this development will help accelerate development in the region along with Skardu and other parts of Baltistan. The Aga Khan Foundation
Aga Khan Foundation
The Aga Khan Foundation is a private, not-for-profit international development agency, which was founded in 1967 by . AKF seeks to provide long-term solutions to problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill health in the poorest parts of South and Central Asia, Eastern and Western Africa, and...
is active in developmental projects in the region, and has initiated several projects such as water purification, educational and vocational training centres.
In recent years, many in the region have been yearning for greater political representation in the Federal Government of Pakistan.
The literacy ratio in Baltistan was very low, approximately 20 percent for males and 3 percent for females. In valleys like Basha, Braldo etc. female literacy was almost non-existent. Health facilities are severely limited and joblessness has compelled many to leave the region over the years. With the construction of the highway along the Indus river and its linkage with the Karakuram Highway has opened up this area and progress during the last twenty years has been rapid and visible. Aga Khan Rural Support Ptogramme (AKRSP) and Marafie Foundation has played a major role in progress of this area. While AKRSP contributed in social mobilization, infrastructure development and agriculture, Marafie Foundation invested in education and health. AKRSP also acted as catalyst for birth of thousands of active community based organizations working in the area in variety of fields. In the field of education the role of Marafie Foundation is a success story. A recent survey by AKRSP shows that the male education today stands at 70% and that of female at 35%. All this has resulted in increase in the per capita income which is now almost at par with the national per capita income.
Like the Ladakhis, the Balti are agriculturalists. However, being a mountainous region, availability of cultivable land is scarce. Subsistence farming and animal husbandry are the main sources of livelihood for the Baltis. They grow wheat, barley, millet and buckwheat, and raise goats and sheep for wool, and yaks for hair, meat, milk and skin. These animals are also traded for cash. Horticulture also forms a significant source of income for the Baltis. However, there is only an average of 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of land per household available for cultivation. Security issues compel the villagers to store rations for both humans and animals, which is then utilized during the long winters. During the six or seven months of long winter, economic activities virtually cease to exist and people leave for Pakistan to seek job opportunities.
Balti staple cuisine includes cha-phe (Tsampa), Ladakhi salt tea (Balti cha), marzan (cooked dough and yak butter); thsodma (greens), balay (noodles cooked with meat), thaltakh (salty cake of refined flour mixed with eggs and butter) and chuli-chhu (apricot juice).
Cereals are planted in late spring and at lands with elevations not above 2,500 m, particularly along the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
(Sengge Chhu) and Shyok River
Shyok River
The Shyok River flows through northern Ladakh in India and the Northern Areas of Pakistan , spanning some .The Shyok River, a tributary of the Indus River, originates from the Rimo Glacier, one of the tongues of Siachen Glacier. The river widens at the confluence with the Nubra River...
.
During the years when it is relatively calm and peaceful, a modest number of tourists both local and international visit Baltistan, providing much needed financial support. The region lacks major industry. As permanent sources of job opportunities are lacking, thousands of people have left the region either temporarily or on a permanent basis to go to other parts of Pakistan and the Middle East.
The re-opening of roads eastwards linking Baltiyul with Ladakh and Kashmir would allow the local economy to improve and thousands of divided families of Ladakh and Baltistan to reunite. Per capita income, which is a quarter of national Pakistani average (US$ 120) may also increase as trade opportunities and tourism catch pace.
Religion=
Islam came into Baltistan by different scholars from Iran during 15th century A.D. Soon the whole region converted to Shia.
During the start of the 19th century, the predominant population converted to other Islamic schools of thought such as Nurbakshia and Sunnis. Today, the Baltis are; Shi'a denomination (52%), Sufia Nurbakhshia (45%) and Sunni sect (3%). Today, Nurbakhshis are found in Baltistan and Ladakh regions of J&K, as well as a small number of Nurbakhshis are native to Iran, Kurdistan and Central Asia.
Local Muslims, who converted from Bön-po and Tibetan Buddhism still retain many traits of pre-Islamic Bön and Lamaist rituals, which makes Islam of Baltistan and Ladakh unique from other Muslim societies. Swastika (Yung drung) sign is considered auspicious and is carved on wooden planks that can be seen in historical mosques and Khankas. Showing respect to Lha and Lhu (Bön gods) is customary during many village rituals.
The Balti, who converted to Islam from Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
in the 16th century, regard congregation in the Mosques and Khankah as an important religious ritual. The Khankahs are a kind of typical training school to which was introduced by the early saints arrived in the region. The students gain spiritual purity (tazkiah
Tazkiah
Tazkiah is an Arabic-Islamic term referring to the process of transforming the nafs from its deplorable state of ego-centeredness through various psycho spiritual stages towards the level of purity and submission to the will of Allah.Tazkiah does not limit itself to...
) through these trainings (meditations and contemplations) under well-practiced spiritual guides, who have already attained certain degree of spirituality. Mosques in Baltistan are mainly built in the Tibetan style, though several mosques constructed have wood-finish and decorations of Iranian origin which can also be seen in Ladakh and Kargil
Kargil District
Kargil is a district of Ladakh, Kashmir, India. Kargil lies near the Line of Control facing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Baltistan to the west, and Kashmir valley to the south. Zanskar is part of Kargil district along with Suru, Wakha and Dras valleys...
. On every Friday, the men folk would generally attend the prayers sometime a little after noon. All Muslims will fast by day during the month of the Ramadan, and a celebration will be held at the end of the celebration.
Small pockets of Bön and Tibetan Buddhist believers that amounted up to 3000 people are found in Kharmang valley of Baltistan and in West Kargil. East Ladakh (Leh district and Zanskar) are predominantly Buddhist.
Script
BrahmiBrāhmī script
Brāhmī is the modern name given to the oldest members of the Brahmic family of scripts. The best-known Brāhmī inscriptions are the rock-cut edicts of Ashoka in north-central India, dated to the 3rd century BCE. These are traditionally considered to be early known examples of Brāhmī writing...
was used for written Balti between the 5th to 6th century. However, with the introduction of the Tibetan script
Tibetan script
The Tibetan alphabet is an abugida of Indic origin used to write the Tibetan language as well as the Dzongkha language, Denzongkha, Ladakhi language and sometimes the Balti language. The printed form of the alphabet is called uchen script while the hand-written cursive form used in everyday...
under king Khri Getsung-Brtan in the 727 AD, Balti literature flourished. It remained in use until the 16th century, when the Persian script replaced the Balti script. However, Persian script is not appropriate for Balti language as it restricts accurate pronunciation of the words due to deformation in writing form.
In contemporary Baltiyul, youth like Senge Thsering, Bakir Posingpa, Hassan Shesrab, Raza Tassawor, Zakir Shukur, Taki Akhunzada Namgyal, Nisar Ali Machulo and many others are trying to reintroduce Tibetan/Ladakhi script so that the richness of the Balti language could be promoted and restored. Today one can see many signboards on shops and offices in Tibetan script, a project started by Senge Thsering and Bakir Posingpa in year 2000.
Baltistan Cultural Foundation is an organization trying level best to promote the indigenous script Yige. A primer has been produced by BCF that will be introduced in private schools. Plans are to send Balti teachers to Nepal to learn Tibetan script that could be then taught in local Balti schools. Friends are requested to send funds to BCF in order to support the vital financial arrangements required in this regard.
Baltis of Kargil have also initiated school projects where Yige (Ladakhi/Tibetan) script is taught at primary level to local students. Muslims of Kargil and Baltistan have started showing enthusiasm in reviving the indigenous Tibetan script and enhancing cultural ties of Ladakh and Baltistan.
See also
- Tibetan MuslimsTibetan MuslimsThe Tibetan Muslims, also known as the Kachee , form a small minority in Tibet. Despite being Muslim, they are classified as Tibetans, unlike the Hui Muslims, who are also known as the Kyangsha or Gya Kachee...
- Three Cups of TeaThree Cups of TeaThree Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time is a book by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin published by Penguin in 2006. For four years, the book remained on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller's list...
, a book about an American who was involved in building schools in Baltistan