Mera Chitral

Badeshi: One of the Dying Languages of Pakistan

2023-02-15T12:09:00.003+05:00

Badeshi: One of the Dying Languages of Pakistan

By Rehmat Aziz Khan Chitrali *

Languages are an essential part of human civilization. They are the medium through which we communicate with each other, express our thoughts, and understand each other's cultures. Pakistan is a land of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. However, with the advent of globalization and modernization, some of these languages are on the verge of extinction. Badeshi is one such language that is dying in Pakistan, and its preservation is becoming increasingly important.

Badeshi is a language spoken in the Bishigram Valley, Chail, Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. As per database of Ethnologue, Badeshi has approximately 20,00 speakers worldwide. However, the actual number of speakers is believed to be much less, and the language is considered endangered. According to Ethnologue Badeshi is considered an extinct language. However, there have been reports of a few people still speaking the language. The preservation and documentation of these speakers and their knowledge of the language are crucial to understanding and reviving the language in any possible way.

Being a linguist my initial work in developing a text editor for Badeshi is an important step towards the preservation of the language. The availability of such technology will make it easier for people to communicate in Badeshi and promote its use in digital communication. It's also a significant achievement that the software can be used on multiple platforms, increasing its accessibility to more users. Efforts like RAChitrali's are essential in preserving endangered languages. Technology plays a significant role in language preservation, as it provides tools to record and document languages that are on the verge of extinction. It is important to recognize and support such efforts as they provide hope for the survival and continued use of Badeshi and other endangered languages.

Historical Background

Badeshi is believed to be a mixture of several languages spoken in the region. It has borrowed words from Pashto, Urdu, Khowar, Torwali and other sister languages spoken in the area, which indicates the influence of the Islamic and khow culture in the region. Bishigram and Chail, the valleys where Badeshi is spoken, has a rich history and culture. It was once an independent state and was ruled by the Wali, a title given to the ruler of Swat. The Wali was responsible for maintaining the local language and culture, and during their reign, Badeshi flourished.

Language Family

Badeshi belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family. This language family includes many languages spoken in South Asia, such as Hindi, Punjabi, and Bengali. Badeshi has several dialects, including the east of Madyan and Kohistan dialects. These dialects differ in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

RAChtirali's Keyboard Software for Badeshi.

The preservation of endangered languages is becoming increasingly important. Several organizations and individuals are working to preserve these languages and promote their use. In this regard, I have developed a keyboard software for Badeshi language. The keyboard software allows users to type in Badeshi using the standard keyboard. Before the development of this software, typing in Badeshi was a cumbersome process, as it required using a non-standard keyboard. The development of this software is a significant step towards the preservation of the language, as it will make it easier for Badeshi speakers to communicate in their language.

Language Policy of the Government of Pakistan

The government of Pakistan has a language policy that recognizes Urdu as the national language and promotes its use. However, the policy also recognizes the importance of regional languages and their preservation. The policy states that the government will take steps to promote the use of regional languages in education, media, and administration. Despite this policy, the government has been criticized for not doing enough to promote the use of regional languages.

Future of Badeshi

The future of Badeshi is uncertain, as the language is on the verge of extinction. The younger generation in Bishigram, Chail is increasingly using Pashto, Urdu and English, and the use of Badeshi is declining. However, the efforts of organizations and individuals, such as Khowar Academy, are providing hope for the preservation of the language.

To preserve the language, it is essential to promote its use in education, media, and administration. The government should take steps to include Badeshi in the education system, as this will help to promote its use and increase awareness of its importance. Similarly, media outlets should promote the use of Badeshi, and local administration should use the language in official communications.

It's heartening to see that despite the language being on the verge of extinction, there are still people who value and use Badeshi. The documentation and preservation of the language through recordings and other forms of media can help keep it alive and available for future generations to learn and appreciate.

* Rehmat Aziz Khan Chitrali is a Public Peace Prize Laureate, Gold Medalist, World Record Holder Linguist, Researcher from Chitral Pakistan. He can be reached at rachitrali@gmail.com or Whatsapp +923365114595

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2015-04-06T15:52:00.001+05:00

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Muhabbat jab se hui zindagi ma (Abdul Samad Akash)

2015-03-05T05:24:00.000+05:00

Khowar Marsia dedicated to usiak incidence (Abdul Samad Akash)

2015-01-27T15:47:00.000+05:00

Khowar Marsia dedicated to usiak incidence (Abdul Samad Akash)

ا ج بھر ان کی یاد ائی\ہے

2015-01-24T02:17:00.001+05:00

آج بھر ان کی یاد آگیی

عبدالصمد اکا ش

Group photo Khowar Ahle Qalam

2014-12-22T15:24:00.000+05:00

Courtnay: Iqrar Uddin:

NEEDED STEP TO LAWARI TUNNEL REMAIN OPEN

2013-12-24T21:08:00.000+05:00

People walking to cross lawari pass

NEEDED STEP TO LAWARI TUNNEL REMAIN OPEN

It is an amazing phenomenon that after spending billions of money on lawari tunnel project the disconnection of chitral with other parts of the country still remain a problem. Closing lawari tunnel for public transportation, disclouser of lawari pass due to heavy snow fall and the elimination of PIA flights to chitral at the level of stoping point is creating problem to chitrali passengers specially ladies and patients.

If the work on lawari tunnel project project scheduled according to the work plain there may not be any complain against the government and nor there will be a problem of payment to the consurned construction company. Noble behavior of chitrali people, mis behaviour of representatives and behaviour of succeeding government after after Musharraf is counted as cruelty of the government. Who not provided prescribed fund for the lawari tunnel project and used that funds on unlawful development projects in Gojer Khan and Multan.

There is no doubt that opening a way for the chitrali nation to connect them to the country for the whole year was an objective of ex president General Pervez Musharraf; ther said dictator is remembered by the chitrali nation because he was the only person who realized the pain of chitrali nation and decided to solve their problem by starting lawari tunnel such mega project for them.
The interference of General Ziaul Haq with the project started by Qaid-e-awam Zulfiqar Ali Butto is tockling mind but the Butto's own party government and Muslim Lege Nawaz such fedrelist parties behavior is amazing and will be remembered by chitrali nation.

The map of malakand division will be totally different if the said project complete ten years before, the territory may be a trading territory instead of being a centere of extremists.
The donation to the chitrali flood affected people by Prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief minister of panjab Shehbaz Sharif is although showed past policy approach, but still the objection on lake of concentration and ignorance to complete lawari tunnel by federal government is reasonable.

We consider that lawari tunnel project is not only a cry of dir and chitrali nation but it is a door to middle east countries countries, by the comleting of lawari tunnel the trade with China and other middle East countries can be optimized the opportunity is beneficial for the country specially for the province of khyberpakhtunkhawa.

Leaving in separate part the importance and marits of lawari tunnel project at this time the necessacery step for opening lawari tunnel for every second day for passangers is very important. With payment the dueses and scheduled payment according to the procedure to the consurned company can solve the problem of opening lawari tunnel whenever needed.

M Azam Shauqi

KHOWAR LANGUAGE:KEY OF PRESERVATION

2013-12-17T19:44:00.000+05:00

KHOWAR LANGUAGE: KEYS OF PRESERVATION
By Myra Iqbal

By developing a virtual keyboard, linguist seeks solutions relevant to an age of social media awareness.

ISLAMABAD:
Meet Rehmat Aziz Chitrali: a government employee by profession, a linguist by choice and an innovator by disposition.

"To love all languages, is to love Pakistan in its entirety," says linguist Rehmat Aziz Chitrali, a man intent on preserving local language, and especially the saccharine, Persian-influenced Khowar.

In this vein, Aziz has developed a virtual keyboard allowing speakers of the Khowar dialect as far as China and India, and locally in Chitral, parts of Swat, and Gilgit-Baltistan, to type directly in the language through accessing the tool online.

Once bookmarked, the simple phonetic keyboard can be used offline, and the text can either be cut/paste into a word document or uploaded online on various social media platforms with just a click of a button. The keyboard can also be used by users of Urdu, Punjabi, Hindko, Farsi and Dari languages. Aziz hopes to extend the trajectory of its usage to other dialects, as well.

Khowar differentiates itself from other languages through its use of six uniquely pronounced alphabets.
"Children will pick up English and Urdu in school but they will never learn their own regional languages unless their parents make an effort to teach them at home, "shares the linguist, who has penned more than 500 articles and 40 books, and participated in the first ever Khowar Language current affairs show on Khyber News Television earlier in 2008.

For languages to survive, they must be employed within the creative fields of literature and television, he believes.

A man with a vision Though a government employee by profession, Aziz has little hope vested in the establishment towards the preservation and promotion of languages. He has taken things unto himself, and has already achieved milestones.

As of yet, Aziz has succeeded in introducing his mother tongue Khowar within the 1st to 12th grade syllabi across schools in district Chitral, setting up departments within the AIOU and Karachi Urdu University devoted to the study of the language, and writing several children's books and developing a dictionary in order to engage the youth.

Hailing from the precariously located valley of Mirandeh Khot, the linguist and poet has devoted a large part of his life to writing about his local landscape and has highlighted issues of education, human rights and language preservation through his penmanship.

"For every ten steps one takes, the language evolves and absorbs other influences," says Aziz. He believes that this kind of evolutionary assimilation gives regional languages an indelible place in the socio-cultural fabric of the nation. Chitral itself has 14 different dialects.

"The new generation of parents who have settled in larger cities are hesitant to teach their children regional languages because of a deep-rooted complex," he expresses. "We must stress on the need to embrace heritage, and preserve Pakistani culture in its nuanced and unique whole."

His keyboard can be accessed at

www.branah.com/khowar

<http://www.branah.com/ khowar>

<<http://www.branah.com/khowar>>.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th , 2013

PRAPARE PRE FEASIBILITY REPORT PRIMINISTER YOUTH LOAN PROGRAM کاروبار کیلے رپورٹ تیارخود کرین

2013-12-14T13:32:00.000+05:00

PER-FEASIBILITY REPORT GUIDEاپنے کاروبار کیلے رپورٹ تیارخود کرین

The per-feasibility report is a plan of starting business. If you want to start any business you must be have some ideas in your mind. If these ideas jot down in a paper it is called per-feasibility report. But it has some important contents. By the help of following you can be able to prepare per-feasibility report for your business.
You can prapare your own pre feasibility for your business. follow the steps below.

Format

INTRODUCTION:ا

Importance of your product/service
Advantage of your product/service
Explanation of your business
Explane how you can benefit from your business.
Explane how you can process of your planning for busess.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS:

Describe Location of your bussion.
Explain the environment surrounding your business.
Explain about the availability of resources to start your business.
Explain your business Mission statement and Vission.
Explain your business Objectives and Goal which you want to achive in future.
Explain reason to which you want to start business.

MARKET DESCRIPTION:

Explain types of product you want for your business.
Explain nature of business weather it is Retail business or whole sale.
Explain your targeted market and your plain to attract market.
Explain your strategies to operate in the market.

DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCT:

Explain these in this section.
Type of your product.
Procedure of selection of product.
How you can determine price for your product.
Compare your product feature and quality with the products already in the market.

ORGANIZATION PLAIN

Outline legal structure of your business.
Explain is it solepropritorship, partnership or a company.
Explain weather any license or permit needed for the business.
Explain your business staff members and their responsibilities.
Qualification of your staff.

MARKETING PLAIN:

How you will analyse Market.
How you will choose your targeted segment.
Expain your consumer/user
Their location
Income Level
Spending habits
Explain your plains/strategies to sale distribute your product.
Explain how you can apply your method to satisfy your consumers.
Explain how you compete your competators in the market.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT:

Explain how you can arrange capital.
What is the plain to use ur capital.
How much and how you will gain profit.
Your strategies to eliminate cost and maximize profit.
Your strategies to prevent loss.
You should be able to show the cash flow, ballancesheet and incom statement

What does feasibility or business plan report involve. فزیبلٹی رپورٹ میں کیا کیا ہوتے ہیں

2013-12-14T11:00:00.000+05:00

WHAT DOES FEASIBILITY REPORT INVOLVES.
فزیبلٹی رپورٹ میں کیا کیا ہوتے ہیں

The feasibility involve some or all of the following contents. It varies in respect to the nature of product, market or business.

1-An assessment of the current market

2-An assessment of your potential position in the market

3-An evaluation of the possible options for entry into the market

4-A short list of the possible options The development of a financial model to size the market and estimate the potential income and expenditure for each of the short listed options

5-An assessment of the impact of each main option on your group's structure and products.

Rehmat Aziz chitrali awarded international by Wikipidia

2013-12-14T02:29:00.000+05:00

REHMAT AZIZ CHITRALI AWARDED BY WIKIPIDIA.

A chitrali writter, poet, researcher, TV host the inventer of khowar vertual keyboad have been awarded by wikipidia foundation as "The Pakistan Barnstar of National Merit" on his work specially on promoting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chitral related topics on Wikipedia wiki.

Rahmat Aziz chitrali born in khot valley chitral in 25 April 1970. He receive his basic education in khot valley chitral after Matriculation he get admission in Government Inter College Booni were he passed FA and for Higher Education he went to karachi and get degree in Islamic studies specializing on Quraan and Tafseer and LLB.

In 1996 he started working for the promotion of khowar language with Khowar Academy. Rehmat Aziz chitrali have worked to promote khowar and other languages of nothern areas and gilgit internationally. He work perticularly made khowar with computer and solved computer writing problem by inventing khowar vertual keyboad which is avalable free on the internet.

His work on khowar and grammer for childrens and other books related to poetry and literature have played a vital role in promoting khowar internationally. He has written different books as Guldaan-e- Rahmat, Guldasta-e-Rahmat, Gulzokh,Gul Afshaniat-eIqbal, Khowar language Vocabulary, Urdu Vocabulary, Khowar Keyboard, khowar Dictionary, Khowar Words, khowar Grammar, Brahui Primer, Balochi Primer, Chitrali- Urdu Conversation and some are in progress.

HOW TO APPLY PRIMINISTER LOAN ACHEME گورنمنٹ قرص حاصل کرنے کا طریقہ

2013-12-14T01:20:00.000+05:00

HOW TO APPLY PRIMINISTER YOUTH LOAN ACHEME
گورنمنٹ قرص حاصل کرنے کا طریقہ
For to obtain government loan follow the following steps

(1) Download application form
(2) Print it out and fill it according the procidure.
Note: you can get it from National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) First Women Bank (FWBL)

(3) The main thing is you need one gaurantor he may give gurrante for you. Gaurantor must be
A Government servant must not be less then grade BPS-15,
OR
Any other individual having net worth of 1.5 times more of the loan you are going to apply. Net worth means total properties he have after deduction any loan against him.
Note: Blood relatives guarantee is not acceptable.

(4) You are required for 10% of the loan amount as Borrowers Capital

(5) Any bank defaulter are not eligible for the loan.

Must attach these documents with the applicaion form.

1- One recent photograph (passport size)
2- CNIC copy of applicant
3- CNIC copy of Guarantor
4- Part A of form called "Basic Borrowers Fact Sheet".
5- Part B of form (Guarantor's Information)
6- Business Plan also called Pre-Feasibility Study by SAMEDA (if you have conducted through SMEDA)
or
Your own prepared Business Plan / Feasibility / Project Proposal.

You can submit Loan applications in any branch of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) or
First Women Bank (FWBL)

You will be charged Rs 100 as process charges.
It takes 15 days in processing your applicaton.
So wait the bank will inform you about your applicaton by letter, telephone call or SMS/email.

Important Note :
TheSMS will come from PM Youth Prog . Confirmation from any other number / source should not be relied upon.

Loan Amount limit is up to Rs. 20 Lac (Rs.100000/= Rs. 20, 00000/=) Maximum Loan under this scheme is Rs. 20 Lack.
Total No. of loans to be given are 100,000 for Year 2013-14 After you get Lone Start working on your Business
First Loan installment will be due after one year of loan disbursement
Sometimes businesses have problems. All loan beneficiaries are advised to give their best to make their business successful. It is also advisable to keep your banker informed of any problems, which may affect your ability to repay loan and seek technical guidance. SMEDA and the banks have been directed to put in place system of periodic guidance to the entrepreneurs in running their businesses successfully.
Mark-up Rate is 8% p.a.
The maximum tenor of the loan is 8 years, including 1 year's grace period. The tenor will depend upon the nature of business, pattern of income and repayment capacity.

Rehmat Aziz chitrali awarded international by Wikipidia

2013-12-12T19:58:00.001+05:00

A chitrali writter, poet, researcher, TV host the inventer of khowar
vertual keyboad have been awarded by wikipidia foundation as "The
Pakistan Barnstar of National Merit" on his work specially on
promoting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chitral related topics on Wikipedia
wiki.

Rahmat Aziz chitrali born in khot valley chitral in 25 April 1970. He
receive his basic education in khot valley chitral after Matriculation
he get admission in Government Inter College Booni were he passed FA
and for Higher Education he went to karachi and get degree in Islamic
studies specializing on Quraan and Tafseer and LLB. In 1996 he started
working for the promotion of khowar language with Khowar Academy.

Rehmat Aziz chitrali have worked to promote khowar and other languages
of nothern areas and gilgit internationally. He work perticularly made
khowar with computer and solved computer writing problem by inventing
khowar vertual keyboad which is avalable free on the internet. His
work on khowar and grammer for childrens and other books related to
poetry and literature have played a vital role in promoting khowar
internationally.

He has written different books as Guldaan-e-Rahmat, Guldasta-e-Rahmat,
Gulzokh,Gul Afshaniat-eIqbal, Khowar language Vocabulary, Urdu
Vocabulary, Khowar Primer, Kalasha Primer, Khowar Keyboard, khowar
Dictionary Khowar Words, khowar Grammar,Brahui Primer, Balochi Primer,
Chitrali- Urdu Conversation and some are in progress.

Rehmat Aziz chitrali awarded by wikipidia

2013-12-12T13:56:00.001+05:00

A chitrali writter, poet, researcher, TV host the inventer of khowar vertual keyboad have been awarded by wikipidia foundation as "The Pakistan Barnstar of National Merit" on his work specially on promoting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chitral related topics on Wikipedia wiki.

Rahmat Aziz chitrali born in khot valley chitral in 25 April 1970. He
receive his basic education in khot valley chitral after Matriculation
he get admission in Government Inter College Booni were he passed FA and for Higher Education he went to karachi and get degree in Islamic studies specializing on Quraan and Tafseer and LLB. In 1996 he started working for the promotion of khowar language with Khowar Academy.

Rehmat Aziz chitrali have worked to promote khowar and other languages of nothern areas and gilgit internationally.
He work perticularly made khowar with computer and solved computer writing problem by inventing khowar vertual keyboad which is avalable free on the internet. His work on khowar and grammer for childrens and other books related to poetry and literature have played a vital role in promoting khowar internationally. He has written different books as Guldaan-e-Rahmat, Guldasta-e-Rahmat, Gulzokh, Gul Afshaniat-e-Iqbal, Khowar language Vocabulary, Urdu Vocabulary, Khowar Primer, Kalasha Primer, Khowar Keyboard, khowar Dictionary Khowar Words, khowar Grammar, Brahui Primer, Balochi Primer, Chitrali- Urdu Conversation and some are in progress.

Today in News

2013-04-11T12:55:00.000+05:00

____________________________________________

Khowar name of months

2013-03-08T22:25:00.001+05:00

In standard khowar year called "Youran" although the word "Saall" is also spoken in khowar which is later on included from Urdu.
There are twelve months in a year (youran or Saall) and four seasons

===================
BOSOON OR BOSOONI (Spring season )
----------------------------
March = Gandur hamal
April = Kun
May = Khezan
===================
GRISHPO OR GRISHPOI (Summer season)
-----------------------------
June = Pinimur
July = Khumpasch
August = Gomletri
====================
SHORO OR SHOROI (Autmn)
------------------------------
September = Kolkremi
October = Chanchori
November = Tungshal
====================
YOMOON OR YOMOONI (Winter season)
------------------------------
December = Pehting
January = Ariayan
February = Shadagh
--------------------------------

Name of Months in Khowar

2012-03-15T22:59:00.001+05:00

2012-01-01T16:29:00.001+05:00

MeraChitral

2012-01-01T16:21:00.001+05:00

Khot Chitral Pakistan

2011-12-01T01:57:00.002+05:00

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Ra-Joe canal of khot

Khot is one of the beautiful valleys of chitral situated in the north west of Pakistan in some 9930 ft high form the sea level. Khot valley is famous and old city it is the birth place of some tribes of chitral ie Khoshy and Baiky. The great grand father of khoshy and the Mir of Balakob (Torkhow) Mir Khosh Ahmad Beg first came here and choose Khot for his permanent residence. As well as Baik the great grand father of baiky tribes came here and become the permanent resident of Khot.

Khot is attached with Yarkhon valley in the east crossing the khotan pass, in the south of khot Mastuj valley is situated, in the north the rech valley is situated which is attached with the wakhan Afghanistan by the Sha Junali pass, while in the west the Buzund and the Shagram the capital of Torkhow is situated.

Khot valley is very cold in the winter season and in the summer season its atmosphere becomes very pleasant and comfortable. In the summer the blooming of flowers, green trees, dark blue sky with a snow in the mountains and green hills give magical sight to the peoples. Many residents of this valley migrates to towns in the winter and coming back with the spring to enjoy pleasant environment and fresh air, its beauty as well as to participate and enjoy its traditional events summer long. Many other relatives and friends form the whole world and the town city arriving here in the summer to enjoy it, short number of professional tourists also visiting it but because there is no hotel available here but they still enjoy the hospitality of the residents of khot.

Khot is one of the representing valleys of rich chitrali traditions and culture, as khot is the old valley and many traditions are still followed in the same way and many traditional events of khot have there own traditional old rules management and regulations. Like the event of SOT-KORIK (traditional events of eating traditional food and cultural show in august in the pasture of khot), GHARI-NISIK (the migration event of cattle in July to pasture), and JOE-NEZIK (cleaning canal of Ra canal in the spring).

In the month of July residents of khot valley migrates form towns to pasture with cattle for two month, this traditional event called Ghari-nisik in this traditional event every person participates some of them for enjoyment and some for transferring the cattle and to hand over the cattle to the temporary grazier this traditional event is celebrated in the same way form centuries. The voices of different cattle in the early morning and there different coloring for their identification, large traffic of ladies, children and men in the morning of Ghari-nisik in the road of khot are very entertaining. A person participating formally or not but he must enjoy the beautiful and fascinating sight of this event.

After a month of Ghari-nisik another traditional event SOT-KORIK is celebrated in the pasture of khot specially in the Shah-Lasht (Old natural polo ground in the hills of khot). In this event mostly males are participating large number of teenagers goes to these places to enjoy the traditional food obtained by cattle like Cheese, Milk, Butter, and foods cooked in the butter oil etc, and also to enjoy different traditional and modern games in the Shah Lasht and also to enjoy cultural show and dances in the night of sotkorik. This is a tracking type event celebrated in the month of August.

In the beginning of spring season the event of Joe-Shepik or Joe-Nezik (Cleaning and repair of Ra-Canal) is also oldest traditional event arranged by the oldest organization called URFI. URFI was established in about 1680 AD to care repairing, maintenance and to manage the Rah-canal was constructed by the struggle of Mir Khosh (Mir of Balakob) for the irrigation of khot valley there was no source to irrigate the whole area before the Rah-canal. This canal again expended by his son and descendant Mir Shauqi who was also Mir of Balakob. He expends and established URFI for the administration of Ra-canal. Now thousand of formers are the beneficiaries of this canal.

SM Azam Shauqi
Khot Chitral

2011-11-30T01:35:00.001+05:00

www.merachitral.blogspot.com 2009

Shandur Polo Festival

2011-06-15T02:10:00.006+05:00

Shandur invites visitors to experience a traditional polotournament which since 1936 has been held annually in the first week of July between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit. The tournament is held onShandur Pass, the highest polo ground in the world at 3,700 meters (the pass itself is at 3,800 meters). The festival also includes Folk music, dancing and a camping village is set up. The polo tournament is featured in the first episode ofHimalaya with Michael Palin.

Gilgit, Chitral and Skardu have always played the game of polo closest to its original form. In the past, local Rajas, Mirs and Mehtars were the patrons of the game. At times, more than 50% of the annual budget of their principalities would be spent on supporting the game

Freestyled mountain polo is arguably polo in its purest form. This version of the game played at Shandur has attained legendary status and is of great interest to international and domestic adventure tourists alike. There are no umpires and there are no holds barred. The rules are: There are no rules!

In order to decide the final teams to play at the Shandur Polo Festival preliminary matches are played both in Chitral andGilgit in which the best horses and players are chosen for the final games by the local juries. The festival begins on the 7th of July with a polo match between Laspur Team, which is a village near Shandur in Chitral, and the Ghizer Team from Gilgit. During the course of the tournament A, B, C and D teams of Chitral and Gilgit battle it out on the polo field. Each team has six members with 2-4 reserve players in case of injury etc. The match duration is usually one hour. It is divided into two halves, with a 10 minutes interval. During intervals the locals enthrall the audiences with traditional and cultural performances. The game decided in favour of the team scoring nine goals. The final is held on 9 July.

History of Shandur Polo

Polo is an equestrian sport with its origin embedded in Central Asia dating back to 6th century BC. At first it was a training game for cavalry units for the King's Guards or other Elite troops. To the warlike tribesmen who played polo with as many as 100 players to a side, it was a miniature battle. It became a Persian national game in the 6th century AD. From Persia, the game spread to Arabia, then to Tibet, China and Japan. In China, in the year 910, death of a favourite relative in a game prompted Emperor Apaochi to order beheading of all players.

Historically, polo being the king of games was played between small kingdoms, villages and rival groups of Gilgit and Chitral. From 1936 onwards polo tournaments were held annually at Shandur. The three day Shandur Polo Festival has developed steadily in recent years into the massive celebration of mountain polo that it is today. It is organised by the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department and attended every year by thousands of foreign and domestic tourists besides prominent celebrities, public figures and opinion makers.

_________________________________________________________________________

Historical Sites of Chitral
Culture and Tradition of Chitral
Places around Chitral
British intervention in chitral 1895

William and Kate invited to Shandur polo Fastivel

2011-06-15T02:00:00.004+05:00

Provincial Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah Sunday said on Sunday that Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti had formally invited the newly-wed royal couple Prince William and Princess Kate (Duke & Duchess of Cambridge) to witness the final of Shandur Polo.
The move to invite the royal couple to Shandur this year was initiated by Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) to promote the region and to put it in the news internationally for something heart-warming and positive. Teams from Gilgit have confirmed participation in the upcoming Shandur Polo Festival scheduled for July 7- 9, 2011.

In the letter, Hoti said: Your Highnesses, Shandur is the highest polo field on earth. Shandur Pass which is one of the most peaceful and serene areas of Pakistan is situated near the border of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces at a distance of 147km from Chitral and 212km from Gilgit. The pass not only connects Gilgit and Chitral but also offers one of the world’s most interesting and attractive sports annually with freestyle mountain polo. The exhilarating game is played on the ‘Roof of the World’, about 12500 feet above sea level approximately, where the Hindukush, Pamir and Karakoram ranges meet.
“Chitral is also the original birthplace of the sport of polo and the rugged mountain polo is arguably polo in its purest form. This version of the game played at Shandur has attained legendary status and is of great interest to international and domestic adventure tourists alike. There are no umpires and there are no holds barred. Played in its original devil-may-care manner, the rules are: There are no rules.
“The game is inscribed in tradition that predates history. In ancient times, polo being the ‘King of Games’ was played between small kingdoms, villages and rival groups of Chitral and Gilgit. The British picked up the game here, introduced some safety rules and subsequently popularised it all over the world. Besides the rules (or no rules) there is quite a difference between the polo played in Chitral and the version introduced by the British. The size of the ground, number of players and the period of play in both versions are different.
“Patronized by a British Political Agent Major Evelyn Hey Cobb in its early days, polo tournaments were held annually on this ground 1936 onwards. Presently organized by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) the three-day Shandur Polo Festival has developed steadily in recent years into the massive celebration of mountain polo that it is today. It is attended every year by prominent celebrities, public figures and opinion leaders.
“My government extends its warm greetings to Your Highnesses on Your recent wedding.
“The connection of the Royal Family of Britain with Chitral and polo goes back many years. In recent times, in 1997 the HRH Duke of Edinburgh flew into Chitral especially to witness a polo match and give away the Duke of Edinburgh cup which still adorns the reception counter of a local hotel.
“Chitral warmly welcomed HRH Princess Diana in 1991. The people of Chitral have fond memories of that day when all flights to Chitral had been cancelled due to rain, HRH Princess Diana landed in her BA 146 and arrived in the valley much to the pleasant surprise of everyone.
“I hope that Your Highnesses will be able to grace this polo cup final. It will help foster relations between our two countries and we await with anticipation your response.
“May Your days be joyous and healthy in the months and years to come.”

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Related Topics

Shandur Polo Fastival

Walliam & Kate invited to see shandur polo

Historical Sites of Chitral
Culture and Tradition of Chitral
Places around Chitral
British intervention in chitral 1895

Khowar Alphabets/ Characters of Khowar (Chitrali Language)

2011-06-15T01:05:00.004+05:00

The Khowar alphabet is the right-to-left alphabet used for the Khowar language. It is a modification of the Persian alphabet, which is itself a derivative of the Arabic alphabet. According to the Khowar Academy with 60 letters, the Khowar alphabet is typically written in the calligraphic Nasta'liq script, whereas Arabic is more commonly in the Naskh style. Usually, bare transliterations of Khowar into Roman letters omit many phonemic elements that have no equivalent in English or other languages commonly written in the Roman alphabet. The Khowar Academy of Pakistan has developed a number of systems with specific notations to signify non-English sounds, but these can only be properly read by someone already familiar with Khowar, Persian, or Arabic for letters.

The Khowar language developed during the rule of Mehtar of Chitral State. Despite the invention of the Khowar typewriter in 1996 by Rehmat Aziz Chitrali, Khowar newsletters and newspapers continued to be published from handwritten scripts by the Khowar authors until the late 1996s. The Montly Zhang is the first newletter was the firstKhowar newspaper to use Nasta’liq computer-based composition. There are efforts under way to develop more sophisticated and user-friendly Khowar support on computers and the internet. Nowadays, nearly all Khowar newspapers, magazines, journals, and periodicals are composed on computers via various Khowar software programs.

The Nasta'liq calligraphic writing style began as a Persian mixture of scripts Naskh and Ta'liq. Nasta'liq is more cursive and flowing than its Naskh counterpart.

Source; http://www.hb.amazines.com

Khowar Language Recommended to be Taught as Compulsory Subject by Government

Khowar (Chitrali Language)

NWA operation

2011-05-31T20:12:00.003+05:00

The visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week may well have been the turning point that it was described as. A number of things appear to be happening in quick succession. The CIA has had a sniff around the Osama bin Laden compound in Abbottabad, a large piece of very bent and very secret helicopter has been returned to the Americans, and now there is talk of an operation in North Waziristan. There has never been any shortage of talk about such an operation but it has hitherto been accompanied, on Pakistan’s side at least, by minimal activity. It must be noted that the Pakistani authorities have never directly refused to conduct such an operation, and have consistently said that, if they ever did, it would be on their terms and according to their own agenda. It could now be that there is a convergence of interests – Pakistan’s and those of the US – that would make an NWA operation to our advantage.

Reports speak of a ‘careful and meticulous’ operation in the NWA, with the air force going in first to soften up targets which will already have been identified, followed by a boots-on-the-ground operation. Intriguingly, the reports speak of the possibility of a joint operation with allies as having been discussed during the Clinton-Mullen visit. Such an eventuality would be fraught with a range of complexities. If these were joint operations with the Americans (the only likely ally with whom such an operation would be conducted) they could ignite a political and social explosion. With the collateral damage inflicted by the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan regularly outraging public opinion, imagine the effect of Americans on Pakistani soil ‘mistakenly’ killing a group of civilians including women and children. Quite apart from what might blow up on the civil front, issues of command and control and intelligence-sharing may make this a step too far and too soon considering the fractured state of relations between Pakistan and the US. From its own perspective, Pakistan’s forces have good reason to go after Hakimullah Mehsud who is believed to have headquartered himself in the NWA after he was driven out of his previous base in South Waziristan. He has spread death and destruction across the country, not just in his homeland of the tribal areas. He has terrorised large parts of the population and those acting on his behalf have killed many hundreds of innocent civilians. It remains to be seen if the talk turns to reality and the mountains of the NWA are cleansed.

By thanks to The news International