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Etymology:
The oldest
name of the contemporary Nasirabad was HayulDass (meaning un known) during the
Rono (earliest settlers) age, then Hindi Manishmal (a fertile place with great
prosperity), then Hini, derived from Hin, means snow in local language (Shina)
that can be described as a place of snow or a snowy place, because, for direct
exposure to Rakhaposhi there observed to be heavy snow fall during the season.
History: The earliest history of the Nasirabad dates back to the
age of Rono people, (the primitive people) who flourished across the whole Hunza
region, perceived to be Buddhist. . In the particular context of Nasirabad, they
emerged and flourished here before the arrival of forefathers of present tribes
of the settlement. (Tartay, Doodiye and the sheen) who came here from Darail
valley in District Diamer in early 16th century (16 generation back).
Heritage Assets;
Name of site : Khairay Kot Settlement
Period : 17th Century.
Location : Nasirabad.
Legal Status : Not protected under any act.
Ownership : Local people
Cultural
Heritage Type
: Historical Settlement In exceptional Natural environment.
The
place can be described as an enclave for having housed a historic building (Chooshao
Boto Got) besides the historic settlement surrounded by the out standing
environment of great Kara Kurum.
Description
of the site:
The Khairay Kot Settlement, the oldest
one in Lower Hunza, termed by the Mir of Hunza as the iron gate of his state,
for its strategic location, was established during the reign of legendary Bapo
Shah Salim Khan.
The earliest settlers were 20 House Holds (Gooty), representing
three major tribes (tartay, doodiye and sheen) of the area .The fortification (Baqboo)
was built on a ridge above the cliff of river Hunza towards the southern side of
the village. The fortification was described to be 6 to 8 feet thick and about
25 to 30 feet high on its northern side with the main entrance (Wankoo) on its
eastern side; being locked with the help of a wooden lock (Tumba) was the only
exit to facilitate the fortification dwellers. On its southwest side a dump of
thorny material (called Boochoos to ensured its security) annexed with a water
reservoir to further work as a defensive obstacle. The cliff protected rest of
the corners. The watchtowers were 12, erected in different corners of the
Fortification to facilitate vigilance and observation.
Within
the settlement there were three sub settlements, called I) Hun poro 2) Khairay
poro 3) and Majino poro in a tight clustered shape. Almost every House Hold
annexed its animal pen under the same roof. The seasonal shifting remained
vertical. All the sub settlement provided space to a Biyak or a commonplace .It
also housed a mosque in the settlement. Its told by the old people that the
legendary Saint Syed Shah Wali spent a night here on his way to Thole.
On
the occasion of festivals and celebrations, the folk musicians happened to visit
all the three corners and all the sub settlements to play music and amuse the
people.
The
reservoir out side the settlement was the only source to provide the drinking
water to the human being as well as the pet animals alike, which passed through
a filter system before entering in to the settlement.
The
main entrance wankoo used to be opened in the morning time to allow the fort
dwellers to go to the agriculture fields out side and being closed at sun set on
their return to ensure best security measures.
With
regard to its natural environment, the majestic Rakaposhi and
the graceful Diran lie in the juxtaposition,
whispering in to the total serenity to open the secrets of mysterious of mighty
KaraKuram. Adorned with the elegant
patches of pine forests and the splendor of alpine flora, elegant expansion of
uncontaminated glaciers with out bursting
Gushing
streams further adds to the rich endowment of the Mother Nature.
Salient
Features:
The contemporary settlement depicts a picture of the old houses with a blend of
modern structures appearing on its northern side with no remains of
fortification, rather with a sight of penetration of above new built structures
(private houses as well as community buildings) in to the old buildings cluster
side, being abandon by the settlers gradually and shifting to new settlements.
The
most prominent features of the site with regard to modern construction are the
elegant buildings of the central Jamat Khana, Ismilia Council For Shinaki and
the AKHSP medical center. With regard to old heritage assets, the most prominent
feature of the settlement is the residential house of Chushau Boto (Legendary
Wazir of Hunza)
Dating
back to 17th century .The house is still in an excellent condition
and being inhabited by a local family .The roof of the house (sigoam) is bearing
a unique time management system (sun light operating clock) which on having
passed the sun beam through the roof hole (sigoam) makes an image on the wall
which ultimately facilitates the owner of the house in preparing for water turn
or to meet any other commitment well in time.
Another
nearby house functioned to accommodate the Royal guests visiting the village.
As
sated earlier that old portion of the settlement (22 House Holds) depicts a
picture of dilapidated
Conditions
quite vulnerable to further decay and deterioration if an earlier conservation
plan is not chalked out to respond to the prevailing situation.
Keeping
in Consideration this felt need, a renowned performing artist and a local
settler in collaboration and partnership with his credible friends, have evolved
an organization namely Shinaki Hunza Culture and Heritage Society. The
institution has emerged with a highly ambitious manifesto, which apart from
other aspects, have given top most priority to the conservation plan.
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Name Of Site
:
Hunkot
Settlement
Period
:
7th
Century
Location
:
Nasirabad
Legal
Status
:
Not protected under any act.
Ownership : Private
Heritage Type
:
Histttlemenoric
Set
In
exceptional Natural
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The
site is an out standing example of man intervention in to the nature (Jamat
khana building with unique umbrella shape roof surrounded by the human habitat
of 17th century)
Description
of the Site:
The Hun Kot settlement, above the KKH and in upper part of the village Nasir
Abed was constructed during the reign of Bapo Shah Salim khan in 17th
century.
As described by the indigenous historian that Gutumain Kot
settlement for having been
Situated in a
depression, remained vulnerable to intensive arrow attacks being launched from a
nearby mound called Khuro Lat which provided a strong rational to look for a
safer place HunKot to construct an other fortification to provide a secured
habitat to the 30 House Holds (early settlers).
In order to support construction process Bapo Shah Salim Khan
arranged to send a team of carpenters, masons and strong labourers. He also sent
a small contingent of warriors to give security escort to these people during
the course of work.
Water
Distribution System: the village men regard the water
distribution system with regard to its management as the worlds most
sophisticated irrigation systems evolved over the time. In order to meet the
challenge of scarcity of water during the season
it
has been arranged to distribute the available water a
Its very amazing fact that during the olden
times when there was no watch the primitive people identified certain points on
the mountain slopes, rock faces and peaks with sun appearance to observe the
movement of the sun and determine the certain point of time in regulating water
turn. The oldest houses in the settlements have been found with the wooden watch
in the roof being operated through the suns beams. In terms of physical lay out
of the infrastructure the primary water channels (Badi yap and Bootmooshai yap)
were constructed about five hundred years ago (about 16 generations back), which
continued to evolve in to secondary and tertiary channels with the passage of
time. The main water reservoirs are three in number (Khukooshai bari,
Bootmooshai Bari and Younrai Bari). The water distributions junctions are said
to be chacks some times attributed to the names of legendary people, e.g. Dado
HassanShahai Chack and Dado Doobiyai Chack.
The
extended families seeking fresh water turn are liable to offer 1.5 kg of butter
(one Ghio) some amount of wheat grains some amount of cash as per fixed by the
loc al jirga who are mainly responsible to regulate, monitor and maintain
irrigation management system since very beginning.
As
far the maintenance aspect is concerned every household is liable to participate
in this process (Rajaki) when the need is arisen otherwise they become liable to
pay the cost of one labour. Apart from that every household is liable to pay
some amount o f wheat grains to darogah (the extension worker) working for
community.
The
12 settlements of the Rono people perched around the village emerged from
different intervals. Some of the prominent names still known are, Boin Lat, Lew
Kot, Kholo Laat, Gutoomodass Kot, and Choomander Char kot.
Two
out of the said settlements are still visible as Archeological sites (liyo Kot
and Choomander Kot)
The site is located on a mountain ridge
above the village at an altitude of above 1000 feet, with Botmoosh Nallah on its
eastern side and north east side. On its western side the ridge/settlement is
attached to the mountainside, where as on its southern side the Majestic
Rakaposhi is standing in a juxtaposition to testify the history of the
settlement.
With
regards to its location the site occupies a strategic position with only one
accessible way to the place from southern side with a fortified wall, where as
from rest of the sides it was protected by the natural obstacle (steep rock
faces). The primitive people opted to live here for the above reasons and also
for having their cultural fields downed the foothill side in immediate access.
The old houses were constructed mostly under the boulders and attached to the
boulders for some reason or the other.
Choomander Char Archeological Site:
Another remains of the Rono
civilization, Choomander Char Kot is perched on a
rocky ridge down the river side, the name of the tribe was Dar Moochoonay who
always remained in confrontation with the Hazmzal Mooochoonay living at a near
by settlement, for along time.
About the Pastures and
Shepherds Huts:
Since
the
olden
times the local people have remained attached to agro pastoral economy. To keep
reasonable number of goats and sheep’s and rear them was one of the basic
needs of mountain dwellers. In the month of June the community shepherd use to
take them to the alpine pastures to keep them there until the month of October.
The main pastures are the Hachinder, Charsoo and the
Ghusanum Bakor with the status of the among the best alpine pastures of the
Northern areas. With rare species of flora with great medicinal value,
The shepherd huts belong to the specific tribes. Some
of the prominent huts are known as Doodiye Harai (belonging to Doodiye Tribe),
Majini Harai (belonging to Tartay tribe) Goonootar Harai and The Malikayi Harai,
all of them constructed by the fore fathers of the present tribes. (16
generation back).
The fortification wall was described to be above 30 feet high and 6
to 8 feet in thickness. Watch towers were 3 in number to facilitate vigilance.
There was one main entrance Called Wankoo on its eastern side .The wooden lock
was called Tumba .On the northern side there was a water reservoir built with a
purpose to provide drinking water and also to function as defense shield.
When the place was attacked by the invaders after construction of
fortification the fort dwellers gave them tough time and retreat .The first
dwellers in order to ensure best security observed best security measures, e.g.,
opening of main gate at first dawn and closing at sun set, vigilant duty on
watch towers followed with other strategic steps. The inhabitants were
representing three main tribes i.e.Tartay, doodiye and sheen, which with the
passage of time continued to evolve in to extended families.
In 1892, a major turning point came in the history of the settlement
when the Hunza state came under the rule of British Government. The major
changes took place were the demolishing of fortification and opening of tight
clusters on being given security assurance from Imperial Government
against invaders. This dramatic change followed with the opening of many socio
economic opportunities in the area. The educational evolution began in
the area and the more health coverage ensured by the new rulers. Young
people were offered employment in the army. Mountain infrastructure was substantially
improved which furthered accelerated the on going pace of development in the
area.
The start of construction of
KKH
in 1966
and its opening for normal traffic operation in 1978 further began to open
mountain pockets to the modern world to significantly impact the life style of
mountain dwellers on different spheres .The abolition of mirdom in1974 freed the
locals from the bondage and further allowed them to fully utilize and exploit
their potentials and best available resources towards the attainment of self
reliance and economic prosperity.
Salient Features:
The things which make the most salient features of the settlement
Recently focused, conserved and restored by AKCSP. Another prominent
feature of the settlement is the Biyak (common place) with a splendid and
panoramic view of Rakaposhi on its southern side. For having situated at a
higher place it offers a panoramic view of the lower part of the village
including the DJ school building, central Jamat Khana building and the AKHSP
Medical unit .On eastern and Northern sides, the settlement is surrounded by
apricot groves and the agriculture fields.
State
of Conservation:
As stated earlier, that the Jamat Khana building at first phase has been
restored by the AKCSP and the next phase plan includes the conservation of the
rest of the portion subject to the availability of resources. And with the
vulnerable participation of local community.
Site Management:
In
order to meet the future need of site management, a community based committee
has been formed which remained involved during the course of
conservation process and would further function to take care of
maintenance affairs on restoration of the site in near future.
About
the oldest tree in the village:
The
most prominent landmark Botanical feature of the village is a mulberry tree
situated in the middle of the lower part of the village. The estimated age is
described to be above 400 years and said to be have grown by the fore fathers of Buko tribe hence attributed to the name of the said tribe locally known as Bako
Maroach. The significance of the said tree can be described in the sense that
since olden times it has been responsible to provide venue to conduct the
meetings of local community leaders to discuss a variety of issues pertaining to
community life and affairs. To date it’s functioning to facilitate the same
process under its cool and soothing shade. The most prominent present time
activity is the meeting of the villagers to regulate water turn in summer time
where as in winter time the most cherished activity is to enjoy the warmth of
the sun light and discuss a great variety of issues e.g. AKRSP village
organization and women organizations routine meetings, local jirga meetings and
any other meetings. This fact is worth mentioning that its roots have been
traced about one Km form the Tree trunk.