The Origin of Shimshal

Qurban Muhammad

Research Data

The Origin of Shimshal

Description

When our forefather forefather [Mamusing] first came here with his wife, there was no path to walk on. He came from mountain to mountain. Nobody knows how much pain he went through, to reach here and nobody knows how he brought food for himself [and his family], but he finally reached what is now Shimshal village. He started working the land until a miracle happened and a son was born to him whom he named Sher Ali. As there was no path to walk on to Pamir [what today is the large pasture area of Sujerab and Shuwurth at almost 4700 m asl] at that time he had to explore it by himself . When he reached Pamir, he saw that Shegn (ethnic Shagnanis) were sitting there. They asked our grandfather [Mamusing] to leave as they owned the land , and he could not use it. In the subsequent dispute they, however, agreed to [settle the ownership dispute] through a polo game. It was agreed among them that if our grandfather succeeded in reaching Waraw [a spot next to the Pamir lake] with the ball, the [Pamir] land will be his. If not, and the ball instead reached towards the Ghuwe Jhurav, the land was for the Afghans. The Afghans were on horseback and Sher Ali was alone on yak-back, nevertheless he succeeded in playing the polo ball on yak-back to the place called Varao. Thereafter, the Afghan migrants retreated and Pamir was handed over to Shimshal. After that, more people came here and started their farming and using [the pastures of] Pamir. Our entire community works [together] in the same way: all the people who have worked here on the land, all the people who have worked here on the road from Passu to Shimshal collaborate. People donated trees and goats as donations in the name of their mother's souls. In the same way, the path to [the pastures of] Pamir was con-structed. Also, everyone helped and contributed to house construction in Pamir until they [eventually] populated the entire area. Our forefathers have worked very hard given all the difficulties encountered and today we live a comfortable life because of them. Today is the age of education, everyone studies, that's why many people have given up farming, nobody is interested in it anymore. Nowadays, our youths come and teach us, the elders. No one used to teach our forefathers, they used to teach each other. They used to sit with each other with a lot of love. Today outsiders come and teach us here. We should not forget the customs and traditions of our forefathers. In the old days, the respect of each other, was not an issue but today our youths go to other societies and explore other cultures. Today, there is no respect, there is no love for each other as there was in the old times. Even if today's age is also good, we are worried. However, now, our government and the Aga Khan Foundation, are pushing us to not forget our culture, rather we should bring our culture forward. We are happy about this. You have come to interview us today and we are very thankful to you. We may not know much, but we will share our experience with you. Thank you.

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