Khowar Speakers from Both Sides of Shandur, Jointly Clap in Islamabad

The Khowar language community, living in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi organized a literary plus entertainment event in Islamabad on New Year’s Eve. Around 150 people participated in the event. The event started with the oath taking ceremony for those who assumed the responsibilities of the Anjuman Taraqqi Khowar (ATK, Islamabad), the capital chapter of a century old literary body working for the development and promotion of the Khowar, originally based in Chitral. The new chapter of ATK was established last year. FLI facilitated the Khowar community people to come together and celebrate their cultural and linguistic identity persuading them to organize their members on social media which led to the establishment of ATK’s Islamabad chapter. The literary event then was held under this organization’s auspices. The oath taking ceremony was followed by the launching of recently published Khowar books. One of the Khowar language books, a poetry collection was authored by a Khowar poet who belonged to the Khowar area of Ghizer in Gilgit-Baltistan. This was great to observe that the representatives of Khowar speakers, living on both sides of the Shandur pass were part of the event. The event moved on to see the signature segment of Khowar language then, the poetry session (Mushaira) involving young and senior poets of the language who had the first ever opportunity to express themselves under ATK in the capital city of Islamabad. The event concluded on the high notes of the Khowar musical show, famously known as Chindoria Bazm. The last section of the event, the musical night was taken over by the young singers from the community who overwhelmed the audience with their live performance.

Many Khowar speakers from Chitral and Ghizer valleys are living in the urban areas of the country including Islamabad. They meet each other on various occasions from wedding to sporting activities as well as for some festivals of other organizations, but the event in question was therefore different because the Anjuman was one of the organizers of the event after being formed in the city in a short span of time. This is hoped that Anjuman will carry this in the future.

This event was fourth, FLI supported to organize the migrant community people from northern Pakistan living in the urban areas. It supported a literary festival for Burushaski speakers in Karachi and for Balti speakers in Rawalpindi last year. The migrant people from the Indus Kohistani were brought together to celebrate their culture few weeks earlier. The indigenous language speakers of north Pakistan, especially those who are living outside of their ancestral places are urged to reestablish links with their culture and language to strengthen their identity. FLI commits to continue supporting them in their endeavors of language and cultural revitalization.