cultures

HUNZA GOJAL PICTURES

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

WELCOME TO GOJAL


In Hunza, the Wakhi people in line with ethnicity could not get their due significance mainly because of discouragement of their language by another dominant ethnic group. And the time came that the Wakhis reserved themselves from their ethnic identity. It was so even after the abolition of the former princely state of Hunza in 1974. Until now, many educated youth and intellectuals felt their identity crisis and took initiatives in order to encourage their people for their language and culture. After some initiatives, in the second half of 1980s, strong and cordial attempts were made to form a forum for the preservation, documentation, exposure and development of Wakhi culture and language. Thus, in 1991, a forum with the name of Wakhi/Tajik Cultural Association Gojal Hunza was brought into existence, which is registered with the government of Pakistan, and its head office is Gulmit in the historical old house ofKhalifa Aliyar.

This association has a central body that is headed by the president. Five main organs units, under the central body, are on functions that are led by the unit conveners who are executive members in the central body. These organs of the central body are know as Chipursan Unit, Avgarch Unit, Shimshal Unit, Gulmit Unit (lower Gojal unit), and Gilgit Unit. Since its inception, the Wakhi/Tajik Cultural Association has been arranging different local, national and international programmes in terms of cultural shows, cultural festivals, musical shows, poetry contests (Mushairas), and Wakhi language learning programmes. Thus, the morale of these people has been made up and the people have got full confidence and positive pride over their language and culture. One of the major achievements of this cultural association could be seen in shape of relay of Wakhi programme from the Radio Pakistan Gilgit with the name of Sado-i-Bom-i- Dunyo(the voice of Roof of the World) whereby the concerned artistes try to develop the Wakhi language and culture from different angles.


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