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maybe the greeks will swnd out missionaries to teach them that it's not macedonian but it's greek. -
latest update on the burushaski language.
SOM, you seem to know a bit on this sort of stuff, what do you think or make of this finding?
Or is it something you and others already knew, in-particular the part how "Burushaski" is a indo-european language and not indo-iranian. The dots are starting to join in my opinion. There are many pictures of clothing, art, symbols that Macedonians and these Burushaski speaking people share and there have been words comparisons that have been prematurely laughed at by some. Now hearing (reading to be exact) of these findings such as the language being indo-european coming from the Balkans is just adding to claims of A) they are descendent of Alexanders B) Possible our language is closer to ancient Macedonian than what many believe.
casule cracks the code on the origins of a new european language
tuesday, 19 june 2012
there is strong evidence to support the discovery of a new european language.
Macquarie university historical linguistics researcher, associate professor ilija casule, discovered that the language, known as burushaski, which is spoken by about 90,000 people who reside in a remote area of north west pakistan, is indo-european in origin, not indo-iranian.
Professor casule’s discovery, which has now been verified by a number of the world’s top linguists, has excited linguistics experts around the world. An entire issue of the eminent international linguistics journal the journal of indo-european studies is devoted to a discussion of his findings later this month.
More than 50 eminent linguists have tried over many years to determine the genetic relationship of burushaski. But it was casule’s painstaking research, based on a comprehensive grammatical, phonological, lexical and semantic analysis, which established that the burushaski language is in fact an indo-european language most likely descended from one of the ancient balkan languages. Professor casule believes that language is most probably ancient phrygian.
The phrygians migrated from macedonia to anatolia (today part of turkey) and were famous for their legendary kings who figure prominently in greek mythology such as king midas who turned whatever he touched into gold. They later migrated further east, reaching india. Indeed, according to ancient legends of the burushashki people, they are descendants of alexander the great.
Tracing the historical path of a language is no easy task. Professor casule said he became interested in the origins of burushaski more than 20 years ago.
“people knew of its existence but its indo-european affiliation was overlooked and it was not analysed correctly. It is considered a language isolate – not related to any other language in the world in much the same way that the basque language is classified as a language isolate,” he said.
The remoteness of the area that was independent until the early 1970s when it became part of pakistan, ensured burushaski retained certain grammatical and lexical features that led professor casule to conclude it is a north-western indo-european language, specifically of the paleobalkanic language group and that it corresponds most closely with phrygian.
Dr casule’s work is groundbreaking, not only because it has implications for all the indo-european language groups, but also provides a new model for figuring out the origins of isolate languages – where they reside in the linguistic family tree and how they developed and blended with other languages to form a new language. //macquire univ.
Last edited by Bill77; 06-19-2012, 07:39 AM.Leave a comment:
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While many of the commonalities and differences (and the stages leading to those differences) can be identified with some confidence, timelines are a problem. Broadly speaking, between 4000 BC to 2000 BC Proto Indo-European would have first been spoken as a single language, then fragmented into seperate groups (one of which is likely to have included the distant ancestor of Balkan, Baltic, Slavic, Indian and Iranian languages), which then continued to fragment even further until Balto-Slavic (& Balkan) and Indo-Iranian seperated from each other.Originally posted by Coolski View Post
I am sure the guy who originally posted this on another forum (from where you've copied and pasted it) had good intentions, but he is wrong. The word above is originally Persian (bâdenjân) and was adopted by Macedonians, Serbs and others through Ottoman influence, from Turkish (patlıcan). Many of the other words on the list have cognates with other Indo-European languages.Originally posted by BigMak View PostLeave a comment:
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here are some Modern Macedonian similarities with the Kalashi language
english then the second word is kalashi and the following ones are Macedonian
1. Nose- Nast – nos (Kaj niv T ne se cita)
2. Tongue- Jiph- jazik
3. Breast – chuchu-cicka/cice (dijalekt)(H ne se cita kaj niv, znaci doagja CUCU)
4. Belly – kuch- stomakuc (dijalekt)
5. Fingernail –nanguzhek-noktace (dijalekt)
6. Urine – mutra – moc
7. Roof – drami – pokriv/kaldrmi (dijalekten izvod)
8. Hammer –balka – cuk /BALKA (dijalekt)
9. Rope – rajuk –jaze
10. Needle – suzhik -igla /sucuk (dijalekt)
11. Moon –mastruk- mesecina (mesecok/mesecuk- dijalekt)
12. River – patisholi – reka/POTOK/patok
13. Gold – sue- zlato (verojatno nivnoto S se cita kako nase Z)
14. Root – iznos – koren/IZNOS (vo matematika)
15. Flower – gamburi . cvekje /Gamburi (vid na cveke sto se narekuva vo Makedonija)
16. Rice – grinzh- oriz (rinc-na dijalekt)
17. Garlic – weshnu- luk/veshnja luk (dijalektno za poveke lukcinja vo topce)
18. Onion – kachenduk –kromid /kromidluk e na dijalekt
19. Tomato – patingel- patligjan (nikade na Balkan nikoj osven Makedoncite go nema zborot PATLIGJAN)
20. Chicken – kakawak- kokoshka
21. Man- much-maz/mUz
22. Woman-istizha-zena
23. Father- dada- tatko /dedo
24. Mother – aya- majka (AJ go nema vo Grckiot)
25. Sister – baba- sestra /BABA e sosema isto kaj nas no znaci drugo
26. New – noa- novO/a
27. Wet – grila- mokro/mokrila (G vo K—zvucno gubenje)
28. Dry – shushta –suvo/susha /SUSHTA e dijalekt
29. Long – driga –DOLGA
30. Hot – tapala- TOPLO (NOONE on the Balkan says TOPLO only the Macedonians)
31. Three- tre- tri
32. Four – chao- Cetiri
33. Five-poin- pet
34. Six –sho- shest
35. one-hundred – shor- sto (h pred vokal ne se cita, r na kraj se gubi)
36. what-kia- koe
37. where- kawa- kade
38. when-kayo-koga
39. broken-chhina-SKINA (ne skrseno no skinato) (edit:skinna = 'rip' - think 'to skin' something)
40. all –sao- SE
41. drink- pi- pie (PIj postoi i vo Makedonskiot i e imperativ, PI e dijaletkna skratena forma vo koja pri izgovor J ne se ni slusa)Leave a comment:
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There are 3 reasons for this.Originally posted by Coolski View Post
The first is that both Macedonian and Persian are Indo-European languages, whereas Turkish is an Altaic (or Ural-Altaic) langauge. So they come from completely different language families.
The second is that Macedonian and Persian are classified as Slavic (< Balto-Slavic) and Iranian (< Indo-Iranian) languages respectively, and of all the sub-groups of the Indo-European family of languages, these two share the most similarities with each other as compared to the rest. This means that at some point very early on when Indo-European languages began to fragment, they very likely formed a common (albeit loose) group which subsequently began to fragment even further.
The third reason is that when Proto Slavic began to develop from Balto-Slavic, it was influenced to some degree by Iranian languages which were spoken by certain tribes of Scythia and further east. Some of these tribes may be the Alanic ancestors of the modern Ossetians.Leave a comment:
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When i see the words written down I can see similarities with modern Macedonian. When they speak their language, the phonetics seem to be a mix of Turkish and Persian sounds and intonations, especially Persian. Just a surface comment.
By the way modern Macedonian has a looot of common words with modern Persian that are not shared with Turkish. A Persian friend of mine has been writing them down in a book as we've stumbled across them. Does anyone know of any published material that already shows these links?Last edited by Coolski; 05-16-2012, 01:39 AM.Leave a comment:
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They have their doubts that they are descended from the greeks.They regard themselves as macedonians.
The greeks have been very busy building schools etc & telling them they are greek.The greeks forgot what their name means .Kalesh in macedonian means darkskinned, swarthy.That's exactly what the description of the kalash people are.Kalash in macedonian is kalesh.This is an example of where the greeks have been proven wrong that the macedonian people didn't have their own language.The macedonian people supposedly only spoke greek.The truth is amazing & the kalash people have been isolated for 2300 years.They preserved their culture & they know ancient macedonian words passed on to them from the alexander the great macedonian generals..Leave a comment:
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further examples of the similarities of Macedonia and the Kalash & Hunza tribes
Leave a comment:
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Under threat: Conversions threatening Pakistan’s ‘Macedonian’ tribe
Under threat: Conversions threatening Pakistan’s ‘Macedonian’ tribe
BUMBURET VALLEY: Nestled among the valleys of Pakistan’s mountainous northwest, a tiny religious community that claims descent from Alexander the Great’s army is under increasing pressure from radicals bent on converting them to Islam.
The Kalash, who number just about 3,500, are spread over three valleys along the border with Afghanistan. For centuries they practiced polytheism and animal sacrifice without interference from the Muslim majority.
But now they are under increasing danger from proselytising Muslim militants just across the border, and a hard line interpretation of Islam creeping through mainstream society – as it was discovered.
After falling unconscious during a car accident, a mid-20s member of the paramilitary Chitral Scouts woke to find that people with him had converted him to Islam.
“Some of the Muslim people here try to influence the Kalash or encourage them by reading certain verses to them from the Quran,” said his mother, Shingerai Bibi.
“The men that were with him read verses of the Quran and then when he woke up they said to him, ‘You are a convert now’. So he converted.”
The conversion was a shock for his family. But they were lucky compared with other religious minorities under threat from growing religious conservatism that is destabilising the country.
In May 2010, more than 80 Ahmadis were killed in attacks on two mosques in Lahore.
Then in March this year, Shahbaz Bhatti, the Christian minorities’ minister whose job it was to protect groups like the Kalash, was assassinated outside his home in the capital city in an attack claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Smooth coexistence
The lush green Kalash valleys have been a magnet for tourists, both for the scenery and for the people, who are indigenous to the area.
Most are fair and with light eyes, which they say proves their descent from the army of Alexander of Macedonia that passed through the area in the 4th century BC to invade India. The community brews its own wine and women are not veiled.
But the smooth co-existence between the Kalash and Muslims has been fading in recent months and the area is suffering from many of the religious tensions marring the rest of Pakistan.
The conversions are causing splits among the Kalash – converts become outcasts overnight, described by many as ‘dead to their families’.
“When a Kalash converts we don’t live with them in our houses anymore,” said farmer Asil Khan, sitting on a neighbour’s balcony.
“Our festivals and our culture are different. They can’t take part in the festivals or the way we live.”
Some in the area are so concerned that they believe segregation is the only way to protect the Kalash.
“We should move the Muslims out of the valley to make more room for the Kalash,” said Shohor Gul, a Kalash member who lives in Rumbur valley.
The subject of Kalash festivals is raised often in these narrow valleys, where carefully cultivated corn crops cover what flat land exists, and the Kalash community’s distinctive wooden houses terrace the valley walls.
Held to usher in seasonal change or to pray for a good harvest, Kalash festivals include hypnotic dancing and animal sacrifice, fuelled by the grape wine with which the Kalash lace their gatherings.
Converts to Islam say, though, that these rituals quicken the decision to leave the Kalash.
“The main thing wrong in the Kalash culture are these festivals,” said 29-year-old convert Rehmat Zar. “When someone dies the body is kept in that house for three days. Muslims usually bury people the day they die.”
Zar added of the Kalash: “They slaughter up to a hundred goats and the family are mourning – but those around them are celebrating, beating drums, drinking wine and dancing. Why are they celebrating this? That’s wrong.”
Not all Muslims
Not all of the area’s Muslims feel this way. Qari Barhatullah is the Imam at the Jami Mosque in Bumburey Valley’s Shikanandeh village.
He stresses that many of the valley’s Muslims value the Kalash’s contributions to the area’s tourism industry and contends that Kalash festivals run parallel to their own.
He admits though that there is tension between the two communities. Unveiled Kalash girls in colourful homemade skirts and head-dresses grow up alongside Muslim women covered by the all-enveloping burqas.
The Kalash girls are also free to marry who they chose, in a country where arranged marriages are common.
“We do support the Kalash – Islam teaches us respect for other religions – but there are people here, maybe they are not as educated – who don’t like the Kalash because of their religion,” Barhatullah said.
Akram Hussain oversees the Kalasha Dur, a cultural centre devoted to promoting and protecting the Kalash culture, a stunning structure of elegantly crafted carved wooden beams and stone where Kalash children are educated. It also houses a library, clinic and museum, which are open to both the Kalash and Muslim communities.
“Some of the Muslims here don’t want to educate the Kalash people. They don’t want us to have an education,” he said.
Without more schools that cater exclusively to the Kalash, though, Hussain worries his community and culture will disappear.
“There are few Kalash teachers and there aren’t schools for older children, so they go to the secondary schools and learn about Islam. The Muslim teachers are brainwashing them. They tell the children that Islam is the only right way and that we are going to hell,” he said.
A provincial spokesman said the regional government is funding development projects for the Kalash and that Pakistan was committed to protecting their unique heritage.
“We have set aside Rs15 million over three years for projects such as improving roads, water supply systems and community centres,” said Ahmad Hassan. “Whatever the Kalash say they need.”
Others in the Kalash valleys say development should cease and insist, the adoption of Islam should continue, despite the impact on the Kalash culture. Zar, the Kalash convert, says his eventual aim is to convert his entire community to Islam.
“I’m trying my best to convert many of the Kalash myself. I’m trying to convert as many as I can,” he said.
“The people who are trying to preserve the Kalash culture are doing wrong. They are committing a mistake. The Kalash should convert to Islam because this is the real, and last, religion”.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2011.
Over-emphasis of weaknesses to have opposite effect, NATO and EU remain priorities, Gruevski.
Skopje, 17 October 2011 (MIA) - The new tactic by certain individuals or a section of the international community to exert pressure on Macedonia over the name issue by claiming we are not doing many reforms and by over-emphasizing weaknesses is wrong, will not yield results and provide an opposite effect. This issue is not settled by force and by putting the entire pressure on one side only. However, we remain on the same priorities of NATO and EU accession and the reform path, which represent our strategic interest. Even if reforms do not give the expected results pertaining to our NATO and EU approximation, they are good for the country and improvement of the citizens' lives, says Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in an interview with MIA.
Following is the first part of the interview, with the second one to be released on Tuesday.
Are you satisfied from the EC Progress Report for Macedonia?
Macedonia implemented numerous reforms and achieved great progress in the past year. We worked hard and with commitment. As a result, the country deservedly obtained a positive EU report, along with a confirmation of the recommendation for start of accession talks. We have received a positive report and a recommendation for three years now, which represents a great success for the citizens, institutions and all political parties. Another benefit is that noted remarks and weaknesses will produce ideas for new reforms and improvements, thus moving the country forward.
However, it seems that statements by Commissioner Stefan Fule were unusually harsh for the Government, something to which you also reacted with sharp rhetoric. Why has this happened?
It is owing to the new tactic by certain individuals or a section of the international community to exert pressure on Macedonia over the name issue. They believe that if the Government or I accept some of the Greek variants for the name settlement, then the name problem will be resolved, meaning our support will result in a successful referendum. This is a big mistake and by claiming we are not doing much reforms and over-emphasizing weaknesses, we are supposed to be put into an unpleasant situation. We are to be devalued before the public, to which this Government, but also future ones, should respond by accepting a solution at any price. I was aware of this tactic; it is not important who thought of it, whether individuals in Brussels or beyond, but we are seeing its implementation. Although I personally believe this tactic will provide an opposite effect. After a year or two, when we see the fiasco of this tactic, the two countries will be farther from a solution than now. This issue is not settled by force and by putting the entire pressure on one side only, while the other is almost pressure-free.
Therefore, we should expect such over-emphasis of weaknesses from a number of sides in the future?
Yes, from many sides. International NGOs, associations, institutions, politicians, experts, certain media. The methods are well-known and no one will be surprised. The objective is clear - pressure for settlement of the name row at any price.
Are you saying that Macedonia has no shortcomings in the judiciary, public administration, freedom of media, corruption etc?
No, on the contrary, of course there are weaknesses and need for improvements and fresh reforms, whereas each suggestion in this direction is always welcome. We do not see through pink sunglasses. There are problems; there are old problems and practices. However, it is a fact that we are working hard to improve them and we will continue to do this. In this case there is over-emphasizing of those weaknesses, which is done on purpose. This can be seen through the fact that during the meetings we have had with certain international representatives, 90 percent of the time is spent on debates over the name issue, while 10 on other topics, including the aforementioned reforms. And when they emerge at a press conference or when a press release is issued, the situation is quite different - it seems as if we have mentioned the name issue by chance, but we had talked about the public administration, the judiciary etc for 90 percent of the time.
Maybe this can serve as motivation for the Government to work harder?
The feeling of injustice cannot serve as a motivating factor with anyone. It can only create frustrations, which redirect energy. I will try to keep this energy on the right track, the one of reforms, but it will not be easy. Frustrations resulting from the feeling of injustice will surely produce certain effects that are hard to foresee. If I ask my associates to work together with me for 15 hours a day, and if this work produces results, while someone from the outside, who is supposed to give a real and fair assessment, tells you that you do not work and have no results, it hurts.
Still, you remain on the same priorities of joining EU and NATO and the path of reforms, or is there a change in this regard?
Yes. We remain on the same priorities to join EU and NATO, as well as the path of reforms, which are in the country's strategic interest. Even if reforms do not give the expected results pertaining to our NATO and E approximation, they are good for the country and improvement of the citizens' lives.
You say these developments will only cause frustration rather than motivation. If this is so, won't this have a discouraging effect?
Of course it will, but we will fight. We are working for the citizens, for those who gave us their trust and all others. This is the strength that holds us together, the thing that gives us motives to keep going. I am aware there is no justice in international politics, even less ideal justice, and we are not a bit naive or romantic in our expectations. But it is a fact that Macedonia has coped with injustice for the past 20 years. This is a historic burden, but we are obliged to change this, to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, and when we believe in true principles and values to stand firm say loud and clear 'we believe in this', and not to be silent and to wait timidly for someone to tell us what to do and how to act. Sometimes I have the feeling that certain centers of power, in whose values we believe, see our country as a child that was not planned, but came to be. Therefore, they do not feel completely obligated towards it as they should for a planned and wanted child. In time, when generations change, this will disappear. This was even more emphasized in the 1990s. These children are usually forced to fight on their own and life makes them mature earlier. Each pain produces certain benefit for the one who does the right thing.
Would you comment in the same spirit the public perception that many things that Macedonia has successfully completed are either not included in the final report or are changed into a negative form.
It is obvious that the intention was for Macedonia to get a lower grade, so that it is highly criticized and told that the recommendation would be retracted next year.
Still, Commissioner Fule did not say this will happen, but referred to its possibility.
Commissioner Fule is an experienced diplomat and he will never say this directly. However, we have also learned to read messages told by the language of diplomacy.
Are you saying that the threat will be realized and Macedonia will receive a negative report next year, regardless of its accomplishments?
If the name problem is resolved, this is highly certain, regardless of the reforms we implement. This is the message we need to understand. And we have.
Why would they do this to us?
It is easier to punish and show muscles to the weak one. They toady up to Greece, European governments fall because of Greece, and when they cannot force Greece, certain factors show us how powerful they are. I would not like to be misunderstood, that someone should have a political benefit from the crisis effects, but at least fairness and balanced approach should not be forgotten. Ultimately, we all have our own dignity and we all believe in the ideals of freedom, justice and equality.
Why are you saying they are toadying up to Greece?
There are several reasons. One of them is the fact that Greece is an EU member. Internal EU relations are regulated in a way that each country can complicate the situation for any other state. The right of veto, i.e. the consensus system enables this for many decisions. Greece has demonstrated it knows how to create problems if motivated for this. No one wants to criticize an EU member, even if it sees there is serious injustice and lack of principles towards an outside member. One ambassador of an older EU member-state depicted the EU internal relations with the phrase 'Turkish market', where everyone negotiates and one depends from the other. The second reason is that Greece, being an older and more powerful country, has a much stronger lobby.
But Greece has never been in a more sorry state than now. It kneels before its Union partners waiting for salvation.
I would say that as much as Greece is interested in saving from the crisis, the other member-states are interested too, if not more, since the financial failure of Greece will bring other Union members in the same situation. This might result in the end of the Euro and many powerful banks in the most powerful countries. This is why the international community is pretty careful with Greece regarding the name issue and the resulting blockade. They do not want to exert additional pressure to the already boiling situation in Greece, which can lead to toppling of the government, something that no one in the EU wants.
Has Alexandra Cas Granje - director for accession candidates at the European Commission's Enlargement Directorate General - provided you with some kind of explanation involving the statement by EU Commissioner Fule while handing over the report.
She told me that she didn't listen to the statement, but that she was assuming the statement was given as a sign of frustration that the name issue cannot be solved for a long time. This was a proof for me that the issue of over-emphasizing criticisms surrounding the reforms implemented in several areas is in fact due to the lack of a name row settlement. There were at least ten people in the room when she said it. Before her, many others have told me the same in informal or semi-formal meetings.
Are you condemning this?
I understand them up to a point. The European Commission is tackling an unpleasant situation. In 2009, the Commission, regardless of everything, in an honest manner recommended a start for negotiations, despite expecting problems. But, three years in a row its recommendation is ignored by the Council of EU in a bid to avoid a scandal involving a veto by Greece. This creates an unpleasant situation in the European Commission. Its officials want to find a solution. One of the solutions is to pinpoint us as being incapable and to revoke the recommendation in order to improve their own comfort. To achieve this, this year they need to lower Macedonia's assessment - despite being positive - and to pave the way for next year. They are able to do this, even though it is unfair, lacking basic principles and will only yield an unfavourable effect and bad message. In addition to this, it also somehow ruins the picture presented amongst citizens about the EU, about its principles, objectivity and fairness. On the other hand, we - the politicians - should explain to the citizens that we are moving towards a just community.
They are facing another problem - now they need to promote new countries with which negotiations should be launched and this is a good step. However, they should explain why accession talks are not being launched with Macedonia. Their justification should not be solely related to a lack of name solution, because if the name issue is the only obstacle, then the EC is in an unpleasant situation in many regards.
Probably all of this is helping the opposition?
Yes, however the opposition cannot be saved by this circumstance. Opposition members hope that with the old insincere strategy and team, old leadership, their victory will be secured by someone else. This will not happen. The opposition must understand that this is an issue of national interest. It is high time to rise above daily bickering over political affairs.Leave a comment:
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that has been a danger of them converting to islam as they had a spirutial leader who was a muslim.Even the greeks sent a teacher & missionaries to cnvert the kalash by teaching them greek & telling them they were greek But they knew that alexander was not greek & was a macedonian.Leave a comment:
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Dimko
Very interesting!
There is also an article on REUTERS - probably the same one!Leave a comment:
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Under threat: Conversions threatening Pakistan’s ‘Macedonian’ tribe
BUMBURET VALLEY: Nestled among the valleys of Pakistan’s mountainous northwest, a tiny religious community that claims descent from Alexander the Great’s army is under increasing pressure from radicals bent on converting them to Islam.
The Kalash, who number just about 3,500, are spread over three valleys along the border with Afghanistan. For centuries they practiced polytheism and animal sacrifice without interference from the Muslim majority.
But now they are under increasing danger from proselytising Muslim militants just across the border, and a hard line interpretation of Islam creeping through mainstream society – as it was discovered.
After falling unconscious during a car accident, a mid-20s member of the paramilitary Chitral Scouts woke to find that people with him had converted him to Islam.
“Some of the Muslim people here try to influence the Kalash or encourage them by reading certain verses to them from the Quran,” said his mother, Shingerai Bibi.
“The men that were with him read verses of the Quran and then when he woke up they said to him, ‘You are a convert now’. So he converted.”
The conversion was a shock for his family. But they were lucky compared with other religious minorities under threat from growing religious conservatism that is destabilising the country.
In May 2010, more than 80 Ahmadis were killed in attacks on two mosques in Lahore.
Then in March this year, Shahbaz Bhatti, the Christian minorities’ minister whose job it was to protect groups like the Kalash, was assassinated outside his home in the capital city in an attack claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Smooth coexistence
The lush green Kalash valleys have been a magnet for tourists, both for the scenery and for the people, who are indigenous to the area.
Most are fair and with light eyes, which they say proves their descent from the army of Alexander of Macedonia that passed through the area in the 4th century BC to invade India. The community brews its own wine and women are not veiled.
But the smooth co-existence between the Kalash and Muslims has been fading in recent months and the area is suffering from many of the religious tensions marring the rest of Pakistan.
The conversions are causing splits among the Kalash – converts become outcasts overnight, described by many as ‘dead to their families’.
“When a Kalash converts we don’t live with them in our houses anymore,” said farmer Asil Khan, sitting on a neighbour’s balcony.
“Our festivals and our culture are different. They can’t take part in the festivals or the way we live.”
Some in the area are so concerned that they believe segregation is the only way to protect the Kalash.
“We should move the Muslims out of the valley to make more room for the Kalash,” said Shohor Gul, a Kalash member who lives in Rumbur valley.
The subject of Kalash festivals is raised often in these narrow valleys, where carefully cultivated corn crops cover what flat land exists, and the Kalash community’s distinctive wooden houses terrace the valley walls.
Held to usher in seasonal change or to pray for a good harvest, Kalash festivals include hypnotic dancing and animal sacrifice, fuelled by the grape wine with which the Kalash lace their gatherings.
Converts to Islam say, though, that these rituals quicken the decision to leave the Kalash.
“The main thing wrong in the Kalash culture are these festivals,” said 29-year-old convert Rehmat Zar. “When someone dies the body is kept in that house for three days. Muslims usually bury people the day they die.”
Zar added of the Kalash: “They slaughter up to a hundred goats and the family are mourning – but those around them are celebrating, beating drums, drinking wine and dancing. Why are they celebrating this? That’s wrong.”
Not all Muslims
Not all of the area’s Muslims feel this way. Qari Barhatullah is the Imam at the Jami Mosque in Bumburey Valley’s Shikanandeh village.
He stresses that many of the valley’s Muslims value the Kalash’s contributions to the area’s tourism industry and contends that Kalash festivals run parallel to their own.
He admits though that there is tension between the two communities. Unveiled Kalash girls in colourful homemade skirts and head-dresses grow up alongside Muslim women covered by the all-enveloping burqas.
The Kalash girls are also free to marry who they chose, in a country where arranged marriages are common.
“We do support the Kalash – Islam teaches us respect for other religions – but there are people here, maybe they are not as educated – who don’t like the Kalash because of their religion,” Barhatullah said.
Akram Hussain oversees the Kalasha Dur, a cultural centre devoted to promoting and protecting the Kalash culture, a stunning structure of elegantly crafted carved wooden beams and stone where Kalash children are educated. It also houses a library, clinic and museum, which are open to both the Kalash and Muslim communities.
“Some of the Muslims here don’t want to educate the Kalash people. They don’t want us to have an education,” he said.
Without more schools that cater exclusively to the Kalash, though, Hussain worries his community and culture will disappear.
“There are few Kalash teachers and there aren’t schools for older children, so they go to the secondary schools and learn about Islam. The Muslim teachers are brainwashing them. They tell the children that Islam is the only right way and that we are going to hell,” he said.
A provincial spokesman said the regional government is funding development projects for the Kalash and that Pakistan was committed to protecting their unique heritage.
“We have set aside Rs15 million over three years for projects such as improving roads, water supply systems and community centres,” said Ahmad Hassan. “Whatever the Kalash say they need.”
Others in the Kalash valleys say development should cease and insist, the adoption of Islam should continue, despite the impact on the Kalash culture. Zar, the Kalash convert, says his eventual aim is to convert his entire community to Islam.
“I’m trying my best to convert many of the Kalash myself. I’m trying to convert as many as I can,” he said.
“The people who are trying to preserve the Kalash culture are doing wrong. They are committing a mistake. The Kalash should convert to Islam because this is the real, and last, religion”.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2011.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/278333/u...edonian-tribe/
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