Nagar (princely state)

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Nagar
Image:Flag not available
Map of Pakistan with Nagar highlighted
Capital Nagar
Area 5,000 km²
Languages Burushaski
Shina
Established  14th century
Abolished 25th September, 1974

Northern Areas Government Website

Nagar(Urdu: ریاست نگر) was a princely state in the northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan, which existed until 1974. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south and west, and the former princely state of Hunza to the north and east. The state capital was the town of Nagar. The area of Nagar now forms two tehsils of Gilgit District. Nagar along with Gilgit and Baltistan is claimed by India as part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

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[edit] History

Nagar was an autonomous principality in close association with neighbouring Hunza. The British gained control of both states 1889 and 1892. The British retained Nagar's status as a 'principality' until 1947 but together with Hunza it was considered a vassal of Kashmir, although never ruled directly by it. The rulers of Nagar sent annual tributes to the Kashmir Durbar until 1947, and along with the ruler of Hunza, were considered amongst the most loyal vassals of the Maharaja of Kashmir.

In 1947, the state acceded to Pakistan, but continued as semi autonomous state. When Ayub Khan's dictatorship ended in Pakistan and the democratic government of the Pakistan Peoples Party under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto came into power through elections it realized the sentiments of the people against the Mir for democracy so the Government freed the prisoners of the movement and dissolved the Mirs of Hunza and Nagar and were merged into the Northern Areas in 1974.[1]

The Hunza valley looking across the river to Nagar
The Hunza valley looking across the river to Nagar
Mount Rakaposhi
Mount Rakaposhi

[edit] Government

The state was governed by the hereditary rulers of the Maghlot dynasty who were styled as Mir and were assisted by a council of Wazirs or Ministers. Details for early rulers are uncertain with the first definite dates available from 1839 CE onwards. The son of the last ruler, Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, was in 2005 Northern Areas deputy chief executive[2].

Reign Mirs of Nagar[3]
Unknown dates Fadl Khan
Unknown dates Daud Khan
Unknown dates Ali Dad Khan (1st time)
Unknown dates Hari Tham Khan
Unknown dates Ali Dad Khan (2nd time)
Unknown dates Kamal Khan
Unknown dates Rahim Khan I
Unknown date - 1839 Rahim Khan II
1839 - 1891 Jafar Zahid Khan (1st time)
1891 - 1892 Raja Azur Khan (acting)
1892 - 1904 Jafar Zahid Khan (2nd time)
1905 - 17th March 1940 Raja Mir Iskandar Khan
17th March 1940 - 25th September 1974 Shaukat Ali Khan (1930-1976)
25th September 1974 State of Nagar dissolved

[edit] Geography

The geography of Nagar was very mountainous difficult terrain which provided a certain degree of protection against invading forces. The highest mountain was the 7,788 m (25,551 ft) Mount Rakaposhi which lay to the south of the town of Nagar.

Today, the famous Karakoram Highway crosses Nagar, connecting Pakistan to China via the Khunjerab Pass. The road follows the Hunza river for some distance through Nagar and into the Hunza region.

[edit] Demographics

The inhabitants of the Nagar valley is around 90,000 (AKRSP Census, 2000). Nagar is home of people of two main ethnicities - the Burushaski speakers and the Shina speakers. The older type of Broshuski is still spoken in this valley with mild modern accent.

[edit] Religion

Although the population was traditionally predominantly Ismaili, there are as well Ismaili and Sunni Muslims in the region. Following sectarian violences in January 2005, the Tanzim Ahle Sunnah wal Jama’at representing Sunnis, and the Central Anjuman-e-Imamia Northern Areas representing (Ismaili) Shias signed on February 18, 2005 a six-point peace agreement arranged by Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) members to ensure peace in the city[4].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Buroshall Say Nagar Tak ka Safar, by Muhammad Ismail Tehseen, Brushal ke Qabail by Syed Yahya Shah,books written in Urdu available in Muncipal library Gilgit
  2. ^ Ibrahim Shahid, Sunni and Shia groups sign peace deal in Gilgit, Daily Times (Pakistan), Sunday February 20, 2005
  3. ^ Ben Cahoon, WorldStatesmen.org. Pakistan Princely States. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
  4. ^ Ibrahim Shahid, Sunni and Shia groups sign peace deal in Gilgit, Daily Times (Pakistan), Sunday February 20, 2005

[edit] Further reading

  • Buroshall say Nagar Tek Ka Safar by Mohammad Ismail Nashad.
  • Rasala Buroshall by Syed Mohammad Yahya Shah.
  • Where the three Empires meet by E.F.Knight /Zafar Hayat Paul

[edit] See also

[edit] External links