Shin of Hindukush

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Shin is a pre-Islamic tribe from the Hindu Kush.

Shin is a tribe spread throughout the Indus Valley in Kohistan, extending as far North as Baltistan. The part of the Indus Valley below Gor to the Afghan border near Ghorband is called Shinkari and its Southernmost part is home to the purest Shin community known. The name Shin-kari still exists in Pakhli, and the Shin-kari family's original home may have been in that valley. The Shins form the majority of the population in Gor, Chilas, Tangir, the Indus Valley below Sazin, and the upper part of the Gilgit Valley above Ponyal.[1]

Pre-Islamic Hindu Shin names

“ Of the Shin names a great number have the suffix of Sing, which is retained in spite of the conversion of the people to Islam. These named are never found among the purely Boorish population of Hunza and Nager, but it is to be noted that the Suffix Sing is found among the earlier Makpon Kings of Iskardo. The suffix is local version of Hindu Surname Singh which coms from Sanskrit word Simha meaning Lion. It is generally used by Rajputs or Kshatriya ruling class.[2] ”

Shin Names Men

Moosing Hubba Sing Ram Sing
Kummosing Gissing Poonyar Sing
MelSing Chumar Sing Singoo
Dem Sing Boonyal Sing Dingoo
Hinnasing Gelsing[3]

Shin Names Women

Sheli Bai Sookoomull Rozi Bai
Shubibi Bibi Shermull
Shoosha Bai Bai[4]

In the world's second coldest place Drass, one can find such names which were used in prehistoric period. This shows that these Dards are the linguistic descendents of regvedic culture. besides, innumerable Sanskrit words are found, such as Bakhuni, shish mukh, achikot, maran, suri, rajju, drusht, jar, jarat, pachak. According the local Dard historians, a band of seven brothers migrated from Dardistan, probably either from Dasu or from Chilas. These Aryan brothers marched towards Deosai Plateau and reached Karkit. By finding there suitable pastures and water resources they decided to settle there. This happened probably in the seventh or eighth century. Today their descendents are found here in the thousands. They had kept their Shina language and culture alive. These seven earlier Dard people were Cholok Lacho, Suko, Sangyun, Khori, Sacho and Prato. Their forefather's name was Ra Thatha Khan, and their father was Suri Pueinlo. So for even today they are called Suri Puinlay.

Festivals

Chili marks commencement of wheat sowing which is similar to wheat sowing celebrations all over the Indian subcontinent with different names like Lohri and Makar Sakranti. Chilli also had years ago a further connection with the worship of the Cedar, now in the main dropped.[5]

Ceder worship is prevalent among all historic Hindu communities of Himalayas from Hindu Kush region to Himachal and Uttarakhand. It is known as Deodar derived from Sanskrit word Devadaru, which means "wood of the gods", a compound of deva (god) and dāru (wood, etym. tree). The Cedar is also sacred in Kafiristan.[6] Like the one described above. The Drassi Dards also celebrate chilli ceremony, lomay, nisalo.

See also

References

  1. ↑ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and NorthWest provinces, compiled by H.A. Rose, vol III Page 405
  2. ↑ Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh John Biddulph Sang e meel Publications Page 99
  3. ↑ Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh John Biddulph Sang e meel Publications Page 99
  4. ↑ Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh John Biddulph Sang e meel Publications Page 99
  5. ↑ The making of a frontier Five years' experiences and adventures in Gilgit By Algernon George Arnold Durand Page 210
  6. ↑ The making of a frontier Five years' experiences and adventures in Gilgit By Algernon George Arnold Durand Page 209
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