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Hunza is the northern part of a region known as the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It comprises an area of 3,900 mi² (10,101 km²) and borders China. The famous Karakoram Highway crosses Hunza, connecting it to China via the Khunjerab Pass.
Hunza has three parts, not divided administratively but ethnically: Gojal, mainly populated with Wakhi speakers; Central, with Brushaski speaking people and Shinaki, the Shina speaking people. Actually Brushaski is understood through out Hunza. Until 1974 Hunza was a princely state with its capital situated at Baltit (also known as Karimabad). It is now ruled directly from Islamabad through the administration based in Gilgit, the regional capital of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Hunza was an independent principality for 900 years. This is a missbelief that Hunza was under the rule of Maharaja's of Kashmir. Till 1889 the British failed to gain control over Hunza and the neighbouring valley of Nagar. However in 1892 after a decisive fight against the Mirs of both of the valleys, they succeed to enter into Hunza. At the moment the king of Hunza escaped to China. British kept its status of pricipality until 1947. According to Habib R. Sulemani, the people of Hunza and Gojal were ruled by a local Mir for more than 950 years, which came to an end in 1974.
The people of Hunza are called 'Hunzukuts', while Burusho is the term used for only Brushaski speaking people. The majority of the people are Ismaili, a sect in Shia Islam. They are followers of The Aga Khan. The Aga Khan-IV has put a lot of funding into the area to help with agriculture and the local economy. While Burushaski is the main languages spoken in Hunza, there are three other Languages spoken by small number of people, which are Wakhi, Shina, and Domaski. Domaski is going out of date, as the youngers of Domaski families prefer to speak Brushaski.
References
- Lorimer, D.L.R. 1981. Folk Tales of Hunza. Institute of Folk Heritage, Islamabad.
- Leitner, G. W. 1890. Dardistan in 1866, 1886 and 1893: Being An Account of the History, Religions, Customs, Legends, Fables and Songs of Gilgit, Chilas, Kandia (Gabrial) Yasin, Chitral, Hunza, Nagyr and other parts of the Hindukush, as also a supplement to the second edition of The Hunza and Nagyr Handbook. And An Epitome of Part III of the author's “The Languages and Races of Dardistan. First Reprint 1978. Manjusri Publishing House, New Delhi.
- Drew, Frederic. Date unknown. The Northern Barrier of India: a popular account of the Jammoo and Kashmir Territories with Illustrations. Reprint: Light & Life Publishers, Jammu. 1971.
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