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History
Isolated remains of Homo Erectus in has
been found indicating
that Pakistan might
have been inhabited
since atleast the
Middle Pleistocene
era. The precise date
of these remains is
unclear, and archaeologists
put it anywhere between
200,000 to 500,000
BCE. The fossils are
the earliest human
remains found in South
Asia. More than 60%
of Pakistanis have
their mtDNA maternal
roots in South Asian
specific branches
of haplogroup
'M'. Because of its
great time depth and
virtual absence in
western Eurasians,
it has been suggested
that haplogroup M
was brought to Asia
after their evolution
in Africa, along the
southern route, by
the earliest migration
wave of anatomically
modern humans, Homo
Sapiens, nearly 60,000
years ago
The original inhabitants of Pakistan
may have been the
tribals speaking languages
related to Munda family
of languages. Pakistan
was the site of the
world's oldest 8,000
year old civilisation
at Mehrgarh
in the Balochistan
province. The Mehrgarh
declined about the
same time as the Indus
Valley Civilization
only 200 Kilometers
south east was developing.
It has been surmised
that the Mehrgarh
residents moved to
fertile Indus River
valley as Balochistan
became arid over time.
The neolithic culture is indicated by
the discovery of ground
and polished stone
axes, hoes, pestle,
and bone implements
at the well-known
menhir-site of Burzahom,
ten miles east of
, Srinagar.
Burazahoma is famous
as one of the only
two megalithic sites
in the extreme north-west
of Pakistan.
We do not exactly
know the cultural
horizon of the Burazahoma
megalithic, nor the
Purpose for which
they were erected,
but the indications
are, they were put
in places towards
the end of the neolithic
period at that site,
between 3000 BCE.
The original inhabitants
of ancient Kashmir,
and rest of ancient
Pakistan,
were the aborigine
tribes speaking languages
related to Munda languages.
The Tibetan tribes
migrated to the Ladakh
region of Kashmir.
The Dravidians invaded
from the Iranian plateau
and settled in the
Indus valley around
4000 BCE. The Dravidian
culture blossomed
over the centuries
and gave rise to the
Indus Valley Civilization
of Pakistan around
3000 BCE. The main
site of the Indus
Valley Civilization
in Punjab was the
city of Harappa.
The Indus
Valley Civilization
spanned much of what
is today Pakistan,
but suddenly went
into decline just
prior to the invasion
of Indo-European Aryan
tribes from the Eastern
Europe. A branch of
these tribes called
the Indo-Aryans are
believed to have founded
the Vedic Civilization
that have existed
between Sarasvati
River and Ganges river
around 1500 BCE and
also infuenced the
Indus Valley Civilization.
This civilization
helped shape subsequent
cultures in South
Asia. Due to its location,
the Kashmir region
came under constant
attack and influence
from the west. Influenced
by Uighurs, Tibetans,
Persians, Greeks,
Mauryans, Kushans,
Arabs, Turks, Afghans,
and Sikhs, Kashmir
has developed a unique
culture that combined
that of significant
Middle Eastern and
Central Asian influences
even prior to the
coming of
Islam.
The ancient name of Kashmir was 'Kashyapa'.
The Kashmiris were
in ancient times were
foloowed tribal religions
then Hinduism was
arrived from India
and later replaced
by Buddhism. The Kashmiris
were predominantly
Buddhist and were
in the process of
coming under the influence
of Hinduism when Muslim
missionaries, Sayed
Sharafuddin Bulbul
Shah from Turkey and
Shah Mir from Iran
arrived in Kashmir.
These Muslim missionaries
converted thousands
of Kashmiris including
the Kashmir's Buddhist
King Rinchan to Islam.
After converting to
Islam King Rinchan
ruled as Sultan Malik
Sadruddin in 1330
CE. After the death
Sultan Malik Sadruddin,
Shah Mir ascended
the throne under the
name of Sultan Shamas-ud-din,
and his dynasty ruled
the Kashmir for 222
years. The majority
of Kashmiri population
converted to Islam
during the rule of
this Muslim dynasty..
The Muslim technocrats,
bureaucrats, soldiers,
traders, scientists,
architects, teachers,
theologians and sufis
flocked from the rest
of the Muslim world
to Islamic Sultanate
and settled in Kashmir.
Emperor Akbar conquered
Kashmir and the Mughals
ruled from 1587 to
1752. The Afghanistan's
ruler Sultan Ahmad
Shah Durrani conquered
Kashmir in 1752 and
Afghans ruled until
1819. The Sikh invaded
and conquered Kashmir
in1819 and started
reign of terror in
Kashmir.
The British defeated the Sikhs in 1846
and 'sold' Kashmir
province to a Hindu
Dogra chieftain for
7.5 million rupees,
nearly $160. The Hindu
Dogra rulers persecuted
the Muslim majority
and promoted Hinduism
and a large number
Hindu migrants settled
in the Jammu region.
Athe time of independence,
the Muslim majority
of Kashmir wanted
to join Pakistan in
1947 but the Hindu
Dogra ruler instead
signed to join Hindu
India. This action
led to invasion and
occupation of Kashmir
by the Indian army.
The Pakistan's volunteers
joined the Kashmiri
Muslim armed resistence
and liberataed nearly
quater of Kashmir
from Indian occupation.
The UN Security Council
resolution on April
21, 1948 demanded
that the Kashmiri
people should decide
their own future in
a democratic referendum.
The India has refused
to allow the referendum
to take place since
the Muslim population
of Kashmir will vote
to join Pakistan.
Geography
Kashmir province is bordered by China
in the north, India in the
east, Punjab
and Sarhad
provinces in the south.
The Kashmir province is
divided into four main regions
Jammu, Ladakh, Kashmir Valley
and the Northern areas.
The total area of Kashmir
is 222,236 km².
Demography and Society
The population of province of Kashmir
is nearly 11 million in
2005. The ethnic groups
of Kashmir are: Kashmiris,
Dards, Ladakhis, Dogras,
Hanjis, Gujjars, Hunzas,
etc. Nearly 90% of the population
is Muslim, approximately
7% Hindu and 2% Buddhists.
Districts
Anantnag
Astore
Baramulla
Budgam
Diamer
Doda
Ganche
Ghizer
Gilgit
Hunza
Jammu
Kargil
Kathua
Kupwara
Leh
Muzaffarabad
Poonch
Pulwama
Rajauri Garden
Skardu
Srinagar
Udhampur
Page last updated:
Thursday, February 02, 2006 06:17:54 PM -0500
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