By Alamgir Khan
Friday, 13 December 2013
The Story of A Photo
By Alamgir Khan
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Elum on Fire
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Swat Not Switzerland
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Attitude of the people towards Buddhist Archeological Remainsin Swat Valley
My knowledge and understanding of Buddha and Buddhism has its bases in the discussions my father had with my younger brothers and me when I was six or seven years of age. We would go with our father for evening walk daily. On the way we would see two carved Buddha’s on a rock beside the road. They were about two feet in size. That is the first ever impression of Buddha in my memory. On another occasion my father took us to visit the Buddhist remains at Gulkada. My father would tell us what these structures were and who was Buddha.
I still remember how much I liked those two small carved Buddha’s on the rock and the patterns made of stones on the Stupas at Gulkada. I showed them to my friends with great excitement. I wanted to know more about them. I liked the walls made of stones with beautiful and unique designs. I wanted to express in words what I felt about these unusual structures. I wanted to analyze and criticize them like experts do on TV. But I had no solid notion of what they really were about; it was rather their form that fascinated me most.
Unfortunately I couldn’t give much thought to them because I had to give most of my time to my school studies and I had no subjects related to cultural or historical heritage there. With the passage of time newer and newer subjects were occupying my mind. Still I read a few books on Buddha and sometimes getting a chance to visit some other Buddhist remains in Swat Valley.
As a result of these intermittent studies and tours I came to realize certain ideas about the condition of Buddhist remains in the valley and the attitude of the People and state departments towards them.
Most of the Buddhist sites in Swat Valley are not fully excavated yet. Though work on them was started during the State era about 1950. After their discovery in that time they are left unguarded. There are no boundary walls or fences round them. At most one watchman is appointed for their safety. But one watchman is not sufficient care to save them.
They are not safe from persons involved in the antiques- business. They search these sites for coins, pots and other remains. What is unearthed is further sold to other business men at national and international level. So a lot of evidences that may have been helpful in understanding and unlocking the mystery of these remains and compiling the authentic history of those ancient people are going into illegal hands and scattered places around the world.
Moreover no serious excavation efforts have been seen during the last forty years or so after merger of Swat state with Pakistan. I have seen several partially unearthed sites in the valley but I have neither read about them anywhere nor heard their names in documentaries on ancient remains. So they are in even more danger of being defaced as people may think they are not recorded in the lists of the authorities concerned.
Along with the structural preservation of these remains what is of more importance and urgency to me is shaping the attitude of the common people towards them.
At present the common man of these areas does not have a friendly and tolerant understanding of what all these remains and monuments are about. They have got the wrong notion from somewhere that these strange or odd structures represent idolatry. They name them as Butkhana and "da kafiro korona" meaning infidels-houses. And so they think it as their religious duty to demolish them.
Thus beside illegal diggers this attitude of the people is posing greater threat to the safety of these remains.It is often heard that Mr. so and so has found idols, statues, while constructing his house and has then destroyed them. There are innumerable instances of such acts throughout Gandhara region.
The need is that the common man should be made realize that these are not mere idols but sacred religious monuments of the people of that faith. And that they must give protection and honor to them as they desire for their own religious monuments elsewhere in the world.This shift in people’s attitude if brought about will hopefully be more beneficial than the safety measures taken by the archaeology department.
Things were going in the right direction though when Swat was still a state. “The taking out of the state any antiquities of ancient Buddhist sculptures is strictly forbidden”, writes Mr.George Getley in his book, SWAT-Switzerland of the East published about 1960. And a museum had been established by the ruler of the state for these remains.
The question is that how to bring this change. The answer is through Teachers and Parents. These two are the forces having great influence on the minds of the common man. In my own case I have a tolerant view of the Buddhist remains just because of what my father told me about them. And if supported by Media the results may be more rapid and lasting.
To preserve these ancient remains and promote interfaith harmony the governments of the countries having Buddhist followers in the majority should play a more active role in negotiating this matter with the government of Pakistan and other non government actors. This will be a great contribution to world peace and international understanding.
Forts of Swat State Era Part I
During the consolidation phase of the State The Ruler of Swat State had to construct Forts at strategic points of the State. These Forts had a simple yet grand and elegant structure. This fort came to be part of the State Emblem.
Most of these beautiful structures have been demolished with different motives. Only one at Ghazikot Buner and the remains of another at Nimogram can still be seen.
Fort at Ghazikot Buner
Photo: Prof. Liaqat Ali
Fort at Lilonai Shangla
Photo: Sir Aurel Stein 1926
Fort Gharai Kalay Manglawar
Friday, 4 January 2013
Natural Swat : Our approach towards nature in our valley
Swat valley no doubt is a land of natural beauty but here we are to discuss what our approach towards nature is and should be in Swat Valley.
Is our way of living here in this valley constructive or destructive towards its natural balance? Are we preserving or destroying nature in this valley? Are we using it to benefit our souls and bodies without harming it or not? Do we replace what we take from it or not? What are the measures we are taking to hand it over to our next generation as our ancestors left it for us? In what practical ways are we to pay our gratitude to the Creator of all these bounties? And do we recognize, acknowledge and follow the role,example and contribution of those who lived before us here in perfect harmony with nature?
We are here to find answers to questions like these and many more.
We are to discuss how nature in this valley can have a positive effect on our souls, bodies and quality of life.
We are to explore and discover the healing effects of the songs of birds, waters and airs of this heavenly valley.
We are here to find ways to live ideally and practically in the mountains, meadows, villages and cities of this valley.
We are to discuss the benefits we can get from the climate, flowers, herbs and shrubs, trees, soil and stones, summers and winters , minerals and other resources to make our lives comfortable and developed while at the same time harmonious with nature of this serene valley.
And we are to discuss how to live in this valley like we live in our own homes.
original date of this piece is 05/01 2002
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Welcome to swatnama
Dear Friends! we are not here to say, 'Swat is a Paradise on Earth' or ' Swat is Switzerland of the East'. We are here to say, 'what are our responsibilities towards this charming valley as it is this valley which is benefiting us with the beauties and bounties bestowed upon the valley by The Creator. Is our way of living here in this valley constructive or destructive of the natural balance of the valley. It is our way of living that makes the valley the once Udyana and then Wadudyana. We are here to discuss how to live in perfect harmony with nature in this valley. What to take from this valley and what to give to it. To know about the Art, history, culture, literature and people of this valley. We are here to be grateful to the creator of this valley for all things created for us and alongside we are here to acknowledge the role of those who have lived here and done things for the people and land of the valley in consonance with nature. We are here to learn from our past how to make and sustain this valley as a real paradise for our coming generations and humanity. Thanks.
original date of writing these lines: 02/01/2002