Dard-Shins of Trans-Himalayas: A Socio-Cultural Study
Author: Zahid Hussain Khan, zahidhk99@gmail.com
Department: History
University: University of Punjab, India
Supervisor: Dr. Priyatosh Sharma
Year of completion: In progress
Language of dissertation: ENGLISH
Keywords:
Socio-Cultural
, Dard-Shins
, Nurbakhshia
, Himalayas
Areas of Research:
Historical and Comparative Sociology
Abstract
The northern Himalayan region of India in Ladakh is inhabited by various linguistic and religious groups. Among these ethnic communities, the “Dard-Shin”, designated as a schedule tribe, reside in this region sandwiched between the disputed borders of India and Pakistan. They are associated with the Dardic languages, a subgroup of the Indo-Aryan languages. Presently, the community is recognized by its distinct cultural practices and the historical narratives that have been primarily passed down through oral tradition. The community has undergone drastic transformation from pre-modern times onwards. This transformation occured in mainly two different aspects: the physical aspect and the cultural aspect. The physical aspect is the ecological transformation, their relationship with the environment. The second is the cultural transformation, the socio-religious changes over the period of time. This transformation needs to be examined in temporal as well as in spatial context. Most of the previous research has focussed on other baltis and bhoti ethnic community but research on shina community is scant at this time. The neglect is due to the representation of Ladakh on the basis of religion in most studies, as other ethnic identities are overshadowed. They are a designated tribe under colloquia term “brokpa” which means “people of hills”. How has the community been represented in historical sources? How have agricultural and technological changes effected their lifestyle? By examining the historical context we will study the process of their transformation into contemporary times. This study further helps us to understand the tensions between tradition and progress; transformation of identities in a region which has been located on frontiers and margins of empires and states. Also by examining the Shina community's traditional ecological knowledge, their relationship with environment, this paper offers valuable insights in understanding indigenous communities and the natural world.
