Friday 22 April 2016
ART WORKSHOPS By Children Under 12 years oldBUGIANDASSOCIATES In Hollan...
Often children come first.Savings,friendships and leisure time-everything revolves around your Child.Why do we happily sacrifice our pleasures,our money, sometimes even our lives?
Why have children? there are the usual explanations;we procreate to perpetuate the species out of duty for moral beliefs,to reassure ourselves out of passion.
But the focus is the child itself
we make babies because we need them
we need them because they need us
The bond that makes us Children to our parents.parents.
And parents to our children is indestructible. We have Children to Honor our parents a debt that can never be paid,
only transferred."you are not only my son,"
Maimonides,a 12th-century philosopher once told his child."you are also my father's grandson."
Why have children? there are the usual explanations;we procreate to perpetuate the species out of duty for moral beliefs,to reassure ourselves out of passion.
But the focus is the child itself
we make babies because we need them
we need them because they need us
The bond that makes us Children to our parents.parents.
And parents to our children is indestructible. We have Children to Honor our parents a debt that can never be paid,
only transferred."you are not only my son,"
Maimonides,a 12th-century philosopher once told his child."you are also my father's grandson."
Tuesday 19 April 2016
Friday 15 April 2016
Friday 8 April 2016
Kalash a Living Personification-UN- IPL USA-
The Sanskrit word "Kalash" means both pure and ashes, and according to the stories told by the Kalash to Bugi and his family in the last 40 years, we are created out of water, to be pure.
Khudai, the supreme God, long ago, at the time of distributions among the sons of Adam, gave land to live on. Kalasha, the youngest son, decided with his family to keep the valley of Bamboorate for himself as this was the most beautiful and fertile valley in the whole world. The two other brothers, Katis and Bashagalis, became jealous when they saw that the most beautiful part had been given to the youngest son. And this is what caused the enmity between the different tribes of the Kalash: the Siah-Posh (with black robe), the Surkh-Posh (with red robe) and the Safed-Posh (with white robe).
In time immemorial the Kalash were spread over the extensive borderlands of China, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Pakistan, which included the Hindukush mountains and valleys stretched from Way gal, Shatruma Desh, Trachingao, Shoowar, Badam, Lotdeh, Badamuk, Tar Chigal, Bijen Chäo, Bashagal in Nooristan to Kohistan of Swat and Dir, from the Kabul River Valley to Badakshan and Wakhan, along the Karakoram Highway (parts of the ancient Silk Route).
Some Greeks say they are the last descendants of the soldiers of Alexander, the Great of Macedonia (326 B.C.). Reasons for the legend was the fact that the Kalash know a number of separate named gods and demons, under which one of them resembles like the Greek god of wine Bacchus. The real origin of the Kalash is obscure. Historians accompanying Alexander after crossing the Lowari Top in Dir have mentioned small scrimmages with the Kalash tribe. The centuries-old rock carvings along the Karakoram Highway are according to some anthropologists of Buddhist origin, but they could also be direction signs used by the trading shepherds living in the Kalash Kingdom. In the time of the Moghuls (rulers in this region in the 15th till the 19th century), wine was taken from the valleys of the Kalash to the tables of the Moguls. The Moghul Emperor Babur "the tiger" invaded the Kalash area because he did not receive the taxes (Jizya).
The tribesmen who did not know the power of gunpowder were blazed away. They reacted, Babur said, with unseemly gestures. He introduced new taxes at the time of harvest, which was later abolished by Akbar (1504) with a sense of fairness because he was a man of culture and wisdom.
Seeing the prosperity of the Kalash in the Bamboorate valley, Katis and Bashagalis became jealous. They invaded the valley several times. They killed many and took away golden and silver utensils and girls. The Kalash complained to the Amir of Chitral, Aman-Ulmulk. The Amir promised protection, in exchange of walnut trees, honey, cheese, goats and women to work as housemaids in his palace. The inhabitants of the valleys of the Kalash area became the slaves of the Amir of Chitral. He did everything to keep them from education and nobody was allowed to hunt deer or mountain goats
Markhor). There was some freedom, though. Religious ceremonies were respected four times a year, and at the time of death and birth. Onesided treaties were signed as far as the water flows and the grass grew. The land belonged to the Amir and his family. The Kalash had nothing to say in it for they were the illiterate, the wild bunch. For little quantity of tobacco precious possession of the Kalash were disposed off. By ignorance and because of the high debts the Kalash lost their land to strangers in the end.
Markhor). There was some freedom, though. Religious ceremonies were respected four times a year, and at the time of death and birth. Onesided treaties were signed as far as the water flows and the grass grew. The land belonged to the Amir and his family. The Kalash had nothing to say in it for they were the illiterate, the wild bunch. For little quantity of tobacco precious possession of the Kalash were disposed off. By ignorance and because of the high debts the Kalash lost their land to strangers in the end.
On the other side of the mountains in the valley of Barose and Shisikoh the wise King Bola Singa (ruler of the Kalash in the 17th century) had a dream. A giant appeared to him and said: "shoot these three arrows and let your soldiers find them again. Build a temple where the black arrow will come down. On the spot where the red arrow comes down you build a house, where the female may deliver their children and where they can live when they are unclean. [the Kalash consider women who are in labour and women who have their period as unclean, and it is their habit that they live in a separate house, called Bashalani.] The third arrow will be saved for the future generations to come forth." As predicted by the wise, soon the Surkh Posh-Kalash would disappear. And so it happened. Amir Abdur Rehman, ruler of Afghanistan, invaded at the end of the 19th century the living area of the Surkh Posh-Kalash and converted 80.000 Kalash into Muslim. The name of the area changed from Kafiristan (land of the unbelievers) into Nooristan (land of the light).
The Brittish explorer Robertson (1890 - 1895) saw the last people of Kafiristan and notified about them in his book "Kafirs of the Hindukush. Katis and Bashagalis". Amir Abdu Rehman was armed to the teeth by the Brittish to prevent the Russians from reaching a warm seaport. The war which was waged over small possessions became a fanatic religious war. People from Nooristan regularly invaded Bamboorate, Bireer and Rumboor. Sculptures were burned, houses broken down and everything which reminded of idol worship was taken away. So were the 200 sculptures which were taken to the British museums by Robertson and by the people who were caretakers of the British Empire for governing purposes.
The Kalash disappeared out of the picture. There was no education and no written language. All religious ceremonies were passed down from generation to generation by means of hymns and songs. While singing songs the high priest of Rumboor (Qazi Biraman, who is now 85 years old utters: "when I was a young boy there were 106 life size sculptures in Rumboor alone, where are they now? Oh my fellow Kalash warriors, beware these bounty hunters are not your friends". CULTURE
Wine, fruit, exotic women, fairy tales and gods, that is what it was all about in the Kalash Kingdom. A tribal chief was judged according to the number of goats he possessed. The highest cast and the people with royal blood only possessed cows. After living a few months alone with his flock in the valleys, a young boy became a man and a warrior. After this, he could choose any girl he wanted. In future, the man was named Ballalik (brave warrior).
Wine, fruit, exotic women, fairy tales and gods, that is what it was all about in the Kalash Kingdom. A tribal chief was judged according to the number of goats he possessed. The highest cast and the people with royal blood only possessed cows. After living a few months alone with his flock in the valleys, a young boy became a man and a warrior. After this, he could choose any girl he wanted. In future, the man was named Ballalik (brave warrior).
Just like other pagan tribes of Indo-Aryan origins, festivities were connected with the seasons, and the activities belonging to each season, like sowing, harvesting and storing the harvest, meant rejoicing and merry making. The early days remembered of the Promised Land, an abundance of food and drink, clothes made out of goat hair and age old customs in which respect for each other was central. During harvest time there was a feast which lasted for one week. There was dancing in the moonlight by the sound of the drums while people with torches in their hands gathered on a spot specially meant for this feast. Even the children would be drunk then, and the girls sang love songs, "I would like to run away with you brave warrior, but don't tell my friends. I want to live with you. I want to marry you. How many goats and cows can you give to my parents, I will be yours." The boys answered on the changing rhythm of the drums and sang: "What is the meaning of cows and goats if you have me. Don't look at my possessions. I am there to protect you. If my enemy gives five goats I will give twenty, for he can't beat me. I am the son of a great warrior". RECENT FACTS Uptil today there are still 2500 Kalash living in the three valleys in Pakistan: Bamboorate, Bireer and Rumboor, near Chitral, N.W.F.P. The Kalash consider the period under the rule of their kings Shalak Shah, Cheo, Raja Waii and Bola Singa as their best time. That was the golden time remembered by the Kalash. Trich Mir smiled like a golden god upon the bountiful land. Trich Mir, Chitral's highest peak, still towers high, only the days are no longer so golden......
The sons of the royal families tell with pride: "This was our land, but what should we do. Our ancestors in the evenings listened to the wings of the fairies passing by while the drums were being played. What is left for us? Our land is taken by strangers, our trees are used as pledges for a cap, we live like animals in a zoo, where the spectators stare at us. We are forced to dance for strangers and our women are troubled. All we want is to be left alone."
The Kalash are skilled artisans. Just look at the patrons in harmony with nature all over. The paintings, the woodcarving and the woven textiles. They are beautiful people, their women have long slender necks, the most delicate wrists and long tapering fingers. Childlike people, innocent. They hardly have any crime among them. They don't lie, they don't cheat and for the guests they go out of the way. But slowly they are forgetting everything. To honour their dead the Kalash make wooden sculptures (Gandaoo effigies), animals are sacrificed, feasts are given. So every artisan can compete for his family's name.
The Kalash are skilled artisans. Just look at the patrons in harmony with nature all over. The paintings, the woodcarving and the woven textiles. They are beautiful people, their women have long slender necks, the most delicate wrists and long tapering fingers. Childlike people, innocent. They hardly have any crime among them. They don't lie, they don't cheat and for the guests they go out of the way. But slowly they are forgetting everything. To honour their dead the Kalash make wooden sculptures (Gandaoo effigies), animals are sacrificed, feasts are given. So every artisan can compete for his family's name.
"I am the best carver in the whole valley", says Mirza must, a sculpture maker. And to celebrate the change of seasons, they paint the doors of their houses. Like Khishoo, the outstanding artist among the Kalash artisans.
But everything gets stolen, many things disappear to Europe, to museums of Anthropology and Ethnography. The Kalash never get any compensations. Moreover, the health situation in the valleys is disastrous. Infant mortality is high, lack of elementary hygiene cause eye infections among many other things. And last but not least outsiders always interfere with the Kalash.
At the time of Joshi (the Kalash festival in Rumboor), a priest from the west came with a bible in hand, and started shouting, raising slogans: "Oh I found the lost tribes of the Jews". The Government of Pakistan acted promptly and all religious preachings and lobbying were banned, to respect the Kalash sensibilities.
All this brings tears in the eyes of the Kalash. Like a chieftain of the Kalash, Laqbal Khan says: "Ex-prime-minister Mr. Bhutto loved us very much. He visited us and promised us museums to preserve our culture and to earn self-respect. All we want is to be left alone and carry out our religious- and human rights. In 1980 there were 5000 of us. Now, in 1995 only 2500 are left. These people, who are living in tents on the bank of Chitral River, are our brothers from Nooristan, who have returned from across the borders. We wanted to fight with them, hand in hand against the Soviets during the Afghan-war. Now the Soviets are gone, we can live in peace and harmony with nature again. All these refugees living near the mountain stream are our family members. We don't have much, but we share with them whatever we have. The enemy is gone. Now help us to survive, for we were the test sites. Test sites of the games superpowers play with the poor countries."
M.Bugi Ansari.Residing In Nederland-
HELP PRESERVE KALASH-
Mohammed.Bugi ANSARI.
C/O Bugiandassociates@facebook.com.
March 23 at 3:12pm near Breda
Nederlnad,
بسْــــــــــــــــــمِ اﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
عزیز ساتھیو اسلام علیکم
........
Letter to the President of Pakistan,
Good Morning Sir,
as 23rd of March 2014 is approaching Please have a Look, I have Just now wrote on your Page not to have some Worldly gains from you of my Personal Needs, but to make you aware of Our efforts of the last 40 years FOR Pakistan a better place,
and GOD MADE Paradise on EARTH in Pakistan,
, Man called it _Kafiristan==land of the infidels==
,, anthropologists cashed on it by calling it ,the Name
Of* Paristaan* (LAND OF FAIRIES),
HELL on this planet BROKE Loose of white man's Disease,that is POLIO-
*Polio* for One Family, of Kalash in the areas,,,,,
,have a LOOK,
I met Marsia Bibi Kalash aged 12,in 2008, She was Full of MUD, and... flies all over her body and Clothes, and also she had wet her self, I could not bear this as i was on the last leg of my Journey in Kalash areas, and i was a gora saheb with a body of loose motions as hospitality of Cheese and Beans in Kalash a staple diet had taken its toll heavily,it is bad manners to refuse the Hospitality of The areas,
,This was Fruit season in the valley known as ***Paradise On Earth***people call it Kafiristan Land of The Infidels,,, i was on the door of her House, as i went looking for Old friends ...in Kalash I was in SHOCK,to see her a Polio VICTIM Both Mentally and Physically Handicapped,
, i know this particular Family since 1980, as i went there in Kalash areas for the First then,at that Time there was extreme poverty and un Hygienic Conditions, females were dying after giving Birth to Children every family had one death of small children every few years in every House Hold were Funerals on regular Bases, , Infant Mortality was sky High,malnutrition was very very Evident, and the Horrible WAR of Afghanistan was in Full swing, i went back to my city and spoke to My My Family dispensaries were sent to Kalash slowly Press started Covering the Kalash subject,,,,
Help Preserve Kalash, (ARTICLES in Pakistan Press, Herald 1980) i had to wait for 8 Long Years to come back for the second time in Kalash 1989, with Art material,and travelling Expenses from Elected member of Pakistan MNA BYRAM D.Avari, same Press who helped before helped,all over Pakistan was helpful in a marathon of Interviews publications center spreads,,,,and i Moved to Europe after Meeting the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan,1988 and 1989-started giving lectures,
in Europe Help Preserve Kalash Could not go to Kalash again,,had a break Did Paintings Lectures and EXHIBITIONS,
in 2008 went back to Kalash Chitral areas,and i saw Marsia bibi,Kalash,daughter of Showar Bibi Kalash and Trancha Kalash who Died in a logging Accident Few years ago,,,Good to see this effort, thank you Mr Nisar Ahmed,for your assistance in Making this Movie, HELP PRESERVE KALASH be Declared a UN Protective site,,http://mountaintv.net/story-of-marisa-bibi-from-kalash.../
Story of Marisa Bibi from Kalash Valley | Mountain TV – Gilgit-Baltistan
mountaintv.net
This short video is story of a young girl , Marisa Bibi wiho lives in the remote village of Kalash Valley and is affected by Polio. The family..
Story of Marisa Bibi from Kalash Valley | Mountain TV – Gilgit-Baltistan
mountaintv.net
This short video is story of a young girl ,Marisa Bibi who lives in the remote village of Kalash Valley and is affected by Polio. The family and friends of Marsia are very concerned about the rapid growth of polio victims in the region especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Story of Marisa Bibi from Kalash Valley | Mountain TV – Gilgit-Baltistan
This short video is story of a young girl ,Marisa Bibi who lives in the remote village of Kalash Valley and is affected by Polio. The family and friends of Marsia are very...
MOUNTAINTV.NET
NOW let Us see what *ISI* is made Of Stop the President and The Prime minister what ever they are doing Enlarge this message on the screen of Pakistan National Assembly,show this to all Ministers,Senators Mnas MPA's, Hack the telephones, and tell *ONE SON OF THE SOIL is taking whole of Pakistan on a trial to help Declare_WAR against POLIO_,as if you are Listening!!!!!!!!!,-------
Brother Bugi Sahib,
Your struggle to up- lift the Kalash society is appreciable. In my opinion the first step should be to give an ethnic or geographical name to this region instead of the notorious name of Kafristan. This helps in awakening the people to stand for themselves. Societies, as far as I understand, emerge through their own unified efforts, by getting education, and above all by getting aware of their own selfhood or Khudi. I have read and have also seen documentaries on tv, and am pained to see that the people and the region is depicted as a 'relic' or a 'sample' of the very past mythical people. The beauty of the people and the valley is portrayed as a feast for the viewers or a site of attraction for the tourists.
In this age of globalization, the Kalash society needs to come out of the mythical past. They need to be helped to be modern instead of helping them to stick to their primitive form of culture. Their past can be preserved by them as their legacy but not as their present. I do not know whether by knocking the doors of the rulers of the country will be effective. The policy of the rulers has been to preserve the Kalash people and their culture, which means keep them safe or freeze them as they are. I first read about the Kalash people in 1954 and see them still same as I knew them half a century earlier.
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