Nagar ( ur, , ''Riyasat Nagar'') was a princely state, princely salute state in the northern part of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan. Until August 1947, it was in a subsidiary alliance with British India. It bordered the states of the Gilgit Agency to the south and west, and the princely state of Hunza (princely state), District Hunza to the north and east. From November 1947 to 1974 it was a Princely states of Pakistan, princely state of Pakistan. The state capital was the town of Nagar. The territory previously covered by Nagar forms three tehsils of the Nagar District of Northern Pakistan.

History

Nagar, founded in the fourteenth century, was an autonomous principality until the United Kingdom, British gained control of the state following the Hunza–Nagar Campaign (1889-1893). It was a colonial princely states, princely state under the administration of the Gilgit Agency until 1947, but from 1868 it was a vassal of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir (princely state), Jammu and Kashmir, despite never being directly ruled by Kashmir. The rulers of Nagar were considered to be among the most loyal vassals of the The Royal House of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir, sending annual tributes to their Durbar (court), Durbars until 1947. The British granted them a Hereditary gun salute of 15-guns. In November 1947, the ruler, Mir Shaukat Ali Khan Instrument of Accession, acceded Nagar to Pakistan, which became responsible for its external affairs and defense, while Nagar maintained internal self-government. In 1968, Syed Yahya Shah, the first educated politician of the valley, demanded civil rights from the Mir of Nagar. In 1973, when Ayub Khan's dictatorship ended in Pakistan and the Pakistan People's Party (under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) was elected, the government forced the Mir of Nagar to abdicate. The area was then merged with the Northern Areas.Muhammad Ismail Tehseen, ''Buroshall Say Nagar Tak ka Safar'', Syed Yahya Shah, ''Brushal ke Qabail'', both in Urdu, available in Municipal library at Gilgit Hunza valley

Government

The state was governed by the hereditary rulers of the Maglot dynasty, who were styled as ''Mir (title), Mir''. The details of these early rulers are uncertain; the first definite dates available are from 1839. In November 1947, the state became one of the princely states of Pakistan. Brigadier Mir Shaukat Ali Khan was the last ruler of the State before it was abolished by Pakistani PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1972.

Population

Demographics

There are around 90,000 inhabitants of the Nagar valley (Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, AKRSP Census, 2000). Nagar is home to two main ethnic groups – the Burushaski language, Burushaski speakers and the Shina language, Shina speakers. An older type of Burushaski is still spoken in the valley with a mild modern accent. A third language, Bedeski, is also still spoken in Chalt Nagar, chalt

Religion

The population is traditionally predominantly Twelver, Shia Isna'asheri (Jafaria).

Geography

The terrain of Nagar is extremely mountainous, which provided a certain degree of protection against invading forces. The highest mountain is the 7,788 m (25,551 ft) Mount Rakaposhi, south of the town of Nagar. The Karakoram Highway crosses Nagar, connecting Pakistan with China via the Khunjerab Pass. The road follows the Hunza river for some distance through Nagar and into the Hunza region. According to local languages Nagar Valley divided into two parts. Nagar Shinaki and Nagar Burosho.

Villages of Nagar

Shina Speaking Villages in Nagar (Shinaki/Sheenbar) * Chalat (Paaeen/baala) * Bar Valley * Chaprote Valley * Budalas valley * Jafarabad Valley * Nilt Valley * Thol Valley * Qasimabad Valley (Masoot) * Ghulmet Valley * Yal Valley * Pissan Valley * Minapin Valley Burushaski Speaking Villages in Nagar * Nagarkhas * Sumayar, Sumayar Valley * Sikandar Abad * Miachar Valley * Dadimal Valley * Phakker Valley * Hakuchar Valley * Shayar Valley * Askurdas Valley * Hoper Valley * Hisper Valley Bilingual Valleys in Nagar * Chalt Paeen Valley * Akbarabad Valley * Jafarabad Valley * Qasimabad Valley (Mascoot) * Ghulmet Valley * Pissan Valley * Minapin Valley The Nagar villages are mainly populated by religious scholars, Educationists, Sportsmen, Craftsmen and Craftswomen, farmers, hunters and fishermen, handicrafts, miners, Shepherds, adventurers, mountaineers and so on.

References

Sources and external links

Government of Pakistan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagar Princely states of Pakistan Muslim princely states of India History of Gilgit-Baltistan Regions of Gilgit-Baltistan States and territories established in the 14th century 1974 disestablishments