The unique life of Pakistan’s Wakhi shepherdesses - BBC 100 Women, BBC World Service
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- Опубліковано 1 січ 2024
- Deep into Pakistan's Karakoram mountains lies the scenic Shimshal Valley, home to the Wakhi shepherdesses. Every year, over many generations, these women have taken their flocks to high pastures, where they prepare dairy products to barter while their animals graze during the warmer season.
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Their income has brought prosperity to the village and allowed them to build roads and provide an education for their children - but their tradition is about to end.
BBC 100 Women follows the last shepherdesses on their journey up the mountains, on a dangerous trek 4,800m above sea level.
00.00 Introduction
02:30 Setting off on the trek
05:02 Walking barefoot
07:38 The end is close
10:11 The cunning wolves
11:35 "My children died"
13:30 Making butter and yoghurt
15:49 A new road
19:40 The final chapter
Produced and directed by Farhat Javed
Filmed by Nayyar Abbas, Sajjad Beyg, Farhat Javed, Taseer Beyg
Edited by Derrick Evans
Scripting and storytelling by Sarah Dias
Executive producers: Valeria Perasso, Vandana Vijay
BBC 100 Women editor: Golnoosh Golshani
BBC Pakistan editor: Sana Gulzar
Commissioning editors: Claire Williams, Vara Szajkowski
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Loved working on this amazing project on the last Wakhi Shepherdesses of Hunza for BBC. I am thankful to all the Shepherdesses (Afroz Numa, Bano Begum, Thai Bibi, Sakina Bano, Nor Begum and Pak Daman) for expressing themselves, sharing their stories and travelling with us from Shimshal village to the Pamir plateau. These people are true ambassadors of the Indigenous Wakhi community's heritage and Culture. I feel lucky to be from the Indigenous Wakhi community.
I am thankful to BBC especially Farhat Javed for reaching out and working on such an important story as the Wakhi language and Culture is already declared endangered by UNESCO. This documentary truly preserves the old traditions, culture, norms and values of the Shimshali people for the coming generations as no new generation is interested in practising it further and unfortunately it is the end of Wakhi heritage.
I am blown by seeing the response of people after watching it, I am so glad that I was able to work on such an important story and got successful in creating an impact!
Thank you Sir for such a beautiful documentary we never knew about so much diversity in Pakistan
Love you and respect for your people and their way of life
it was a beautiful story you saved for humanity to watch salute to those mothers who struggle so hard
u did the camera and gimbal work ?
@@ashiqhussain6956Pakistan Punjabis including you have never moved out of Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi.
You should be very proud of your work. It was very moving.
I belong from Gilgit shina region , this is the story of all Gilgitis . Our grand parents were majority sphered , they sacrificed their lives to earn for us to make our lives better . Today GB people have highest literacy rate . My grandfather and mother lived exactly like that but they raise a very educated family where we have engineers and lawyers etc❤❤
Sometimes we visit these high altitude in summer vacations to just feel the nostalgia and to remember our ancestors struggle 😢
It's a shame that even with better resources, other ethnic groups did not do the same i.e punjabis, pashtuns, baloch and Sindhis. I salute people of GB
@@Char444 Even still we don’t have any Engineering or medical university. No good colleges but still we GB people live as hostilities in down pakistan from a very young age to acquire knowledge.
@@studyali1067 where do you think such cultural differences arise from?
As a bengali person living in North India I observe the absolute disinterest of North Indians like Punjabis, Gujaratis(alike Sindhis) to educate themselves for the sake of education. The older generations invariably insist on being a businessman, and the younger generations are fanatic about getting high-paying jobs as computer/software engineers in MNCs even though none of them actually have any genuine interest in the study of computers/software in itself or any subject for that matter. Unlike Bengal most of corruption here gets unnoticed because it's so normalized in society and because it's done by separate individuals in the smallest positions of power regardless of party or ideology as opposed to the state government enforced corruption in Bengal
I believe here it is possibly that because of the extreme political instability of this region during the whole medieval period, starting from Mahmoud of Ghazni raiding Gujarat multiple times to some Shah of Persia looting Delhi(or so?) in the twilight years of Mughal rule the culture hasn't, for most part of its recent history promoted anything beyond looking for every political and economic opportunity for survival.
On the other hand Bengal was much better sheltered from such attacks because of various reasons which led to intellectual development and the earliest movement in Asia for social liberalism and the rejection of caste, idolatry, polygamy and social reformation aimed at gender equality and aimed for industrialization a whole century before Japan despite being shortlived since the British colonizers quickly destroyed the economy and all social progress that was unfolding here but still, Bengal still managed to have the first Nobel Prize (and Oscar?) awarded to an Asian and huge contributions to science and literature in the early 20th century compared to even countries like Japan
Post independence and partition and after having suffered an extremely devastating man-made famine due to British rationing of crops for WWII troops fighting against Japan, we were one of the poorest states in India and since then as literacy in North India increased post independence and as more north Indians are much more willing to work harder for less income than Bengalis, British era companies in Bengal moved to North India under a North Indian government which didn't bother much about giving aid to help cope from the economic fallout and the trend continues till date
And like my family many Bengali families have migrated to North India or abroad for better economic opportunities since then
I have nothing against North Indians and it's their own culture which has made them the richest states in India but sometimes their mindset to look for money and job opportunities in almost everything while having no will at all to socially and culturally modernize themselves makes my skin crawl. Calcutta consistently ranks as the safest megacity for women despite being much poorer, more "corrupt" and more densely populated than other cities in India simply because people are much more liberal and educated than North Indians despite being poorer
In fact if it weren't for these reasons I'd probably happily not distinguish myself from North Indians.
@@studyali1067 there are colleges and engineering university in GB but no medical university
یہ شینا بول رہی ہیں یا بروششکی؟
Wow, for 88 years old woman to do shepherding is amazingly tough. May she lives well, happy and blessed all the rest of her life. ❤🙏
So much diversity in my country I never knew love my people and their unique way of life, more power to these iron ladies who changed the fate of their children
Soon their traditions and culture will be abolished by Islam, and their colourful dresses will be replaced by a black cloth covering them from head to foot, as they try hard to learn and become Arabs....😂😂😂
And all that religious political pressure to wipe out diversity, Pakistan as a nation is loosing it’s history because of fundamentalist policies
They need Allah and Arab culture ❤
ur not even from Pakistan so what do you know?@@centaurkt047
what did he said?@@hamfahimkabir
I'm from Azad Kashmir, and NEVER knew how diverse my country is! Long live our diversity!
Take a haplogroup dna test, you might have some of this tribe in you
You mean POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir)?
POK is the part of India.
It's not Azad. It's Ghulam of Pakistan and Pakistan controls it
Cry never will be apart of dirty lindu, even iok is majority Muslim
These women are so impressively strong. When the one woman was telling the story of how her children died, I wanted to remind her of that, that she is still here.
@@thebedeaufamily my comment is about hope. Like duh, of course no parent wants to outlive their children, but the fact that she is still here means she can still do what she finds important and still has the space to heal and grow as a person.
These women are True Queens!
It’s refreshing to see how this community is so much more forward thinking and liberal compared to a lot of other parts of Pakistan.
Nice to hear the son and daughter praise their mother for her hard work.
Very similar to Tibet and Ladakh. Reminds me of my homeland. After all, we border one another. Beautiful people and culture.
Ram ram Sonam baji.
I am in love with Wakhi language, really impressive language and strong people (Women), I hope all those countries who have Wakhi citizens will help this minority preserve their life style and tradition and never perish!
Love from a Palestinian!!
I welcome you to visit wakhi community, Pakistan 🇵🇰
I belong to a sheperding community from South India. This story is similar to some aspects my own grandparents had gone through and recited to us. I appreciate these people, their hard work and their closeness to nature. I feel sad that we no longer can sustain what they have gone through. Time waits for none, we can just get the gentle whiffs of their way of life through videos like these. Appreciate your efforts team BBC.
Awesome hindostani.
I think Ur KURUBAS
True SIR south Indians are also educated yet close to their culture & traditions being a South Indian proud
I also belongs to a shephard community from north India .Now a days the shephards have lost their occupational charm and calmness due to intense hardwork and less returns. But we shephards have to educate our children and fight for the community Upliftment as a whole 🔥.
What amazing, strong, far-sighted women ❤
Of course it's sad to see their ancient traditions die out, but that's easy for me to say, sitting in my comfortable home on the other side of the world.
To change the future of their children in just one generation is a wonderful achievement. I hope they will find a balance between their past and their new beginnings ❤
Wow. Pakistan is the most amazing place I have ever visited, and the friendliest. But I never knew about these people.
Glad to hear that friend. Where are you from?
@@Sa7biUKPakistan! Otherwise who would have such appetite to call Pakistan amazing??
Awee pressed indians@@satyaprakash03133
@@satyaprakash03133lmao, another indian crying. your appearance really fits you ☝️🤓
@@Haris-qo1hx So does your quote! Btw where the hell do you live? Don't say f****** pakistan....🤮🤮
I am from the UK, but this is really interesting - thank you. It is a beautiful place. I did feel it brought us mothers in the world together as our issues are very similar - most of us mothers want to educate and provide for our children and work hard to do so whether there or over here. The lady whose 2 children died again that is a common very sad thing women share - it reminded me of my mother - whose last child, my sister, died as a baby and all those decades later she never forgot. Good luck to everyone in the valley. One reason the women are so fit and still walking up hills aged 88 is because being outside, eating non processed good foods and walking up hills are some of the best things any of us can do for ourselves.
@janesmith9024. I am also from the UK, I was born in Delhi, India migrated to Pakistan as a refugee and then came to the UK. I went back to Karachi, Pakistan to get married and bring my wife to the UK. The UK is the Great country to live. Now a Pensioner in the UK.
Hats off to the entire team for showing this side of Gilgit - Baltistan to the world. The stories have been captured so beautifully that I feel both happy and sad at once. May Allah bless these ladies. Lots of love from Gilgit ❤😊
I belong from same Area then I completed my school & went to Peshawar for future education when I completed my graduation I come to United Kingdom for masters degree now my master degree as well completed But I don't forgot my culture and tradition 😢
Bless Annar- So sprightly and nimble-footed.
May she enjoy good health far beyond her 88 years 🙏
What a beautiful documentary, the woman are just fantastic ,strong and resilient. I'm so sorry for the loss of their children and their way of life is a dying one.They have my biggest respect. Thank you for posting this awesome video ❤❤
I love the holding hands and dancing at the end. They have probably done that since childhood. Made me miss my cousins. Their bonds must be very strong towards one another. It is a beautiful thing.
Beautiful women. Very dignified and accomplished so much. May they be healthy and happy.
Just Amazing... How resilient these woman are.
Love and Respect from South Africa 🇿🇦 ❤️.
Pakistan Zindabad.
Americans need to take note: these women are superheroes!
Beautiful documentary. The overhead image of the women dancing in the middle of the corral was so powerful.
Thank you BBC for featuring the stories of our mother's. I belong to the valley and proud that my mother is also part of this documentary. Today what we have achieved is because of our mother's hardworking and dedication for the betterment of our lives. Loved to watch this documentary
Life is a beautiful, challenging, difficult and creative endeavour. These women are and have always been fully engaged in the cycle of life.
I am 22 year old, recently I hiked on a hill for 10 mins and I was out of breath. I am surprised to see these old ladies shepherding on these huge mountains.
Thanks to sll involved in the production of this video.
I live in a different world, a tropical Caribbean island, but I understand and appreciate the difficult but productive lives of these women in the Pamirs. They ensured that their children got the education necessary for making their lives better, with other available choices.
Worldwide, traditions are dying as mankind moves to modernisation.
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
An exquisite world, and this video an excellent way to denote the passing of customs. Those women--can any makeup surpass the obvious integrity of such natural beauty, the symbols of age, good sense, and stamina etched into their very being, and what a fine culture of equality between women and men. Just beautiful. Many thanks.
This is the most beautiful thing I’ve seen today. Pakistan is a beautiful country with such a diverse culture, it’s astounding what we have not yet seen as young British Pakistani’s who have just not had the opportunity to spend time exploring this stunning country. Such brave women, may God bless them, I loved seeing how much their children appreciate them, that’s just the way it should be ❤️.
Have you ever thought that the reason why they are so simple and lovely is because they have not been Islamicized.
@@user-uv9tl4jt8woh they’re very religious. seems like you’re just coping 🤡
@@Haris-qo1hx Really? Some women do not wear headscarves in front of strange men, and herdsmen do not fast. Most importantly, are Wakhi involved in terrorist activities? This is your most important symbol.
I felt so emotional watching this. Salute to these women and their contributions ❤
God bless these tough and beautiful ladies.
BBC is doing an exquisite job by mirroring these untold stories and lovely hard working people ❤--- best wishes to these communities from INDIA🇮🇳
What I love about these types of documentaries, asides from seeing a beautiful part of the world, is the contrast to my own life and how *easy* I have things. If true life stories like these weren't told, it just wouldn't dawn on me how I take everything I have for granted. So thank you to everyone involved in making this production possible. These shepherdesses are truly inspiring in who they are and all they've accomplished.
They are the actual symbol of simplicity ❤️
I am an Armenian and watched this documentary with great interest. Impressive mountains such as the mountains of Syunik province in the south of Armenia.
How beautiful is this documentary & how tough is the lives of these women...Just stole my heart away
Beautiful people of beautiful valley , I love every community of Pakistan, Pakistan Zindabad ❤️🇵🇰
Stunning views. The mountains the greenery in Pakistan that you won't find anywhere for tourism and hiking. Friendly and hospitable locals. Must visit once a lifetime.
I have great respect for these ladies and their traditions. So sad to hear that last 2 of her children. Beautiful colours in their cloths.
Their stories touching my heart ❤️ their dedication and hard work. stong womens..dear BBC team great job
I salute all of you, my dear grandmothers❤❤
Pakistan is actually such an incredible country with so much natural beauty, incredible resources, interesting history and hard working people but unfortunately the media has distorted people’s perception of what Pakistan actually is. Also we as Pakistanis have been left with so many corrupt leaders from the remains of colonialism which means pakistan is never able to thrive and instead is always in a state of hardship and difficulty.
When we went to visit pakistan 🇵🇰 back in 2016 was lovely hospitality
Best welcome ever
Best hospitality ever
I will never complain about getting up to go the gym again.
These ladies are beyond inspirational!
What amazing lives these women have had! I am so glad you made this video. They are beautiful and strong. It is both powerful and a little sad, but they did wonders for their people. Love and bravo to them!
Shimshal, I am coming to you on my bicycle all the way from Khungraaj Pass. Can't wait to ride solo all over the Pakistan. Would like to spend time with these people. Thanks BBC for sharing such motivational stories.
My GOD, how wonderful to see these people alive and well. Thank God for their existence.
Wonderful, touching, documentary. What women of courage and hard work! Thank you.
In many valleys of Gilgit Baltistan like the central Hunza, this tradition is long gone. My grandma used to tell us about her journeys like these. The forefathers of all the army generals, top bureaucrats, and sportspeople from the GB that you see were shepherds. May the Almighty ALLAH (SWT) bless the souls of our grandmothers in the highest places of Jannah. They endured all these hardships to secure a better future for us. We shall remain eternally grateful to them.
1. what impressive individuals these shepardesses are and how interesting their story is
2. this is an amazingly well made documentary like I thought it’s not made anymore. Thank you very much for it.
Love my homeland pakistan ❤ greetings from Dubai ❤️ 🇵🇰 beautiful country beautiful people forever pakistan the land where I was born my ancestors bloodline 😊 .....
Wowo this is unbelievable, very strong women,hard to find such now days big up Bcc for a wonderful documentary.
Amazing women ! Beautiful land , animals and people ❤
The language sounds very nice 👍
Strong women, there are so many stories of women who have kept the culture and way of life. We never hear about
I am a proud of my ancestors, Wakhi is not limited within Pakistan, It's an international language including Chinq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Russia.
Wakhi people ❤
May be how hard the mountain life is but the peace what we have in our mountains,we can't find it all over the world , the way they speak, live. Is remembering of my village in Himalayas 😅
The Resilience and Fortutide of Women❤
Beautiful, lovely and happy woman and Good tradition and culture in GB Pakistan
Wow what a documentary 👏👏impressed the hard working ladies are carrying their traditional duties so well ❤️❤️
So beautiful and hard working women .My salutes to them
such beautiful grandmothers
I don't know why I have tears flowing down my eyes
You might be suffering from epiphora, get an appointment with your ophthalmologist.
Really amazing documentary travelling bare foot in the ice and travelling for miles on treacherous mountain tarain really brave women sad to see these are the last people that are living thousands of years of old tradition the younger generation has given up the old tradition in a fast changing world Allah bless these brave and beautiful women with an iron and brave heart
Subhannah Allah the language sounds to me like it has elements of greek and turkish. Very strong and beautiful women, May Allah keep them safe on their journeys🤲🏼
those mothers really worked hard for their families it was a important video for humanity to watch how these people survived in those conditions, these stories show a window in their lives that nobody of us are even aware of watching them gives realization how much we have in big cities that we even do not appreciate or think about good job BBC team
Beautiful place with beautiful people. I am from India and I sincerely offer my best wishes to them. Thanks for the video.
I now my head in deep respect to these women.
I now my head
Now ❤
What absolute QUEENS 🙌🏽🙌🏽❤️❤️! True definition of the strength of women ❤️❤️🙌🏽absolutely in awe!!!
This is why I love the BBC so much
Salute to you all great mothers your job was very hard in harsh weather. We are sorry you lostt children. Aap ne aapne hassay ka kaam bakhobe nebahaya waqat badal Gaya magar log aap ko sadyoun tak yad rakhain ge aap ke aawazain sadyoun tak in wadiyun main gonjte rahain ge. Thanks BBC
Pakistan is too beautiful ❤️
Hope the language and culture can be saved for future generations. Working together. More modern than the opinion of many people that are way younger
Beautiful, strong and resilient women. ❤
How wonderful are these women, brave and strong. A beautiful part of the world.
so so so many sheep! omg what an amazing people! thank you for sharing their language their stories !
Great Documentary about The unique life of Pakistan’s Wakhi shepherdesses - BBC 100 Women, BBC World Service. Thank you very much, BBC for the video. From London, England.
Thank you for this beautiful and deep documentary. I think it is so important how one of the women pointed out that women and men working together, supporting each other was their recipe for success. It seems like they also treat their animals with love and respect. Their beauty and strength lies in the love and support. A better life and education is valuable, the link to a more capitalist way of life a challenge to balance... all my love and respect to you strong women! ❤️❤️
I'm lucky to trek over Shimshal Pass (4796-M) in August 2017 with German and Korean guy along with our guides for next 5-days.
Nadeem Ishfaq, Lahore - Pakistan.
Allah ap logho ko hemat or achi sehat de,ameen great mother's
Wow 😳 this is beyond belief , Amazing.
They bear the toughness of life with good fortitude,bravest of brave live an authentic life. The Govt should give them good health care n help them with welfare schemes,they are the treasures of the mountains.
Credit due to these amazing ladies ; keep educating your young ones
Viewed 2/10/2024
What these strong, beautiful women have done is called - LOVE. Love for life, family, friends and community. They are amazingly strong and beautiful women! Their children benefitted from their Mothers hard work and it is wonderful to know that their children appreciate all their Mothers sacrifices and very hard work. Much respect to these strong and loving women. TY BBC for sharing this amazing documentary about these strong, loving and caring women. Their lives were not easy but they endured because of their love for life, family, and GOD. Blessing to each of them 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
What wonderful people & a wonderful documenntary about them.
Beautiful. Thank you for this amazing video. Eva
Such a strong lady....
Life without modernisation....cultures living off the earth....Gods way like the Bushmen in SA. God bless all such peoples cultures to be saved and cultures to live on through modernisations. Amen.
Amazing women! Strong, resilient, smart!
Charming, enticing beauty.
What a landscape.
Such a deep powerful documentary in a long while!
So much diversity in his beautiful country ruined by corrupt politicians and military generals
BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENTARY ALMIGHTY BLESS THEM
Thank you, I would love to visit x
Salutations to all these very courageous women. God bless you guys abundantly.
Amazing women of great courage and Valor. Flag bearers of our subcontinent's culture. Love from India ❤️
Wonder women, so strong and hardworking 💕💕😍
Whats a fintastic dacumentry heart touching
Completely spectacular presentation.
Amazing, Thanks BBC