The Development of Khow Culture and the Arrival of Islam in District Chitral Pakistan

Abstract

<p "style-text-align:justify">This paper attempted to explore the development of Khow culture in Chitral by applying methods of critical inquiry into different components of culture, especially on Khowar language. The research proved that Prototype Khow culture came into existence in Chitral through the interaction of Dravidians with the indigenous people of Chitral (known as “Pisacha” i.e., [Kalash] who spoke and observed “Pisacha” [Kalash] language and culture). The language in turn developed six speech sounds different from the languages whose origins do not go to the Indo-Iranian roots. Moreover, Khowar has its distinct inflectional system. Some of the words with medial and terminal /k/ sound have their close affinity with Dravidian rather than Sanskrit as well as Turkic. However, the findings showed that the Khow culture initially nurtured in Chitral from the interaction of Dravidian with the Pisachas (Kalash) the aboriginal inhabitant of the region. It moved towards its maturity during the assaults of Aryans, Turks and Persian invaders. The Persian invaders introduced Islam in Chitral. Thus, the Khow culture is the amalgamation of different cultures coming from its southern and northern peripheries of the region, while Islamic culture seemed to be introducing in this region from the north and northwest of Chitral.