The above is a photo of Japukey valley of Punial, Ghizar in Gilgit-Baltistan. An unknown foreigner took this photo during the 1960s while visiting the area.
With only lush green farmlands, the photo suggests in the 1960s Japukay valley of Punial had a tiny population with a few households. Since then it has turned into a relatively developed village with linked roads, education, health, and a number of other private and public sector institutions.
Similarly, the population has increased from a few hundred to thousands with almost 400 households. Once open vast green space just above the river Ghizer is now filled with a number of residential buildings, schools, link roads, etc.
The name Japukey is derived from two Shina words Xaro koi (the place of brothers), says Sarfaraz Khan, a notable and veteran teacher from the same valley.
According to him, there were two brothers who constructed a water channel from the flowing stream to the east and brought the barren land to the west underwater.
The name Xaro Kui evolved into what it is today known as Japukay or Xapukay over the course of time.
The ancient residents of Japukay valley also used to call their village ‘Suman Japukey’ proudly’. We asked why Japukay is called Suman Japukey from Lais Kuli, the daughter of Sakhawat Khan, a popular Polo player of GB from Japukay, and granddaughter of Murad Khan, the last Nambardar of Japukey during the principality period.
According to the legend narrated by Laish Kuli, ”in ancient times, a bird traveled across Punial with its nestlings in search of nutrition. The bird did not find any other place worth living due to a lack of food. It found Japukey rich in fruits and crops and made it its permanent abode.
In appreciation of the village’s richness, the bird started to sing by calling it ‘Suman Japukey’ which means Japukey, the place blessed with everything. In other words a place self-sufficient in food.
Japukay, Punial, Ghizar, Gilgit-Baltistan from 1960s
The post Japukay, An Ancient Village of Punial, Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan appeared first on Content Generate.