SWAT:
“Why would I want an education? What is the benefit of being literate? Life is what we spend here,” said Bakht Zada, 14, a shepherd, while grazing his sheep in Balokaley Kandak valley.
Unaware of the importance of education, Bakht Zada who lives in Nariband hamlet, has been grazing his sheep and goats since the age of six.
The majority of residents in Nariband are herdsmen who fatten their animals for the month of Eidul Azha.
“I have been to Mingora thrice in my life, with my father to a cattle fair to sell sheep but there is too much hustle and bustle which tires me,” he said.
If he does not appreciate the importance of an education, it is because there is zero per cent literacy in his hamlet.
“I go to the mosque for religious education along with other children. But I don’t want an English education because people say it misleads children,” Bakht Zada added.
Children in Nariband are strangers to computers, internet and mobile phones and are effectively cut off from the rest of the world. They play indigenous games while their animals graze in the meadows.
Bakht Zada, escorts his sheep and goats along with his friends for grazing early in the morning and gathers them to take back home in the evening.
Khan Zeb, 16, who is married and has two children, also takes his sheep to the meadows early morning. He sits on a huge rock eyeing his herd as the goats munch on the grass.
“I work with my father in the fields and go to Punjab in the harvest season for 20 days every year, where we earn up to Rs800,” he told The Express Tribune.
There is no electricity in their valley, no road network or water supply. There are no schools, nor even a single dispensary, but the children look happy as they run after their herds in the lush green valley.
“Our yearly yield is sufficient to cater to the needs of our seven-member family,” Zeb said.
The valley is located some 20 kilometres from Mingora, seat of the Gandhara Civilization.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (9)
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if they aren't causing murder and mayhem and are happy with life, let 'em be, i say! who of us is happy and safe? if they are.... dont ruin it! would be nice to know, someone is living in bliss... but that wud be too easy ... :/
if only we can figure out how to impart a useful education, without destroying the beauty of their lifestyle. if only policy-makers could appreciate nuance :)
Hope this news helps initiate step to provide education in the valley/area.
Unique that this set of humanity has kept the primitive life working for them. Wish it could remain but fear it will not and wonder what the women would say!!
It is States responsibility to provide education to each and every citizen,but unfortunately Pakistani elite never cared about educating citizens,the feudal system kept people in dark and will continue this horrible crime.Pakistan needs revolutionary leader who can spread education aggressively,its unfortunate to read this story that this is happening in 2012. No human beings are able to survive properly without education.These kids are going to a masque to get just religious education but the problem is those mullahs who teach them are not educated either,they read HOLY QURAN without understanding it,they are given a wrong expression of modern education,its just unfortunate. Education develops a meaningful outlook on life.Pakistan is neglecting education for the last 65 years.
these people should be conserved before they become extinct. so we can watch them from outside..
Two children at age 16, the wonders of illiteracy. Btw some multiplication skills will come in handy when you go to sell those animals, son. And forget "Western education", how can being literate in any language (even a local one) or having a medical dispensary around be bad for you?
I really hope these people live happily, and their lifestyle does seem a lot more relaxed than the hustle-bustle of Karachi, but this type of attitude is what makes these people so susceptible to being brainwashed by not-so-well-meaning mullahs.
this is what journalists should focus on