The Kalash Population of Chitral Pakistan: A Case of Isolation, Ingenuity, and Integrity

The populace of Kalash in Chitral, Pakistan, also called, Black Robe and Siah Posh, dwell in the three sub-valleys of Kalash: Bumburet, Rumbor and Birir, in the modern-day District Chitral, Pakistan. Their ancestral root is the Kalasha, who were an ancient tribe of Pakistan. For centuries, they have posed their way of life, religion, language, rituals and distinct identity. Northern Pakistan hosting the Kalash is a well-preserved ethnic and cultural museum. Owing to this value, Kalasha culture has been listed by UNESCO for consideration as World Heritage Site. The Kalasha issue is unique, and the world remains in oblivion to observe the beauty of this unique tribe. Each year a handful of historians, anthropologists, sociologists, and photographers across the globe, focus on Kalasha society but, due to communication barriers, don’t get acquainted with the issue. The numerical strength of the Kalasha people is about only 4,000 (as estimated in 2020). We bring to the knowledge of researchers the plight of the Kalash and, in due course, explore plausible solutions to their problems.