Gilgit Baltistan Celebrates its 74th Independence Day today. The Baltistan Scouts liberated their homeland after a bloody war with Dogra Empire on November 1st, 1948.
Gilgit Baltistan, a picturesque mountainous region that is enveloped in the peaks of the Karakoram and the Himalayas, has a long history to recount. The land, which is home to some of the highest peaks in the world, including the mighty K-2 and the magnificent Nanga Parbat, borders Azad Kashmir to the south, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the west, Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan to the north, and Xinxiang region in China to the east.
History of Baltistan
The early history of the region dates from the 3rd century CE till the 10th century CE. The people of Baltistan, known as Dards, are mentioned in the ancient Chinese and Greek scriptures. Moreover, it is said that the people of Baltistan were ruled by the Kushan, Chinese, and Tibetan Empires.
Gilgit Baltistan was formerly known as the Northern Area of Pakistan. The natives of the region celebrate their independence every year on the 1st of November. Today marks the 74th year since the land was freed from Dogra rule and Dogra Governor Ghansara Singh was arrested. The Dogra ruled Jammu in the first half of the 19th century. The scouts of Baltistan successfully liberated their motherland from Dogra Raj after a bloody war in 1948.
Gilgit Baltistan today is administered by the Government of Pakistan. It took 23 years for Pakistan to establish its administration in the beautiful region of Baltistan, the same way as British established its rule in Hindustan.
Independance day is celebrated with great fervour and passion in Gilgit Baltistan. Processions, rallies, and special events are organized by the social, political, and literary circles of the region. The people also pay homage to the heroes who sacrificed to liberate the land from Dogra rule without any outside help.