Written by: Shamim Bano
Posted on: October 17, 2022 | 
Dadi Jawari's portrait
While some mullahs are still opposed to women playing sports in Gilgit in 2022, it was a woman in the 17th century who shaped modern Gilgit, transformed its infrastructure, built an irrigation system, and saved the region from foreign incursions. It was Queen Jawari or Dadi (grandmother) Jawari, as she is known affectionately by the people of Gilgit, the late 16th-century ruler of Gilgit who valiantly fought the deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes of her times. Very little information is available about the ancient kings and queens of the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Queen Jawari, however, is better known than all the other rulers who ruled in the region, before or after her, because of her enlightened views and indefatigable initiatives that she took for the welfare of her subjects, which eventually transformed Dadi Jawari's kingdom.
Gilgit-Baltistan, for most of its recorded history comprised of several small kingdoms, including Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Darel, Skardu, Shigar, Astore, Chitral, Yasin, and Punial amongst others. Wars and conquests were quite frequent as the local rulers kept invading their neighboring kingdoms, besides fending off attacks from foreign armies, like from China, Tibet, Kashmir amongst others. The life of Queen Jawari, like many other rulers, was deeply entangled in politics. But unlike most rulers, especially kings, this queen is remembered and praised for her devotion to the wellbeing of her subjects, along with defending her kingdom and throne from multiple threats.
According to John Biddulph, a British political officer stationed at Gilgit from 1877 to 1882, Jawari was the only child of Mirza Khan, who ruled over Gilgit in the early 1600s. Jawari was married off to a prince of Iskardoo (Skardu), but was childless when her husband died. When Mirza Khan was murdered, he had no male heir to claim the throne. Therefore, Jawari was brought back from Skardu and installed as the Queen. She then consented to marry Perdosh Khan of Nager and had a son named Hibbi Khan. Perdosh Khan had left Nager and moved to Gilgit. When Hibbi Khan was around 12 years of age, Perdosh Khan was publicly told that Jawari had consented to marry him only to secure the throne, and that the sooner he leaves her, the better for him, which he did. Jawari then abdicated in favor of her son when he was 18 years old. The biggest challenge for her started at home, which she navigated with grace, only to find more prejudice at the societal level.
Jawari, the Legendary Queen of Gilgit by Shamim Bano
Another source from which one can learn about Queen Jawari is Ahmed Hasan Dani's "A History of Northern Areas of Pakistan". He presents two variations of the story, each derived from a different source, but according to both Jawari ruled the region twice. According to one of these sources, which the author suggests is more reliable, when Jawari was in Skardu, Vazir Rasho of Gilgit was in power as the acting ruler in the absence of a king. He had saved Gilgit from multiple attacks from the neighboring kingdoms. To save his position as the Naib-i-Sultanat (second-in-command), he brought Jawari back from Skardu, made her ascend the throne, and continued to rule as the Naib-i-Sultanat. However, very soon Jawahir Khatun discovered the intentions of Vazir Rasho. This account narrates that Vazir Rasho was killed by the Queen in self-defense. She was in the Sinakar fort in Bagrot when the Vazir besieged her. He proposed marriage to her, but the Queen bluntly refused and the two engaged in a scuffle ending with the death of Rasho. After the death of Rasho, Jawari handled the responsibilities of the throne on her own.
On taking full control of the throne, she proved, not only to be a capable ruler, but also a compassionate one. She would put on a male dress, go on a horse to the people in order to understand their grievances and concerns. She would then address the problems faced by the populace. The Queen built roads and canals, and established friendly relations with the rulers of Nagar.
Dadi Jawari later abdicated in favor of her son, Ji Khan, also known as Hibbi Khan, when he was 17 or 18 years old. Hibbi Khan had three sons, each supported by the kingdoms of Yasin, Nagar and Skardu to be the heir to the throne. But the internecine warfare got them all killed, and Jawari ruled again from 1689 to 1705, while the period of her first reign is from 1642 to 1670.
One of Dadi Jawari's well-known projects that still benefits the people of Gilgit is the construction of two water canals, Ajini Dalah (upper canal) and Khijni Dalah (lower canal), in the city of Gilgit. These canals are still in good condition, and water is transported and lands are irrigated through these canals, although they were reconstructed later also. Historical accounts and local elders narrate that when the Queen proposed the construction of these canals, her subjects did not cooperate with her. The Queen knew that with the growing population, the present water irrigation sources were not enough, and water could be brought to the barren areas by digging new canals. Many new areas were inhabited and cultivated due to the construction of these canals. Jawari then brought laborers in from the neighboring region of Darel and in exchange for their labor, she offered them land in a place called Khanberi in the Diamer district.
Portrait of Dadi Jawari and picture of the water channel she built
Biddulph writes that Jawari not only built an irrigation system and hindered foreign incursions, but she also set up a robust taxation system to sustain the empire economically. "Cheloo", was one such special tax Jawari had imposed on the villages of Burmass, Khomar and Naupoor, the areas irrigated by the new canals. He writes that "[the tax] consisted of all the milk and butter produced by one cow from each house in those villages between the Ganoni and Chili festivals, that is from the middle of May to the end of October."
The admiration for this queen by her subjects can be inferred from the many songs sung about her as mentioned by Biddulph and G.W. Leitner. Many of the songs are still popular across GB, describing the Queen's majesty, her foresight, her services, and the vastness of her kingdom. These songs and the relevant stories are often told by old ladies at family gatherings in Gilgit. Her successors were also praised by referring to them as the race of the Queen. Leitner gives us an example of this in his book Dardistan:
"Once upon a time a Mogul army came down and surrounded the fort of Gilgit. At that time Gilgit was governed by a woman, Mirzéy Juwāri by name. She was the widow of a Rajah supposed to have been of Balti descent. The lady seeing herself surrounded by enemies sang:
I. Mirzéy Juwāri = Oh [daughter of] Mirza, Juwāri!
Shakeréy piál; darú = [Thou art a] sugar cup; in the
Dunyá sang taréye = world [thy] light has shone
II. Abi Khānn djālo = Abi Khān [my son] was born
Lamâyi tey! latshār tāro = [I thy mother] am thy sacrifice; the morning star
Nikāto = has risen"
Soni Jawari Center for Public Policy, Gilgit
Queen Jawari is remembered for her bravery, innovation, challenging the mores of a patriarchal society, and concern for the welfare of her subjects. To commemorate this legendary queen, a park in Gilgit city has been named after her, known as the Dadi Jawari Park, and a public policy institute, known as Soni Jawari Center for Public Policy (SJCPP). This park is for women and children only, a step very commendable given the limitations of women in accessing public spaces. However, there is a need that more institutions are built to preserve the legacy of the Queen of a plural, independent, and technologically progressive Gilgit-Baltistan.
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