DaKS - University of Kassel's research data repository
DaKS is the institutional repository of the University of Kassel for research data. It offers structured storage of research data alongside with descriptive metadata, long-term archiving for at least 10 years and – if requested – the publication of the dataset with a DOI.
DaKS is managed by the university library and the IT Service Centre of the University of Kassel. It is hosted at Philipps-Universität Marburg. We are happy to advise you via daks@uni-kassel.de.
Recent Submissions
The Strapkhor, the Jinn, and the Clever Old Woman
(Universität Kassel, 5/31/2024) Syed Muhammad Ali Shah; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
This tale, over 400 years old, has been passed down through generations in our family. We heard it from our great-grandfather, and it continues to be shared as a piece of our rich cultural heritage. In ancient times, humans coexisted with jinns. The advent of machinery, trains, airplanes, and cars marked the end of this era. Back then, populations were sparse, and houses were far apart, often one or two miles apart. Consequently, the entire region of Baltistan was inhabited by jinns. My great-grandfather used to tell us stories about jinns visiting our homes. One such tale involves a traditional dish called strapkhor, unique to Baltistan and possibly not found anywhere else in the world. The preparation of strapkhor is a lengthy process. First, wheat grains are soaked in water for several days until they sprout. The sprouted wheat is then dried in the sun. Once dried, it develops a distinct flavor, ready to be used in making strapkhor.
One day, an old woman was making strapkhor on an iron stove. Due to the scarcity of wood, they often used various weeds collected from pastures as fuel. While she was cooking, a woman who appeared to be a human entered the kitchen and offered her help. As the old woman placed the dough on the griddle, it kept disappearing mysteriously. The wise old woman quickly realized that her helper was not human but a fairy or a jinn. She cleverly asked the fairy to blow on the stove, claiming it wasn't burning properly. As the fairy bent down to blow on the stove, the old woman swiftly pushed her head into the red-hot iron stove. The fairy screamed and, instead of fleeing through the door, escaped through the stove's hood. Outside, another jinn was waiting for her. Seeing her condition, the waiting jinn spoke in their language, instructing her to invert her body "“ head down and feet up. When she did so, the iron rod stuck in her neck fell out. This encounter revealed to the old woman that the being was indeed a jinn. She noticed that the jinn had inverted feet and hair under their soles.
The Bird and the Pearl
(Universität Kassel, 8/22/2024) Gamburi; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
Once upon a time there was a bird that had a thread adorned with pearls. One day, a pearl fell from the thread and got stuck in a thorn. The bird asked the thorn to return the pearl, but the thorn refused. The bird then asked the fire to burn the thorn, but the fire declined. So, the bird asked the water to quench the fire, but the water also refused. Next, the bird approached a bull, asking it to drink the water. The bull questioned why it should comply after which the bird asked a man to shoot the bull with his gun. The man, too, asked why he should do that. Undeterred, the bird asked a rat to destroy the man's bullets, but the rat refused. So, the bird turned to a cat, asking it to eat the rat. The cat wondered why it should do such a thing and finally, the bird asked a grandmother to kill the cat. The grandmother, questioning the request, pointed out that the cat took care of the house. The bird then asked the wind to blow and destroy the grandmother's house. A loud sound was heard as the wind blew and scat-tered the grandmother's belongings. Furious, the grandmother killed the cat and the cat then ate the rat. The rat destroyed the man's bullets, the man shot the bull, the bull drank the water, the water quenched the fire, the fire burned the thorn and finally, the thorn returned the pearl to the bird. Thus, through a series of events, the bird recovered its precious pearl.
The Enchanted Magician
(Universität Kassel, 5/31/2024) Gulam Nabi; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
Ghulam Nabi, a policeman, had a deep desire to learn magic. The type of magic he sought required practice at night, so he exchanged his night duties with his colleagues. For forty days, he stayed awake at night and performed his duties during the day. This forty-day magic course was called chila. On the fortieth night, he experienced strange phenomena: the earth shook as if from an earthquake, and a massive amount of water seemed to rush towards him. His night was filled with fear, and he recited verses from the Holy Qur'an for comfort. In the early morning, Ghulam Nabi went to his teacher and described the terrifying night he had experienced. The teacher congratulated him, explaining that he had successfully become a real magician. He was warned that those who failed to complete the course could not live normal lives. In celebration, the teacher offered him a cup of tea. After mastering this magic, Ghulam Nabi found he could cure certain diseases simply by touching his saliva to the afflicted area. Although his powers diminished with age, his blessing or influence huda remained effective. He understood that there were four types of magic: black, white, separating, and vision magic"”the latter being the most dangerous. Once, his niece was affected by vision magic, but thanks to his knowledge, she recovered. He noted that his powers were especially strong on Fridays, attracting people from across the region seeking his help on that day.
Ghulam Nabi also got to know a man from Mansehra who exhibited strange symptoms, such as itching that released leeches which then vanished into the air. He used his magical powers to fully cure the man, as well as his uncle who showed similar symptoms. In gratitude, they gave him a vehicle full of fruits. He also experienced another case with a young boy in the village who started behaving unusually, taking off his clothes and shoes, and trying to run away. The boy repeatedly said he wanted to go to Astore, but his worried parents brought him to Ghulam Nabi, who used his magical skills to treat the boy. After that the boy served in the army, a testament to Ghulam Nabi's enduring magical abilities.
The Falling Stones of Choshkong (Raja's Water Channel)
(Universität Kassel, 6/7/2024) Dr. Hasan Khan Amacha; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
The fourth tale is about the royal family of Shigar and a stream called Choshkong (Raja Sahib's Water Channel). When a member of Raja Sahib's family, especially a man, passed away, stones fell from above into this water channel. This tradition has been famous for a long time. The last elder in our royal family was Raja Muhammad Ali Shah Sahib, who passed away three years ago. On the evening he died, and the next morning, when I reached my house's steps for the funeral prayers, two stones fell. I heard the sound of falling stones and when I reached the door, stones fell again. I could see stones falling and dust rising. Whether you call it a myth or reality, this event is well-known among the people here.
Shigar's Prosperity and the Legendary Chandan Tree
(Universität Kassel, 6/24/2024) Jafar; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
Once upon a time, a saying was famous throughout Baltistan: "If you lack food or prosperity, go to Shigar". This was because Shigar was known for its abundant agriculture and fertile land, unlike Khaplu and Kharmang, where the scarcity of land limited agricultural activities. The secret to Shigar's prosperity [reportedly] laid in a Chandan tree, known locally as "Chandanne nkholam".This ancient tree stood tall at a spot from where the entire lush and thriving Shigar valley was visible. Invaders once attacked and destroyed much of Shigar, including its greenery. However, they were baffled when, upon returning to the viewpoint (initially called "Nar e lo"), they saw Shigar green and flourishing again. They could not comprehend how the valley remained verdant after their destruction. To uncover the mystery, the invaders offered money to an old woman, who revealed the secret: the Chandan tree was the source of Shigar's vitality. They cut down the tree, but the valley's greenery persisted. Returning to the old woman, they were told to burn the tree's roots using apricot seed kernels. Even then, the greenery diminished only slightly because a part of the root remained, sustaining Shigar's verdancy to this day. Years later, an argument broke out between a man from Skardu and one from Shigar. The Skardu man insulted the Shigar man by calling him a "Cow thief." The Shigar man, known for his poetic nature, responded in verse, highlighting Shigar's wealth and abundance, contrasting it with Skardu, where families shared a single goat for milk. He spoke of Shigar as a land of gold, milk, diamonds, and the Chandan tree. He implied that while Skardu struggled for basic sustenance, Shigar thrived with livestock and agriculture. His poetic retort, mentioning the Chandan tree, underscored Shigar's enduring prosperity. The Shigar man apologized if his words offended, explaining that the tale was shared to emphasize Shigar's richness and the legendary tree's role in their heritage.