Remoteness and Modernity: Transformation and Continuity in Northern Pakistan (Yale Agrarian Studies Series)

A penetrating anthropological inquiry into remote areas as understood by their inhabitants and by the outsiders who encounter them This groundbreaking book is the first sustained anthropological inquiry into the idea of remote areas. Shafqat Hussain examines the surprisingly diverse ways the people of Hunza, a remote independent state in Pakistan, have been viewed by outsiders over the past century. He also explores the Hunza people's perceptions of British colonialists, Pakistani state officials, modern-day Westerners, and others, and how the local people used their remote status strategically, ensuring their own interests were served as they engaged with the outside world. This Groundbreaking Book Is The First Sustained Anthropological Inquiry Into The Idea Of Remote Areas. Shafqat Hussain Examines The Surprisingly Diverse Ways The People Of Hunza, A Remote Independent State In Pakistan, Have Been Viewed By Outsiders Over The Past Century. He Also Explores How The Hunza People Perceived British Colonialists, Pakistani State Officials, Modern-day Westerners, And Others, And How The Local People Used Their Remote Status Strategically, Ensuring Their Own Interests Were Served As They Engaged With The Outside World-- Mirs Of Hunza -- Chronology Of The Hunza State And Its Relationships With Surrounding Polities -- Lifting The Veil : The Sacred And Political Geography Of Hunza -- The Friction And Rhetoric Of Distance And The Alterity Of Hunza -- Frontier Matters : Irrelevance, Romanticism, And Transformation Of Hunza Society -- Rural Romance And Refuge From Civilization -- The Origin Of A Nation : Hunza And Postcolonial Identity -- On The Edge Of The World -- Strange Strangers In The Land Of Paradise -- Romanticism, Environmentalism, And Articulation Of An Ecological Identity. Shafqat Hussain. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This groundbreaking book is the first sustained anthropological inquiry into the idea of remote areas. Shafqat Hussain examines the surprisingly diverse ways the people of Hunza, a remote independent state in Pakistan, have been viewed by outsiders over the past century. He also explores the Hunza people's perceptions of British colonialists, Pakistani state officials, modern-day Westerners, and others, and how the local people used their remote status strategically, ensuring their own interests were served as they engaged with the outside world"-- Provided by publisher "This groundbreaking book is the first sustained anthropological inquiry into the idea of remote areas. Shafqat Hussain examines the surprisingly diverse ways the people of Hunza, a remote independent state in Pakistan, have been viewed by outsiders over the past century. He also explores how the Hunza people perceived British colonialists, Pakistani state officials, modern-day Westerners, and others, and how the local people used their remote status strategically, ensuring their own interests were served as they engaged with the outside world"-- Provided by publisher This groundbreaking book is the first sustained anthropological inquiry into the idea of remote areas. Shafqat Hussain examines the surprisingly diverse ways the people of Hunza, a remote independent state in Pakistan, have been viewed by outsiders over the past century. He also explores how the Hunza people perceived British colonialists, Pakistani state officials, modern-day Westerners, and others, and how the local people used their remote status strategically, ensuring their own interests were served as they engaged with the outside world.