An Anthropologist’s 20-Year Quest To Document Pakistan’s Ancient Rock Art

Pakistani anthropologist, Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro, is a person on a mission. Having spent over twenty years tirelessly researching artwork and tradition in Pakistan, Kalhoro stands as presumably the solely Pakistani who has documented the nation’s most historic rock artwork, a few of which will be traced again to prehistoric instances.

With eleven books to his identify, a few of which embrace; Symbols in Stone: Rock Artwork of Sindh, Memorial Stones: Tharparkar, Views on the Artwork and Structure of Sindh (which explored lesser recognized heritage websites within the area), and extra, Kalhoro’s travels have taken him via each nook and cranny of Sindh, together with the provinces of Punjab, Baluchistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.

With a deep-seated curiosity in discovering Sindh’s undocumented rock artwork, Kalhoro mentions that it was throughout his time in school learning anthropology, and being uncovered to unbelievable programs and books that he “started Sindh with an anthropological lens.”

In 1998, throughout his go to to the traditional Necropolis of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro (of the Kalhoro dynasty) within the Dadu district of Sindh, the younger anthropologist-to-be was in awe.

“I bear in mind seeing stunning work – the entire social and cultural historical past of that period was depicted on the partitions,” Kalhoro states earnestly, “It was my first encounter with Sindhi tradition. That’s once I began documenting wall work in several components of the area.”

From thereon, the anthropologist discovered himself in a state of enchantment – a sense that has by no means left him and which continues to drive him to discover Pakistan’s tangible and intangible heritage.

With a Twitter and Instagram feed stuffed with his articles and images, posing in essentially the most enthralling, faraway locations in Pakistan – properly out of the mainstream media’s glare – one finds Kalhoro softly smiling into the digital camera with historic rock artwork and scenic valleys framing his backdrop.

Continuously on the transfer, that is the place the anthropologist is in his aspect: below the blazing solar, within the mountainous areas of western Sindh – areas that might make anybody shrink back from embarking on such harmful expeditions – or below the night time sky, sprawled out on a mat and awaiting daybreak, to hunt out his subsequent discovery.

Kalhoro’s travels and analysis go far past floor degree documentation. For over twenty years the anthropologist has continued to re-visit essentially the most far-flung villages and valleys in Sindh’s Nawab Shah, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Sanghar, Hyderabad and extra, to proceed his analysis on topics such because the Buddhist illustration in rock artwork. After innumerable articles, analysis papers and books, Kalhoro’s hardwork paid off when his discoveries started garnering worldwide consideration.

Typically touring by foot, with native villagers – who he befriended – as his guides, for an 8-9 hour hike (because the terrain doesn’t permit for one to journey by a automotive), Kalhoro reveals that he has repeatedly gone again to Gaj valley, in Khirthar, Sindh, over a interval of 9 years for analysis for his guide, The Rock Carvings of Gaj Valley, as a consequence of be printed in 2023.

In his article, the Speaking Rocks of Gaj Valley, Kalhoro highlights the presence of fascinating carvings which date again to prehistoric instances. Whereas some embrace “historic and trendy looking and fight scenes,” others depict detailed engravings of a “ritual dance.”

“My line of labor is a really costly ardour,” Kalhoro responds when requested why one doesn’t discover others like himself, documenting native heritage earlier than it’s misplaced to smash and decay.

“Lots of the areas I journey to are very dangerous and make for uncomfortable, tough journeys. After I began out the locals would dissuade me from touring to the websites. It was laborious for them to journey to these spots too. Some areas are recognized to accommodate dacoits and different areas haven’t any locations the place you’ll be able to keep to interrupt your journey. That being mentioned, these areas – in the event that they’re promoted the best manner – have the potential of changing into vacationer spots that might in flip profit the native communities enormously.”

Presently, aside from finishing his guide on the Gaj valley, the anthropologist can be engaged on an extra two books, the Feminine Sufi Saints and Shrines in Pothohar, and, Cultural Heritage Alongside the Silk Street in Pakistan, each of that are due out in 2024.

Although Kalhoro continues his laborious service in documenting Pakistan’s heritage, he isn’t bitter in regards to the lack of acknowledgement on residence turf. In actual fact, when questioned about it, the anthropologist laughs it off good-naturedly.

“It might be good to be acknowledged,” he responds thoughtfully, “However on the finish of the day, my books are for our future generations. I do know they will profit from them.”