16

Conquest of Dardistan and Chitral

The incessant attacks on and plunder of villages in Rondu, Dras, Gultari and Shingo Shigar by people from Gilgit, Chilas and Astore while he was preoccupied in the campaigns in Laddakh, forced Ali Sher Khan Anchan to march on Gilgit with an Army worthy of his glorious name. He conquered Astore, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar and Chilas. From Gilgit he advanced to and conquered Chitral and Kafiristan. To commemorate his victory he planted a Chinar Tree (Plane Tree) at Chitral near the village of Bronshel. In Balti folk songs and stories Chitral is known by the name of Brushal and this Chinar tree is referred to as Brosho Shingial or the Chinal of Broshal-corrupted form of Bronshal. In the folk lore named after this Chinar of Brushal-Brosho Shingial, the exploits of Ali Sher Khan are enumerated and tribute is paid to the Anchan for his remarkable conquest and the boundary of his kingdom from Purang in the east to Brushal or Chitral in the West and in doing so, the Balti people have also been allowed to share the tribute. In one line the western and eastern boundaries of the Maqpon Empire have been defined ‘Leh Purang na Brushal Shingel’ meaning ‘from Leh’s Purang to Brushal’s Chinar Tree’.

It took him three years to subjugate the area extending from Rondu to kafiristan. But he did not annex it. As a mark of victory he annexed the Haramosh valley to Rondu.

It is claimed that Ali Sher Khan Anchan introduced Polo in Gilgit and Chitral. Polo is a Balti/Tibetan word meaning ‘ball’. The one that is played on horseback is called ‘Harta Polo’ or ‘horse Polo’, Football is called ‘Kang Polo’. A level piece of ground at the confluence of Indus and Gilgit River is still called ‘Maqponi Shagharan’ or the ‘Polo ground of the Maqpon’. The credit of another Polo ground at the Shundar Top on the boundary of Gilgit and Chitral is also being given to him. Hashmatullah remarks that he saw ruins of a building near the Maqponi Shagharan which must have remained his headquarter during his campaign in Gilgit. As regards the introduction of Polo it may be brought out that it originated in Persia ; 600 B.C. and it was called ‘Chogan’. This Chogan was played in India even during the Moghal period but the present system of Polo originated in Baltistan found its way into the conquered territories of the colony of Baltis who had settled at Chushot, and was adopted by the Higher class of Laddakhis.