Culture & Heritage

The house of Odob Khan

This house has got historical significance due to the Wakhi Demonstration of 1940 against the Mir of Hunza. Odob Khan was a villager of Passu and a relative of Mir Ghazan Khan. It was Odob Khan’s initiative and idea to put forward the request of tax reduction, probably counting on his relations with the Mir. As his request was denied it was he who lead the uprising and urged his people to flee into China and it was in his house that most of the planning and discussions over the matter took place. The descendents of Odob Khan’s still live in this house.

For a long time and even after the British invasion of Hunza in the late 19th century, the Wakhis of Gojal were subjected to heavy taxes and forced labor by the Mir of Hunza. His tax collectors were wildly despised for their arrogant and hostile attitude. In 1940 a group of Wakhis finally stood up and demanded tax relaxation and the appointment of Wakhi tax collectors. The demand was denied and instead an attempt was made by Mir Ghazan Khan to arrest the instigators of the petition.

As a result, more than 100 people fled from Passu with plans to go to China over the Kilik Pass. In Misgar, they decided to inform the British authorities about the situation and in return the British urged the Mir to consider his people’s request. Reluctantly, the ruler granted amnesty to the returning Wakhis, lowered some taxes and removed his unpopular tax collector. The people of Passu still remember this event with pride as their active involvement in the uprising resulted in great benefits for Gojal at large. The consequential reduction of taxes and forced labor held until the final abolishment of the mirdom in 1974.

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