Cultural History of Western Trans-Himalayas : Bashahar Kinnaur (From Earliest Times to AD 1948)

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Soceity and social classes. 3. Languages of the people. 4. Religious beliefs and practices. 5. Sources of the history of Bashahar. 6. The pre-historic period. 7. Antiquity of the Satluj valley. 8. The Bhot period. 9. Thakars --the rulers of hills and the Thakarshahi. 10. Bashahar under the native rulers. 11. Negis and the other Kanauras. 12. The Moravian missionaries. 13. Woman and the custom of Sati. 14. Great personalities of Kinnaur. 15. Fairs and festivals. 16. Kinnaur: change and continuity. Annexures: 1. Vocabulary. 2. The genealogical list of the Rajas of Bashahar. 3. How Satluj was blocked - Kavi Ganesh. 4. Songs of Sati. 5. Letters issues by Bashahar state. 6. Documents and inscriptions. Bibliography. Index.

"Bashahar, situated amid the high Himalayan ranges, on the Indo-Tibetan border, is one of the most ancient states among those of the Punjab and Shimla hills.

The valley remained generally secluded and peaceful and as such had been a safe refuge for many a moving tribes. Having survived in the face of harsh environment of the high Himalayas, they developed and gave protection to a unique civilization.

The book endeavours to showcase the title known history of the state, its occasional struggles with the powerful neighbouring states and its ultimate emergence as a dominating state in the hills. It discusses almost all aspects of Bashahar Kinnaur: its topography and geographical features, river system, society, language, religious beliefs, customs, fairs and festivals and many more. With its plethora of detailed information, skillfully weaved, this book will prove to be a work of lasting merit and value." (jacket)