Occupy- We The People
View allAll Photos Tagged Occupy
South Dakota farmstead. My photo with Textures Clouds, Texture 217 and Texture 273 by Lenabem, Anna J.
www.flickr.com/photos/lenabem-anna/27658081168/in/album-7...
www.flickr.com/photos/lenabem-anna/8264750592/in/album-72...
www.flickr.com/photos/lenabem-anna/6352767193/in/album-72...
Der Neubau des Kanzleramts in Berlin nach einem Entwurf der Berliner Architekten Axel Schultes und Charlotte Frank wurde im Jahr 2001 bezogen - The new building of the Federal Chancellery in Berlin, designed by Berlin architects Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank, was occupied in 2001 (Berlin, Germany)
Nests have been built, couples have coupled, and eggs have been laid. Now parents are brooding the next generation of Great Egrets and Cormorants. In the small Resoft rookery I counted 48 occupied Egret nests and many more with Cormorants. Consequently, less in-flight activity on this visit. That will change when eggs hatch and chicks need to be fed. Alvin, Texas.
He's like a little troll who lives below a bridge and doesn't want anyone to cross it. He lives inside the hole of this cable table. The hole is just beneath him. When he hears anyone trying to get a drink he pops up and usually scares the so called offender off. He forgets that it is a public facility.
(EN) The curved basement gallery of Alicante's Provincial Palace offers one of the city's quieter art experiences — a circular space of polished marble, clerestory light and white walls that follow a gentle arc. Three large-format oils occupy the wall, their warm ochres and golds answering the warm tones of the stone floor.
The central work commands the room: a luminous depiction of a 1920s touring car rendered in broad, confident strokes, its golden coachwork glowing against a background of tropical vegetation and figures in period dress. The painting reads less as transport and more as theatre — movement, colour and Mediterranean light held in a single frame. Finally, the curved architecture quietly amplifies everything it contains.
(ES) La galería curva del sótano del Palacio Provincial de Alicante ofrece una de las experiencias artísticas más tranquilas de la ciudad: un espacio circular de mármol pulido, luz cenital y paredes blancas que siguen un arco suave. Tres óleos de gran formato ocupan la pared, cuyos ocres y dorados cálidos dialogan con los tonos del suelo de piedra.
La obra central domina la sala: una representación luminosa de un automóvil de turismo de los años veinte, ejecutada con pinceladas amplias y seguras, su carrocería dorada resplandeciendo ante un fondo de vegetación exuberante y figuras con trajes de época. El cuadro se lee menos como transporte y más como teatro — movimiento, color y luz mediterránea contenidos en un solo encuadre. Y por último, la arquitectura curva amplifica en silencio todo lo que alberga.
Brisbane botanical gardens sunday morning. I like this one. It’s shot at nearly 200mm on the M50 by the lake at the botanical gardens. It’s just nice
Kauai, Hawaii
Though on the main highway this occupied house sits across the street from a huge resort, and is adjacent to water and restaurants. The property is worth big $$.
The smell flowing from this..... this..... occupied structure almost gagged me! Even in gentrified Williamsburg you cannot get away from homelessness. I hope this creatively constructed, cardboard home is warm, nightime temperatures are exected to drop to 9°F.
Seen in the North 6th and Berry Sts. parking lot.
Definitely not a photo for the "Joyful Simplicities" group.
Aight, so this'll keep me occupied for a little bit. This'll pretty much be a series of pics featuring the Mandalorians from the battlepack in various settings, doing various things.
So first up is this bloke. He's the generic bounty hunter type, does business on a desert planet, likes a drink at the cantina, that whole thing. He also has an old AT-RT that he's patched up and modified over the years. How many years is a question that seeks to be answered. Might even upload separate pic of the AT-RT standing up.
So as always, lemme know what you think :D
The true finches are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. Finches have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and often have colourful plumage. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usually resident and do not migrate. They have a worldwide distribution except for Australia and the polar regions. The family includes species known as siskins, canaries, redpolls, serins, grosbeaks and euphonias. Many birds in other families are also commonly called "finches". These groups include: the estrildid finches (Estrildidae) of the Old World tropics and Australia; some members of the Old World bunting family (Emberizidae) and the American sparrow family (Passerellidae); and the Darwin's finches of the Galapagos islands, now considered members of the tanager family (Thraupidae). Finches and canaries were used in the UK, Canada and USA in the coal mining industry, to detect carbon monoxide from the eighteenth to twentieth century. This practice ceased in the UK in 1986. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finch
First experiments with a new form in the ever-evolving world of Pano-Sabotage photography that's been dubbed "MonitorPano". It's both a new turn for me and a return to a very old tactic I used in 2012 where I achieved coarse but provoking layers by photographing, with my Canon Rebel XS, my computers screen saver as it faded in and out between images in my photo files. The great thing was that the images didn't just click from one to the next like a slide show, they faded in and out over top of each other. There was always a "crossover" point where the two images would occupy the same amount of "presence" on the screen thereby becoming "fused" or "blended" ... in effect ... layered. A cruder version of Brian Enos Installation piece, "77 Million Paintings", perhaps, but using the same idea.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0_4rCfpNzw
By the time Apple brought out the next Operating System, they'd taken out that scrolling slide show feature from what was then "iPhoto" and re-dubbed it "Photos". It always amazes me how the Silicon Valley geeks always "improve" things by taking out unique and wonderful features. Gotta mow it all down to sameness and uniformity, I guess. Unique features are seen as "mistakes".
Liz Mack has asked, "How long will it take for Apple to 'correct' the algorithms that allow for Pano-Sabotage photography ?"
MonitorPano, even though being hotly used right now and to great effect has actually been around quietly for a few years now. Don of the PANO-vision group was actually one of the first Pano-Sabotage artists to start "pano-ing" his desktop screen, and has often produced some very unique work with this method. Recently, Bill Smith, Paul Ewing and Liz Mack have taken it up with a vengeance with striking results.
"Graph ET 1" is the first finished piece that I created using the same technique the Paul, Bill, Liz and Don use. All of us in "PANO-Vision" learn a lot from each other and each of us makes invaluable contributions to the groups knowledge and technique base by that sharing. In PANO, as well call it for short, it's not about competition. We thrive by sharing. Each of us grows by contributing to an ongoing and easy exchange.
"MonitorPano" is achieved by setting one's cell phone camera on "Pano", clicking it on, while focusing on the desktop monitor and using the other hand to tap the arrow right ( or left ) key to quickly jump from photo to photo while the cell phone hand is pano-sabotaging the whole "pass". Tricky, and it takes some co-ordination, but it can be quite surprising what results.
This image was created for the PANO-Vision Groups Summer Contest, "PANO to the Metal".
www.flickr.com/groups/2892788@N23/discuss/72157667684597037/
Image culled from SLR shots done in 2011 and
"MonitorPanoed" and processed June 6, 2018.
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© Richard S Warner ( Visionheart ) - 2018. All Rights Reserved. This image is not for use in any form without explicit, express, written permission.
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I am VERY proud to announce that I was chosen to be the feature artist of the "Kreative People" Group's Spring Gallery - Running until the end of June. I really must thank both abstractartangel77 and Xandram for bestowing me with this great honour. The link to the gallery appears below:
Please visit my Kreative People Highlight Gallery HERE
The Cittadella, also known as the Castello is a citadel in Victoria on the island of Gozo, Malta. The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and the site now occupied by the Cittadella is believed to have been the acropolis of the Punic-Roman city of Gaulos or Glauconis Civitas.
During the medieval period, the acropolis was converted into a castle which served as a refuge for Gozo's population. A suburb began to develop outside its walls by the 15th century, and this area now forms the historic core of Victoria. The castle's defences were obsolete by the 16th century, and it was sacked by an Ottoman force in 1551, with most of Gozo's population being captured and enslaved.
A major reconstruction of the southern walls of the Cittadella was undertaken between 1599 and 1622, effectively transforming it from a medieval castle into a gunpowder fortress. Its northern walls were not rebuilt, and today they still retain a largely medieval form. The new fortifications were criticized in later decades, and plans to demolish the entire citadel were made a number of times in the 17th and 18th centuries, but were never carried out.
The Cittadella contains a number of churches and historic buildings, including the Cathedral of the Assumption, which was built between 1697 and 1711 on the site of an earlier church. The citadel has been included on Malta's tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1998.
Best viewed Original size (1280 x 853 pixels).
General view of Albert Draper & Son Ltd's Neptune Street scrap facility with (left to right) Stanier (2-cylinder) 4P 2-6-4T 42616, BR 9F 2-10-0s 92156 & 92135, Fairburn 4P 2-6-4Ts 42093 & 42252 all waiting for the cutters to do their work - c.18/03/1968.
Image taken from the footbridge which ran between Goulton Street and William Wright/Albert Docks. A replacement, modern footbridge spanning Clive Sullivan Way (on the western approaches to Daltry Street flyover) occupies much the same position as the original bridge, some abutments of which are thought to have been used in the construction of the new footbridge.
Please do not share or post elsewhere without permission of the copyright holder(s).
© 2022 - 53A Models of Hull Collection. Scanned from the original 35mm monochrome negative.
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4th May 2015 - A quick shot from Pier Head of the old Bank of England building.
For over a week now the “Love Activists” squatting group has been occupying the Bank of England building on Castle Street in the centre of Liverpool. They have opened the old bank as a space for the homeless with kitchen, sleeping space etc. They are expecting eviction, and recently (29 April) large numbers of police arrived at the building in what looked set to be an attack on the squat. However, after harassing people outside and issuing a dispersal order, most of the cops left. Up to now, the building remains occupied. For more information and updates see the occupiers’ facebook page. Below we repost a statement of demands from the group, via squat.net.
We make this document a Statement of Intent regarding the old Bank of England building on Castle Street, Liverpool. The intentions are as follows to feed, cloth and help all those who seek it and for the local community to help resource this project.
We intend to use this building for the community, to inspire a feeling of community, which is lacking.
We do this in direct response to a local council and government who are lacking in their efforts to help those in need and in fact, the local Council and government seem intent on making matters worse for the people by putting more and more austerity measures in place.
We wish by the direct action of occupying an empty unused building and using said building to provide certain needs for the street people or for that matter anyone else who needs to use what is provided by donations, which come from the local community.
We intend to live in peace and harmony with our local community and will resolve any issues which are brought to our attention.
@Love Activists (Liverpool) former Bank of England.
@Love Activists (Liverpool) former Bank of England.
Our demands are as follows:
1. We demand Mayor Joe Anderson meets with us before the end of this week
2. We demand the Merseyside Labour councils and Joe Anderson Mayor rejects the cuts and says no to austerity and no to the cuts. We are suffering ‘Enuf is Enuf’ – we and they need sanctuary.
3. We demand all of the homeless we have been supporting, helping to provide a sense of worth and belonging are re-housed immediately.
4. We demand Social Services and Mental Health Services undertake rapid assessments of those we are supporting, they are very vulnerable.
5. We have learned the drug and alcohol rehabilitation services are underfunded and unsupported, with long waiting lists, cuts to funding. These services must be well resourced and protected. We say no to privatisation.
6. The voices of the homeless must be heard and their requests must be actioned and they must be treated as equals.
7. We have also learned that the Homeless Provision in Merseyside is at breaking point, we have been working with the Whitechapel Centre in particular and will continue with that positive relationship.
8. We demand that the first step to recovery for those with addition issues is a roof over their heads, this is a priority over their recovery.
9. We would also like to thank the community and businesses of Liverpool and further afield for their generous support in solidarity of our direct action to occupy the Bank of England – we have only got this far with that support.
10. We continue to peacefully resist our removal from the Occupied Bank until our demands are met in full.
In peace and solidarity @Love Activists (Liverpool)
El origen del Palacio de Carlos V se debe a la necesidad de un lugar que reuniese todas las comodidades de la época para el emperador y su familia, ya que el Alcázar, que era su residencia de verano, no cubría sus necesidades.
El emperador ordenó la construcción del palacio junto a la Alhambra para poder disfrutar de sus maravillas. El arquitecto encargado de la obra fue Pedro Machuca, un enamorado del renacimiento de acreditada experiencia. La construcción del palacio comenzó en 1527 y financió en su totalidad en 1957. La construcción pasó por varias etapas, falta de fondos, sublevaciones que pararon las obras, etcétera. Los techos llegaron a hundirse por abandono.
El palacio es cuadrado, con una fachada principal de 63 metros de ancho por 17 metros de alto. Destaca su patio circular en el centro, único en su estilo y la obra más destacada del renacimiento en España. Sólo están decoradas las fachadas sur y oeste en su totalidad. La norte y este sólo en parte, debido a que el edificio está unido al Alcázar de la Alhambra.
El edificio, de cantería, es cuadrado, y mide 63 m. de longitud y 17,40 de altura en las fachadas principales, quedando inscrito en el interior su patio circular, lo que determina una planta extraña y de difícil aprovechamiento, sin precedentes construidos. El edificio consta de dos cuerpos: el inferior de orden toscano, de obra almohadillada, con sillares picados y muy salientes pilastras en las que se insertan grandes anillones de bronce para atar los caballos. En los espacios intermedios de las pilastras se abren ventanas rectangulares y, sobre ellas, otras circulares (acristaladas recientemente), entendiéndose a lo largo de este cuerpo un amplio poyo que forma el zócalo del palacio.
Análoga disposición de huecos y pilastras ofrece el cuerpo segundo, aunque está mucho más ornamentado y, en él, bajo las ventanas circulares, se abren balcones con adornados dinteles. Las pilastras son de orden jónico, apoyando un entablamento corintio.
La parte central de las dos fachadas principales las ocupan magníficas portadas de mármol de Sierra Elvira, que son de lo más bello del Renacimiento español. La portada del lado occidental, que se considera la principal entrada del Palacio, es de orden dórico, con cuatro grupos de columnas dobles estriadas, cuyas basas y capiteles están preciosamente adornados. Entre las columnas se abren tres puertas: la central, de gran tamaño, sirve de apoyo a la estatua de una mujer que sostiene una granada simbólica en una de sus manos y extiende la otra en ademán de señalar, como haciendo al Emperador la ofrenda del palacio. Las otras dos puertas son más pequeñas y están adornadas con grupos de frutas en ménsulas y con medallas en sus tímpanos.
La del mediodía (mirando a la Torre de la Justicia) tiene el cuerpo inferior jónico; los pedestales que se prolongan a los lados para sostener dos leones tendidos tienen en sus netos bajo-relieves con trofeos guerreros, romanos, árabes, turcos y cristianos; la puerta tiene una cornisa y frontón con un relieve de la Abundancia en su tímpano y, sobre él, figuras aladas de la Fama y la Victoria ofreciendo coronas al vencedor y acompañadas de geniecillos. El segundo cuerpo de esta portada es corintio, y sus dobles columnas se apoyan en pedestales con relieves que forman una balconada.
Sobre estas portadas aparecen medallones enmarcados en piedra serpentina.
El patio, en alto, es por su grandeza y suntuosidad, una de las más bellas creaciones del Renacimiento. Su amplio círculo, de 30 m. de diámetro, ocupa el centro de la construcción y le rodea un ancho pórtico con 32 columnas dóricas. Las columnas, de piedra pudinga del Turro (Loja), corresponden a otras tantas pilastras que decoran el muro del claustro, entre las que se abren arcos, hornacinas y puertas para
www.alhambra.org/palacio-carlos-v.html
The origin of the Palace of Charles V is due to the need for a place that would meet all the comforts of the time for the emperor and his family, as the Alcazar, which was his summer residence, did not meet their needs.
The emperor ordered the construction of the palace next to the Alhambra so that he could enjoy its wonders. The architect in charge of the work was Pedro Machuca, a Renaissance lover of proven experience. The construction of the palace began in 1527 and was fully financed in 1957. The construction went through several stages, lack of funds, uprisings that stopped the works, and so on. The roofs even collapsed due to neglect.
The palace is square, with a main façade measuring 63 metres wide by 17 metres high. The circular courtyard in the centre is unique in its style and the most outstanding work of the Renaissance in Spain. Only the south and west façades are decorated in their entirety. The north and east façades are only partially decorated, due to the fact that the building is linked to the Alcazar of the Alhambra.
The building, made of stone, is square and measures 63 m. long and 17.40 m. high on the main façades, with a circular courtyard inside, which makes for a strange floor plan that is difficult to make use of, with no precedents ever built. The building consists of two sections: the lower section is of Tuscan order, with cushioned brickwork, with ashlars and very protruding pilasters in which large bronze rings are inserted for tying up the horses. Rectangular windows open in the spaces between the pilasters and, above them, other circular windows (recently glazed), with a wide base along this body forming the base of the palace.
The second section has a similar arrangement of openings and pilasters, although it is much more ornamented and, below the circular windows, there are balconies with ornate lintels. The pilasters are Ionic, supported by a Corinthian entablature.
The central part of the two main façades are occupied by magnificent Sierra Elvira marble façades, which are among the most beautiful of the Spanish Renaissance. The façade on the western side, which is considered the main entrance to the palace, is of Doric order, with four groups of double fluted columns, whose bases and capitals are beautifully ornamented. Three doors open between the columns. The central door, which is large, supports a statue of a woman holding a symbolic pomegranate in one hand and extending the other in a pointing gesture, as if making the offering of the palace to the Emperor. The other two gates are smaller and are decorated with groups of fruit on corbels and medals on their tympani.
The lower part of the doorway on the south (facing the Tower of Justice) is Ionic; the pedestals that extend to the sides to support two lions lying on their bases have bas-reliefs with Roman, Arab, Turkish and Christian war trophies; the doorway has a cornice and pediment with a relief of Abundance on its tympanum and, above it, winged figures of Fame and Victory offering crowns to the victor and accompanied by small genii. The second body of this doorway is Corinthian, and its double columns are supported by pedestals with reliefs that form a balcony.
Above these doorways are medallions framed in serpentine stone.
The high courtyard is one of the most beautiful creations of the Renaissance for its grandeur and sumptuousness. Its wide circle, 30 m in diameter, occupies the centre of the building and is surrounded by a wide portico with 32 Doric columns. The columns, made of pudinga stone from El Turro (Loja), correspond to as many pilasters that decorate the cloister wall, between which are arches, niches and doors to
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Barcelona, Spain, summer 2017. Elite chrome 100 (expired), c-41 process. Olympus 35SP (zuiko 42mm 1.7 lens)
50 million occupied Kurds across 4 regions
("thank you very much for your visit ")
Follow me, ill follow back & tanks for likening/commenting.
You can to add to any group. I would appreciate if you could share this.
K U R D I S T A N - 💛❤💚كوردستان💋
The Struggle for Freedom: Justice for the Kurds
We want Freedom for Kurdistan.
Just reminder for my people, never forget they kill us just because we’re the Kurds we have our own culture tradition heritage history and path which are different from theirs , don’t forget don’t forgive, we are the origin people of this land they’re just invaders
Peshmarge Message
We were fighting against terror to protect humanity
kurdistan, Kurdish struggle for Peace, Freedom . Democracy
Thanks for your visit
وەک کێو .. لە ناو دڵی میللەتەکەت
وەک کێو .. بەرامبەر دوژمنانی میللەتەکەت
بــە کـــەرکـــوکــدا زانــیــم،
خـــیـــانـــەت ، چـــی لـــە دڵــــی مـــرۆڤ دەکــــا..
خاک و نیشتیمان وەکو دایک وایە
ئەوەی خاک و نیشتیمانەکەی بفروشیت
وەک ئەوە وایە دایکی خوی فروشتووە
Peshmarge Message
We were fighting against terror to protect humanity
I love the colours of these mussel shells - if they weren't occupied I would have liked to re-home them to my place.
Taken in Otago, South Island, NZ
>> Here are more of my beach finds on flickr :-)
P1040956-B.JPG
Prompt: A digital fine art, ultra-realistic, Depicting an outhouse in the middle of a forest in winter during a snowstorm. There is a sign on the outhouse door "Occupied", no noise, no grain, 4k resolution, high-details
This digital fine art was created using OpenAI Sora AI and Photoshop
This shell was occupied as you can probably tell, looking at its center. I made sure to put it close to the water when I was done. I just fell in love with the shape.
As we approached the cabin we planned on staying in for the night, we passed this concrete block. It's there to tell people driving up canyon if the cabin is occupied or not. It wasn't, so we turned it around from VACANT to OCCUPIED.
The cabin sits at the end of a canyon and is still a couple of miles distant. There's not a lot of parking, due to the nature of the canyon, and this will hopefully save some people some trouble and the residents some unwanted visitors.
Every cabin I've stayed at, in and around Death Valley, has a US flag that you fly to alert people that it's occupied. This one did, too, but you can't see it until it's too late.
Argus Range
Mojave Desert
The 1500 Yard Job is backing across Depew St. to hook up to their cars stashed away while they were working Stelco. Afterword's they'd call for a light out of "The Hole" and back to the yard.
CN 4719 (Controlling Unit)
CN 1500 Hamilton Yard Job
Mile 2.27 CN N&NW Spir
Hamilton, ON
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swat_District
Swat (pronounced [ˈsʋaːt̪], Pashto: سوات) is a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, located close to the Afghan-Pakistan border. It is the upper valley of the Swat River, which rises in the Hindu Kush range. The capital of Swat is Saidu Sharif, but the main town in the Swat valley is Mingora.[1] It was a princely state (see Swat (princely state)) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until it was dissolved in 1969. The valley is almost entirely populated by ethnic Gujjar and Pashtuns (Afghans). The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto and Gojri. With high mountains, green meadows, and clear lakes, it is a place of great natural beauty and is popular with tourists as "the Switzerland of the region".
History
Swat has been inhabited for over two thousand years. The first inhabitants were settled in well-planned towns. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great fought his way to odegram and Barikot and stormed their battlements. In Greek accounts these towns have been identified as Ora and Bazira. Around the 2nd century BC, the area was occupied by Buddhists, who were attracted by the peace and serenity of the land. There are many remains that testify to their skills as sculptors and architects. In the beginning of the 8th century AD, Gabari Royal Tajik tribe advanced through Laghman, ningarhar, Dir and invaded Swat, defeating the Buddhists and the Hindus. This war was headed by Sultan Pakhal Gabari and later on by Sultan Behram Gabari Rulers of Kuner Pich and cousin of Rulers of Balkh and Kashmir. Later some Dilazak encrouched tha area and settled among Gabaris, who in turn were ousted by the Yusufzais which was backed by Mughal Badshah Zahiruddin Muhammad Baber, considered the super power in 1519 and 1520. The historical paradox was that the Yusufzais were ousted from Kabul by Mirza Ullegh beg, the uncle of Baber, and killed 600 malak of Yusufzai; the Gabaris helped Yousofzais refugees with a warm welcome and settled them in Bajour Dir and Swat regions. The Yousofzais forgot the generosity of Gabaris and encrouched upon the Gabari state with the plotted help of Zahiruddin Muhammad babar. They Demolished the Gabar-Kot (fortress) in bajour in 1519 and further advanced to the swat and compelled the last Gabari King Sultan Awais Gabari to flee to Upper Dir where he established his rule in,Chitral wakhan,Badakhshan and other upper Oxus. The originator of the present family of Swat was the Muslim saint Abdul Ghafoor, the Akhund of Swat, a Safi Momand of Hazara district, from where he went to Buner territory. He was a pious man and the people respected him so greatly that they called him Akhund Sahib.[2]
During the mid-19th century, Muslim tribes were fighting against each other for the possession of Swat Valley. On the intervention of the honourable Akhund Sahib, the killing was stopped, and such was his influence that the chiefs of all tribes unanimously made him the ruler of the valley. Akhund Sahib administrated the valley according to Muslim laws. Peace and tranquility prevailed, and agriculture and trade flourished in the territory. Akhund Sahib had two sons by his wife, who belonged to Nikpi Khel(نیک پی خیل).
After the death of Akhund Sahib, the tribal chiefs again started fighting and killing, which continued for years. Eventually the tribal chiefs agreed to give the control of the valley into the hands of the honourable Gul Shahzada Abdul Wadood, the son of Mian Gul Abdul Khaliq, son of Akhund Sahib. The wife of Mian Abdul Wadood was the daughter of Honorable Mirza Afzal-ul-Mulk, the ruler of Chitral. The British by trick put Chitral under the suzerainty of Kashmir. The Chitral ruler gave two horses every year to the Rajia of Kashmir, and the Raja provided Chitral with grain and sugar, etc. Swat thus went under protection of the British.
During the rule of Mian Gul Muhammad, Abdul Haq Jehanzeb, the son of Mian Abdul Wadood Khatana, the state acceded to Pakistan in 1947. The present prince, Muhammad Aurzngzeb Khan, son of Jahanzeb, married the daughter of Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan in 1955. Thus by intermarriages with the other castes, the family became a branch of the imperial Gujjars i.e., the Royal family of Swat valley which belongs to the Gujjar family which laid down the foundation of Swat kingdom. Jahanzeb started a Degree College at Saidu Sahrif, the capital of the State, and four High Schools at Mingora, Chakesar, Matta and Dagar. Fourteen middle schools, twenty-eight lower middle schools, and fifty-six primary schools were established. A girls high school and high class religious schools were established at Saidu Sharif. At all the schools, the poor students were granted scholarships. The state was an exemplary state during British rule. They also have a firm stand in politics of Pakistan. The current Prince Aurangzeb Khan was also Governor of Baluchistan.
Buddhist heritage of Swat
Although it is generally accepted that Tantric Buddhism first developed in Swat under King Indrabhuti, there is an old and well-known scholarly dispute as to whether Uddiyana was in the Swat valley, Orissa or some other place. Padmasambhava (flourished eighth century AD), also called Guru Rimpoche, Tibetan Slob-dpon (teacher), or Padma ‘byung-gnas (lotus born) legendary Indian Buddhist mystic who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet and is credited with establishing the first buddhist monastery there.According to tradition, Padmasambhava was native to Udyana (now Swat in Pakistan).[3] Padmasambhava was the son of Indrabhuti, king of Swat in the early eighth century AD. One of the original Siddhas, Indrabhuti flourished in the early eighth century AD and was the king of Uddiyana in the Kabul valley. His son Padmasambhava is revered as the second Buddha in Tibet. Indrabhuti's sister, Lakshminkaradevi, was also an accomplished siddha of the 9th century AD.[4] Ancient Gandhara, the valley of Pekhawar, with the adjacent hilly regions of Swat and Buner, Dir and Bajaur was one of the earliest centers of Buddhist religion and culture following the reign of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, in the third century BC. The name Gandhara first occurs in the Rigveda which is usually identified with the region[5]
Buddha heritage in the Swat Valley
The Swat museum has acquired footprints of the Buddha, which were originally placed for devotion in the sacred Swat valley. When the Buddha ascended, relics (personal items, body parts, ashes etc.) were distributed to seven kings, who built stupas over them for veneration.
The Harmarajika stupa (Taxila) and Butkarha (Swat) stupa at Jamal Garha were among the earliest Gandhara stupas. These were erected on the orders of King Ashoka and contained the genuine relics of the historic Buddha.[citation needed]
The Gandhara school is credited with the first representations of the Buddha in human form, rather symbolically as the wheel of the law, the tree, etc.[citation needed]
As Buddhist art developed and spread outside Gandhara, Gandharan styles were imitated. In China the Gandhara style was imitated in bronze images, with gradual changes in the features of these images over the passage of time. Swat, the land of romance and beauty, is celebrated throughout the Buddhist world as the holy land of Buddhist learning and piety. Swat was a popular destination for Buddhist pilgrims. Buddhist tradition holds that Buddha himself came to Swat during his incarnation as Gautama Buddha and preached to the people here.
It is said[by whom?] that the Swat valley was filled with fourteen hundred imposing and beautiful stupas and monasteries, which housed as many as 6,000 gold images of the Buddhist pantheon for worship and education. Archaeologists now know of more than 400 Buddhist sites covering an area of 160 km2 in Swat valley alone. Among the important excavations of Buddhist sites in Swat an important one is Butkarha-I, containing original relics of the Buddha. A stone statue of Buddha, is still there in the village Ghalegay.[citation needed] There is also a big stupa in Mohallah Singardar Ghalegay
Hindu Shahi Rulers and Sanskrit
Swat was ruled by the Hindu Shahi dynasty who have built an extensive array of temples and other architectural buildings now in ruins. Sanskrit may have been the lingua franca of the Swatis.[
Hindu Shahi rulers built fortresses to guard and tax the commerce through this area. Their ruins can be seen in the hills of Swat: at Malakand pass at Swat’s southern entrance
Advent of Islam by Mahmud of Ghazni
At the end of the Mauryan period (324-185 BC) Buddhism spread in the whole Swat valley, which became a very famous center of Buddhist religion.[8]
After a Buddhist phase the Hindu religion reasserted itself, so that at the time of the Muslim conquest (1000 AD) the population was solidly Hindu.[8]
In 1023 Mahmood of Ghazni attacked Swat and crushed the last Buddhist King, Raja Gira in battle. The invasion of Mahmood of Ghazni is of special importance because of the introduction of Islam as well as changing the Chronology.
Arrival Of Yousafzais
The first Muslim arrivals in Swat were Pakhtun Dilazak tribes from south-east Afghanistan. These were later ousted by Swati Pakhtuns, who were succeeded in the sixteenth century by Yusufzai Pakhtuns. Both groups of Pakhtuns came from the Kandahar and Kabul valley
Geography
The valley of Swat is situated in the north of N.W.F.P, 35° North Latitude and 72° and 30° East Longitude, and is enclosed by the sky-high mountains.
Chitral and Gilgit are situated in the north, Dir in the west, and Mardan in the south, while Indus separates it from Hazara in the east. Physical Features: Swat can be divided into two physical regions:
Mountainous Ranges.
Plains.
Mountainous Ranges
As mentioned above, Swat is lying in the lap of Mountainous Ranges, which are the offshoots of Hindukush, so the larger part of Swat is covered with high mountains and hills, the crests of which is hidden by everlasting snow. Though these gigantic Ranges run irregularly: some to the west while the others to the east, but the general direction is North-South. These ranges enclose small but very enchanting valleys.
Eastern Ranges: In Kohistan-e-Swat the chief knot of eastern ranges is Mankial. Its northern branches separate Kohistan-e-Swat from Abasin Kohistan. These ranges form a barrier between Gilgit and Swat, and between Chitral and Swat. The southern extension of Mankial ranges reaches proper Swat. There they join Shangla ranges. Shangla ranges separate proper Swat from Shangla Par area (Shangla Par district). In Shangla district, there are Karora Ranges, which separate Puran from Kanra and Ghurband. The continuation of Shangla ranges joins Dwasaray. On the one hand Dwasaray separates lower Swat from Puran, on the other, it set aside the Buner from Puran. Now the general Direction of the ranges turns westward. Here it is called Elum. Elum Ranges is a big wall between the proper Swat and Buner. The Elum ranges at last join mountains of Malakand.
The Western Ranges: Western ranges start from the mountain and hills of Gabral, Kohistan-e-Swat. It joins the hills of Kundal (Utror). There these ranges meet Daral Ranges. These ranges form a border with Dir district. They run west ward and are named according to the locality. For example Lalko ranges Manrai and Chaprai etc. at last they join the hills of Adenzee and Shamozee. Manrai ranges send off some off shoots southward. They the hills separate Arnoyay valley from the widest valley of Nekpikheil valley.
Plains
Actually the valley of Swat starts from the foothill of Malakand but we are concerned with portion from Landakay to Gabral (Gulabad), the area within the administrative boundaries of Swat. The length of the valley from Landakay to Gabral is 91 miles. Two narrow strips of plains run along the banks of Swat River from Landakay to Madyan. Beyond Madyan in Kohistan-e-Swat, the plan is too little to be mentioned. So for as the width concerns, it is not similar, it varies from place to place. We can say that the average width is 5 miles. The widest portion of the valley is between Barikot and khwaza khela. The widest view point and the charming sight where a major portion of the valley is seen is at Gulibagh on main road, which leads to Madyan. There are some subsidiary valleys, which help to increase the width of the main valley. These subsidiary valleys are called "Daras". A Dara a narrow passage between mountains, and sometimes, the upper course of a river is also called Dara. If we imagine the main valley as a stem of a tree the subsidiary valleys form its branches. Swat River and its tributaries drain Swat. There fore, the whole valley is the outcome of running water. This flowing water cuts the upper courses deeply, and flows the load of washed away materials. As the gradient is greater in the upper course so the erosion is on large scale, particularly in the summer rains, when all the rivers are in flood. The big boulders and stones are rolled, which causes more destruction in the upper courses. When the loaded water reaches to the areas of low gradient, the heavier materials are deposited. The deposition takes place according to the slope, generally, we observe, that the upper course is made up of big boulders, the middle course is of relatively small stones, pebbles, and debris, while the lower course is made of fine clay. Anyhow, the whole plain of Swat valley is strewn by the running water, and is made up of fine alluvial soil.
Demographics
The population at the 1981 Census was 715,938, which had risen to 1,257,602 at the next Census in 1998. The main language of the area is Pakhto. The people of Swat are mainly Pakhtuns,(Afghans) Yusufzais, Akhund Khel Miangan (Syed), Chitralis, Kohistan is, Gurjar (Gujar or Gurjar is the major tribe of the district; its people are divided in different clans like Khatana, Bajarh, Chichi, Ahir, Chuhan, Pamra, Gangal etc. are the main subtribe of the Gurjar family of Swat), Akhund khel Yousafzai, Nooristani, and Awans. Most probably they are originated from the same tribe that roamed around the great trans-Himalayan mountain ranges thousands of years before, and now remained in some isolated pockets of the Himalayan mountain ranges.[citation needed]
The Dardic people of the Kalam region in northern Swat are known as Kohistan is and speak the Torwali and Kalami languages. There are also some Khowar speakers in the Kalam region. This is because before Kalam came under the rule of Swat, it was a regional tributary to Chitral. The Kalamis paid a tribute of mountain ponies to the Mehtar of Chitral every year.
Tourist attractions
Marghazar
Marghazar 16 km away from Saidu Sharif is famous for its “Sufed Mahal” the white marble palace of the former Wali (Ruler) of Swat.
Malam Jabba
Malam Jabba (also Maalam Jabba, Urdu: مالم جبہ) is a Hill Station in the Karakoram mountain range nearly 40 km from Saidu Sharif in Swat Valley, Peshawar, Pakistan. It is 314 km from Islamabad and 51 km from Saidu Sharif Airport.Malam Jabba is home to the largest ski resort in Pakistan. The Malam Jabba Ski Resort, owned by the Pakistani Tourism Development Corporation, had a ski slope of about 800m with the highest point of the slope 2804 m (9200 ft) above sea level. Malam Jabba Ski Resort was the joint effort of the Pakistan government with its Austrian counterpart. The resort was equipped with modern facilities including roller/ice-skating rinks, chair lifts, skiing platforms, telephones and snow clearing equipment.
Swat Museum
Swat Museum is on the east side of the street, halfway between Mingora and Saidu. Japanese aid has given a facelift to its seven galleries which now contain an excellent collection of Gandhara sculptures taken from some of the Buddhist sites in Swat, rearranged and labelled to illustrate the Buddha's life story. Terracotta figurines and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons and various metal objects illustrate daily life in Gandhara. The ethnographic section displays the finest examples of local embroidery, carved wood and tribal jewellery. For the last three years the museum is occupied by Pakistan army and it is not known when they would be leaving it.
Miandam
Miandam is a small summer resort ten kilometres (six miles) up a steep side valley and 56 kilometers (35 mi) from Saidu Sharif, making it an hour's drive. The metaled road passes small villages stacked up the hillside, the roofs of one row of houses forming the street for the row of houses above. Tiny terraced fields march up the hillside right to the top. Miandam is a good place for walkers. Paths follow the stream, past houses with behives set into the walls and good-luck charms whitewashed around the doors. In the graveyards are carved wooden grave posts with floral designs, like those used by Buddhists 1,000 years ago.
Madyan
By the time you reach this small town at 1320 m and about 60 km from Mingora, the mountains have closed in and the valley is almost snug. Here one senses why Swat is so popular among the tourists. There are a lot of embroidered shawls in the Bazars of Madyan.At 1,321 metres (4,335 feet) above sea level,but it is a larger town and has many hotels in all price ranges and some good tourist shopping. Antique and modern shawls, traditional embroidery, tribal jewellery, carved wood and antique or reproduced coins are sold along the main street. This is the last Swati village, offering interesting two-and three-day walks up to the mountain villages... ask in the bazaar in Muambar Khan's shop for a guide. North of Madyan is Swat Kohistan where walking is not recommended without an armed guard. The central mosque at Madyan has carved wooden pillars with elegant scroll capitals, and its mud-plastered west wall is covered with relief designs in floral motifs. Both bespeak the Swati's love of decoration.[10]
Behrain
A quarter of an hour past Madyan, the road squeezes through Behrain. Tourists stop to shop or have a look around for beautiful carved wood chairs and tables and other handicrafts. Behrainis are a mix of Pashtuns and Kohistanis. Behrain is ten kilometres north of Madyan and only slightly higher, at about 1,400 metres (4,500 feet). It is another popular riverside tourist resort, with bazaars worth exploring for their handicrafts. Some of the houses have carved wooden doors, pillars and balconies. These show a remarkable variety of decorative motifs, including floral scrolls and bands of ornamental diaper patterns almost identical to those seen on Buddhist shrines and quite different from the usual Muslim designs.
Kalam
2070 m high and 100 km from Mingora, it was the centre of an independent state in the 19th century. It was later taken by Chitral then given to Swat after partition.Kalam, 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Bahrain and about 2,000 metres (6,800 feet) above sea level, the valley opens out, providing rooms for a small but fertile plateau above the river. In Kalam the Ushu and Utrot rivers join to form the Swat river. Here, the metalled road ends and shingle road leads to the Ushu and Utrot valleys. From Matiltan one gets a breath-taking view of the snow-capped Mount Falaksir 5918 metres (19,415 ft.), and another unnamed peak 6096 metres (20,000 ft.) high.
Usho
Usho 3 km from Kalam Valley and 117 km from Saidu Sharif
Utror
Utror 16 km from Kalam Valley and 120 km from Saidu Sharif. Utror valley is situated between 35° 20′ to 35° 48′ N latitudes and 72° 12′ and 72° 32′ E longitudes. The population of Utror is 6888 and the area of the valley is about 47400 hectares. Utror valley is surrounded by Gabral and Bhan valleys on the east, upper Dir district on the west, Kalam valley on the south and Gabral valley on the north. It is 15 km from Kalam, the centre of Swat Kohistan. The altitude of the valley at Utror proper is 2300 meters and reaches to 2900 meters at Kandol Lake.
Ghabral
Gabral valley lies between 35° 20′ to 35° 48′ N latitudes and 72° 12′ and 72° 32′ E longitudes over an area of about 38733 hectares. The population of Gabral is 3238. The valley is surrounded by Chitral District in the north, Utror valley in the south and south west, upper Dir district in the west and Bhan and Mahodand valleys in the east. It is 5 km distant from Utror proper and 20 km from Kalam. The altitude of the valley ranges from 2580 metres at Baila to 5160 metres at Karkaray Lake top.In Utror and Gabral, 44 medicinal plants are collected during the months of May, June, July and August. Only 14 of them are traded to National and International markets while the rest are used locally. A survey by Pakistan Forest Institute concludes that 75 crude herbal drugs are extensively exported and more than 200 are locally traded in Pakistan. Indigenous people, who have no training in sustainable harvesting, post-harvesting care and storing of medicinal plants, collect 85 percent of these crude herbs from the wild.
Kundol Lake, Swat valley
Mahudan
Mahodand valley, which lies in the North of Kalam, is famous not only among nature lovers, and escapists but also the exotic trout fish hunters. The valley can be accessed through an un-metalled road from Kalam in a four by four (4x4) vehicle. The road is bumpy and tricky but the surrounding landscapes engrosses you so severely that you wish for more and expect to discover new panoramas. The small hamlets that are scattered in the mountains and the bellowing smoke that spirals into the sky from the houses are some, which lives in the memory forever. Swat River, which is born here, is shackled by the tall mountains, which has turned its water into a roaring monster trying to release itself from its fetters, but there are some places where the river is calm and silent without showing any sign of rebellion.
Pari (Khapiro) lake
Pari Lake is one of the lakes in Swat region which is located at a very high altitude in the foot of the tallest peak in the range with a considerable depth. The name Pari or Khapiro is given to the lake due to the widespread belief that the lake is the abode of fairies where they live and bathe in the cool, pure and clear water of the lake. It is located to North-east of Utror valley and can be accessed only by trekking. Trekking to the lake needs endurance and love for nature as the trail is exasperating as well as dangerous therefore, utmost care should be taken while trekking on the narrow bends and turns leading to the lake. The lake is accessible from both Izmis and Kundal lakes. Two ascending tracks lead to this lake from Kundal and Izmis lakes taking almost five hours to reach this roof top of Swat. The trail is very steep from both sides but the surrounding beauty and eye-cooling green pastures and exotic flowers not only boost the trekker’s stamina but compel him to explore further.
Kundol Lake
The pastoral valley of Swat has abundance of precious resorts of nature where one can find solace and respite from the never-ending struggle of life. Kundal or Kandolo Lake is one such place here upon which the Maestro of nature has spent extra time and effort to paint. Kundal Lake is situated in the north of Utror valley. One can easily access it from Kalam via Utror from where a link road ends in a green valley called Ladu in the foothills of the lake. You can either hike to Ladu from Utror or take a four-wheeler to ease and minimize your journey. It consumes almost two hours to reach the beautiful valley of Ladu. For the adventurous kind, a walk in the romantic valley will unravel several new mysteries. The people who take temporary residency over here during summer plow the open land and harvest potatoes and turnips, which are famous all over the country for its exotic taste. There is also a small hut in Ladu where you can take tea and get something for eating. From Ladu it takes almost four hours to reach the lake. Some locals can guide you and even take your luggage if properly paid. The mountains around this small valley are covered with tall cedar and pine trees and meandered by different streams and torrents. The people are friendly and provide you guidance if required.
Bashigram Lake
Bashigram Lake is situated to the east of Bashigram valley near Madyan. The road to this valley is partly metaled and can be plied by a four by four or any ordinary vehicle. It takes almost forty to fifty minutes to reach this picturesque valley inhibited by simple and hospitable folk. From here, trekking of four to five hours, depending on professionalism and enthusiasm of the trekkers lands you in the realm of a serene and enchanting lake of Bashigram.
Spin Khwar (White Stream) Lake
Spin Khwar is a beautiful lake hidden in the lap of mountains towards the north of Kundal Lake and east of Utror valley. The name Spin Khwar has a clear significance as a small white stream in the east flows down to the lake from the surrounding mountains and is a major source of water for the lake. The lake is accessible through two tracks, one from Kundal and the other from Ladu valley. The track from Ladu is comparatively easy to walk and less tiring while the track from Kundal is not only difficult but alarmingly dangerous although it is short and links Kundal and Spin Khwar. Its steepness and dangerous bends needs an experienced trekker and unending physical strength. The grazers in the area have built small huts and a mosque where one can stay but a personal tent is more recommendable as these huts are in a poor condition due to lack of maintenance.
Daral Lake
Daral lake is situated to the northeast of Sidgai Lake and can be accessed through Saidgai after two three hours rigorous trekking. The trail to Daral is full of fun and amusement because it runs over sky touching heights of the mountains provides spectacular sights and panoramas for the beauty hungry eyes of nature lovers. A close look towards the south will reveal the long and winding sellouts of river Swat in the horizon.After walking and trekking for about two and a half hours on bare and naked mountains, the trail start descending towards the East where Daral Lake is located.
Administration
The region has gone through considerable changes over the last few years since the dissolution of the princely state in 1969. Members of the former Royal family have since on occasion been elected to represent the area in the Provincial Assembly and National Assembly.
Provincial & national politics
The region elects two male members of the National Assembly of Pakistan (MNAs), one female MNA, seven male members of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (MPAs)[11] and two female MPAs. In the 2002 National and Provincial elections, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, an alliance of religious political parties, won all the seats amidst a wave of anti-Americanism that spread after the United States' invasion of Afghanistan.
Wild Life: In early days when the shrubs and bushes covered slopes and foothill areas,hares, porcupine, fox, jackal, wolf, pigs, and hyenas were in large number. Now the need for fuels decreased the scrubs and trees, so these animals have decreased considerably. In the forests,monkeys are often found. Among the birds: hawks, eagles, falcons are found in the high mountains, while pheasants, partridges, hoopoes, larks, sparrows, quails, doves, swallows, starlings, nightingales, crows, kites, vultures, owls, bates are the common birds.
Bees: The bees were kept in Swat commonly, and the pure honey of was famous all over the country. But now the moveable beehives have affected the Swat locally reared bees greatly. Now, the local good honey is found in remote areas only, while the honey of moveable hives is available everywhere in low prices.
Fisheries: There is a large fishery in Madyan. In this fishery the trout fish are being reared. In Kohistan-e-Swat there are some private fisheries too. In Buner the fish were being reared in Barandu, Dagar. Moreover the Swat River serves as a permanent fishery throughout the year while the tributaries of it are used for fishing only in spring season.
Mineral Resources: Mines' production plays an important role in the economy of a country, particularly in the regions where they exist, because, the local people get the opportunities to labor in, and earn their livelihood. But the Swati mines have no importance for the local people in this respect. It is necessary, however, to mention what they are, and where do they exist. Swat is rich in mineral wealth, but the discovered commodities are a few. Among them, the china clay stands first; others are marble stone, and emerald.
China Clay: The china clay exists at “Kathyar” in Nekpikheil (on the road that leads to Shahderai at a distance of 15 miles from Mingora). This is the largest mine, having the finest quality, of China clay in Pakistan. The clay is mined here, and is transported to Shaidu in Nawshehra (which is at a distance of around 100 miles from Swat). It is not so advantageous for the local people, because they have no opportunity to work in the complex.
Soap Clay: The mine of soap clay has been discovered recently between Alpurai and Kanra on the side of Gilgit Road (Shahrah-e-Resham). It is spread in a vast area.
Marbles: The marbles are dug near Charbagh, Murghuzar, and Barikot in the proper valley of Swat, and in Buner, it is mined in Thor Warsak, Bampokha, and Sawawai. Moreover, there is a great expectation of iron ores, which will be discovered in near future.
Emerald: The finest quality of emerald is produced in Swat. Its Color and transparency is unique. It is the best in world. It is exported to the international markets: There is an export potential of 500 million dollars in this sector, provided it is excavated and cut as per international standards. Before the absorption of Swat in Pakistan, the emeralds of Swat were better in quality, and greater in quantity. But since then it is said that the quantity of production is little, and the quality devalued.
Industries:
Handicrafts: The handicrafts of Swat are very famous. When a tourist visits Swat, he accumulates bundles of these articles as gifts for his friends. All of the crafts prepared here are interesting, especially, the following are very charming.
Woolen Blankets: These blankets are known as "Sharai". They are prepared of wool obtained from the local sheep. The weight of a medium size blanket is four kilos. This is the best source of defense from the severity of winter. It is woven in Dewlai, Kala Kalay, Salampur, Puran, and Ghurband. These villages prepare the items on commercial scale.
Shawl: Shawl is a younger brother of Sharai, as it is also a woolen sheet, but light in weight. Sometimes, cotton is also mixed in its texture. It is beautifully fringed, and is commonly used by ladies. The tourists like it too much. Shawls are prepared in Salampur and Dewlai "Jolabad" on commercial bases.
Rugs: The next important thing, made of local fleece with laborious work, is rug. This is prepared in the villages by pressing wool with the help of water spray. After preparation, it is beautified with the usage of various colors. Rugs are the traditional carpets of shepherds, but now are used everywhere.
Embroidery: The embroidery of Swat is very famous, and is liked everywhere in Pakistan, as well as by the out-comers. This art is an indoor hobby of the ladies in Swat. Particularly in Nekpikheil, this is so common that very younger girls might also be seen having needlework in their hands. There are three types of embroidery:
Panrae or Panhey: Panrey or Panrhey is the old fashion of shoes, still used by the old persons in Swat. They are made in Swat with the simply tanned leather. The cobblers have great skill in the formation of ladies shoes with golden lace work. Similarly, the sandals with golden lace work are also made. The cobblers of Shahderai had great skill in this field. It is now archaic.
Shkor: A Shkor is a pot in which chapatis (plate bread used in India and Pakistan) are kept. The ordinary Shkors are prepared everywhere in Swat, but a special design is made in Puran and Chagharzee (These Shkors are high-based pots made of wheat stalks with laborious art, not easily available in bazaar).
Furniture: Furniture of various styles is made in the district. The cots, tables, chairs, dressing tables, cradles of more advanced types, etc. are furnished in Mingora, and in nearly all large villages.