INHERITANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN HUNZA: A DOCUMENTATION, CODIFICATION AND STUDY OF CUSTOMARY LAW OF SUCCESSION

Abstract

This paper presents an anthropological inquiry about the customs related to ineritance in former Hunza State, and attempts to record, codify and analyse, in order to document the endangered tradition in active socio-economic transformation and understand the limits of such customs protecting human rights in the region. Even after four decades of the State desolution (1974) these customs are still in exercise on de facto grounds. This inquiry is the result of several attempts to know details, and explores a new area of anthropological research with a detailed understanding. This study reveals the customs in a codified structure, with some additional details, may be helpful for the readership to understand with reference to human rights. This paper unfolds the subject in three parts: the first part introduces the topic with the background description of the study, previous investigations and involved methodology; the second part deals with the documentation and codification of customary procedures involved in the transfer of inheritance, and focuses the attention on the inheritance rights of all family members; and the third part analytical elaborates the inheritance customs protecting the human rights. These customs generally appearing to protect the right of all surviving family members.