Dadi Jawari

Malika Jawahir Khatun locally known as Dadi Jawari was a 17-century female ruler of Gilgit, Pakistan. She is remembered as the first female ruler in male-dominated society and for her gift of irrigation system, included two canals for drinking water and agrarian purpose. She ruled Gilgit from 1630 till 1660.[1][2][3]

"Malika Jawahir Khatun herself shouldered the responsibility of the government, put on male dress, rode on horse and issued instructions in her own name. She took great interest in ameliorating the lot of the people, undertook measures, built many roads in the country.."

— Prof. Ahmad Hasan Dani[4]

Dadi Jawari
دادی جواری
Reign1630 — 1660
Reign1689 — 1705
BornJawar Khatoon
Known forDaljas of Gilgit (Irrigation system in Gilgit)

Water Channels Built by Dadi Jawari consist of two wide canals known as Ajini Daljah (upper canal) and Kherini Daljah (lower channel). The channels supplied water to agricultural lands in the outskirts what is now Barmas, Nagral, Majini Mohallah, Soni Kot and Kashrote. The channels also helped cultivate the barren lands in peripheries to form new settlements as in earlier times the vernacular settlements were confined to Barmas, Jutial and Napoor. Dadi Juwari had to hire labor from the neighbouring Darrel valley (located in today’s Diamer district) when her subjects or the citizens of the Gilgit refused to take part in the construction of the water channels.[5]

Dadi also built roads in her dominion and undertook various welfare measures to ease the lives of her people.[6]

References
  1. Syed, Shamsuddin. "Gilgit Paying Price For Indiscriminate Urbanization". Windowtogb.blogspot.com. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  2. Mir, Shabbir. "Dadi Jawari – the Queen who gifted water to her subjects". Express Tribune. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  3. Umme Ayman. "Importance of Public Spaces for Women". Pamir Times. Pamir Times. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  4. Dani, Ahmad Hasan. History of Northern Areas of Pakistan. p. 186.
  5. Journal of Central Asia. Islamabad: Centre for the Study of the Civilizations of Central Asia, Quaid-i-Azam University.
  6. Dani, Ahmad Hasan (January 1, 2001). History of Northern Areas of Pakistan. Baltistan: Sang-e-Meel Publications. p. 539.
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