Demonic Legends from around the Indus

Words by Komal Salman and Zainab Khan

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This is a rare vintage poster for the National Dance Ensemble from Pakistan when they made their grand debut performance in New York City in 1973 at the Hulu Theatre in Madison Square Garden. The show featured celebrated Kathak dancer Nahid Siddiqui who rose to fame in the 70s but in the late 70s, martial law was declared in Pakistan and dancing was banned. She left Pakistan and relocated to London but was told she couldn't dance anywhere in the world without the permission from the government of Pakistan. Siddiqui defied these rules though and continued to dance. "How can you ban beauty?" asked Siddiqui. (Available now as print)

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Demonic Legends from around the Indus

Available now to purchase

You may have often heard the saying, “History is written by the victors.” It underscores the idea that those who triumph in conflicts or power struggles have the authority to shape and narrate historical accounts, emphasizing the importance of folklore and collective memory as crucial counterbalances, preserving diverse perspectives and narratives that may otherwise be marginalized or erased from mainstream historical records. 

Remnants of the collective memory of a community, in essence, lore is an enthralling window into alternate history. It is the history we tell, and want our children to remember - it is not written in royal courts but is penned in the hearts of the people. 

History in particular has been documented extensively by the British, and whilst they were a lot better than the French when it came to authentic documentation, they were still Europeans at the end of the day. It is our folklore that preserves our customs and traditions from the eye of the colonizer. It encompasses the values we hold dear, without the prejudice of the outsider, without judgment, and without preconceived notions of our inferiority or incivility. 

History can be too boring to read and too technical to understand. Its interpretation, and subfields, such as historiography, causation, and comparative study can be highly theoretical. Folklore, in stark contrast, is neither of these. Yet, a folktale can tell you everything you need to know about a community. 

This can include attitudes towards people, family, friends and nature; what actions they frown upon; what values they hold in high regard; what they hold sacred; what customs are important, and why it is so; what they fear most; how do they pray; how do they live; their festivals, games, food, music, dances, wedding celebrations, and mourning. It also gives insight into theology, religion, perspective on gender, collective cultures, ethnicity and linguistics. It is why studying and exploring folklore, myth and magic, as well as how it translates into practice is so important.

One of the most fascinating subsets of folklore is demonology, where shadows lurking in the darkness come to life and the ancient whispers weave tales of intrigue and fear. Pakistan’s demonology has been inspired by several factors: indigenous ethnic diversity, religion, and the region’s rich history.