Saad Barcha

Area of proposed thesis

My study examines how hareep music in Hunza Valley, Pakistan has historically contributed to the construction and negotiation of social identity among the Bericho musicians and the broader Hunza community. It also investigates how the historical marginalization of the Bericho continues to shape contemporary perceptions of music and musicianship in the region. Furthermore, it analyses how the Bericho's choices to sustain, adapt, or abandon hareep performance practices influence their strategies for achieving social mobility in post-monarchical Hunza.

Research interests

Folk Music and Literary Traditions of Northern Pakistan

Funding

Farhad Daftary Doctoral Scholarship

Degrees

BA Hons. Cognitive Science, MA Islamic Studies, MSt. Musicology