Book: In the Footsteps of Halfdan Siiger

In the Footsteps of Halfdan Siiger%20

The Danish Researcher Halfdan Siiger (1911- 1999) visited the Kalasha valleys in Chitral in 1948 as a member of the Third Danish Central Asian Expedition. Siiger worked for the National Museum of Denmark. In Chitral Siiger was assisted by Mahmad Isa from Rokmo (Rumbur) and by Wazir Ali Shah. Shah was then a secretary of the Mehtar of Chitral. Later he became Treasurer of Chitral.

Fifty- two years later the Danish ethnographer Svend Castenfeldt and his colleague, the medieval archeologist and ethnographer Mytte Fentz, came to Chitral to study the Kalasha society. The Kalasha school master Ingineer Khan became their interpreter and guide. Some Kalasha became very interested in Siiger’s photos.

The idea of making a historical picture book with some of Siiger’s photos for the Kalasha schools was developed in co-operation with Mrs Fentz.

Professor Siiger found it appropriate to give something in return to the Kalasha people who were so friendly towards him when he visited Chitral many years ago. Most of the Siiger’s photos are from the Hindu Kush research Archive at Moesgard Musem.