Photos from the Field, Pakistan

February 2000, Pakistan

T. Kurosaki

Last revision: October 1, 2004 (translated from Japanese page May 9, 2000)

Field surveys are the backbone of my research. What I saw in villages and what I heard from villagers are the source of my research ideas. Here are some photos from my Pakistan trip in February 2000.

Spring in Village Tarnab

Tarnab is one of the three villages in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, where I have been doing my field reseacrh since 1996. It represents fully irrigated villages in Peshawar Valley. The village is close to Grand-Trunk Road, which connected Calcutta-Delhi-Lahore-Rawalpinidi-Peshawar-Kabul during the British Era.

Thans to irrigation, the village is full of green all through th year. In the mid February, you can find a nice contrast of green wheat, white plum tree flowers, yellow mustard flowers, and pink peach flowers. The photos were taken when we are searching for the sample households surveyed in 1996 for re-interview.
Interview Interview Newly-introduced gas supply Village leader
Village river Canal cleaning Peach and wheat Peach flower
Plum and wheat Tarnab from outside Kabaab (barbeque) master He finally lit a fire

Jirga Meeting

A completely rain-fed village among the three villages is Yousuf Khel. In sharp contrast to Tarnab, the village is dry and dusty all through the year. You can see our field survey photos in 1996 from this page. When I visited the village this time, the village leader was absent for Jirga meeting to judge a murder case. Jirga is a local institution of Pashtun people, in which village elders govern their villages. You can say it is a form of direct democracy. When I visited the Jirga place, the members were just to begin their lunch.
Jirga from outside Zoom up (1) Zoom up (2) Zoom up (3)

Villages near Islamabad

About half an hour drvie from the capital city of Islamabad, you can arrive at villages where an ODA project of "Model for Integrated Rural Area Development". Thanks to this project, drinking water tabs came to the villages and rural roads were paved.
Village sellers on the street A girl using the water tab An ODA plate under local posters
Fields with mustard flowers Pump created by the project Fields closer to the pump

Some Pakistani Food

After a productive day in the field, dinner was ready. Here are some Pakistani specialties from Shiraaz restarant in Peshawar.
Food and my friends Food and myself Everyone enjoyed the food "Shiraaz Special"! (desert)

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