بِسْمِ اللهِ الرّحْمٰنِ الرّحِيْمِ
About OldBook.pk
Preserving the Sacred Literary Heritage of Baltistan
OldBook.pk is Pakistan's first and only dedicated digital archive of Balti devotional poetry — preserving qasidas, nohas, marsiyas, and manqabats of Gilgit-Baltistan for present and future generations.
Our Mission
A Cultural Preservation Mission
The Balti language — spoken across Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Ladakh — carries centuries of devotional poetry rooted in Islamic tradition and Shia culture. Yet much of this heritage exists only in handwritten manuscripts, aging cassettes, or the fading memories of elders.
OldBook.pk was founded with a single, urgent mission: to digitize, transcribe, and make accessible this irreplaceable literary tradition — before it is lost forever.
Our Collection
What We Preserve
Qasida — قصیدہ
Formal praise poetry dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad (﴿ص﴾) and the Ahlul Bayt, recited on blessed occasions.
Noha — نوحہ
Elegies of mourning for Imam Hussain (A.S) and the martyrs of Karbala, recited during Muharram and Safar.
Marsiya — مرչیہ
Epic mourning poems narrating the tragedy of Karbala — the highest literary form of Shia devotional poetry.
Manqabat — منقبت
Devotional songs praising the virtues of Hazrat Ali (A.S), Imam Hassan, and the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt.
Naat — نعت
Heartfelt praise poems in honor of the Prophet Muhammad (﴿ص﴾), expressing love and devotion in the Balti tongue.
Balti Language
An ancient Tibeto-Burman language of the Karakoram — spoken by fewer than 400,000 people worldwide.
Why OldBook.pk Is Unique
Pakistan's Only Balti Poetry Archive
100% Original Transcription
Every text is manually transcribed and verified against primary sources — not copied from other websites.
Endangered Language
Balti is spoken by fewer than 400,000 people. Digital preservation ensures this literary tradition survives.
Bilingual Presentation
Urdu script alongside Balti phonetics helps both native speakers and learners access and understand the poetry.
Free & Always Accessible
No paywalls, no sign-ups. Completely free and open for students, researchers, and devotees worldwide.
Get In Touch
Contact Us
Have a qasida to contribute? Know a poet whose work should be featured? Reach out — your help in preserving this heritage is deeply valued.
✉ info@oldbook.pk