Post by admin on Feb 3, 2004 12:52:20 GMT -5
<I>Posted: through www.chawra.com on 2/3/2004 2:44:48 AM</I>
1. IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
By Masud Choudhary, IPS
The Gujjars, one of the ancient races in India, forms third largest majority in the State and occupy important place in the socio-economic life of the state. They have been pursuing, since ages, pastoral life though the time of their first appearance in the State is not definitely known. It is, however, commonly believed that Gujjars in the State are no other than the Gujjars spread out in the rest of the country.
Sporting breads, majestic white turbans, colourful waist-costs, loose shirts and Tehbunds, excessively ironnailed leather footwears, tall and well built, Gujjars can be
easily spotted moving unmindful in crowds. They can, however, otherwise also be identified by their well established system of sub-castes (Gotras). Some of the main Gotras of Gujjars of the State which are also common in Gujjars in the other parts of the country irrespective of religious, are: Awana, Bajran, Bajjar, Bokan, Bargar, Banth, Baru, Bhalesar, Bagdi, Bhatti, Baniya, Bhomla, Barwal, Chechi, Chohan, Chopra, Chahra, Chad, Doi, Dhehdar, Gorsi, Gegi, Hakla, Jagal, Khatana, Kandal, Kohli, Kasana, Khaiper, Kalas, Khari, Lohda, Mehsi, Mandar, Mehlu, Mukri, Noon, Nagar, Poswal, Por, Sangu, Sood, Thekri and Tass.
The Gujjars in the State, on the basis of their occupations and settlements, have of late, emerged into various subgroups. Firstly, those who have, with the passage of time, shifted to partial cultivation and are sendentraized on the mountain slopes and side valleys. Their habitat are located at altitudes well beyond the limits of ordinary village lands. They are called Basneeks (those who have settled). Secondly, those who practise transhumance can be further sub-divided into Baniharas or Dodhi Gujjars and Bakarwal Gujjar. The Baniharas tend buffaloes and sell milk and milk products. They live in Bans (forests) for which reason they are know as Baniharas.
(Incidentally Gujjars who have their sojourns in areas of Nainital, Dehradoon, Haridwar and Saharanpur etc. are called Ban Gujjars instead of Baniharas. Their forcible
occupation of Rajaji Parks, has been focus of lot of public attention.
The Gujjar Bakarwals keep large herds of Bakri, (Goats) and for this reason they are called Bakarwals. This classification of nomadic group, according to Professor R. P. Khatana, is based on types of animals they rear for their economic pursuits. The Bakarwal Gujjars migrate from lower altitude to higher altitude and sometimes traverse a distance of more than three hundred kilometers in North West Himalayas, while the movement of the Baniharas is confined within forty to sixty kilometers in a years form their base.
While discussing various tribes and races of Kashmir, Sir, Walter Lawrence in his reputed book, “The Valley of Kashmir”, refers to Gujjars as follows:
“They are Musalmans by religion. They are a fine tall race of men, with rather stupid faces and large prominent teeth. Their one thought is the welfare of Buffaloes.
They are an ignorant, inoffensive and in their relation with the State are infinitely very honest”.
Discussing their socio-economic conditions, Lawrence observes, “All around the valley on the fringe of the forest the flat topped Gujjar’s hut, hidden in Maize
crops may be seen. The Gujjars cares little for his hut or his field. He calls himself Lord of the Forests and when the snows have melted on the high mountains, he and his family putting on their best clothes, hurry up with their buffaloes to the heights. There they live a healthy gypsy life in wigwams and make butter. The middle-man, of course, makes all the profits and he increase his Ghee by adulteration. All Gujjars are the slaves of the middle-man by the virtue of Rekh, or systems of advances. Their women keep their account of the butter made over to the middle-man by tying knots on a string. It is touching to notice how absolutely bound-up his buffaloes, the Gujjars is. He thinks of nothing else and cares nothing else”.
Much water has flown down the rivers of Jehlum and Tawi since Pandit Nehru unfurled the National Flag at Red Fort and made tryst with destiny launching India on road of progress and prosperity. During these five decades the country has made tremendous progress in every sphere of life, but unfortunately nothing has changed this community.
Surviving the savages of the climate, always in search of shadow and shelter, they had been moving in pursuit of their occupation. According to a recent survey report
(Justice Anand Commission), the Gujjars in the State still follow their traditional occupation of rearing cattle, goats and sheep. And their conditions have still remained unchanged.
Snow fall, in fact, forms the greatest force impelling their movements. Near its advent, they being to climb down from higher level and gradually descend to low-lying
plains. With the dawn of spring when the ice covering the grazing ground thaws away and lays mountain surface bare and free for vegetation, the reverse movement begins and they continue penetrating the interior rising higher and higher. These backward and forward movements go on form year to year and forms sum total of life a common Gujjar.
1. IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
By Masud Choudhary, IPS
The Gujjars, one of the ancient races in India, forms third largest majority in the State and occupy important place in the socio-economic life of the state. They have been pursuing, since ages, pastoral life though the time of their first appearance in the State is not definitely known. It is, however, commonly believed that Gujjars in the State are no other than the Gujjars spread out in the rest of the country.
Sporting breads, majestic white turbans, colourful waist-costs, loose shirts and Tehbunds, excessively ironnailed leather footwears, tall and well built, Gujjars can be
easily spotted moving unmindful in crowds. They can, however, otherwise also be identified by their well established system of sub-castes (Gotras). Some of the main Gotras of Gujjars of the State which are also common in Gujjars in the other parts of the country irrespective of religious, are: Awana, Bajran, Bajjar, Bokan, Bargar, Banth, Baru, Bhalesar, Bagdi, Bhatti, Baniya, Bhomla, Barwal, Chechi, Chohan, Chopra, Chahra, Chad, Doi, Dhehdar, Gorsi, Gegi, Hakla, Jagal, Khatana, Kandal, Kohli, Kasana, Khaiper, Kalas, Khari, Lohda, Mehsi, Mandar, Mehlu, Mukri, Noon, Nagar, Poswal, Por, Sangu, Sood, Thekri and Tass.
The Gujjars in the State, on the basis of their occupations and settlements, have of late, emerged into various subgroups. Firstly, those who have, with the passage of time, shifted to partial cultivation and are sendentraized on the mountain slopes and side valleys. Their habitat are located at altitudes well beyond the limits of ordinary village lands. They are called Basneeks (those who have settled). Secondly, those who practise transhumance can be further sub-divided into Baniharas or Dodhi Gujjars and Bakarwal Gujjar. The Baniharas tend buffaloes and sell milk and milk products. They live in Bans (forests) for which reason they are know as Baniharas.
(Incidentally Gujjars who have their sojourns in areas of Nainital, Dehradoon, Haridwar and Saharanpur etc. are called Ban Gujjars instead of Baniharas. Their forcible
occupation of Rajaji Parks, has been focus of lot of public attention.
The Gujjar Bakarwals keep large herds of Bakri, (Goats) and for this reason they are called Bakarwals. This classification of nomadic group, according to Professor R. P. Khatana, is based on types of animals they rear for their economic pursuits. The Bakarwal Gujjars migrate from lower altitude to higher altitude and sometimes traverse a distance of more than three hundred kilometers in North West Himalayas, while the movement of the Baniharas is confined within forty to sixty kilometers in a years form their base.
While discussing various tribes and races of Kashmir, Sir, Walter Lawrence in his reputed book, “The Valley of Kashmir”, refers to Gujjars as follows:
“They are Musalmans by religion. They are a fine tall race of men, with rather stupid faces and large prominent teeth. Their one thought is the welfare of Buffaloes.
They are an ignorant, inoffensive and in their relation with the State are infinitely very honest”.
Discussing their socio-economic conditions, Lawrence observes, “All around the valley on the fringe of the forest the flat topped Gujjar’s hut, hidden in Maize
crops may be seen. The Gujjars cares little for his hut or his field. He calls himself Lord of the Forests and when the snows have melted on the high mountains, he and his family putting on their best clothes, hurry up with their buffaloes to the heights. There they live a healthy gypsy life in wigwams and make butter. The middle-man, of course, makes all the profits and he increase his Ghee by adulteration. All Gujjars are the slaves of the middle-man by the virtue of Rekh, or systems of advances. Their women keep their account of the butter made over to the middle-man by tying knots on a string. It is touching to notice how absolutely bound-up his buffaloes, the Gujjars is. He thinks of nothing else and cares nothing else”.
Much water has flown down the rivers of Jehlum and Tawi since Pandit Nehru unfurled the National Flag at Red Fort and made tryst with destiny launching India on road of progress and prosperity. During these five decades the country has made tremendous progress in every sphere of life, but unfortunately nothing has changed this community.
Surviving the savages of the climate, always in search of shadow and shelter, they had been moving in pursuit of their occupation. According to a recent survey report
(Justice Anand Commission), the Gujjars in the State still follow their traditional occupation of rearing cattle, goats and sheep. And their conditions have still remained unchanged.
Snow fall, in fact, forms the greatest force impelling their movements. Near its advent, they being to climb down from higher level and gradually descend to low-lying
plains. With the dawn of spring when the ice covering the grazing ground thaws away and lays mountain surface bare and free for vegetation, the reverse movement begins and they continue penetrating the interior rising higher and higher. These backward and forward movements go on form year to year and forms sum total of life a common Gujjar.