S^ /^^K ^B PTHNIC PLURALITY IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS SUBMi"-" '• '••• FILMEf I v..-iT, 11II.. ' ^F Ti is_ iHasiter of ^Iitlosfopl^p tn 7^ t]iolog p r%i s I' I i* Q- DS4359 r (05713 2707077 Phone ; I (0671) 2700922/923/926/937 {Extension 1610 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH—202002 D.No... ...MS./SD OBted...Q/.-..5i.r..Z.Q.lO. wer^leate This is to certify that Mr. Fayaz Ahma^ fehat has worked uijd^t jhy ^•••'-. , ••-----••'-'•••'• •.;•.•>•' supervision for this M.Phil. Dissertation entitled :"Ethii«* jPlitlaffity in Jammu and Kashmir: A Sociological Analysis". The Researcher has incorporated the original data in his work. I consider it suitable for •' * * submission for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy in Sociology. /^ 'ti^ (DR. P.K. MATHUR) (Supervisor) dedicated 7<a •v-vOH ; - t . < • f p-c-, CONTENT Page No. Acknowledgements i List of Tables and Figure iii Glossary iv Introduction 1-4 Chapter I Conceptual Framework 5-12 Chapter II Jammu and Kashmir: History, Land and People 13-30 Chapter III Ethnic Groups of Jammu and Kashmir 31 -97 Conclusion 98-105 Appendix 106 Bibliography 107-111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the foremost I tftan^Mmigfity for providing me with caliber and courage, and for att the Skssings He Bestowed upon me, to carry out the wor^ in hand, aC-HamdCi-JiClah, I wouCd [ih^ to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor (Dr. <P.%. Mathur (dissociate Professor) for providing me with e:Kce[[ent guidance and tacticaC advice in the various phases of the present wor^ His ahte guidance and critical approach always made me to face the rough waters with ease and get my boat sailing. I am indebted to him for showing ^en interest and concern in the accomplishment of the present wor^ I am extremely grateful to <Prof. !Nbor Mohammad, Chairman, (Department of Sociology and Social Wor^ Jiligarh Muslim Vniversity, JLligarhfor his intellectual support and encouragement. I shall be failing in my duty if I do not record the encouragement and guidance that I received from (prof (B. A. (Dabla (1)%), (Dr JibduWaheedand Or. 9lematJ/ili %han. I am also grateful to (Dr Abdul Matin for his valuable suggestions. I ta^ this opportunity to ejq)ress my sincere gratitude to all teachers and non-teaching staff of my department for their support in developing healthy academic environment in the department. I am grateful enough to V.g. C for granting me the fellowship that really helped me to devote my energies fully into research wor^ Moreover, I wish to acknowledge and give than^ to the staff of Maulana JAzad Library; Seminar Library, (Dept. of Sociology and Social Wor^ Mgarh Muslim Vniversity, Mgarh; M-ama Iqbal Library, Vniversity of%ashmir, Srinagar, J!NV Library and Central Science Library, (Dl), 9{ew (Delhi for helping me in getting the necessary material for my research wor^ / must tfian^ my seniors (Dr. Tayaz JL/imacf, (Dr. Shie^ (BiQiC, (Dr. (primroze (Bashir and Mr. !MoficC Moinudxfin for ma^ng my thoughts mature and cCiversifiecf through innumeraSk andcountCess versatiie discussions. Many friends aCso deserve credit for their moraC and CogisticaC support. Throughout this journey, I received invaCuaSCe support and encouragement from many peopCe especiaCCy Muddasir, J^sCam, Idrees, <Rashid, JLejaz-u-uCHaq, Show^t, Hamid, J^rif SuhaiC, Massood, Sadaf Touzia, <Bushra Imam, ZaiSa for making my Cife meaningfiif and coCorfuC sometimes with p[ayfu[ pran^ sometimes with a positive feedhac^ sometimes with a criticizing remar^and sometimes with a casuaC smile. SpeciaC than^ are due to J4.rif Shafi and 3^azmu[7{ussainfor their constructive criticism and kind assistance. (pinatCy, with a profound sense of gratitude and Cove I must e:xpress the kind and generous support that I have Seen receiving from my heCovedparents whose Skssings have remained a constant source of enlightenment in aCC my academic endeavors. I fett short of words to my mother, the [ady who introduced me to the civilization of words, showed me how to waCki how to taCk^andhow to dream and for Cove she gave me. I dedicate the present work^to them. 94y special thanks are also due to my Beloved Brother, sister and other relatives for their everlasting moral support, affection and patience without which it would have Seen impossiSle for me to accomplish the arduous task^of completing this dissertation. (Dated Ql- OS- ^hlo (Tayaz^MtrndcBfiat)'aya^Mnm^ha LIST OF TABLES ANV> FIGURE Table No. Theme/ Description Page No. Table 1 District wise Population, Sex Ratio and Density-2001 19 Table 2 Distribution of Religion wise Population with Percentage in 20 Total Population of Jammu and Kashmir Table 3 Religion wise Distribution of Population in Jammu Province 21 Table 4 Religion wise Distribution of Population in Kashmir Province 21 Table 5 Religion wise Distribution of Population in Ladakh Province 22 Table 6 Fifteen Numerically Biggest Mother Tongues in Descending 22 Order of Strength in Jammu and Kashmir (2001) Table 7 Scheduled Castes Population Ratio w.r.t. Population in Jammu 23 and Kashmir (State/District) (2001). Table 8 State wise Distribution of Individual Scheduled Caste 24 Population with Percentage in Total Scheduled Caste population of Jammu and Kashmir & other Generic Castes (2001). Table 9 District wise Distribution of Individual Scheduled Caste 26 Population & other Generic Castes in Jammu and Kashmir (2001). Table 10 Scheduled Tribes Population Ratio w.r.t. Population in Jammu 27 and Kashmir (State/District) (2001). Table 11 State wise Distribution of Individual Scheduled Tribe 28 Population with Percentage in Total Scheduled Tribe population of Jammu and Kashmir & other Generic Tribes (2001). Table 12 District wise Distribution of Individual Scheduled Tribe 30 Population & other Generic Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir (2001). Table 13 Ethnic Groups of Jammu and Kashmir 92 Table 14 Ethnic Groups in Jammu Division 99 Table 15 Ethnic Groups in Kashmir Division 102 Table 16 Ethnic Groups in Ladakh Division 104 Figure ] Physical and Administrative Map of Jammu and Kashmir 106 III quossAR-Y Terms Meaning/ Explanation Jirgah/jirgha Tribal/ court comprising clan elders Khidmatgars Caretakers, servants Pirs Saints, holy men Gotra Exogamous group analogous to clan Biradari Community Kid Family tree/clan/Iineage Got A social division analogous to clan Gyut or Rig Blood relatives/agnates Nambardar Headman IV Introduction \ Ethnic groups are based on common traits that are distinct such as common descent, shared history, common territory, religion, language or dialects, caste, tribe, race or any combination of one or more of these. Further members of ethnic groups must identify themselves and are identified by others as belonging to distinctive group. Pluralism is defined as the existence or toleration of groups within a society or state, whether ethnic, cultural, political, and religious. Plural societies are those which are characterized by conditions of cultural diversity which is manifested in terms of ethnicity, race, religion, language, territory, caste or tribe. Ethnic pluralism describes the situation in which different ethnic groups are consolidated into political or governmental units. Jammu and Kashmir is ethnically plural because it posses diversity of cultures within the same political unit consisting of a multiplicity of ethnic groups based on religion, territory, language, tribe or caste. The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been the home of plurality of ethnic groups who migrate from north-west (Dards), south (Gujjars & Rajputs), east (Ladakhis) and south-east (Paharis) directions in the ancient past. The alien races, ethnic groups and various religions and philosophies have influenced the cultural ethos and mode of living of the people of the State (Hussain 2005:61). Jammu and Kashmir has the distinction of having variegated cultural blend, making it distinct from the rest of the country because of its unique history and geography. The name Kashmir implies land desiccated from water "ka" (the water) and "Shimeera" (reclamation). In modern times, the people of Kashmir have shortened it into "Kasheer" in their tongue (Singh 2003: xvii). The recorded history of Kashmir begins with Ashoka. He introduced Buddhism to Kashmir in the third century B.C. which was later strengthened by Kanishka. Huns got the control of the Valley in the early Sixth century. The Valley regained freedom in 530 A.D but soon came under the rule of Ujjain Empire. After the decline of the Vikramaditya dynasty, the valley has its own rulers. There was a synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist cultures (Bhatt and Bhargava 2005:17, 18). In the 8* century, Kashmir rose to become the centre of great kingdom under Lalitaditya Muktapida (697-738 A.D) who extended his rule to North India and parts of Central Asia. th tVi Islam came to Kashmir during 13 and 14 century A.D. The name associated with the earliest propagation of Islam is that of Sufi saint Saiyed Sharaf-ud-Din alias Bulbul Shah. Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin who ascended the throne in 1417 A.D and ruled nearly for half a century was the most famous ruler and was deservedly sumamed Budshah or the great king. Later Chaks over ran Haider Shah, son of Zain-ul- Abidin. The Chak rule began in Kashmir in 1561 A.D and lasted till 1587 A.D. The Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Kashmir in 1587 A.D, but Aurangzeb's successor was a weak ruler and it were the Afghans who saw an opportunity and invaded Kashmir. In 1752 A.D, Kashmir passed on from the feeble control of the Mughal emperor of the time to Ahmad Shah Abdali of Afghanistan. In 1819 A.D, the Sikh ruler of Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh evicted the Pathans from Kashmir with the help of the Dogra Army of Jammu.