Social Profile of Gujjar and Bakarwal of Jammu and Kashmir: an Overview
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The International Journal Of Humanities & Social Studies (ISSN 2321 - 9203) www.theijhss.com THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL STUDIES Social profile of Gujjar and Bakarwal of Jammu and Kashmir: An Overview Shahbaz Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, Jammu University, Jammu and Kashmir, India Abstract: Gujjars and Bakarwals in Jammu and Kashmir are socially much backward in comparison to other communities of state. Gujjars and Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir are still practising the traditional way of living such as they used to live in wood or mud houses with paddy and forest grass roof. Though some houses in village are now made up of brick and stones but one can find traditional houses too. They move with their entire family including children and women. During winters they move to warmer areas of lower Himalayas and in summers they move towards Bungus valley (situated on the other side of Lolab valley) and other places of cattle grazing areas of Kashmir. They move because of non-availability of green fodder for their cattle and also to avoid severe cold and snowfall that affect the health, growth, reproduction, milk production, lactation etc of their livestock, the major source of livelihood. Gujjar and Bakarwal of Jammu and Kashmir is mainly different from other ethnic groups and general society in various means like, in their habitats, degree of isolation, customs, beliefs, traditions, etc. But it does not mean there is no interaction with other communities. Interaction with other communities is there at the larger scale. They constitute more than 11.9% of the total population of the state as per 2011 Census. In this paper an attempt was made to examine the social profile of Gujjar and Bakarwal in the state. This paper is based on secondary sources i.e. population census of India 2001 and 2011, various Journals, Articles, Books and Reports etc. Results have indicated that literacy rate among the Gujjars was 31.65 % and Bakarwals was 22.51% with a total 55.52% of the General population of the state as per 2001 census. 1. Introduction The people of India include a very large number of tribes which are inherent part of our national life with their rich cultural heritage. The tribal settled down in India in pre-historic times, inhabiting mostly in the sparsely populated parts of hills and forests of sub- Himalayan and North-Eastern regions, in the mountain belt of Central India between Narmada and Godavari rivers and in the Southern parts of the Western Ghats extending from Wynad to Kanyakumari. The term tribe refers to a cultural and historical concept. It is used in terms of folk urban continuum along which different groups are classified, given a certain order of material culture and stage of technological growth and classified as tribes. (Khatana, 1999) At the social level the Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir state have ordered themselves in three principal groups: the Dera (household), the Dada-Potre (lineage) and the Jat or gotra (clan). The basic family unit is Dera or household which consist of husband, wife, children, and old parents. The dada–potre or lineage group consist of a patrilineally related kinsman tracing their ancestry to common ancestor upto seven generation and the Gotra or clan is the group based upon common belief among the Gujjars. (Warikoo 1999) The tribal society of Jammu and Kashmir is mainly different from other ethnic groups and general society in various means like, in their habitats, degree of isolation, customs, beliefs, traditions, etc. But it does not mean there is no interaction with other group’s society. Interaction with other groups is there at the larger scale. Furthermore, a tribe can be defined as a kinship group that constitute a society and the members of tribe consider each other to be related by the ties of kinship. The Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir are semi-nomads and are concentrated almost in all part of state. The economy of Gujjars and Bakerwals generally depend on cattle rearing while few also involve in agricultural activities. The community is seasonal migrate in search of food and fodder. They move twice in a year along their families. In their Dhoks (summer pastures) they spend five to six months between April to October and in winter they return to plains in their respective homes. Primarily all the Gujjars and Bakerwals are engaged in pastoral economy but recently they have entered into agriculture also. Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir have several sub–castes. (Sharma 2013) The Gujjars and Bakerwals a principal nomadic community of Jammu and Kashmir State have long been a socially and economically deprived people who have not been fully integrated in the main stream of regional culture and social status. Social justice demands that their integration and inclusion in the main stream should be kept at the top priority. Therefore there is an urgent need to thoroughly understand the socio-economic mooring of Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir state. (Sharma 2008) Being nomadic in nature the Gujjar and Bakerwal community of Jammu and Kashmir who transhumance within the territorial limit of the state, in accordance to the established schedule in the search of green pastures for their cattle. Their repeated fluctuation within 67 Vol 3 Issue 7 July, 2015 The International Journal Of Humanities & Social Studies (ISSN 2321 - 9203) www.theijhss.com specific space-time continuum has exercised a decisive influence in shaping the structure of their kinship grouping, marriage patterns and other social activities. The social life of the Gujjars and Bakerwals is very much linked and closed to their religious life. Religion plays a very dominant role in their life on the various occasions like, marriage, death, etc. where the service and advice of Maulvi (priest) is sought to perform the task. The Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir state are indeed colourful and innocent community. They face all kind of vagaries of nature, but the rulers of valley take no step whatsoever to mitigate the community’s hardship and ameliorate their politico-economic and socio-culture life. The Gujjar and Bakerwal community reel under the scourge of poverty and backwardness even after the six decades of Independence. Majority of Gujjar and Bakerwals inhabited in the mountainous area, these people are tall, well-built and liberal minded. The Gujjar and Bakerwal are also called ‘Nature’s own children’ and ‘lords of forest’. (Hari Om 1999) As the social profile of Gujjars and Bakerwals is concerned they are socially much backward in comparison to other communities of state. Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir are still practising the traditional way of living such as they used to live in wood or mud houses with paddy and forest grass roof. Though some houses in village are now made up of brick and stones but one can find traditional houses too. They move with their entire family including children and women. During winters they move to warmer areas of lower Himalayas and in summers they move towards Bungus valley (situated on the other side of Lolab valley) and other places of cattle grazing areas of Kashmir. They move because of non-availability of green fodder for their cattle and also to avoid severe cold and snowfall that affect the health, growth, reproduction, milk production, lactation etc of their livestock, the major source of livelihood. They are always concerned about their livelihood and the fodder for their cattle in winter. The task is so hard and tough that it is not possible to imagine their miseries. As far as Dhoks are concerned, they are always after collecting the fodder for their cattle during the day time which is not an easy job but is very risky. They risk their lives while climbing the high trees moving along risky and tough footpaths and even in wilderness. To tend their cattle they tie them with separate pegs and remove their droppings. Thereafter they take their meal which is quite simple. Then they pull down the cot for their bedding because they hardly have space to lay their beds as they sleep in the same shelter from the cattle. In summer season they prepare butter/ghee by depriving the same to themselves and their children to earn a penny but it also has its own tale to tell as the same is taken by the moneylender adjusted against the loan and the poor Gujjar remains penniless. We have heard them saying that, “If the life sustains, this tough time will pass away”. Towards the end of summer season when they are about to return, they are faced with the prospect of cutting and collecting fodder and grains again. (Magray 2003) Many of them migrate to other parts of the country in search of labour and this is how they pass their lives. As and when they return to their ‘kacha’ houses from their Dhoks, they are reminded of their lives in Dhoks in such a way that all compulsions, miseries, sufferings dawn upon their minds and their melancholy finds an outlet in the notes of their flutes and ‘Algoja’. ( A sort of Singing instrument Mostly Used by Gujjars Shepherd.) There is no such thing as comfortable living in their lives nor do they get any leisure. The conditions of living of Bakerwals are different from those of Gujjars. They face more problems and difficulties. They carry their luggage and other commodities by loading the same on horses and they reach the high mountains on foot. They look after their sheep and goats which is not an easy job.