Bull.lnd.Hist.Med Vol. XXVIII - 1998 pp 139 to 145 GUJJAR BAKARWALS - THE ECO-FRIENDLY TRIBALS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR SINCE CENTURIES ANIL KUMAR* & NARESH KUMAR** ABSTRACT According to the ecological approach, health represents the adjustment of the human organism to his environment. The man of today is living in a highly complicated environment and his health problem is more complicated as he is becoming more ingenious. But, there are people who with their strong social structure are living in healthy relationship with their environment and are enjoying the transformation of their rich genetic potentialities into phenotypic realities since centuries. They are Gujjar Bakarwal tribals of Jammu and Kashmir. Here, in this article, the traditionally hard life style of these tribals with reference to their social, physical and Biological environmental factors which make them eco-friendly has been discussed. Introduction defined as ecology and human ecology The quest for health is as old as the is concerned with the broad setting of history of mankind from the man of the man in his environment. The basic theme primitive age to the man of today, the of ecology is that everything is related to wheel of time has taken innumerable everything else. According to the turns. The values, patterns and ecological approach the health is a state technologies have changed altogether. of dynamic equilibrium or adjustment But even today every time we are faced between man and his environment. The with any harship pertaining to health or environment is not merely the air, water life - we turn back to nature to find a and soil but also the social and the suitable answer. And without fail we get economic conditions under which men a positive response. lives. It is the aggregate of all the external The trend of study of disease in man conditions and influences affecting the life in recent times has shifted to man in the and the development of an organs, human midst of disease. In other words, it is behaviour or society. study of man in his environment. The Man by dint of his genius, has science of mutual relationship between altogether changed to his demands and living organism and their environment is needs which, in turn, has disturbed the ••• Asstt. Research Officers (Ay.), Regional Research Centre for Ayurveda, Rehari Chowk, Jammu- Tawi - 180005. (India). 140 Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist, Med. Vol.XXVIII- 1998 ecological system altogether. This the mountains of the state. Their nomadic change in the ecological pattern has life has obviously kept them economically made him to face new health challenges and educationally backward. As per the in the form of new diseases. latest data available they comprise 25% In the present era of satellite - 28% of the total population of the state. medicine which is benefitting only a As these tribes mainly depend upon the fraction of the total global population, we cattle folk for their livelihood selling milk, still find people with jubilant health ghee and butter, they do not build their without ingesting the multicolored pills· permanent houses. They prefers to live arid tablets. Where this comes? From in the areas having lush green pastures air conditioned mansions or from highly and plenty of water for their cattle. The nutritious diet-nay, it is not the outcome snow on the mountains during the winter of these facilities. It isnot a miracle also .. months compells them to travel down- It is a reality that thisclass of people are wards on the foothills or plains. But no the people with their roots in the culture sooner, the summer sets in they reverse of the land.wedded with nature and in their footsteps and again climb high on close bondages with their traditions. This the mountains. They are very religious class of people are the Gujjar Bakarwals, arid are bound by tribal customs. the nomadic tribals of Jammu and However their living conditions compell Kashmir. Clinlbing and crossing the them to lead a very tough life but they dales and vales, quenching their thirst break the monotony of their routine life from the nectar of virgin lakes and naughty by arranging community gatherings on springs, filling their lungs with the most the happy occasions like marriage purest of the air, singing songs in ecstatic ceremonies and anniversaries of their state of mind living a life of transquility religious saints whose tombs are found they lead a complete life-complete in the in every hilly part of the state. They true sense of the word. practise Namaz (Religious prayer) Inspite of their hard I!ving conditions, collectively and regularly but Friday their adjustment with their environment prayers are more important. These in respect of their social, physical and nomadic tribals are organised in Kabilas biological factors has made them the (clan) and Deras (units. Each Kabila or most eco-friendly people of the state Dear has its own leader called since centuries. Mukaddam. Social Environmental Factors The most striking trait of these tribals Gujjar Bakarwal tribals entered the lies in their being nationalist and secular territories of Jammu and Kashmir in and at the same time most true to their about 1127 - 1154 AD during the empire religion. When even today we find it of Maharaja Bijay Singh and settled in debatable and are at crossroads to build Gujjar Bakarwa/s - Anil & Naresh 141 up a consensus for the equal rights of diseases of humans and animals. the female folk in the society. These Almost every tribal member wears a clans, although possessing no formal Taweez (Talisman) for hisJher good university degrees are so elevated health, fortune and prosperity. mentally and spiritually that they serve The staple diet of these tribals is the living example of giv.ing practical Maize, butter and butter milk. Hukka, equality to their women folk in their day Beedi and Cigarette smoking and use of to day social life. They have no inhibition Naswar (snuff) are common addictions for the women going down from the hills among them. But they are teetotallers. to the towns and villages to sell their These tribals still practise polygamy and animal products and make purchase of early marriages are very common and the goods ofthe household nature. This taken as a way of life. way it is a much advanced society with The man folk are tall and well built. women having same rights as their male They wear majestic turbans, colourful counter parts. Gujjar Bakarwal women waist coasts, loose shirts, Tehbunds can be distinguished from the other (unstiched loose cloth, tied on the waist women folk with their strong and sturdy covering the whole of the lower portion of physical built up with a dignified gait. the body) and excessively iron nailed They wea~;traditional costumes and pointed leather foot wears. They lead a jewellary and have a peculiar hair style very harmon ius, contented and healthful where hairare dressed in twelve to fifteen life away from the cut throat competition. ; braids called Gundani. of the present era minas the stress Although these tribals can related psychological outburts which are communicate well in Punjabi and a part and parcel of the present life. Their Kashmiri language Gojri. The folk songs good faith is proverbial and they are of gojri especially Bararnah, Mayya, generous people giving th.eir milk in Sipayya, Dhol, Chan and Tajo are very charity in Fridays. ·Theybelieve in the popular among the other communities of policy for forgive and forget even when the state. Vanjali or flute is perhaps the they are baoly deceived and cheated. only intimate companion of the lonely They have a strong faith in the day of herdman grazing his flocks. Lack of judgement where wrong doers are education and awareness is these tribals destined to be punished. Never can they are the root cause of this community be seen begging, designing murders or being over superstitious. In their day to looting. They earn their living with the day life they have the highest regards of r.lignity of labour. They are, infact, the their Peers (Religious priests). Phooks glory & pride of the state. (a blow of breath by the peer) is Physical environmental Factors considered to be a panacea for all The physical environmental factors 142 Bull. Ind. Inst.Hist, Med. Vol. XXVIII - 1998 which are a part and parcel of the human seasonal variation. In order to keep a existence play an important role in the vigil on their herd they have domestic dogs healthful life of the gunar - bakarwals. As who faithfully serve their masters. In they live on the hill tops away from any addtion they also possess horses and radiation, industrial and vehicular mules for transporting their luggage pollution, they breathe the purest of the women folk, children and aged members air devoid of any toxic foreign particles of the family. Sometimes certain reptiles which can be harmful for the human and wild animals prove harmful for them breathing apparatus. They consume the and their herd also. sage and whole-some water which is Owing to their constant association pleasant, sweet, tasteful and completely with animals, cold climate of the hills and free from any poisonous chemical other living conditions it becomes substances. The cold climatic and somewhat difficult for them to maintain weather conditions prevent them from a the optimum hygiene with the result they number of biological disease creating suffer from lice infestation and a varietyof agents of the zones. skin ailments and allergic disorders. As reported earlier their staple food These tribes make a good use of is maize. They rarely take rice or wheat. available plant kingdom at their disposal As they depend upon the milking animals for their day to day ailments.