PAHARIES
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Photo : Maharajkar Singh Isher |
Paharies represent 57% population of
Rajouri District. This Tribe is a distinct race who resides on the foothills of
Pahari tribes comprise of Hindu, Muslim
and Sikhs whose cultural affinity and language is binding strength of their
cultural heritage. Their mother tongue is a great connecting factor of pahari
speaking people, which have been nourishing their age-old secular, look out
also.
The main occupation of the Paharies is
agriculture and allied services. They also prefer employment in belt forces.
Due to the locational disadvantages, these people are economically backward.
They are having small pieces of land holdings, kacha houses and some cattle.
Since their economy is dependent upon agriculture and most of the agricultural
area is located on the slopes where irrigation facilities are not available. On
the other hand due to snowfall only kharif crop is possible in their fields.
Therefore, they could not get proper benefit from their agricultural fields. On
the other hand the employment avenues are so limited that skilled and
un-skilled Paharies are compelled to go to
The favourite dishes of Paharies are
rice, meat, and bread of maize, cury), they present rice with milk and sugar to
their guests. They also sacrifice a ram when they offer NIAZ at the time of harvesting
of crops.
Pahari women wear silver ornaments like
Jumka, Kangan, Hasieri (necklace), Long, Chhalla, Payal etc. While the men wear
silver and golden Rings. These ornaments are of typical type, which are
distinct from the ornaments of the other tribes residing in the same belt.
Kabaddi is the main indigenous game of
Paharies, which is played in the whole pahari belt. The lifting of Bughdar
(stone lifting) is another game of Paharies, which shows the power of young
man. The Paharies remain conducting the fighting of bulls, buffaloes, rames and
cocks. Bini (resting of arms) is another game of the Paharies, which is played
by two youths at a time. The games of these warrior tribes are unique and
physical strength is at the core of these games
GUJJARS & BAKERWALS
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Photo :
Maharajkar Singh Isher |
In Rajouri District about 12% population
is comprised of Bakerwals while 23% population belongs to Gujjars. Both the
communities are having their common cultural and linguistic heritage. Gujjars
mostly rear cattle and they are herdsmen of buffaloes and possess small pieces
of lands, kacha houses on the slopes and foothills of mountains in Rajouri
District. Number of them is having their Dhokes and dharas on the upper reaches
of Rajouri district mostly in Darhal, Budhal, Kalakote and Manjakote area. On
the other hand, Bakerwals are the offshoots of Gujjars and they are nomadic
tribes. Most of them are landless and houseless. Their livelihood is mostly
dependent on sheep and goats for which they have to rear these animals. In
search of green pastures for their herds and flocks, they travel from one place
to another with their baggage and luggage, flock of sheep and goats, fleet of
horses and dogs. Initially, they were rearing goats; therefore they are known
as Bakerwals (who rear goats). They are living nomadic life and remain
wondering in jungle in their traditional dresses with their own cultural
heritage, which is distinct and unique culture. Once Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru when
he was at Pehalgam, saw a group of Bakerwals along with their luggage and
baggage, he at once named them as the king of jungles.
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Photo
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In these days, these Bakerwal tribes can be seen
wondering in the foothills of Peer Panchal range mostly in Rajouri area, which
is located in the foothills of Panchal range. In winter season, with the
beginning of spring, they shift from Rajouri area and enter the Margs, Lush
Green high pastures and Dhokes in upper reaches of Panchal range. Some caravans
of Bakerwals of Rajouri district even cross the Valley and reach Lolad, Gurez
and Sona Marg on the Eastern top hills of Kashmir. They keep with them horses
for riding and transportation, sheep and goats for production of wool, milk and
meat. They sell surplus animals and their subsidiary products and buy maize,
rice and grocery from the villages for day-to-day consumption. These tribes
travel on compact basis with their baggage, flocks of sheep, herd of goats,
fleet of horses and dogs. The old tribe-man is generally known as Sardar who
leads the caravans. He travels on a mule. After him follows the horses, ladies
and children, flocks of sheep and goats and hunting dogs who protect animals
from thieves and wild animals. They keep tents with them and live in tented
colonies. But their life is very tough and some time they live even in the
caves under the shadow of trees and big grass. When they enter the margs and
Dhokes, they look like actual ruler of the areas because no law and authority
prevails in these Margs.
Their favourite dresses are waist Coat, shalwar,
Kurta (long shirt) and lungi (turban) while the women usually bear Sutthan
(trouser) kurti (shirt) and Tazakastani cap with cotton shawl. These tribes are
very stout, tough and beautiful. The women are hard working. Their hobbies are
to conduct fighting of rams and goats. So far as music is concerned, they like
Halgoza and jori. Their main folk songs are Chann, Mahia, Dholan, Kanchi and
Saif-ul-Malook. One of their favourite folk song is ballod of Noora a worrier.
They sing these songs while grazing their flocks in the pastures with Halgoza.
They are found of Gur. They like the feast of rice with curd and sugar. They
speak gojri language. They are brave hospitable and state forward people. They
have their own courts for justice known as kachehries or jirgas. They live
natural life and are dependent on those products, which are available on these
high pasture altitudes.
HISTORY
The Gujjars and Bakerwals
according to the historians originally belong to Rajputana region of Gujara
(Kathiawad) and due to famine and other hostile conditions, they migrated to
this area. Historians could not trace out their exact date of migration but as
per RAJ TARANGNI, the famous history book of ancient Kashmir they were living
on the borders of Kashmir in 9th and 10th centuries. After some time they
embraced Islam and later on divided into two professionally different sects of
Gujjars and Bakerwals.
After detailed and in
depth study made by the historians, anthropologists, social scientists,
researchers and ethnographers the links of Gujjars or Gurjaras have been traced
to the house of the pandvas of Mahabharta, Lord Krishana himself was closely
connected with the family of milkman. Study of India History has revealed that
Gujjars played a crucial role in making and unmaking the kingdoms and principalities.
Essentially a brave and hardy race, the Gujjars and Bakerwals have undertaken
adventures, which won them laurels on the battleground. Their role was further
facilitated by vast distribution of their population all over the subcontinent.
EDUCATION
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Photo : Maharajkar
Singh Isher |
Though the government has done a lot for
these two categories i.e. Gujjars and Bakerwals in the matter of education by way
of permanent and mobile schools, starting of Gujjar and Bakerwals hostels at
the District level with free boarding and lodging facilities up to 12th class
and reservation in employment and vocational institutions, they are still
backward. The Gujjars due to semi-migratory nature of their living are better
qualified, financially sound and better place in the social life.
LANGUAGE
The Gujjars and Bakerwals
have their own Gujri language, which they generally speak in between them. But
they correspond with the other persons in Urdu generally. The Government has
given importance to the requirements of Gujri culture, as result of which the
Radio Kashmir Jammu and Srinagar are daily broadcasting one hour Gujri
programme. Besides this, there is a Gujri section in J&K Cultural Academy,
which annually publishes literature on their culture and history and also
organizes cultural & literary
functions at different places inhabited by the Gujjar and Bakerwals.
FINANCIAL POSITION
During the seventh five year plan, the Government had earmarked an amount of Rs 163 .54 Crores, for the welfare of Gujjar and Bakerwals. During 1990-91 the welfare expenditure amounted Rs 32.44 Crores out of a total outlay of Rs 33.00 Crores. Some of the Gujjars and Bakerwals are quite well to do but the majority of them are of average income.
COURAGE AND BRAVERY
During the Indo-Pak wars,
the Gujjars and Bakerwals excelled in bravery and courage as compared to
martial races of the rest of the country. In 1965, when intruders indulged in
destructive activities, credit goes to these people who gave the first
information of their presence in the area. There is huge population of Gujjars
and Bakerwals along the line of Actual Control. In sector Gurez, Titwal, Uri,
Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Jourian they always stood face to face in front of
the enemy and guided, helped and cooperated with Indian Army.
HEALTH AND HYGIENE
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Photo : Maharajkar Singh Isher |
Gujjars and Bakerwals
understand that water of a new place shall affect the members of their family
and cattle directly. Mother nature provides all sort of springs, wells, streams
and water falls to these mobile tribes liberally. Mixed with all sorts of herbals,
insects, dead animals, dead birds, etc. the open-air sources of water are not
hygienic. Mobile tribes of Kashmir Valley, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Kathua
and Doda have their own rules for safeguarding health. Whenever, they leave
their previous pastures, they carry a handful soil with them and immerse into
the new source of water they have to use in new place. They firmly believe that
the soil of the previous place shall purify and remove the possible impurities
of the water, which they have to take. The wonderful aspect of the ancient
belief is that the members of mobile tribe and their cattle often remain free
from several water borne diseases. These people consume the purest homemade
products.
ETHNIC STUDY
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Photo
: Maharajkar Singh Isher |
The people of Rajouri District are
generally secular, patriotic, peaceful and nationalist. After the independence,
the habitants of this track had witnessed three battles taking place between India
and Pakistan in 1947, 1965 and 1971. No doubt that they suffered a lot during
these conflicts, but they remained cooperative to the forces and loyal to
India. Even in the odd hours, these people maintained communal harmony,
brotherhood and showed utmost restrain and they never came under the influence
of enemy propaganda. Every time, they foiled the nefarious designs of the
enemy.
After getting repeated defeats in the
conflicts on the border the Pakistan is hatched a conspiracy in 1989 under the
name of 'Operation topac' to capture Kashmir by involving the people and
exploiting the sentiments of innocent, peace-loving habitants of this area. In
first phase, the enemy started its operation in the Valley without touching
Poonch Rajouri areas because the ISI was using these tracks for the passage of
the militants who were crossing the Line of Actual Control from this area and
operating in the Valley and Doda. From 1989 to 1994,only 29 militants were
killed, 17 surrendered, 246 arrested and only 2 civilians were killed during
this period which reveals that militancy remained at a low profile in Rajouri
area up to 1994. But after 1995 when the ISI realized that they would not get
success in the Valley, they directed the militants for operations in Rajouri-Poonch
area also. The main organizations operating in this area were Lashkar-e-Toiba,
Hizbul Mujahidin, Peer Panchal Regiment, Harqat-Ul-Insar and Jesh-e-Mohammad.
90 percent militants operating in Rajouri area are belonging to either Pakistan
or Afghanistan and other countries. They moved in a group of 5-7 along with
sophisticated weapons in inaccessible areas and they took shelters in the
houses, which are located near the forests and beyond the range of the belt
forces. They harassed the people, took meals in their houses and often of
times, they used the innocent people for their protection also. They struck on
the forces as well as the habitants. From 1995 to 2K, 520 militants have been
killed, 55 surrendered and 282 arrested. On the other hand, these militant
groups have killed 212 innocent people in the villages. They struck in
minority-populated villages like Sawari, Kotedhara and Baljaralan to create
terror among the minorities so that they may vacate the countryside. On the
other hand, they have killed large number of innocent Muslims in the villages
blaming that they are informers. 22 persons have been beheaded and killed
brutally in these incidents. Due to their inhuman acts, the people of this area
have started hating them and now they are passing all available information to
the forces regarding their presence in their areas. Therefore, forces are
striking on their objects due to which, 60 percent of the militants operating
in Rajouri area have been killed and the rest are on the run.
During the recent past number of people of
this area have gone to Gulf Countries especially in Saudi Arabia and therefore,
huge money has been pumped in these villages. The Government has also provided
employment opportunities to skilled and unskilled persons and services to the
educated youths. At least one family member is employed either in state Govt.
or in belt forces. Due to decentralization of district plan, almost all these
villages are getting proper share of funds and facilities like power supplies,
water supplies, schools, health institutions, training centres. Old-age
pensions are also being provided to the public. Under Special Central
Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan (SCA to TSP), Border Area Development Programme
(BADP), District Plan and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), the public is
getting full benefits of these schemes.
