A study of Educational Problems of Gujjars and Bakarwals in Doda District of Jammu and Kashmir

Social Sciences Education

“The Gujjar community is a major component of our proud cultural canvass. Like all other tribal communities, it has richness of its historical past, its anthropological moorings spread across the length and breadth of the sub-continent and the members of this community still proudly following tribal norms and mores.” Ghulam Nabi Azad India is a huge and diverse country with various communities, dialects and religions. Diversity of the country is also seen in its topography and landscape. Climatic variations from extremely hot weather in south to freezing temperatures in the North and from humid to dry atmosphere has great impact on human, animal and plant life. India’s tribal population is not only the largest one in the world but also has different communities in different parts of India. Our population being more than 60% agrarian one, it is natural for them to rear cattle, sheep and goats, horses and ponies etc. Tribal communities which keep herds of cattle, sheep and goats, horses and ponies are named as Gujjars and Bakarwals in states of U.P, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and J&K. The community that keeps herd of sheep and goats in H.P is known as Gaddies. They are Hindus. As for as Gujjars are concerned, a major chunk of them follow Islam. Though they don’t mingle fully with Muslims so is a separate community. Separation is so apparent that their entire culture is different. It is oblivious that before Islamic invasion of India all followed sanatan Dharma. So, all the conversions to Islam happened from 13th to 17th century A.D. It was during this period when Arab invaders invaded and ruled many parts of India. Gujjar community among Hindus is also a tribal community present mostly in Rajasthan and Gujrat. Bakarwals as the name suggests are mostly once that keeps herds of sheep and Goats. So farGujjar and Bakarwal’s original location in India is concerned, it is undoubtedly Gujrat. Archeological findings bring forth the facts that from 6th to 8th century A.D Gujrat was facing continuous spell of drought. Pastures and green fields having vanished and in search for them, Gujjars and Bakarwals might have migrated to Rajasthan. From there with the same or may be with some additional reasons they kept on changing areas. From Rajasthan via Haryana, Punjab might have sought entry into Jammu and Kashmir.

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