Shyam Bijyal
The more vociferous one is, the more chances are there for one to achieve the target whether that stands the test of constitutional validity or not. The leadership of Rajouri-Poonch is worthy of acclaim in that they finally succeeded in getting 5% reservation for Pahari speaking people which would largely benefit the Non-Gujjar and Bakerwal population. The struggle culminated into fruition due to the concerted efforts of the leaders irrespective of their political affiliations.
The truth is that the movement for reservation for the Pahari speaking people was in the aftermath of ST status as granted to the Gujjars and Bakerwals simultaneously with the creation of Autonomous Hill Development Council for Leh.
The leadership’s contention was that they were facing discrimination and would argue that a Non-G&B resident of a particular locality availed of the same sort of facilities or faced the same hardships in education, health and other infrastructure besides inhaling the same air and drinking the same water but at the time of given opportunities in competitions, employment etc he was deprived of the concessions/privileges as granted to and enjoyed by a G&B resident and hence the advocacy for the cause .
A bulk of population of the border districts nevertheless has been pacified, on one hand, and the decision to conduct census of Other Backward Classes who are clamouring for the implementation of Mandal Commission Report in toto has kept the hopes of OBCs, another a very major bulk of population, on tenterhooks, on the other.
The question also arises as to who is Pahari speaking. According to Dr. G. A. Grieson the word ‘Pahari’ applies to the groups of languages spoken in the Sub-Himalayan hills from Bhaderwah of District Doda to the eastern borders of Nepal. He describes Poonchi language as an offshoot of Punjabi with Lendi dialect.
There is also a paradox when it comes to differentiation between Backward Areas and Backward Classes. There is J&K State Commission for Backward Classes. In the case of Indira Sawhney V/S Union of India the Commission has the mandate to consider, reject or recommend the representation pertaining to Socially and Educationally ‘Backward Classes’. There is no mention of ‘Backward Areas’ as such but for years the state SCBC since its inception has been considering, rejecting or recommending the cases of villages for their incorporation in BA category as for instance the Govt. has recently additionally included many a village of the districts of Jammu, Kathua, Ramban, Doda, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Baramulla, Kupwara and Budgam in the category of Backward Areas. Even the Government’s devised Form X to SRO 294 of 2005 mentions Socially and Educationally Backward ‘Class’ and not ‘Area’.
The pattern of mountains in District Doda is very tough and challenging. As La in Ladakhi stands for a pass so does Gali in local parlance in the twin border districts.
Were we to start from Rajouri -Poonch the hills and passes that come across are Khara ki Gali, Devahari Gali, Jamia wali Gali, Jarni Gali, China Marg Gali, Neelkanth Gali, Pathar ki GAli, Nurpur Gali, Aishmarg Gali, Chhoti Gali, Chor Panchal Pass, Peer Panchal Pass, Nabi ki Gali, Darhal Pass, Brahma Pass, Didam Gali, Rupri Pass, Budhal Peer Pass and then the hills/mountains along Mahore, Gool Gulabgarh, Banihal, Pogal, Dessa, Kuntwara, Synthan Top, Marwah, Padder, Bonjwa-Gandoh, Bhaderwah and Bani and onwards to Himachal Pradesh.
The issue is also to be seen in the relative living conditions. Erstwhile District Doda is spread over a vast area of 11691 sq. km. from South Portal of Jawahar Tunnel to the mountains of Zanskar. It varies in altitude from 8000 feet to 15000 feet above sea level. The whole district is mountainous and backward. Literacy and connectivity are at the bottom but red-tapeism and corruption top the graph.
Fields have been dug out on the slopes for farming, the least promising. The area did have a strong potential for livestock rearing but it is receding with the ever increasing encroachments along low lying mountain slopes and highland meadows. There is no deterrence. The unscrupulous elements see an olive branch ahead in the regularization of their encroachments by way of such controversial measures as Roshni Act. This tendency is fast leading to disappearance of woods and alarming ecological imbalance driving the wild animals out of their habitats to take on the humans in their premises.
District Doda touching its borders with Kashmir Valley, exterior Dugger, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh region falls on the outer Himalayan range. The mountain peaks laden round the year with snow touch the sky ensuring life down below by their perennial flowing waters but as far the natives they live in poverty and hostile conditions of drought and chill.
There is a composite culture. Apart from Kashmiri and Dogri languages which have already been included in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution the main dialects spoken in the district are Siraji, Bhaderwahi, Pogli, Bhalesvi, Kishtwari and Padri. The Gojri language is also spoken. In addition, the Gaddi dialect is prevalent among the traditional shepherds. Both the Gaddi as well as the G&B population has already been accorded ST status.
All the Pahari dialects mentioned hereinabove have their own heroes, riddles and folk lores. The people of erstwhile District Doda speaking diverse Pahari dialects and inhabiting the high rugged mountain slopes and cliffs, too, like their counterparts in Rajouri-Poonch deserve the extension of 5% reservation for the sake of even justice on the grounds of their own merit and not at the cost of OBCs.
(The writer is a retired KAS officer)
Follow our WhatsApp channel