Shamsher Hakla Poonchi
Gujjar Bakarwal tribe is a sum total of warlike tribes and is a grand old tribe.That is why this tribe has its own peculiar position and it has its own identity, customs and a unique way of life. The needs and the problems, language and the culture of this tribe are quite different from other communities of J&K. Gujjar Bakarwals are of fair complexion, long nose and tall, long head and wide forehead. All the Gujjar Bakarwals residing in Jammu and Kashmir belong to Islam religion.These people hold fast to their religion but their outlook is secular and have always been honest, gentle, brave, patriot and hospitable and have always been nationalists. They have a history of fighting the enemy.
During the tribal invasion in J&K in 1947, Gujjar Bakarwal fought against Qabalis and defeated them. In 1965 they drove off Pakistan infiltrators during the Indo Pak war and again in 1971, Indo Pak conflicts and Kargil war fought between Indian and Pakistan in 1999, these people protected J&K state of India and defeated the evil designs of Pakistan with might and man.The role of this tribe against the militancy era in the last 30 years turmoil in J&K from 1989 to till date is also remarkable.
The Gujjar Bakarwal tribe has its habitation in 20 districts of J&K and mostly resides in hilly, far-flung and mountainous areas near forests and on the Indo-Pak LOC of J&K with the population of over many lakhs. This Tribe is economically, socially, educationally and politically backward.
Gujjar Bakarwals tribe generally speak Gojri language and their mother language is Gojri. Even passing through ups and downs of its history, the Gojri language continued to retain its originality and existence. Historians have different views about the coming of Gojri language in Jammu and Kashmir, but some historians and language experts agree that it came with the coming of Gujjar Bakarwals tribe.
The previous J&K state govt. had not taken any strong step for the welfare & upliftment of Gojri language. The Gujjar Bakarwal tribes have always demanded to Govt. for the inclusion of Gojri language in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution but the J&K state govt. did not accept their genuine demand & had not recommended it to the govt. of India for the inclusion of Gojri language in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution which is a great injustice to them. That is why Gojri language of Gujjar Bakarwals tribe has become a backward language.
Recognizing the backwardness of Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K. Govt. of India granted scheduled tribe status to Gujjars Bakarwals under ordinance No. 03 of 1991 under article 342 of constitution of India on April 19, 1991, So far their participation in the state administrative and political setupof J&K is concerned under scheduled tribe status norms, there should have been reservation of assembly segment and Lok Sabha Segments for Gujjar Bakarwal in J&K state but it did not happen any were in the J&K by previous J&K state Govt. It has done a great in justice to Gujjar Bakarwal tribe. Further more in J&K there are 31 (thirty one) state assembly segments out of 87 (eighty seven) assembly segment of J&K and 2 (two) Lok sabha segments out of 6 (six) Lok Sabha segments of J&K which are inhabited by Gujjar Bakarwal tribe, and such segments should be reserved for Gujjar Bakarwal tribe because of schedule tribe status but due to indifferent attitude of the J&K state Govt, the Gujjar Bakarwal tribe stands deprived of this political reservation right. It would be appropriate to mention here that all the efforts made by govt. of India for the development and welfare of Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K state, have been deliberately obstructed by the previous J&K state Govt.s headed by National Conference, Congress Party and Peoples Democratic Party for the past many decades which resulted in the utter political, educational, social and economical backwardness of Gujjar Bakarwals tribe of Jammu and Kashmir.
The previous J&K state Govt’s ruling from 1947 to 2018 had not taken any initiative or step for the permanent settlement and upliftmentof some of the unsettled and nomadic people of Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K who have been living unsettled, nomadic life.This type of life from past to till date and also the J&K Govt.s had not made any policies or schemes for permanent settlement and upliftment of unsettled nomadic people of Gujjar Bakarwal tribe of J&K.
Most areas of Gujjar Bakarwals tribe in Jammu and Kashmir are lacking in facilities like road communication, electricity, water supply schemes, medical facilities and educational facilities which put Gujjar Bakarwal tribe in lots of hardships and troubles. The previous J&K State Govt.s had not taken any concrete steps to solve their needs and problems and for their welfare and upliftment. The Gujjar Bakarwals tribe has always demanded to govt. for opening of boarding schools in all the district of J&K on the pattern of Nodya Vidyalaya for Boys and Girls student of Gujjar Bakarwal and also for establishing a tribal university in J&K for Gujjar Bakarwal students but the J&K State Govt. did not take their demand to the central Govt. of India. Because of being neglected and discriminated by previous J&K state Govt’s the Gujjar Bakarwals tribe of J&K is unable to step ahead in the education sector.
The educated Gujjar Bakarwal youths of J&K are facing a large no. of unemployment during the present stage and this all is because of being neglected and discriminated by previous J&K state Governments.
In the past general census were conducted by the govt.during 2001 & 2011 in summer season but during that time, the Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe along with their families and livestock moved towards the hilly mountains(Dhoks) of J&K state and because of this reason, those census could not clearly describe the exact population of Gujjars Bakarwals in J&K.
So, now the Govt.should conduct a new special survey during the winter season, so that the exact population of Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe of J&K can be found.
(The author is a Gujjar leader)
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