Gujjar Woes

MUKT – SAAD / MAY 09 / 1

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Gujjar Woes

Bansi Lal

This is an article sent to us by Dr. A. K. Meelu of Shimla and was earlier printed in ‘Awaz-e-Gujar’, Repulic Day

special issue, January 08.

Gujjars, one of the ancient tribes, distinguished with rich and glorious past, have the proud

privilege of playing an exemplary role in the pre and post-independence era of the country.

Their contribution in the socioeconomic and political life of the country has been of very great

importance. Being a brave and courageous community, Gujjars have, because of their

administrative capacities and capabilities, ruled for centuries together over large parts of Ihe

country and have left a deep imprint on the history of the Indian sub-continent. Times,

however, played havoc with them and they became the victims of intrigues and were plunged

into darkness. Their economic conditions worsened. With the passage of time Gujjar

community faced deep educational backwardness and poverty morass. This position continued

for centuries together. Even today there is no appreciable change in the overall conditions of

the Gujjars. In fact, The Gujjar community of honest, righteous, sincere, trust-worthy, brave

and gentle people is today standing on the crossroads of history.

Gujjars, because of having made great sacrifices during the freedom struggle had hoped that in

the post-independence period they would get speedy attention and redressal of their long

pending demands will get a priority. But unfortunately they did not receive the serious

attention both at national and State levels. Because of a lack of strong leadership at the

Central level, as also because of being scattered they could not present their case forcefully

and their problems did not receive the desired attention. Other neglected sections of the

society who were united and had a strong leadership succeeded in ensuring special provisions

for them in the constitution of the country. As a follow-up measure, a number of welfare

programmes were initiated for them. But Gujjars did not figure, anywhere. Reservations too

were made in services for other marginalized sections of society and neglected classes which

resulted in providing greater employment opportunities for them. But there was no such

reservation for Gujjars. It is because of the reservations from the beginning of the 1950's that a

good number of posts in the country's high and middle administrative and allied services are

being held today by the persons belonging to other neglected sections. But Gujjars in J&K were

provided with such status and benefits in 1990's. Delay in granting this status to JK Gujjars has

resulted in their continued sufferings.

In Jammu and Kashmir Gujjars form a substantial chunk of population. However, like Gujjars of

other parts of the country, they are suffering from deep educational and economic

backwardness. They present a sordid tale of neglect and exploitation. Their share in services,

trade, tourism and other sectors of economy is almost negligible. The decade long militancy in

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2 / MUKT – SAAD / MAY 09

the state has also added miseries to their lot. They were the worst sufferers of the barbaric

acts of terrorists. There were repeated massacres of Gujjars. Terrorists used to come and kill

any number of Gujjars in higher belts. Not only male members of the Gujjar community were

specially targeted but women and small children too were not spared. Properties were

destroyed. Nature also was not kind to them. In heavy snowfalls, earthquakes etc, a very large

number of Gujjars, along with their cattle and belongings, have perished.

After a prolonged struggle, Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir were provided with the Scheduled

Tribe status in 1991. It was on the basis of their dismal backwardness, poverty and age old

marginalization and disempowerment that scheduled tribe status was conferred on them.

Conferring this status to Gujjars had kindled new hopes and aspirations amongst them. They

had thought that though status has come to them after long time yet this is the measure that

will definitely help them to come out of the long dark periods and they too would have a

happy, prosperous and bright future. But soon, sinister moves were initiated by the forces

which were not happy with this measure. These forces, from the day one tried to invent ways

and means to prevent the Gujjar community from getting any worthwhile benefit accruing

otherwise to them due to scheduled tribe status. Because of official apathy also Gujjars failed

to reap the desired benefits. The net result is that Gujjars are even today suffering from dismal

poverty, illiteracy, grown backwardness and political marginalization.

Educational backwardness amongst Gujjars, which is one of the key factors for their poverty,

ignorance and overall backwardness, should have been addressed on top priority basis from

the very beginning, but this did not receive any serious attention. Some steps, no doubt, were

taken for educating the Gujjars but these fell too short of the measures that were needed to

be taken to overcome the serious problem. In mid 1970's some hostels were set up at district

levels and some migratory schools were set up but these small steps could not help to

overcome a problem with such a magnitude. Because of the militancy in the State, the

migratory schools were also adversely hit. These could not function at the given points. Most

of these schools, because of security reasons, had to be shifted to safer places and the purpose

for which these were set up was lost. Gujjars were at higher belts and the locations of these

schools were at far-off places. The net result has been that educational advancement amongst

the Gujjar community could not take deep roots. The hostels set up at district headquarters for

Gujjars also did not come up to the expected levels. Schools lacked both men and

infrastructural facilities.

A genuine demand of the Gujjars, which has been voiced by them repeatedly during the last

five decades about political reservations, too, has not been taken care of so far. After

conferring the status of the scheduled tribe the Gujjars had hoped that this measure would

result in extending political reservations to them. Though this demand was projected in various

Gujjar conferences, press meets and also meetings with political leaders, it was never

considered seriously at the State Government level. Had this reservation been granted, a good

number of Gujjar representatives would have been in the high democratic fora which would

have helped them to agitate their problems in the state legislature as also at various

democratic institutions. Raising their demands in such fora would have attracted greater and

Gujjar Woes

MUKT – SAAD / MAY 09 / 3

serious attention of the persons in power and many of these problems would have been

solved by now.

Gojri, the language of Gujjars is still not finding its proper position. Though many languages

were included in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution in the last one decade, Gojri has

not been included so far. Gojri is a language which is being spoken by a vast majority of the

people in the Indian sub-continent and programmes in Gojri are being broadcast/ telecast

from a number of TV and Radio Stations of India and Pakistan. Sufficient literature in Gojri is

available which entitles it to be part of the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution. But for

unknown reasons Gojri is being denied the rightful place.

All this speaks that the major problems of Gujjars have not been taken seriously and no serious

efforts have been made to find the solutions. If Governments, both at the State and Central

levels are serious in tackling their problems then special programmes with sufficient financial

back-up have to launched. These programmes have to be constantly and closely monitored,

their progress regularly evaluated, and quick efforts have to be made to remove the

bottlenecks that may come up during the implementation of the scheme. This would enable

Gujjars to come out of the age-old poverty and backwardness and they too would have a

bright and prosperous future.