Social profile of Gujjar and Bakarwal of Jammu and Kashmir: An Overview

Abstract

Gujjars and Bakarwals in Jammu and Kashmir are socially much backward in comparison to other communities of state. Gujjars and Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir are still practising the traditional way of living such as they used to live in wood or mud houses with paddy and forest grass roof. Though some houses in village are now made up of brick and stones but one can find traditional houses too. They move with their entire family including children and women. During winters they move to warmer areas of lower Himalayas and in summers they move towards Bungus valley (situated on the other side of Lolab valley) and other places of cattle grazing areas of Kashmir. They move because of non-availability of green fodder for their cattle and also to avoid severe cold and snowfall that affect the health, growth, reproduction, milk production, lactation etc of their livestock, the major source of livelihood. Gujjar and Bakarwal of Jammu and Kashmir is mainly different from other ethnic groups and general society in various means like, in their habitats, degree of isolation, customs, beliefs, traditions, etc. But it does not mean there is no interaction with other communities. Interaction with other communities is there at the larger scale. They constitute more than 11.9% of the total population of the state as per 2011 Census. In this paper an attempt was made to examine the social profile of Gujjar and Bakarwal in the state. This paper is based on secondary sources i.e. population census of India 2001 and 2011, various Journals, Articles, Books and Reports etc. Results have indicated that literacy rate among the Gujjars was 31.65 % and Bakarwals was 22.51% with a total 55.52% of the General population of the state as per 2001 census.