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| Separate state for Gujjars Bakarwals | | | Shamsher Hakla Poonchi
Problems and need of
Gujjar Bakarwal are quite different from other communities of the J&K state. Language and culture of Gujjar community is also different than those of other communities of this state that is why community has its own peculiar position. Gujjar Bakarwal community is different and as such the community has a district identity.
Gujjar community mostly resides in far flung, hilly mountainous areas near forests and on the Indo-Pak Line of actual control. They are originals from Rajputana, Gujarat, and Kathiawar. They migrated from there due to famine. Historians could not fix exact date of their migration. But some historians are of the opinion that there is some description of these Gujjars in Raj Tarangni, the famous history of Kashmir. They are mentioned as living on borders of Kashmir in 9th and 10th centuries. After some time most of them converted to Islam were divided into two sects' viz. Gujjars and Bakarwals.
On 19 April 1991 the Govt. of India while recognizing the backwardness of Gujjar Bakarwal community of Jammu And Kashmir State declared them as scheduled tribe. The president of India granted scheduled tribe status by way of ordinance no, 3 of 1991 under article 342 of the Indian constitution to them. The laps of over 25 years since their grant of schedule Tribe status the state government of Jammu and Kashmir could not implement it in letter and spirit to give full benefit of Schedule Tribe status to Gujjar-Bakarwal community of J&K . It would be appropriate to mention here that all the efforts made by central Govt. for the development of Gujjar and Bakarwal community of J&K state, have been deliberately obstructed by the state Govt. for the past many decades which resulted in their utter political, social, economical and educational backwardness. Keeping in view the aforementioned circumstances and to ensure the all round development of Gujjar & Bakarwal community of J&K state, a separate state under the name of "Gujjarsthan" must be created, under the constitution of India. It would be only then that their economical, educational, political and social backwardness could be removed and this community Gujjar Bakarwal may get due justice this way only and towards which their eyes are firmly focused.
In present era, if the terrorists try to cross the border at LOC and if they cross the border and come into mountainous or forest areas, the Gujjar-Bakarwal can play an important role in eliminating them. But they always fought for the national cause and rendered their services for the same right from PAK raiders invasion in 1947.They worked shoulder to shoulder with army and security forces and many laid down their lives in 1947,1965 and 1971 wars. Besides many Gujjars and Bakarwals were eliminated by the terrorists during the ongoing turmoil but they did not yield and supported the national cause always.
Propose area of GUJJARSTHAN State from Jawahar Tunnel towards Uri to the west. On its southern side, we have the District of Poonch and Rajouri including Tehsil Mahore and Gulabgarh Tehsil of Reasi District including Tehsil Gool of Ramban District. Towards north and north-west lies the Valley of Kashmir and the region beyond .Between the parallel range of these mountains there are narrow valleys Gorges carrying in their laps streams and nullahs of pure cold water from snowy peaks of mountains. Far from being a dividing lines, the Range of Gujjarasthan is in fact a major lining of hills and mountains around which the saga of heroic Gujjars is woven from times immemorial. Strange as it sounds, this watershed has land together rather than distanced the two climatically and topographically varying regions of Gujjarasthan State viz. Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division.
Many historic events of Kashmir history took place here. It was almost a fortified place, a citadel where fleeing kings and princes, rebels and insurgents sought refuge. Here was the kingdom of Queen Dida and her faithful Gujjar warriors who were both a support and a threat to the kingdom of Kashmir. To these foothills came Mahmud of Ghazni in the early years of 11th century where Rana Tung Rai the commander of Kashmir army faced him but with little success. Here again appeared the troops of Timur during their retreat from Kangra. It was the present Gujjars and Bakarwals of the area whose ancestors saw those great dramas being enacted on the slopes of the mountains on which they lived. They were participants in these high dramas, fighting, winning, losing yet marching onwards with a vibrant and dynamic life. |
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