Socio- Religious Dichotomy among the Gujjars of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The Gujjars are primarily a pastoral tribe. They possess huge herds of buffaloes and in search of better grazing grounds they are constantly on the move. In Himachal Pradesh Gujjars are bracketed as a Scheduled Tribe. As per the Census of 2011, 5.7% population of Himachal Pradesh falls in the category of Scheduled Tribe. Though Gujjars are scattered all over Himachal Pradesh, their major concentrations are in Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra and Una districts. Presently, Gujjars in Himachal Pradesh are nomad, semi-nomad and settled. Gujjars of Chamba and Kangra lead nomadic life, in Una and Bilaspur regions they are permanent settlers. Nomad Gujjars are those who keep on wandering from one place to another in search of grazing facilities. Nomad Gujjars always roam and shuttle between the higher and the lower hills in search of grazing tracts. Nomad Gujjars are known as Heer Gujjars in Una and Bilaspur and in Chamba and Kangra they are recognized as Ban Gujjars. The semi nomad Gujjars, though have  permanent places of stay, they leave that for short periods in winters when the year faced scarcity of grazing grounds and return back in summers; after spending the winter in the rich grazing tracts; to their permanent residence in summers. Gujjars of Kangra lead a semi-nomadic life. Lyall mentions these semi- nomadic Gujjars of Kangra as Sawana Gujjars, who followed fixed grazing route i.e. in spite of being constantly on the move they follow the fixed tract every year and used to stay in the same huts where they stayed last year.[1] Presently also these Gujjars are known as Sawana Gujjars. Settled Gujjars are those Gujjars who did not move any in search of grazing facilities, instead possess their own lands and grazing tracts and lead a settled life. These Gujjars have their permanent houses. Gujjars in Una and Bilaspur lead a settled life. Melveill, the first settlement officer of Una, confirms their settlements in Una as early as 1860s.[2] However, in spite of leading diverse lifestyles one common thing between these nomad and settled Gujjars is that they all keep huge herds of buffaloes. Nomad (Ban) and semi nomad (Sawana) Gujjars in Himachal Pradesh are all Muslim by religion while settled Gujjars are largely Hindu; though a few among them are Muslim.   

[1] Lyall, J.B., Report of the Land Revenue Settlement of  the Kangra District, Panjab, 1867-72, Lahore:  Central Jail Press, 1874,

     p. 55.

[2] Melveill, P.S., Report of the Revised Settlement of the Oonah, Hushiarpur, Gurshunkur and Hurriana  Purganahs of the

    Hushiarpur District, Lahor: Punjab Press, 1860, p. 4