Dogra Jheer

The Dogra Jheer are a Hindu caste found in the Jammu Region of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Their preferred self-designation is Kashyap Rajput.^[1]

Origin

The word is said to be a corruption of the Sanskrit dheevara, which means someone of mixed origin. Dheevaras receive a mention in the Mahabharat, where they are said to be a tribe of fishermen. In the Dogri language, the term jheer was often used for a cook. This community may have acquired the name Jheer on account of the fact that members of the community were employed as cooks. The Jheer are a caste associated with water carrying and may be connected with the Jhinwar caste of Indian Punjab. Like the Jhinwar and the Kahar of North India, the Jheer were also employed as palanquin bearers. ^[2]

The homeland of the Jheer is a region historically known as Duggar Des, an area stretching from Udhampur in the wesr and Kathua in the east. They speak the Dogri language, and their customs and traditions are similar to the locally dominant Dogra community.

Present Circumstances

Like most other North Indian Hindu castes, the Jheer consists of number of clans, with strict rules of clan exogamy. Their major clans are the Khisku, Pounti, Bera, Tak, Bamhotra, Doe, Athgotra, Sukhajange, Manhotra, Baspurie, Balgotra, Allar, Sountre, Manni, Sarmutre, Sangotra, Sansoa, Chikkardubbe, Samhotra, Lunjh, Jallandhari, Lakhotra, Dain, Bahri, Seotre, Malgotre, Maski, Koonj, Gadari, Jassam and Poonchi. They are also strictly endogamous, and occupy their own quarters in villages. This was historically a landless community, traditionally associated with fishing, water carrying and palanquin bearing. Many were granted lands as part of the land reform carried out by the Government of India, just after independence in 1947. The Jheer have now opened hotels while many are employed as cooks in urban households. Their also been some movement towards higher education, with many Jheers now working as doctors and other professionals. ^[3]

See Also

• Jhinwar

References

1. ^ People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita, S.D.S Charak & B.R. Rizvi page 292 to 301 Manohar Publications
2. ^ People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita, S.D.S Charak & B.R. Rizvi page 292 to 301 Manohar Publications
3. ^ People of India Jammu and Kashmir Volume XXV edited by K.N Pandita, S.D.S Charak & B.R. Rizvi page 292 to 301 Manohar Publications