Gujjar

Infobox caste
caste_name=Gujjar or Gurjar
classification=Kshatriya
subdivisions=
populated_states=India, Pakistan and Afghanistan
languages=Gujari, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Pashto, Pahari languages, Kashmiri, Kutchi, Khojki, Gujarati, Khowar), Balti etc.
religions=Hinduism, Islam; Sikhism and Jainism to a minor extentThe Gujjar (Hindi: गुज्जर, Urdu: گجر) or Gurjar (Hindi: गुर्जर, Urdu: گُرجر) are an ethnic group in India and Pakistan. Alternative spellings include Gurjara, Gujar and Goojar.

The Gujjars follow Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam. The Hindu Gurjars belong to the traditional Kshatriya varna in Hinduism, while the Muslim Gujjars are considered to be a Potwari tribe in India and Pakistan.

History

Origin

The origins of the Gurjars are uncertain. [cite web
url=http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9038563/Gurjara-Pratihara-dynasty
title=Gurjara-Pratihara Dynastyrv
work=Britannica Concise
publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica
accessdate=2007-05-31] . The Gurjara clan appeared in northern India about the time of the Huna invasions of northern India. Some scholars, such as V. A. Smith, believed that the Gujjars were foreign immigrants, possibly a branch of Hephthalites ("White Huns"). [cite book
last =Smith
first =Vincent Arthur
title =The Early History of India ; From 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest Including The Invasion of Alexander The Great
origyear = 1904
year =1999
publisher=Atlantic Publishers and Distributors
isbn =8171566189
pages =166-174] D. B. Bhandarkar (1875-1950) believed that Gujars came into India with the Hunas, and the name of the tribe was sanskritized to "Gurjara".cite book
last =Bhandarkar
first =Devadatta Ramakrishna
title =Some Aspects of Ancient Indian Culture
year =1989
publisher=Asian Educational Services
isbn =8120604571
pages =64] He also believed that several places in Central Asia, such as "Gurjistan", are named after the Gujars and that the reminiscences of Gujar migration is preserved in these names. General Cunningham identified the Gujjars with Yuezhi or Tocharians.cite book
last =Russell
first =R. V
coauthors=R.B.H. Lai
title =Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India
year =1995
publisher=Asian Educational Services
isbn =812060833X
pages =166-174]

In the past, Gujjars have also been hypothesized to be descended from the nomadic Khazar tribes, although the history of Khazars shows an entirely different politico-cultural ethos [cite book
title =Gurjara aura Unakā Itihāsa meṃ Yogadāna Vishaya para Prathama Itihāsa Sammelana
year =1996
publisher =Bharatiya Gurjar Parishad
pages=34-65
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9kwIAAAAIAAJ&q=khazar&pgis=1#search
accessdate=2007-05-31
work=Im Nin'alu's 2nd Book
publisher=The Packard Humanities Institute
accessdate=2007-05-31] In Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency, the British civil servant James M. Campbell identified Gujars with Khazars.

Some Gujjars also claim that the Gujjar caste is related to the Chechens and the Georgians, and argue that Georgia was traditionally called "Gujaristan" (actually Gorjestan) The state of Gujarat in Western India, gets its name from the Gujjars or Gurjars who migrated and settled from Central Asia.cite web
url=http://sapir.ukc.ac.uk/SLyon/Reports/gujarism.html
title=Gujars and Gujarism: simple quaum versus network activism
author=Stephen M. Lyon
publisher=University of Kent at Canterbury
accessdate=2007-05-31] [cite web
url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99may13/j&k.htm#1
title=Gujjars from Georgia: seminar
publisher=The Tribune
date=1999-05-12
accessdate=2007-05-31] Some of them also claim that Germans are Gujjars. However, there is no evidence for such claims. The word "Georgia" derived from the Arabic and Persian word "Gurj", and not Gujjar or Gurjar. [cite book
last = Curtis
first =Glenn E.
title = Georgia a Country Study
year = 2004
publisher = Kessinger Publishing
isbn = 1419121650
pages = 89] [cite book
last = Nasmyth
first = Peter
title = Georgia: In the Mountains of Poetry
year = 2001
publisher = Routledge
isbn = 0700713956
pages = 9]

Gujjar rulers

According to some historical accounts, the kingdom with capital at Bhinmal (or Srimal) was established by the Gujjars. A minor kingdom of Bharuch was the offshoot of this Kingdom. [cite book
last =MalabariGujjar are great fighter they love fights and Gujjar are strongest in the world.
first =Behramji Merwanji
coauthors=Krishnalal M. Jhaveri
title =Gujarat and the Gujaratis: Pictures of Men and Manners Taken from Life
year =1998
publisher=Asian Educational Services
isbn =8120606515
pages =2] In 640-41 CE, the Chinese traveller Xuanzang (Hieun Tsang) described the kingdoms of "Su-la-cha" (identified with Saurashtra) and "Kiu-che-lo" (identified with Gurjara) in his writings. He stated that the Gurjaras ruled a rich and populous kingdom with capital at Bhinmal ("Pilo-mo-lo"). [cite book
last =Campbell
first =James MacNabb
coauthors=Reginald Edward Enthoven
title =Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency
year =1901
publisher=Govt. Central Press
isbn =8120606515
pages =2] According to his expositor, M. Vivien de St. Martin, "Su-la-cha" represents the modern Gujarat, and "Kiu-che-lo" (Gurjjara), "the country of the Gujars", represents the region between between Anhilwara and the Indus River, i.e. Sindh region. [cite web
url=http://persian.packhum.org/persian/index.jsp?serv=pf&file=80201011&ct=90
title=Juzr or Jurz.
work=Persian Texts in Translation
publisher=The Packard Humanities Institute
accessdate=2007-05-31]

Vincent Smith believed that the Pratihara dynasty, which ruled a large kingdom in northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries, and has been mentioned as "Gurjara-Pratiharas" in an inscription, was certainly of Gurjara origin. Smith also stated that there is possibility of other Agnikula Rajput clans being of same origin.cite book
last =Rose
first =Horace Arthur
couathors=Ibbetson
title =Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province
year =1990
publisher=Asian Educational Services
isbn =8120605055
pages =300] Dr. K. Jamanadas also states that the Pratihara clan of Rajputs descended from the Gujjars, and this "raises a strong presumption that the other Rajput clans also are the descendants from the Gurjaras or the allied foreign immigrants". [cite book
last =Jamanadas
first =K.
title = Decline And Fall Of Buddhism: A tragedy in Ancient India
url = http://www.ambedkar.org/books/dob.htm
accessdate=2007-05-31
publisher = Bluemoon Books
location = New Delhi
chapter = Rajput Period Was Dark Age Of India
chapterurl = http://www.ambedkar.org/books/dob8.htm] D. B. Bhandarkar also believed that Pratiharas were a clan of Gujjars.cite book
last =Bhandarkar
first =Devadatta Ramakrishna
title =Some Aspects of Ancient Indian Culture
year =1989
publisher=Asian Educational Services
isbn =8120604571
pages =64] In his book "The Glory that was Gujardesh" (1943), Gurjar writer K. M. Munshi stated that the Pratiharas, the Paramaras and the Solankis were imperial Gujjars.

However, some other historians believe that although some sections of the Pratiharas (eg. the one to which Mathanadeva belonged) were Gujjars by caste, the imperial Pratiharas of Kannauj were not Gujjars and there was no Gurjara empire in Northern India. [cite book
last =Majumdar
first =Ramesh Chandra
title =Readings in Political History of India, Ancient, Mediaeval, and Modern
origyear = 1976
year = 2002
publisher = B.R. Pub. Corp (on behalf of Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies), D.K. Publishers' Distributors
pages = 209
quote = But he refused to believe that the Imperial Pratiharas of Kanauj were also Gujars in this sense.] [cite book
title = Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 2
publisher = Digital South Asia Library
url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V02_355.gif
accessdate=2007-05-31
pages =320
quote=But whatever our theories regarding the infusion of Gujar blood among the Rajputs, there was certainly no Gurjara (Gujar) empire in Northern India] H. A. Rose and Denzil Ibbetson stated that there is no conclusive proof that the Agnikula Rajput clans are of Gurjara origin; they believed that there is possibility of the indigenous tribes adopting Gurjara names, when their founders were enfiefed by Gurjara rulers.

Over the years, the Gurjars were assimilated mainly into the castes of Kshatriya varna, although some Gurjar groups (such as Gaur Gurjars of central India) are classified as Brahmins. During the Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent, many of the Gurjar Hindus converted to Islam.cite web
url=http://www.global12project.com/2004/profiles/clusters/8022.html
title=The Gujur Rajasthani of South Asia
publisher=Bethany World Prayer Center
year=1997
accessdate=2007-05-31]

British rule

In the eighteenth century, several Gujjar chieftains and small kings were in power. During the reign of Rohilla Nawab Najib-ul-Daula, Dargahi Singh, the Gujjar chieftain of Dadri possessed 133 villages at a fixed revenue of Rs. 29,000. [cite book
title = Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers
publisher =Govternment of Uttar Pradesh
year=1993
pages =152] A fort at Parlchhatgarh in Meerut District, also known as Qila Parikishatgarh, is ascribed to a Gujjar Raja Nain Singh. [cite web
url=http://meerut.nic.in/tourist.htm
title=Tourist Places
publisher=District Administration Meerut
accessdate=2007-05-31] According to a legend, the fort was built by Parikshita and restored by Nain Singh in the eighteenth century. The fort was dismantled in 1857, to be used as a police station. [cite book
title = Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 20
publisher = Digital South Asia Library
url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V20_008.gif
accessdate=2007-05-31
pages =2]

The Imperial Gazetteer of India states that throughout the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Gujars and Musalman (Muslim) Rajputs proved the "most irreconcilable enemies" of the British in the Bulandshahr area. [cite book
title = Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 9
publisher = Digital South Asia Library
url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_056.gif
accessdate=2007-05-31
pages =50] A band of rebellious Gujjars ransacked Bulandshahr after a revolt by the 9th Native Infantry on May 21, 1857. The British officers initially left for Meerut but later sent a small force to retake the town. The British forces were able to retake the town with the help of Dehra Gurkhas, but the Gujars rose again after the Gurkhas marched off to assist General Wilson's column in another area. Under the leadership of Walidad Khan of Malagarh, the British garrison was driven out the district. Walidad Khan held Bulandshahr from July to September, until he was expelled after an engagement with Colonel Greathed's flying column. On October 4, the Bulandshahr District was regularly occupied by the British Colonel Farquhar and measures of repression were adopted against the armed Gujars.

During the revolt of 1857, the Muslim Gujars in the villages of the Ludhiana District showed dissent to the British authorities. [cite book
title = Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 16
publisher = Digital South Asia Library
url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_207.gif
accessdate=2007-05-31
pages =201] The British interests in Gangoh city of Saharanpur District were threatened by the rebel Gujars under the self-styled Raja Fathua. These Gujars rebels were defeated by the British forces under H. D. Robertson and Lieutenant Boisragon, in June 1857. [cite book
title = Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 12
publisher = Digital South Asia Library
url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V12_145.gif
accessdate=2007-05-31
pages =139] The Gujars of Chundrowli rose against the British, under the leadership of Damar Ram. The Gujars of Shunkuri village, numbering around three thousand, joined the rebel sepoys. According to British records, the Gujars plundered gunpowder and ammunition from the British and their allies.cite book
last = Jivanlala (Jeewan Lal)
first = Munshi
coauthors = Mu‘in al-Din Hasan Khan
editor = Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe
title = Two Native Narratives of the Mutiny in Delhi
origyear = 1898
url = http://www.kapadia.com/NativeNarrative/TwoNativeNarratives.html
accessdate=2007-05-31
year = 1974
publisher = Seema Publications (original publisher: A. Constable & Co)
pages = 10-27
chapter = Narrative Of Munshi Jeewan Lal
chapterurl = http://www.kapadia.com/NativeNarrative/NarrativeofMunshiJeewanLal.htm] [cite web
url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/jan/dehli-campaign.htm
title=The Delhi Campaign
author=Agha Humayun Amin
publisher=Defence Journal
month=January
year=2000
accessdate=2007-05-31] In Delhi, the "Metcalfe House" was sacked by the Gujjar villagers from whom the land was taken to erect the building. [cite book
last =Sen
first =Geeti
coauthors=Ashis Banerjee
title =The Human Landscape
publisher =Orient Longman
year=2001
isbn=8125020454
pages =236] The British records claim that the Gujars carried out several robberies. Twenty Gujars were reported to have been beheaded by Rao Tula Ram for committing dacoities in July 1857. In September 1857, the British were able to enliist the support of many Jats and Gujars at Meerut.

The British classified the Gujjars (and around 150 other Indian communities) as "criminal tribe" through the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 (later repealed by the Government of independent India in 1952). [cite web
url=http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Dalit-tribal/2003/adivasi.htm
title=The Adivasis of India - A History of Discrimination, Conflict, and Resistance
author=C.R. Bijoy
work=PUCL Bulletin
publisher=People's Union for Civil Liberties
month=February
year=2003
accessdate=2007-05-31] Some believe that the British classified the nomadic tribes as "criminal tribes" because they considered these tribes to be prone to criminality in the absence of legitimate means of livelihood, and also because of their participation in the revolt of 1857. [cite web
url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo0007/00070240.htm
title=Dishonoured by history
author=Meena Radhakrishna
work=folio: Special issue with the Sunday Magazine
publisher=The Hindu
date=2006-07-16
accessdate=2007-05-31] The Imperial Gazetteer of India stated that the Gujars were impoverished due to their "lawlessness in the Mutiny". [cite book
title = Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 9
publisher = Digital South Asia Library
url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_061.gif
accessdate=2007-05-31
pages =55
quote=In 1860, the same tracts suffeered, being largely inhabited by Gujars, still impoverished due to their lawlessness in the Mutiny] , and that the Gujars in Delhi had a "bad reputation as thieves". [cite book
title = Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 11
publisher = Digital South Asia Library
url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V11_232.gif
accessdate=2007-05-31
pages =226
quote=The Gujars (28,ooo) are nearly all Hindus ; they have a bad reputation as thieves, and levy a kind of blackmail on the residents of the civil station by ensuring that the rash householder who does not employ a Gujar watchman shall infallibly have his house robbed.]

During the World War II, several Gujjars served in the British Indian army. Kamal Ram, a Gujjar sepoy, was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry.

Demographics

Gujjars are mainly concentrated in the Indo-Gangetic plains, the Himalayan region, and eastern parts of Afghanistan, although the Gujjar diaspora is found in other places as well. A majority of Gujjars follow Hinduism and Islam, though small Gujjar communities following other religions exist.

Gujari (or Gojri), classified under Rajasthani [cite web
url=http://www.koshur.org/Linguistic/5.html
title=Gujari Language and Identity in Jammu and Kashmir
author=Dr. R.P. Khatana
publisher=Kashmir News Network: Language Section (koshur.org)
accessdate=2007-05-31] , has traditionally been the primary language of the Gujjars. But, Gujjars living in different areas speak several other languages including Hindi, Marathi, Urdu, Punjabi, Pothohari, Pahari languages (such as Dogri and Kangri), Pashto language, Dardic languages (such as Kashmiri and Khowar), and Balti.

Gujjars in India

In India, Gujjar populations are found mainly in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, northern Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The semi-nomadic Gujjar groups are found in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and north-western Uttar Pradesh. [cite book
last =Chib
first =Sukhdev Singh
title =Himachal Pradesh
year =1977
publisher =Light & Life Publishers
pages =99] The name for the state of Gujarat has derived from "Gurjar" Fact|date=May 2008.

Gujjars in North India are now considered as a vote bank by some political parties. [cite web
url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/16/stories/2004051604450400.htm
title= Congress lauds Gujjar, Poorvanchal voters
publisher=The Hindu
date=2004-05-16
accessdate=2007-05-31] [cite web
url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/23/stories/2004042309390500.htm
title=BJP adds a twist to Pilot's maiden show
publisher=The Hindu
date=2004-04-03
accessdate=2007-05-31] . Rajesh Pilot was a major Gujjar leader in North India. The Gujjars were classified as a Scheduled Tribe in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, and as Other Backward Class in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Delhi

Gujjars are mainly found in Delhi: that includes a majority of villages in northern part of Delhi are of KHARI (6 villages- namely Chandrawal, Rampura, Gopalpur, Wazirpur,Judbagh and Sultanpur, Tanwar (8 Villages seven in delhi and one falls in Gurgaon district of Haryana namely Fathpur Beri,Asola,Chandan Hola, Dera,Mandi,Bhati Kalan, Bhati Khurd and Gwalpahari(Gurgaon) Mavi 5 Village ambavata(4 villages), Bhati(24 villages),Dedha(24 villages namely Usmanpur, Ghonda, Ghamari, Ghari Mendu, Khajuri Khas, Sherpur, Sadatpur, Biharipur, Shamepur, Gokalpur, Dayalpur, Tukhmirpur, Silampur, Bhuapur, Khichripur, Gazipur, Kotla, Karkar Duman, Chilla, Dallupura, Patpar Ganj, Ghondli, Khuraji Khas and Kondli) basoya (6 villages Aliganj, Pilanji, Khairpur, Garhi), bidhuri/bidhudi(5 villages namely Tughaqabad, Madanpur Khadar, Jasola), rexwal, (2 villages namely Badarpur and Aali) Bosatta (2 villages namely Khanpur and Sarai Kale Khan) [Naagar] (hasanpur is the only village in delhi ), Kohli gurjar (one village zumrudpur),, [Media:lohias] LOHIAS(2 villages ghitorni and Aayanagar) Bainsla gurjar (one village Kotla Mubarakpur)Fact|date=May 2008

Haryana

The main gotras of Gurjars found in the Faridabad District of Haryana include Bhadana (14 villages), Mavi (10 Village) in Badka Teh PalwalNagar (84 villages), Baisla (26 village), Phagna(1 Village) and Poswal (3 village). The Bhadana gotra in Faridabad District launched an anti-dowry campaign in 2002. The community set elaborate guidelines for solemnizing marriages and holding other functions. [cite web
url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030803/ncr1.htm#4
title=Anti-dowry campaign renewed before marriage season
author=Pradeep Sharma
publisher=The Tribune, Chandigarh
date=2003-08-03
accessdate=2007-05-31] In a "mahapanchayat" ("the great panchayat"), the Gujjar community decided that those who sought dowry would be excommunicated from the society. [cite web
url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030630/ncr1.htm#5
title=No band, no dhol, and just 11 baratis
author=Parmindar Singh
publisher=The Tribune, Chandigarh
date=2003-06-29
accessdate=2007-05-31] Brigadier Hem Chand Nagar, born in village Tigaon in Ballabhgarh Tehsil of Faridabad district was the first brigadier among the Gurjar Community.Fact|date=December 2007

Indian administered Kashmir

In Jammu & Kashmir, the concentration of Gujjars is observed in the districts of Rajouri and Poonch, followed by, Ananatnag, Udhampur and Doda districts.cite web
url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/
title=Jammu & Kashmir Data Highlights : The Scheduled Tribes
work=Census of India 2001
publisher=Office of the Registrar General, India
accessdate=2007-05-31] It is believed that Gujjars migrated to Jammu and Kashmir from Gujarat (via Rajasthan) and Hazara district of NWFP. [cite book
last =Kapoor
first =A. K.
coauthors=M. K. Raha, D. Basu, Satwanti Kapoor
title =Ecology and man in the Himalayas
year =1994
publisher =M. D. Publications
isbn =978-8185880167
pages =43-44] Another group called Bakarwal (or Bakerwal or Dhangar) belongs to the same ethnic stock as the Gujjars, and inter-marriages freely take place among them.

The Gujjars and the Bakarwals in Jammu and Kashmir were notified as the Scheduled Tribes vide the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Act, 1991. According to the 2001 Census of India, Gujjar is the most populous scheduled tribe in J&K, having a population of 763,806. Around 99.3 per cent population of Gujjar and Bakarwal in J&K follow Islam.

In 2002, some Gujjars and Bakarwals in J&K demanded a separate state (Gujaristan) for Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, under the banner of India Gujjar Parishad. [cite web
url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=13233
title=Gujjars, Bakerwals demand Gujaristan in J&K
publisher=Indian Express
date=2002-07-29
accessdate=2007-05-31]

Van Gujjars

The Van Gujjars ("forest Gujjars") are found in the Shivalik hills area of North India. The Van Gujjars follow Islam, and they have their own clans, similar to the Hindu gotras.cite web
url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/businessline/2000/09/04/stories/100444m8.htm
title=Outside the jungle book
author=Radhakrishna Rao
work=Business Line
publisher=The Hindu
date=2000-09-04
accessdate=2007-05-31] They are a pastoral semi-nomadic community, practising transhumance. In the winter season, the Van Gujjars migrate with their herds to the Shiwalik foothills, and in summer, they migrate to pastures high up in the mountains. The Van Gujjars have had conflicts with the forest authorities, who prohibited human and livestock populations inside a reserved park, and blamed the Van Gujjar community for poaching and timber smuggling. After the creation of the Rajaji National Park (RNP), the Van Gujjars in Deharadun were asked to shift to a resettlement colony at Pathari near Hardwar. In 1992, when the Van Gujjars returned to the foothills, the RNP authorities tried to block them from the park area. The community fought back and finally the forsest authorities had to relent. [cite book
last =Gooch
first =Pernille
title =At the Tail of the Buffalo: Van Gujjar pastoralists between the forest and the world arena
year =1998
publisher=Dept. of Sociology, Lund University
isbn =9189078535] Later, a community forest management (CFM) programme aiming to involve the Van Gujjars in forest management was launched.

Punjab

Gujjar's of Punjab are mainly found in Nawansheher, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Fatehgarh, Mohali and the Anandpur District. In this area, their villages are in heavy concentration. They are both Hindu as well as Sikh by religion. Their main profession is agriculture and business. They are called as Chaudhary in the area. The last names of the Punjabi Gujjar's include Chaudhary ,Chechi,Kisana, Kheppar, Kataria,Bajarh, Chauhan, Bhumbla, Chandpuri, Meelu, Hans, Bagri, Khatana and others. The tradition of buffalo milk in Punjab can be attributed to the nomad Gujjar's arriving in the Punjab plains with their live stock. There are old folk songs about Gujjar women selling milk in Punjabi villages and the nomad Gujjar's displaying their livestock of buffaloes for sale. There are many Gujjar villages in [Punjab (India)] and most of these Gujjar's are Sikhs. Even now, the nomad Gujjars come from Kashmir and sell their artifacts and livestock in Punjab. These nomad Gujjar's are mostly Muslims just like their counterparts in Pakistan.

Some famous Army men from the community who hail from Punjab…

Brigadier (retired) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was born into a Gujjar-Sikh family in Chandpur Rurki, Punjab(India) and he currently lives in Chandigarh. He is known for his heroic leadership in the famous Battle of Longewala for which he was awarded Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) by the Indian Army.

Colonel (retired) Jai Chand is the first dispatch rider (DR) to grow up to the rank of full Colonel, born in famous Nagahia Ram "Mehar" family of village Dangori (Beet)Garhshankar in District Hoshiarpur,Punjab(India). A matriculate from Govt High School ,Binewal (Beet) joined Corp of Signals as Dispatch Riders in 1955. As Dispatch rider, used to deliver important and urgent messages to and from headquarters and military units in war. Served a vital role at a time when telecommunications were limited and insecure. He got commissioned in 1971 as Cipher Officer.

Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, some members of the Gujjar community resorted to violent protests over the issue of reservation in 2006 and 2007.During the 2003 Election to the Rajasthan assembly the BJP had promised the gujjars ST status as they had included the Jats as the OBC's.Former prime minister of india Atal Bihari Vajpayee promised the jats of rajasthan O.B.C.status.This upset the gurjars as the jats enjoy a much better financial status and are a more influential & powerful community than the gurjars.The gurjars didn't want to share the O.B.C. status with the jats because this hurt their political ambitions as the members of the jat community won the assembly elections and the LOK SABHA elections in the constituencies reserved for the O.B.C.'s.So the gurjars demanded S.T. status to be in some kind of contention in the elections. .This promise was not kept. In September 2006, the Gujjars organized violent protests, after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to keep its promise of including the community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. [cite web
url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/060905/139/67ale.html
title=Gujjar community goes berserk in Rajasthan
publisher=Yahoo! News
date=2006-09-05
accessdate=2007-05-31] In May 2007, during violent protests over the reservation issue, the members of the Gujjar community clashed with the police twenty six people (including two policemen). [cite web
url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200705301541.htm
title=Gujjar unrest: CPI(M) demands judicial probe
publisher=The Hindu
date=2007-05-30
accessdate=2007-05-31] Subsequently, the Gujjars protested violently, under various groups including the Gujjar Sangarsh Samiti [cite web
url=http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=374252&sid=REG&ssid=
title= Talks between Rajasthan Government, Gujjars collapse
publisher=Zee News
date=2007-05-30
accessdate=2007-05-31] , Gujjar Mahasabha [cite web
url=http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/May302007/national200705304597.asp?section=updatenews
title=Gujjars seek resignation of Minister Kalulal Gujjar
publisher=Deccan Herald
date=2007-05-30
accessdate=2007-05-31] and the Gujjar Action Committee [cite web
url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Four_dead_in_Gujjar-police_clash/articleshow/2082202.cms
title=Four dead in Gujjar-police clash in Rajasthan
publisher=The Times of India
date=2007-05-29
accessdate=2007-05-31] The protestors blocked roads and set fire to two police stations and some vehicles. [cite web
url=http://english.pravda.ru/news/hotspots/30-05-2007/92454-clash_india-0
title=Impoverished villagers burn police stations, vehicles in India
publisher=Pravda.ru
date=2007-05-29
accessdate=2007-05-31] Presently, the Gurjars in Rajasthan are classified as Other Backward Classes (OBCs). [cite web
url=http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/rajasthan.htm
title=Central List Of Other Backward Classes: Rajasthan
publisher=National Commission for Backward Classes
accessdate=2007-05-31] .

On June 05, 2007 the Gujjar rioted over their desire to be added to the governments of India list of tribes who are given preference in India government job selection as well as placement in the schools sponsored by the states of India. This preference is given under a system designed to help India's poor and disadvantaged citizens. However, other tribes on the list oppose this request as it would make it harder to obtain the few positions already set aside. [cite web
year=2007
month=June 5
url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1628192,00.html?xid=rss-world&iid=sphere-inline-bottom
title=The Race to the Bottom of India's Ladder
publisher=Time Magazine
accessdate=2007-08-26 ]

In December 2007, the Akhil Bhartiya Gujjar Mahasabha ("All-India Gurjar Council") stated that the community would boycott BJP, which is in power in Rajasthan. [cite news
url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200712311013.htm
title = Gurjar community 'threatens' to boycott BJP
publisher = The Hindu
date = December 31, 2007
accessdate = 2007-12-31]

In early 2000s, the Gujjar community in Rajasthan was also in news for the falling sex ratio, unavailability of brides and the resulting polyandry. [cite web
url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2003/08/31/stories/2003083100250400.htm
title=Men without women
author=Manipadma Jena
publisher=The Hindu
date=2003-08-03
accessdate=2007-05-31] [cite web
url=http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/globalpers/gp021505.htm
title=Diminishing returns
author=Astrid Lobo Gajiwala
publisher=The National Catholic Reporter
date=2005-02-07
accessdate=2007-05-31]

Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, the Gurjar populations are found mainly in the western U.P. region. This includes Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bijnor, Moradabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, Bulandshahar, and Bareilly. To a lesser extent, they are also found in Rampur, Agra and Bundelkhand. The most common gotras are Awana(harola, nithari, naya bhans in noida),Adhana, Chaudhry, Mundan, Khubbad, Chhokar, Kalsiyan, Chauhan, Poswal, Rathi, Chechi, Panwar, Bhati,bataar, Baisla, Tomar, Kasana, Karhana, Bhadana and Nagar. Generally, the Gurjars in western U.P. and N.C.R. are well-off; their economy depends on agriculture, milk trade and production, and to a minor extent, real estate.

Madhya Pradesh

According to the British records, the Gujjar population in Central India was around 56,000 in 1911. Most of these Gujjars were concentrated in the Nimar and Hoshangabad regions of the Narmada vallery. Most of these were migrants from the Gwalior region, while some of the Gujjars in Nimar area were immigrants from Gujarat. Presently, the Gurjars in Madhya Pradesh are classified as Other Backward Classes (OBCs). [cite web
url=http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/mp.htm
title=Central List Of Other Backward Classes: Madhya Pradesh
publisher=National Commission for Backward Classes
accessdate=2007-05-31] .

Gujarat and Maharashtra

A few scholars believe that the Leva Kunbis (or Kambis) of Gujarat, a section of the Patidars, are possibly of Gujjar origin. [cite journal
last =B K.
first = Mohapatra
coauthors = R. Trivedi, A. K. Mehta, J. M. Vyas, V. K. Kashyap
year = 2004
month =June
title = Genetic Diversity at 15 Fluorescent-Labeled Short Tandem Repeat Loci in the Patel and Other Communities of Gujarat, India.
journal = American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology
volume =25
issue = 2
pages = 108–112
url = http://www.amjforensicmedicine.com/pt/re/ajfmp/abstract.00000433-200406000-00003.htm;jsessionid=GdtDnGQq8blktYN2GKllqTLZLPyyVLdGHhh1Qbpsv2skJJT3w4PH!-1547828331!-949856145!8091!-1
accessdate=2007-05-31
quote = They are a section of the Kambi who address themselves as Patidar, and probably they are Gujjar in origin.
doi = 10.1097/01.paf.0000114137.01885.01] [cite web
url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/BULDHANA/people_castes.html
title=Buldhana: Castes
work=Buldhana District Gazetteer
publisher=Gazetteers Department, Cultural Affairs Department of Government of Maharashtra
accessdate=2007-05-31] cite book
last=Panjabi
first=Kewalram Lalchand
title =The Indomitable Sardar
year =1977
publisher =Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
pages=4
quote=Vallabhbhai Patel belonged to the famous clan of Leva Patidars who played a notable role in the history of Gujarat. They were Gujars who came from Punjab and had occupied the rich charotar land between Mahi and Tapti rivers.] . However, several others state that the Patidars are Kurmis or Kunbis (Kanbis). [cite web
url=http://www.patidarsamaj.org/culture-traditions.htm
title=Culture and Traditions
publisher=Patidar Samaj
accessdate=2007-05-31] [cite book
last=Pocock
first=David Francis
title =Kanbi and Patidar: A Study of the Patidar Community of Gujarat
year =1972
publisher=Clarendon Press
isbn=019823175X] ; the National Commission for Backward Classes of India lists Leva Patidars (or Lewa Petidars) as a sub-caste of Kunbis/Kurmis. Dode Gujar and Dore Gujar are listed as separate caste in Maharastra and Gujjar are included in OBC list in Gujarat but Patidars are not. [cite web
url=http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/maharashtra.html
title=Central List of Other Backward Classes
publisher=National Commission for Backward Classes
accessdate=2007-05-31] Most of Patidar associations clearly mention in their history that they are thepart of Kurmi Samaj. [cite web
url=http://www.patidarsamaj.org/culture-traditions.htm
title=Culture and Traditions
publisher=Patidar Samaj
accessdate=2007-05-31] [cite web
url=http://www.lpstnvs.com/history.php
title=Leuva Connextion Issue 2 May 2006
publisher=Leuva Patidar Samaj USA
accessdate=2007-09-16] [cite web
url=http://kpsuk1.members.beeb.net/Pride_of_our_history.htm
title=PRIDE OF OUR HISTORY
publisher=Sree Kadwa Patidar Samaj UK
accessdate=2007-09-16] [cite web
url=http://www.matiyapatidar.com/history-by-ramanbhai.html
title=HISTORY OF THE MATIYA PATIDAR SAMAJ
publisher=Matiya Patidar Samaj
accessdate=2007-09-16] [cite web
url=http://www.leuvapatidarsamaj.com/pdfs/leuvaconnection-2.pdf
title=Culture and Traditions
publisher=Patidar Samaj
accessdate=2007-09-16] [cite web
url=http://bakrol.pustakalay.com/history.pdf
title=The Patidars : A Golden Page in History
publisher=Patidar Samaj
accessdate=2007-09-16] [cite book
last=Pocock
first=David Francis
title =Kanbi and Patidar: A Study of the Patidar Community of Gujarat
year =1972
publisher=Clarendon Press
isbn=019823175X]

Among Marathas, one of the major clans is called "Gujar" [cite web
url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/FINAL_GAZETTEE/people1.html
title=Rural & Urban Population
work=Nagpur District Gazetteer
publisher=Gazetteers Department, Cultural Affairs Department of Government of Maharashtra
accessdate=2007-05-31] . Prataprao Gujar was the third royal "Sarnaubat" (Commander-in-chief) of Maratha ruler Shivaji's army. Sidhoji Gujar was a notable admiral in Shivaji's navy. [cite web
url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/maritime_history.htm
title=Maritime History Of India
publisher=Indian Navy
accessdate=2007-05-31] The Khandesh region in Maharashtra has a sizable Gujjar population, the major sub-castes being Dode Gujar, Leva Gujar, Bad Gujar etc.

A community using Gurjar and Gurjarpadhye as their surnames resides in the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, inhabiting Pangre, Hasol, and other villages in Ratnagiri District. Originally bearing the name "Gurjarpadhye", many now prefer to call themselves Gurjar. The community may have been living in the Konkan region for at least three centuries, although this estimate may be inaccurate. The community is a sub-caste of the larger Karhade Brahmin group [cite book
last=Saraswati
first=Baidyanath
title =Brahmanic Ritual Traditions in the Crucible of Time
year =1977
publisher =Indian Institute of Advanced Study
pages=45] and speaks the Marathi language. This community might be a part of the bigger Gujjar community. However, it is difficult to explain how they settled down in the Konkan region and are Brahmins rather than Kshatriyas. Local pandits claim that the Gurjars are essentially a priestly community and that it is only the subcastes that assumed Kshatriya status in order to earn a livelihood in other more practical professions.

Gujjar are also found in some clans of Kshtriya Dhangar.Dode Gujar and Dore Gujar are listed as separate caste in Maharastra and are included in OBC list in Maharashtra.

There is also one another separate caste in Maharashtra called as "Reve Gujars". Dode Gujars and Reve Gujars speak a special kind of language called as "Gujari" or "Gujrau".

Gujjars in Pakistan

The Muslim Gujjars are considered to be a major tribe in Pakistan. Gujjars have given their names to several places in Pakistan, including Gujranwala, Gujjar Nallah, Gujar Khan, Gojra and Gujrat. Stephen M. Lyon of University of Kent has written about what he calls "Gujarism", the act of Gujars seeking out other Gujars to form associations, and consolidate ties with them, based strictly on tribal affiliation. The Gujjars have migrated and settled in many urban areas of Pakistan. Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi has now large Gujjar population. Some population is also present in urban and rural areas of Sindh and Balochistan. Ch Rehmat Ali writer of pamphlet "Now or Never" also named Pakistan as "Pakistan". Ch Fazal Elahi former President of Pakistan belongs to Village Marala Tehsil Kharian District Gujrat (Pakistan), Inder Kumar Gujral Indian Prime minister previously belongs to District Jhelum (Pakistan), are famous name among Gujjars of Pakistan. Male Gujjars are entitled to use the prefix CH. (an abbreviation for Chaudhury) in front of their first name. This acts as a courtesy title.

Azad Kashmir

There are many prominent Gujjar families in the Pakistan administered Kashmir region, in the following places: Dadyal, Mirpur, Bhalot (Mirpur), Mandi Village (Ddayal), Saliah Village (Dayal), Kund (Dadyal), Kotli (Khoi Ratta, Anderla Kothera, Shaheen Abad, Dakkhana, Phalini, Khor, Ghayeen, Kerjai, Barali Gala, Nidi Sohana, Nakyal, Chooroi, Sehnsa), Bagh (Haveli), Bura Jungle, Muzaffarabad and Neelum District.

ee also

* List of Gujjars
* List of Gujjar Clans
* Bakarwal / Dhangar
* Shri Gurjar kshatriya kadiya samaj

Further reading

* cite book
last =Prashad
first =Ram
title =Tribal Migration in Himalayan Frontiers: Study of Gujjar Bakarwal Transhumance Economy
year =1992
publisher =Vintage Books
isbn =8185326460

External links

* [http://freewebtown.com/ashokharsana Gujjar history articles and forum. http://freewebtown.com/ashokharsana ]
* [http://www.gurjarsworld.com Gurjar's Community Online Forum.]
* [http://www.gurjarsonline.com Gurjar's Community Online]
* [http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/MABrandon/The_Gujjars.html The Gujjars of the Himalaya]

References