Examining Ethnicity Conflict among Gujjar-Bakarwal Tribes and Pahari Speaking People in Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

The Contemporary Political and Social clash between Gujjar-Bakarwal and Pahari Speaking peoples perhaps one of the most serious challenges to internal peace at micro level and is difficult to handle at large. The Focus of the study is on the recent G.D Sharma Commission report and observations that has proposed granting Scheduled Tribe status to Various Communities namely Pahari, Paddari, Koli and Gadda Brahmin. Gujjar-Bakarwal nomadic community have already scheduled tribe reservation, after the recommendations of G.D Sharma commission, Gujjar Bakarwal started revolting against identifying Paharis as an ethnic group as opposed to a linguistic group because Paharis are already enjoying four percent reservation on the basis of linguistic group (Pahari Speaking People). Gujjar-Bakarwal had already been the victim of social stigma for ages and in such circumstances with the inclusion of Pahari Upper clan in ST would clearly lead to a long term conflict and imbalance between both the communities. Furthermore, if non tribal communities of upper castes for example Jattas, Mirza, Rajputs, Sayeed and Brahmins from Rajouri and Poonch are given STs Status, how will the government prevent a similar demand from others sections like Khan, Gupta and Sharma, a business class living in the plains of Jammu and Chenab Valley? This research paper is to examine the ethnicity conflict based on inclusion of upper caste(Non Tribal) in STs and its impact on real tribal groups; Gujjar, Bakarwal, Gaddi, Sippi, Bot and Dard Sheen. Key Words: Abstract: The Contemporary Political and Social clash between Gujjar-Bakarwal and Pahari Speaking peoples perhaps one of the most serious challenges to internal peace at micro level and is difficult to handle at large. The Focus of the study is on the recent G.D Sharma Commission report and observations that has proposed granting Scheduled Tribe status to Various Communities namely Pahari, Paddari, Koli and Gadda Brahmin. Gujjar-Bakarwal nomadic community have already scheduled tribe reservation, after the recommendations of G.D Sharma commission, Gujjar Bakarwal started revolting against identifying Paharis as an ethnic group as opposed to a linguistic group because Paharis are already enjoying four percent reservation on the basis of linguistic group (Pahari Speaking People). Gujjar-Bakarwal had already been the victim of social stigma for ages and in such circumstances with the inclusion of Pahari Upper clan in ST would clearly lead to a long term conflict and imbalance between both the communities. Furthermore, if non tribal communities of upper castes for example Jattas, Mirza, Rajputs, Sayeed and Brahmins from Rajouri and Poonch are given STs Status, how will the government prevent a similar demand from others sections like Khan, Gupta and Sharma, a business class living in the plains of Jammu and Chenab Valley? This research paper is to examine the ethnicity conflict based on inclusion of upper caste(Non Tribal) in STs and its impact on real tribal groups; Gujjar, Bakarwal, Gaddi, Sippi, Bot and Dard Sheen.