Gurjars in Himachal Pradesh or Himachali Gujjars, are an ethnic community native to the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. They are descended from Gurjars who moved into this region during medieval times. They are scattered across almost all districts of Himachal Pradesh; They are densely populated in Solan, Mandi, Sirmaur, Chamba, and Kangra districts, while Lahaul and Spiti district has the smallest Gujjar population. Approximately 86% of the total Gurjar population in Himachal Pradesh are Muslim and remaining 14% are Hindu.
In Himachal Pradesh, Hindu Gujjars have traditionally been settled with some nomads, while Muslim Gujjars are primarily nomads with some settled communities. Amongst the nomadic Muslim communities, there are three distinct groups of Muslim Gujjars known as Van Gujjars, Dodhi Gujjars, and Bakarwals.
According to 2011 census data, Gujjars make up a large percentage of the tribal population in HP, representing 23.06% of all Scheduled Tribes in Himachal Pradesh. They make up about 1.5% of the total population of Himachal Pradesh.
History According to legends, the Himachali Gurjars came to Himachal Pradesh about 300 years ago from the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Muslim Gujjars initially migrated to the former princely states of Chamba and Sirmur due to limited grazing land in Jammu and Kashmir, later spreading to other areas of the Himachal Pradesh.
Gujjars migrated to Himachal Pradesh a few decades before 1881. Census data states that by 1881, there was an estimated 906 Gurjar people living in that area. The 1904 Chamba Gazetteer supports this, stating Gurjars settled there about 40 to 50 years earlier and primarily perused their flocks through the Ravi Valley, Chamba district and the surrounding hills.
The Gazetteer of Kangra state in 1883-84 indicates the presence of Gujjars within the district. Some Gujjar households emigrated from Jammu to the Chamba area and also migrated into the highlands of Rihlu, where they remained all summer grazing their livestock. After September they would depart for Nurpur, where they would remain until the hard winter and return to their customary routes south and west to Kullu or Mandi. Acting in a transitory fashion, many Gujjars would never settle down permanently anywhere else in the Kangra district, but rather use Kangra as a place for rest and sustenance while travelling to Kullu and Mandi.
Before British rule, the grazing rights of Gaddi and tribal Gujjars over forest and uncultivated land were not clearly defined. The British introduced new forest policies that regulated grazing. During this time, the rights of hill communities were recorded and settled in official records. Land and forest ownership were not decided at first. Information about earlier systems and people's rights was collected in Settlement Records. In 1864, the forest of Kangra came under the Deputy Commissioner. In 1849, George Carnac Barnes was appointed Settlement Officer. He settled the forest and non-forest areas of Kangra region while reserving rights for Gaddis, nomad Gujjars, and village communities. He allowed them broad access to the forests, as the uncultivated land was considered plentiful at the time.
During the 19th century, Gujjars migrated to Himachal Pradesh, specifically the Dhauladhar range, and began living in forested areas called "dhars". Each spring, these Gujjars would migrate up to their dhar areas (in April) for grazing (summer grazing months) on the millions of acres of high mountain meadows and forests located there and, in the fall (by October), would migrate back down to the plains in Chamba. Gujjars also had many different migration routes; many Gujjars migrated to Kangra from Jammu while many others migrated to Chamba via Chamba.
In Una, Gujjars arrived from other parts of Punjab around the middle to late 19th century and were mostly new settlers to the area from other portions of Punjab. Gujjars migrated to Bilaspur from Delhi or Rajasthan and most of the Gujjars who later settled in Solan district arrived from the Sirmur. Due to the marriage alliance between the Kingdom of Poonch and Sirmaur State, 19 Gujjar families initially migrated into Sirmaur; however, more Gujjar groups continued to migrate into the area via various routes and on their own. According to local lore, it is believed that the migration of Gujjar families to Himachal Pradesh began with the Maharaja of Sirmaur discovering the buffalo milk of the Gujjars of the Poonch Kingdom in Kashmir during one of his trips. The Maharaja liked it so much that he brought back a few families of Gujjars to Sirmur, and over the next few years, these Gujjar families migrated to many other parts of Himachal Pradesh, most likely beginning in the first two decades of the 20th century.
The 1906 Settlement Report for G.S. Hart said that some families of Gujjars moved from Jammu to Kiarda dun during the rule of Maharaja Shamsher Prakash (1870s) while under the Sirmur State. They then spread into adjoining forests in the Shimla Hill States, including Bushahr, Khaneti, and Keonthal.
With restrictions through quotas by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department on available buffalo grazing, approximately 20% of the Gujjar families left the Saal valley forever from 1990 to 2001 to go to Punjab in search of better grazing opportunities. This ultimately resulted in a loss of ST status and associated benefits, although the benefits were generally not taken advantage of.
Demographics The Gujjar community primarily reside in various valleys of Himachal Pradesh, including Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Parvati, Solang, and Kinaur. They are found almost across all districts of Himachal Pradesh.
In Chamba and Kangra districts, the Gujjar community is referred to as 'Van Gujjars', predominantly consisting of Muslims, making up 97.12% of the Gujjar population of 9,784. In contrast, Gujjars in Una and Bilaspur are known as 'Heer Gujjars', primarily comprising Hindus who have settled in the area.
Muslim Gujjars are predominantly found in the Chamba, Mandi, Solan, Una, and Sirmaur districts. Some of them particularly from the nomad class, also inhabit forest and mountainous areas.
The Hindu Gujjars are mostly settled in Una, Mandi, Bilaspur, Kangra, Chamba, Solan, Sirmaur districts of the state.
Clan system In Himachal Pradesh, Gujjars are organised into various clans that are shared among both Hindu Gujjars and Muslim Gujjars. Gurjars from different clans each claim a different origin.
Subgroups Himachal Gurjars are divided into different subgroups or divisions based on their occupation, customs or lifestyle.
Bhatariye and Bhanariye Based on their marriage customs, Himachali Muslim Gujjars are divided further into two main sections. Bhatariye and Bhanariye, which typically do not intermarry. These two sections are further subdivided into exogamous clans.
Sivander Gurjars A small group of Gurjars called Sivander Gurjars or Savanadaras. They belonged to settled class of Gurjars and are farmers. The main settlements of the Sivander Gujjars are found in the Bilaspur, Chamba, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts.
Heer Gurjars Heer Gurjars are a group of Hindu Gurjars who live a settled life. They are mostly found in Una and Bilaspur districts in southern part of Himachal Pradesh.
Ban Gurjars Van Gurjars, or Ban Gurjars, are a subgroup of Muslim Gurjars. They are traditionally nomadic pastoralists who do not own land in Himachal Pradesh, and are believed to have migrated there from Jammu and Kashmir (Union territory).
Clans Some known clans found among Himachali Gurjars are as follow:
Kataria Tas Kor Khepar Toor Didhar (Dedar) Bhumphal Gorsi (Gursi) Padhana Katariya (Katarya) Bhadana Koli Bajar Chhore Ladi Motla (Motle) Kantiya Bhunch Bargat Kalas Parswal MalheriaThe World of Nomads By Shyam Singh Shashi (2006). p.87 Kantiya
Culture Hindu and Muslim Gujjars in Himachal Pradesh share many common social and religious practices with the wider population.
Languages In Himachal Pradesh, they speak various regional languages, including Pahari, Kangri, Hindi, Urdu and Gujari. The Kangri language is mostly spoken by Hindu Gujjars in Kangra region. Muslim Gujjars in the state mostly speak Gujari as their mother tongue. In the 2011 census, there were 14,127, Gujari speakers among the Muslim Gujjars in Himachal Pradesh.
Attire Himachali Gujjars have distinctive traditional attire and grooming. Men typically sport beards and wear traditional clothing like loose-fitting trousers, long shirts, and Himachali caps. Women wear fitted trousers, loose tops, and a long scarf to cover their heads, with some Muslim Gujar women observing purdah. Both Gujjar men and women adorn themselves with ornaments, with the women having a particular fondness for gold and silver jewellery.
The Gurjars kept to themselves and stayed separate from the other communities of Himachal Pradesh. They are tall and slim. The Gurjar men wear turbans and women wear kurtas with traditional embroidery. Because of their looks, they are easy to recognise. While, Gurjar children wear a hat called "Gujari Topi". It is similar to a kantop and has pointed top in different colours.
Food
In Himachal Pradesh, Gurjars typically eat simple, wholesome foods like maize, dairy products such as butter, yogurt, milk and ghee. Meat is an occasional part of their diet, especially among Muslim Gujjars.
Beverage Most Gurjars do not drink alcohol or use any kind of simulant. Even when they travel across snow- covered mountain paths or through deep forestd, they do not feel the need for any drink. Even in extreme cold weather, Gurjars women also do not smoke beedi (cigarettes) and they do not drink alcohol.
Wedding
Gurjars wedding ceremonies are very simple. Muslim Gujjars welcome the birth of a child as a divine blessing and a joyous occasion. Muslim Gujars recognise various forms of marriage, including Batta-Satta, service based unions, bride price marriages, and Ghar-Jawain.
Unlike some other Hindu cultures, they do not practice polyandry. Marriage within the clan was previously prohibited among Himachali Gurjars. Among Muslim Gurjars, this prohibition no longer strictly exists.
Monogamy Most Gurjars are monogamous. They follow one marriage at a time and trace family lineage through the father. They value pure blood ties on the father's side. However, they do not have local clans. They also do don't follow strict rules about marrying inside or outside their own village. Divorce Gurjars in Himachal Pradesh get divorced quite often. If either the husband or wife wants to separate, the matter is taken to the committee of local Gujjar Panchayat.
Family structure Gurjar families in Himachal Pradesh often live together in joint families. In these families, the oldest man is in charge and is called "Sayana". They share food and resources, including animals. However, many Gurjar families are now choosing to live in smaller, nuclear families, showing that their society is slowly changing. Birth Birth of a child is considered as a God gift in most Gurjar families. A son is welcomed with great happiness. To avoid the evil eye, the news of a son's birth is shared with neighbours only later. A husband is not allowed to enter the room where his wife gives birth.
Gurjar boys are circumcised at age 5 as part of their Islamic tradition. A barber ford the operation. Animals are sacrificed during the ceremony. Followed by a feast for family and friends.
Family planning Tribal Gurjars do not believe in birth control. They view it as wrong in society and against God. Family planning and abortion are not practised among tribal Gurjars.
Festivals