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Dodhi

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Dodhi
دودی
Regions with significant populations
India Jammu and Kashmir
Languages
Banihari (Gujari), Urdu, Dogari, Pahadi
Religion
Sunni Islam
Related ethnic groups
Gaddis • Bakarwal • Gujjars • Van Gujjar

The Dodhi also known as Dodi, Banihara[1] or Banyara (Urdu: Gujari: دودی), are a Muslim ethnic group and a subgroup of the larger Gurjar community.[2][3][4][5] They primarily inhabit the Indian Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, where they have been listed as a Scheduled Tribe since 1991. They speak their own dialect of Gujari language known as Banihari Gujari.[6] Their areas of settlement are chiefly concentrated in the districts of Kathua, Doda, Jammu, Ganderbal and Bandipore within the Kashmir region.

They follow Islam and are traditionally a pastoral, semi-nomadic community, known for tending buffalo and selling milk and dairy products, while having their own ethnic clans.[7][8] They mostly belong to the landless class of nomad Muslim Gujjars in Kashmir.[9]

Etymology

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The term Dodhi Gujjar, is a combination of two words "Dodhi" and "Gujjar", translating to "Milk" or "Buffalo-hearding Gujjars".[10] The prefix "Dodhi" was added by the other communities to indicate their profession and distinguish them from other Gujjars, particularly the Hindu and Muslim Gujjars of north western India.[11][12]

Dodhi Gujjars tend Bubalina, they mostly sell milk (Dudh) and milk products; that's why they're known as Dodhi (milkmen).[12]

Demographics

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The Dodhi Gujjars are traditionally found around the Himalayan states such as Jammu and Kashmir and which are on the northeast border with Tibet and Xinjiang regions of China.

Jammu and Kashmir

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Dodhi Gujjars are mainly settled in the Jammu and Kashmir divisions of the Jammu & Kashmir. In Kashmir division their key areas of settlement found in Kanghan subdivision of Genderbal district.[13]

While In Jammu division their key areas of settlement found in Bhadarwah and Kishtwar tehsils of the Doda district and Ranbhir Singh Pura, Kotli, and Miran Sahib tehsils of Jammu district and Kathua district.[14] They can also be found in various villages of the Jammu district and in the town of Gujjar Nagar.[14]

Their presence in the state is characterized by transhumant pastoralism and a deep dependence on forest resources for livelihood and cultural practices.[14]

Traditional attire

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Traditional clothing is a significant part of almost every culture. Dodhi Gujjar women wear attires like shirts with strips, chooridar Shalwar, and traditional sandals (Jutti).[15] Their attire is symbolically similar to other communities in Kashmir. Dhodhi men wear pagh on their heads, and Tamba, which is a version of the lungi that has folds at the front, and Kameez.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ Antiquity to Modernity in Tribal India: Tribal movements in India. Inter-India Publications. 1998. p. 162. ISBN 978-81-210-0386-5.
  2. ^ Conflict and Politics of Jammu and Kashmir: Internal Dynamics. Saksham Books International. 2007. p. 164. ISBN 978-81-89478-05-6.
  3. ^ Kapur, Anu (1995). Paradise in Peril: An Ecological Profile of the Kashmir Valley. Allied Publishers. pp. 115–118. ISBN 978-81-7023-407-4.
  4. ^ Rahi, Dr Javaid (2017-01-01). The Gujjars: Book series on Gujjar History and Culture. Vol. 6. Jammu and Kashmir Acacademy of Art, Culture , Languages , Jammu. pp. 460_480.
  5. ^ Kumar, Pranav (2015-01-01). "Adoption of Improved Animal Husbandry Practices by Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir". Indian journal of dairy science. doi:10.5146/IJDS.V68I3.44832.G21268.
  6. ^ Sharma, Jagdish Chander (1982). Gojri Grammar. Central Institute of Indian Languages. p. 6. And because of contacts with various languages in different regions all Gujars in Jammu and Kashmir may not be speaking the same variety of Goji rather there are regional variations within the Gojri of Jammu and Kashmir. Banihari boli the language of (Dodhi Gujars) has more influence of Dogri and Gojri spoken in Kashmir villages must have the influence of Kashmiri.
  7. ^ Om, Hari (1998). Beyond the Kashmir Valley. Har-Anand Publications. p. 81. ISBN 978-81-241-0558-0.
  8. ^ Himalayan and Central Asian Studies: Journal of Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation. The Foundation. 2000. p. 6. The Gujjars who practice transhumance. They are further sub-divided into Banihara or Dodhi Guiars and Bakarwal Gujjars.
  9. ^ Sharma, Jagdish Chander (1982). Gojri Grammar. Central Institute of Indian Languages. p. 2. The Gujjars mostly own lands but Dodhi or Banihara Gujjars do not have lands and so they are fully nomads.
  10. ^ Kapur, Anu (1995). Paradise in Peril: An Ecological Profile of the Kashmir Valley. Allied Publishers. p. 116. ISBN 978-81-7023-407-4.
  11. ^ Khatana, Ram Parshad (1992). Tribal Migration in Himalayan Frontiers: Study of Gujjar Bakarwal Transhumance Economy. Vintage Books. p. 63. ISBN 978-81-85326-46-7. The suffix and prefix of Bakarwal and Banihara or Dodhi respectively were ap-plied by the non-Gujjars to indicate their profession; and with the passage of time these words became their clari names by which they are identified as a separate group from the parent tribe of the Gujjar.
  12. ^ a b Warikoo, Kulbhushan (January 2000). "Tribal Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir". JOURNAL OF HIMALAYAN RESEARCH AND CULTURAL FOUNDATION) NGO in Consultative Status-Category II with ECOSOC, United Nations. 04 (01): 6.
  13. ^ Magray, Mohammed Bashir (2003). Tribal Geography of India Jammu and Kashmir. Oberoi Book Service. pp. 59_60. There is a heavy concentration of Dodhi Gujjars and Bakerwals in kangan sub-division.
  14. ^ a b c Magray, Mohammed Bashir (2003). Tribal Geography of India Jammu and Kashmir. Oberoi Book Service. pp. 56_57. Dodhi Gujjars are settled in Tehsil Rambir Singh Pura, Miransahib, Kotli and in a number of villages of outer plains and in proper Jammu at Gujjar Nagar and outskirts of Jammu town. In Kathua district the kandi area is occupied by the Bakerwals during winters when they return from high altitude pastures. The outer plain of this district during the same period becomes occupied by the Dodhi Gujjars.
  15. ^ a b Manju, Dwivedi. "Social structure of Gujjar and Bakarwal of Jammu and Kashmir" (PDF). International Research Journal of Agricultural Economics and Statistics. 09 (01): 234. doi:10.15740/HAS/IRJAES/9.1/232-238. eISSN 2231-6434 – via researchjournal.co.in. Dodhi Gujjar wears Pagh, Qameiz and Tehmad while the ladies wear shirt with strips choridar Shalwar and Jotti. Their diet consists of maize bread and whey (Lassi).
  16. ^ Javid; Muthukumar, Dr. J. (2024). "Cultural And Traditional Life Of Gujjar And Bakarwal Tribes Of Jammu And Kashmir". Indian International Journal of Science & Culture. 21 (S1): 1102. ISSN 1741-8984 – via migrationletters.co.

Bibliography

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  • Jeelani, Rizwan; Khandi, S.A. (15 December 2015). Adoption of Improved Animal Husbandry Practices by Gujjar Tribe of J&K: A Statistical Analysis. LAP LAMBERT. ISBN 978-3659810480.
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