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Gujjar




  classification Kshatriya
  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 extent


Gujjar or '''Gurjar''' is a group or Caste of the Indian Subcontinent . Alternative spellings include '''Gurjara''', '''Gujar''', '''Goojar''' etc.

Traditionally, the Gurjars belong to the Kshatriya Varna In Hinduism .


HISTORY


Origin





Gujjar rulers

kingdom and other contemporary kingdoms.]]




British rule





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.


GUJJARS IN INDIA




Haryana



Jammu and Kashmir


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.


Van Gujjars



Punjab

The last names of the Punjabi Gujjars include Bhumbla, Chandpuri, Chechi, Meelu, Hans, and others. The tradition of buffalo milk in Punjab can be attributed to the nomad Gujjars 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 Gujjars displaying their livestock of buffaloes for sale. There are many Gujjar villages in Punjab (India) and most of these Gujjars are Sikhs. Even now, the nomad Gujjars come from Kashmir and sell their artifacts and livestock in Punjab. These nomad Gujjars are mostly Muslims just like their counterparts in Pakistan. One of the most famous Sikh gujjars is Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, who has a Hindi movie attributed to his bravery in the war of 1971.


Rajasthan




Madhya Pradesh



Gujarat and Maharashtra




GUJJARS 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 Caste Affiliation .


SEE ALSO



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