Idyllic But Changing: The Lives of Gujjars and Bakarwals in J&K

This photo-essay explores the two nomadic communities and their everyday lives and experiences.

(Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

The Gujjar and the Bakarwal communities are unique ethnic groups spread across the western Himalayas, living in clans in Jammu and Kashmir. These nomadic communities spend most of and sometimes even their whole lives migrating between the regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

It is undeniable that Jammu and Kashmir is marred by conflict, hostility and antagonism of many different kinds. In the conflict that has plagued J&K in the last few decades, the Gujjar and the Bakarwal communities have stayed away from the greater politics of the region. They have chosen to remain isolated from it and continue to live by tradition – seasonal migration with their herds.

This ongoing project explores the two nomadic communities and their everyday lives and experiences.

Nomadic communities migrating between the regions of Jammu and Kashmir.(Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

The simplicity that informs the lives of the Gujjar and the Bakarwal communities has been affected by the outside world in flux, and this study aims to map out and chronicle the different aspects of their lives. It will analyse the interplay between the ideas and practices of tribalism, nomadism, migration, traditionality and modernity.

A man travelling to an area where green pastures abound. (Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

Since they are pastoral and migratory communities, the Gujjars and the Bakarwals, in order to rear and tend to their herds of sheep and goats, are often compelled to travel to areas where green pastures abound. Their lives are characterised by the ceaseless to-and-fro from one place to another.

A girl tends to herds of sheep and goats.(Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

The Gujjar and the Bakerwal communities live a simple life. (Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

The annual seasonal migration of the Gujjar and the Bakarwal communities is being perceived as some to be an attempt to settle down in Jammu, a region dominated by Punjabis and Hindus, and thereby alter its demographic profile.

Simply put, the tradition- and necessity-driven migration of the communities is being construed as a dangerous design.

Women living the traditional, nomadic life. (Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

The different aspects of nomadic life.(Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

Note may be taken of the fact they have kept themselves voluntarily isolated and have silently gone ahead, living their century-old traditional nomadic lives – seasonal migration with the herds.

As mentioned, the communities have voluntarily remained distant from the politics of the conflict-riddled region and are living according to their tradition – unfortunately, they find themselves at a crossroads and have to pick between the perhaps unfeasible past and the bleak future.

Seasonal migration with herds.(Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

A young nomadic girl looks into the camera.(Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

The communities’ innocence is being sullied by the violence and hatred they are subjected to by those with whom they have had no prior conflict. Their age-old ways of life and belief systems are under threat.

The communities have voluntarily remained distant from the politics of the conflict-riddled region.(Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

Migration is a characteristic feature of these communities’ way of life. (Photo Courtesy: Mohmmad Umar)

(The photographer is a Class 12 student from Bandipora in Jammu and Kashmir. For Umar, photography is an art to showcase the culture of the community to the rest of the world. The views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)