Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Five thousand year old ethno cultural inheritance of Gujjar tribe is facing tremendous challenges due to globalisation, rapid development, militancy and changing socio economic profile of the tribe.
This was stated by the speakers at a workshop on ‘Lives of Nomadic Gujjar Bakerwal Tribes in the Contemporary World’, organized by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF).
The speakers urged the Centre and the State authorities to devise a scheme to protect and preserve the old heritage of Gujjar Tribe including their oral traditions, costumes, jewellery, folk lore, custom and rituals, arts, crafts, history and heritage.
Dr Javaid Rahi, expert on Gujjar Affairs presided over the programme.
In his presidential address, Dr Rahi opined that it was the responsibility of the tribal communities to keep their tradition alive, adding that tribal culture of Gujjars is disappearing and is at the verge of extinction.
Dr Sami Ullah stated that the traditional inheritance of nomadic and non-nomadic tribes is very rich in term of their philosophy and it describes their linage and way of life.
Ch Bashir Bajran said many communities eked out a living moving from place to place narrating age-old tales featuring virtues and values.
Other speakers stated that Gujjars were carrying on their inheritance in shape of oldest heritage and primitive traditions and there was an urgent need to document and institutionalize their art forms.
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