Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: “Though Gujjar tribe had a glorious past but they have suffered for centuries together and now they are heading towards a promising future in Jammu and Kashmir”, said noted tribal researcher Dr Javaid Rahi while presiding over a programme organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, here this afternoon.
He said that the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty who ruled much of North-Western States India from mid-6th to the 11th century were our ancestors. They played a key role in containing armies moving east of the Indus River, he said.
A number of travelers, biographers and historian have recognized Gurjaras as brave tribe, who shaped and protected country in testing times, Dr Rahi said.
He said in Jammu and Kashmir Gujjars emerged as vibrant tribal identity and now they are heading towards a direction which leads them to promising future in Jammu and Kashmir in Socio-Cultural and Economic Development, in view of Scheduled Tribe status which was granted to them in 1991.
Choudhary Ghulam Sarwar Chouhan President of TRCF while speaking on the occasion stated that some significant details with regard to India’s ‘Gurjar era’ is missing in history books published by different States of India as a part of University and School curriculum, and we have pleaded forcefully with University Grants Commission, National Council of Educational Research and Trainings, School Boards of all States, to include all factors of “Gurjar Pratihara” Period (6th-11th century AD) in curriculum books of Indian history prepared for students of different classes.
He said in some books of History the ‘Gurjara-Partihara’ period has been categorized under “Rajputana Period” which is away from the fact as Gujjars are a separate tribal identity and not fall under “Rajputs or Rajputana” although the Hindu Gujjars fall under “Kashataryas” but we are not Rajputs.
He said a communication was sent to Union Ministry of Human Resources Development and urged that all institutions that facts in this regard should be reflected properly in the curriculum History books adding to stop concealing the things related to Gujjar tribal identity.
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