An Ethnographic Studies of the Bakarwal Community of Bhimber, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

The tribal traits of the Bakarwals make them unique. They live in many provinces of the Indian subcontinent. This study will explain their origin and cultural history. The Bakarwals claim that they were Gujjars living in Gujarat and Rajasthan. They were expelled out from their own lands because of accepting Islam. Several historians quote that they are Gujjars but their nomadic style of living, names them as Bakarwals. This study will explore the relations of the Gujjars with other tribes. The Indian Historians, after the DNA analysis of both the clans, prove the Bakarwals and the Rajpoots from the same origin and race. The following study will investigate whether the Gujjars and the Bakarwals have the same cultural history or not.  This study will throw light on the Bakawals of the District Bhimber who do not live there permanently but have been visiting the district seasonally for many years. They like to stay at several specific lands of the District Bhimber, AJ&K. There are also many Bakarwal families in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and they spend their lives in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir. However, they also move towards the plain areas during the winter season. During migration they use their own horses to go from one place to another.