Akshay Azad

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/javed-rahi-with-jammu-and-kashmir-state-land-shrinking-nomad-gujjar-and-bakarwal-have-nowhere-to-go Akshay Azad The gruesome gangrape and murder of 8-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir has brought the spotlight on deepening existential crisis of twin nomadic tribes in the state which form the third largest ethnic group, Gujjars and Bakarwals. The barbaric crime incident soon snowballed into a major controversy in the aftermath of alleged directives of the state government to police and civil administration not to carry out anti-encroachment drives against tribal population without prior approval of the Tribal Affairs Department and nor harass them when they transport cattle.At a time when nomadic Gujjars and Bakarwals are being viewed as a threat to the demography of the region, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation has suggested a dialogue between the community members and civil society representatives in Jammu. General secretary o...

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-bakarwals-kathua-pastoral-nomads Members of at least four Bakarwal families have set up their tents near a hill in village Sayara, which is 240 kilometres from the winter capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Their caravan was supposed to leave this morning but due to rains last night, they had to stop for the weather to clear.As the summer has set in, their caravan is on its way to the panoramic Marwah Valley of Kishtwar district.  They will return to Kathua before the first snowflake begins to fall in the Valley in the winters.A group of Bakarwal women is having their morning namkeen sabz chai (green tea with milk and salt). Ropes made out of goat’s wool and sickles are lying nearby. Smoke billows from a dug-up earthen chulha (stove).Haji Saab, 70 years old and head of the caravan, has a flowing white beard, neatly trimmed moustaches and kohl-laced eyes. He is puffing on his hookah, gazing at t...