Van Gujjars are a culturally vibrant and socially dynamic nomadic community inhabiting the Shivaliks in North-west India. They are a pastoral and Muslim tribal group.

The most fascinating feature of the social life of the Van Gujjars is the transhumance they have been practising for centuries between the two distinct eco-zones of the Himalayas. During their seasonal migrations, their families join together to form a caravan called quafila led by a chieftain called quafila sardar. During summer, the Van Gujjars move from the forests of the plains of the Shivaliks to the alpine grassland of the upper Himalayas, locally called bugyals, which offer excellent fodder for their herds of mountain buffaloes. And as winter approaches, they return to their forest homes in the plains of Shivaliks. Nomadism is the very life blood of the community. “If you are settled, you are like a stone,” says a Van Gujjar chieftain. Emotional attachment to the forests in which they have their dwellings is another conspicuous feature of this eco-friendly community which considers forests to be living, dynamic entities that need to be protected.

The Van Gujjars share an intimate relationship with the indigenous breed of mountain buffaloes that provide them with a means of livelihood. Their kinship with the animals is such that the children suckle milk straight from the udders of the animal for breakfast. The Van Gujjars play a crucial role in the supply of milk and dairy products to the tourists and pilgrims in the upper reaches of the Himalayas during the summer.

Van Gujjars speak an earthy and vigorous language featuring words and expressions from Urdu, Punjabi and Dogri. They follow Islam and are deeply influenced the teachings of Sufi mystics. They are strict vegetarians who survive mainly on a lacto-vegetarina diet. Because they are believed to be converts to Islam from many of the Rajput clans inhabiting north western India, they still follow many customs common to the upper caste Hindus of North India.

In order to empower Van Gujjars and make them aware of their traditional rights, RLEK (www.rlek.org) launched an adult literacy campaign and a formal educational programme for the community. Because the community was reluctant to come out of their forest dwellings, Kaushal hit upon the idea of imparting education right at the doorsteps of the community. To this end, a forest academy was put in place with the support of 350 volunteer teachers who lived with Van Gujjar families in the depths of the forests. Responding to the demand of the community, RLEK has opened a couple of schools for the children of Van Gujjars. Here the children are also taught computers and videography along with other subjects.

Source: Deccan Herald, July 24, 2005.