Ethno-ecology and Mountain Tribals of Jammu and Kashmir: Opportunities and Challenges
Centre for Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Email: altafch672@gmail.com
The nomadic tribal community of Jammu and Kashmir is believed to have moved to the mountainous erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in different waves of migration from the mainland India. They share a symbiotic relationship with environment as they are one of those “forest-dwelling” communities of the Indian subcontinent who have been living in the forests and sustaining the natural resources there since long. These tribal groups have deep cultural beliefs and practices of conserving natural resources. They constitute a group of nomadic pastoral community who have managed natural hazards, adapted their socio-cultural practices, and have maintained a relative equilibrium with the natural resources available in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir. The onset of modernity has significantly altered this state of equilibrium. The different elements of the advent of modernity— which include tourism, infrastructure, developmental and human activity— have impacted the geo-ecology of this region. This intrusion into the natural scheme of things is evident from projects like Baglihar and Ratle Dam Projects, Mughal Road Project etc. It has further resulted in a significant change in the socio-cultural aspects of the tribal life and have introduced a whole new ethos of mountain development. This paper aims to highlight the emerging challenges and opportunities in this phase of transition among the Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes of Jammu and Kashmir. It will also throw light on its impact on ethno-ecological and cultural aspect of the tribals of the region.
