TRIBALS – 2007 - Indian Social Institute

parents. The girl arrived at Patna Junction to catch a train to her native place. But, she was takenfor a ride by some unidentified youths who promised to help her in the journey back to home.This, however, never happened and the girl was raped. Later, Pushpa narrated her tale of woesto a correspondent of an electronic channel. After this, police swung into action and a case ofrape against unidentified person was lodged with the Kotwali police station late on Fridayevening.(Times of India 29/9/07)Up to 6 husbands, superstitions: For ST status, Gurjjars list their primitive traits (6)New Delhi September 29: Did you know that Gurjjars get their children’s nappies engaged or thatthey sometimes marry children in the womb? Or that they worship the neem tree, don’t sell milkon special days dedicated to their deity Devnarayan and live up to the phrase “Dantli main myannahin, gurjjar main gyan nahin” (A sickle has no cover and a Gurjjar has no knowledge). Thesequaint rituals and common phrases have become part of crucial documentation by the communityto prove their tribal status. The otherwise reticent Gurjjar is now talking endlessly. AcrossRajasthan, they are discussing their degree of backwardness, chiding each other for “behavinglike a Gurjjar” and telling the world about their “absurd” habits. For the last three months, Gurjjarshave presented affidavits and made representation to the three-member committee headed byretired Justice Jasraj Chopra. In all of them, they have explained at length how backward theyare. The committee was set up after the May-June violence in the state. The state governmenthas asked the committee to examine the norms laid down for Gujjars in their current status in theOBC category and consider their representation for inclusion in the ST list. “Earlier the craze wasto move forward,” says Justice Chopra. “Now it is the opposite. Everybody wants to becomebackward and prove that they are primitive.” Affidavits filed before the committee have sectionsdedicated to social backwardness in which local phrases are highlighted to prove they aretraditionally dullards. The community is underlining polyandry, illogical belief in superstition andthe custom of child marriage. Women representatives have told the committee that their future iscontrolled by the Panchayat and that they have half-a-dozen husbands. “We have no choice. Toget what we want we have to highlight the negative aspects of our community,” says RamSwaroop, a school teacher in Sikar. In one representation, a Gurjjar told the committee how 30years ago his ancestor jumped into a well when a tehsildar came to ask him for some documents.“It shows how scared and isolated we are from the rest of the world,” argues Swaroop. So far,14,000 representations and 32,000 affidavits have been filed before the committee. JusticeChopra, sociologist Yogesh Atal (a member) and special secretary T Srinivasan have betweenthem surveyed 107 villages so far, mainly in Alwar and Ajmer. Their target is 300 villages acrossthe state. While the Gurjjars have given researched articles and documented writings to provetheir tribal origins, the Meenas have vociferously argued against the Gurjjars. The committee,which was to finish its work in three months, has now been given an extension. “We aresimultaneously taking the assistance of experts to analyse the documents we are being given.Also, all data is being computerised and we should be able to wind up by December 15,” saysChopra. …….. (Indian Express 30/9/07)GUJJAR AGITATIONPressure on Gujjars to postpone Dhaulpur meet (6)Jaipur : Efforts are on to persuade leaders of the Gujjar Sangharsh Samiti to postpone itsproposed Mahapanchayat on September 13 at Dhaulpur, which is expected to decide its futurecourse of action with regard to its demand for inclusion of the community in the ST category. TheHome Minister Gulab Chand Katraia on Thursday night held a meeting with the leaders of theSamiti and apprised them of the progress made by the three-member committee, headed byJustice Jasraj Chopra, appointed by the Government in June last to look into the case of Gujjarcommunity.Leaders of the Samiti said that if Chopra committee failed to submit its report withinthree months, the agitation of Gujjars would be revived. This was the main agenda of theMahapanchayat. (Pioneer 8/9/07)HC order on Gujjars a relief to Raje Govt (6)