Gurjjars ‘document’ proof to show likeness to tribals

The Justice Jasraj Chopra Committee has invited the Gurjjars to place their views before it by July 16.

Small teams of volunteers along with a representative of the Gurjjar Reservation Morcha will be visiting all the districts in the state and gathering information on the customs, rituals and background of the Gurjjars in the locality. A detailed survey of how many Gurjjars continue to live in groups like the gypsies and how many are socially and economically backward will also be undertaken.

From photographs to videos, and signed statements of local Gurjjars to documents detailing the community’s history — the teams have been asked to collect as much data on the community as possible.

“As of now, we ourselves do not have exact figures on how many of us continue to live like tribals. The survey being conducted will help us get a fair idea of this and we will be able to present our case better in front of the committee,” stated Roop Singh, a Gurjjar leader.

Members of the medical teams which went to Bundi to treat those injured in police firing during the Gurjjar agitation have shot these videos. “Is this not very typical of the tribals? There are several pockets in the state where Gurjjars continue to go to witch doctors, believe in black magic and also worship lok devtas,” Roop

Singh said.

He insisted that there were other customs similar to the tribals, including getting a widow married to her brother-in-law, not allowing inter-caste marriages, sacrificing animals at temples and so on. “What we want to show to the committee is a picture of the darker side of the Gurjjar community, where poor people continue to live in own groups, trust only Gurjjar panchayats and not the state judiciary, and are too shy to involve with other communities,” stated another leader Brahsingh Gurjjar.

At the same time, the Gurjjar leaders have started holding condolence meetings for the dead and public meetings across the state in order to gather support both for their cause as well as the mahasabhas they plan to hold in August. The public meetings will continue till then.