Protect our folklore and traditions, say Gujjars

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 19

Members of the Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe on Sunday demanded urgent steps for preservation of tribal communities. They stressed that initiatives were required to document the dying tribal traditions.

In a programme organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation on “Oral Traditions of Tribal and Nomadic Communities of Jammu and Kashmir”, members of the community demanded global access to centuries-old traditions of Gujjars.

Noted tribal researcher Javaid Rahi, who presided over the programme, said untouched and threatened aspects of oral tradition, including oral history, must be documented on priority.

He impressed upon tribal scholars to work jointly for preservation, documentation and making of indexes. These preservations must be shared with rest of the world through internet, taking advantage of online technology, to create a collaborative record that people would want to contribute to, Rahi added.