Gujjars From Georgia to Gujrat
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| Gujjar boy from Pakistan |
Those who are not familiar with this tribe they often inquires, who are these Gujjars aka Gurjars and what they have to do with georgia? Even some people in the present day Gujarat are unaware of Gujjars, gujjar is more like a tribe rather caste.
On the origin of gujjars, historians have different perspectives, as betides with every tribe. Here let me mention for our readers that not any historical theory is hundred percent accurate. Historians have put forward some views regarding gujjars. Out of these, one is linked with georgia. It states that Gujjars (also called Gurjars) came to India in 6th or 7th century from central asian country Georgia still called Gurjistan. Writers who advocate gujjar georgia relation, they have a view that Gujjar people were related to Central asian Khazar/huns or persian empire, established a kingdom Gurjara pratihara in northern parts of India. According to wikipedia, present day Indian states of Gujarat and rajisthan had long been called Gurjardesa or Gurjaratra meaning "Land of Gurjars".
Muraba Recipe
As Muraba(fruit pickle) is originated from Gurjistan georgia and surprisingly this delicious treat is notorious in Indian Gujarat too. Here we are going to share Muraba recipe which is primarily made of mangoes and still famous not only in Gurjistan and Gujarat but whole of subcontinent and central asia.
Ingredients
- 2 cup water
- 1 cup vinegar
- Half cup sugar
- 4 teaspoons of table salt
- 6 mangoes peeled and sliced
Step 1: Pour water, vinegar, sugar and the table salt in a saucepan or any other utensil of your choice for boiling these items. While boiling, Keep stirring these mentioned ingredients until sugar gets dissolved in the mixture. Let them to cool for about 1 hour to room temperature.
Step 2: Now put those mango slices in a germ free jar of glass. Pour that boiled vinegar mixture over mango. Seal with lid and refrigerate 8 to 12 hours before serving.
History About King of Georgia vakhtang Gorgasali and India
Georgian record also upholds that king of Gurjistan vakhtang Gorgasali travelled to india in 6th century, build a kingdom in sindh, which also implies that northern parts of India like gujarat or gujaratra had it's earlier name "Sindh" before emergence of Gurjars in indian subcontinent.
These people were big farmers and predominantly nomad as every great central asian tribe was, nomadism was advanced style of farming in ancient central asia, take an example of Mongols. Khazar/huns and persians were also nomad, Gujjar or Gurjar tribe seemingly extracted from these central Asian ethnicities, these groups had that much land in central Asia that their animals were free to roam everywhere and these guys were advanced farmers of that time, not only farmers but also kings of kingdoms, that is why they used to wander in their lands,jungles, mountaineering areas.
Remember, central Asia comprises former Soviet union, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Gurjistan, such an immense piece of land it was, people of these countries always freed their cattle to graze as it is part of tradition there due to vast availability of grass on mountains and in jungles, also these nomadic tribes who ruled whole central asia used to protect borders of their lands by patrolling, while accompanying their horses and other animals. As these ancient nomadic tribes had large number of sheeps and goats so meat was their primary food. It's really fascinating to read amazing stories regarding these Nomadic tribes.
Many Gujjar gotras reflect their central Asian cradle like there is a fortress in Georgia called "Goris fort", Armenia which is also a Caucasian country and closely related to Georgia, has a city named "Goris", on the other hand, Gujjars also have a subcaste called "Gorsi", there are plenty of such instances.
About Gojri Culture of India
Gujjars have had their languages Gojri and Gujrati, own culture which majority of them partially abandoned after alliance with other indian cultures moreover, we can say that north india, kashmir, Harayana and many areas of present day Pakistan had been under the immense influence of Gojri culture and language. Gojri language has not been promoted after partition of india and Pakistan so it's vanishing day by day in both countries, the language which natives speak in gujrat Pakistan vividly reveals that their dialect has Gojri root which got mixed with Punjabi language. Genetic analysis revealed that Gujjars are distinct from other indian tribes and that they're more related to pashtuns. This agriculturist tribe can't be counted as native of india, because its present all over.
According to a senior Pakistani journalist haroon-ur-rasheed, in the court of moghul akhbar it was under debate whether Gojri or Persian has to be national tongue of india, it's revealing worth of gojri in past.
History of Gujrat Pakistan
After entering in subcontinent Gujjars or Gurjars established many of their kingdoms but biggest of all was "Gurjara Pratihara Kingdom" lasted for 500 to 600 years, at it's peak Gujjar kingdom had been stretched to areas of modern day Punjab Pakistan, from northern india, present day Indian Gujarat to potohar region of punjab Pakistan.
It is believed that cities of present day punjab Pakistan like Gujrat, Gujranwala sialkot were part of the capital of last Gujjar king of Gujjar paratihara kingdom Raja jaipal who also written by some as bachpanpal Gurjar, but jaipal Gurjar is his most authentic name, Current Gujrat city of Pakistani punjab weening to be the centre of the metropolis of last gujara king jaipal also known as bachanpal.
After collapse of enormous Gujara reign, gujjars established many other domains too, like one of the notorious kingdoms is Delhi sultanate of pritviraj chauhan gurjar.
Gujjars have more than 500 types or subclans, they are present in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Georgia Gurjistan. In kashmir 0.5% portion of total Gujjars is still nomadic called Gujjar bakarwal, these people are still living indigenous life and love to live their life with nature, Gujjar is that tribe of subcontinent which has many states and cities named after it, which reflects past of tribe under discussion, you will not find this much number of places in any other ethnic tribe, mughals did alliance with gujjars and gave them the title of chaudhary in plain areas like punjab, while in hilly areas they hold courtesy title of malik and sardar.
Gujaraidze and Gujer
In Georgia they still have surname "Gujaraidze" meaning son of Gujarai, western Georgian surnames have prefix idze with them.
Another fact, in Switzerland and Italy there are surnames Gujer and Gojer. Jakob Gujer was a renowned landlord farmer from Switzerland, swiss people regard jacob Gujer as a pioneer of modern agriculture, plenty of people have this surname in Swiss federations.
Gujjars of Swat and KPK
Gujjars have presence in KPK Pakistan too, especially in hazara division and swat. Swat was a princely state before merging into Pakistan, miangul jahanzab Gujjar was last ruler of the state of swat and miangul Aurangzeb Gujjar was last crown prince of swat,he was also son in law of former Pakistani president and army chief General ayub khan. Swat the gorgeous piece of land in KPK was one of the flourished princely states of subcontinent, gujjars of Swat also have a subtribe "Jutt" they call themselves "jutt Gujjars"
As per Jatland list of the Gujjar kings of Gurjara kingdom is following.
Preaching of Islam had great impact on Gujjar tribe as a result many of the tribal leaders of Gujjars had accepted Islam till 15th century
List of Gurjar kings
- Dadda I-II-III (650–750)
- Nagabhata I (750–780)
- Vatsaraja (780–800)
- Nagabhata II (800–833)
- Ramabhadra (833–836)
- Mihira Bhoja I (836–890)
- Mahendrapala I (890–910)
- Bhoj II (910–913)
- Mahipala I (913–944)
- Mahendrapala II (944–948)
- Devpala (948–954)
- Vinaykpala (954–955)
- Mahipala II (955–956)
- Vijaypala II (956–960)
- Rajapala (960–1018)
- Trilochanpala (1018–1027)
- Jasapala (Yashpala) (1024–1036)
Meaning of word Gujjar
Actually the real word is "Gurjar" which later became Gojar/Gujjar but what is the meaning of this Gurjar? No one exactly knows, different theories are present on this like some says "Enemy destroyer" some says nomad, in turkey the word Gocer is pronounced as Gocher meaning "One who keeps wandering". Georgia is not far away from turkey, all central asians are closely bounded together. Maybe, the word which Turks now using for nomad people got derived from actual name of this tribe.
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