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Dogras

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Dogras
Regions with significant populations
Significant populations in:
Languages
Dogri
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
other Indo-Aryans:

• Rajputs
• Punjabis
• Kashmiris
• Seraikis

• Hindko

The Dogras are an ethnic group in South Asia, with a population of 873,000. Just under one million Dogras live in South Asia, predominantly in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir but also in the adjoining areas of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and other parts of Kashmir. They speak their own language, Dogri, which is similar to the Hindko language of Mirpur and is related to the Punjabi language. In 2003, Dogri along with Bodo, Maithili and Santhali were recognized as national languages of India thus bringing the total number of national languages to twenty-two. Most Dogras practice Hinduism [1].

The Jammu Region

The Jammu Region, which is one of the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir state(the other two being the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh), is bounded on the North by the Pir Panjal Range of the middle Himalayas, on the south by Punjab, on the East by Ladakh and on the West by Pakistan. The lower Himalayan ranges begin suddenly behind the town of Jammu, which is placed on a slope of over 1300 feet above sea level, overlooking and commanding the plain watered by the Chenab, Ravi, Tawi and Ujh rivers. The Jammu region consists of six districts: Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Poonch and Rajouri.The city of Jammu is the winter capital of the state(the summer capital being Srinagar, in the Kashmir Valley).

Etymology of 'Jammu' and 'Dogra'

The origins of the name 'Jammu' are shrouded in mystery, as is the history of the people inhabiting the territory, popularly known as 'Duggar', but the towns of the region with their fortresses stand testimony to a distinct cultural and linguistic identity. Some try to trace its origin in the word 'Jambudwipa', a combination of the word `Jambu' and dwipa (island). According to Sir Walter Hamilton (Description of Hindustan, pg. 499), "It is possible that an ocean may at one time have reached the base of these mountains forming high table lands into islands." The famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang describes the valley of Pamir as "the centre of Jambudwipa." Some attribute the name to Jambavantha or 'Jamwant', the 'Riksharaja' or the king of the bears in the army of King Sugriva in the Ramayana, who is said to have meditated in the Peer Kho Cave on the banks of the Tawi). According to the 'Imperial Gazetteer of India' the origin of the word 'Dogra', as commonly stated by the people themselves, is said to have arisen from the fact that the cradle of the Dogra race lies between the two lakes of Sruinsar and Mansar. 'Dwigart Desh' or the country of two hollows, was corrupted into Duggar and 'Dugra' and then became Dogra. From Jammu stretching to the east along the plains of the Punjab is the Duggar country and all who live in it, whether high born Rajputs or low born menials are known as Dogras, and have certain national characteristics and a common tongue which differentiate from any of the other people in India. What is more acceptable is the popular belief that Jammu owes its name to Raja Jambulochan, but it remained an insignificant village till the fourteenth century A.D.

The Royal House of Jammu

The chronology of the rulers of Jammu dates back to the Ramayana Period. Indeed, they traced their ancestry to the Ikshvaku(Solar) Dynasty of Northern India(The same clan in which Lord Rama was born. He, therefore is the 'kuldevta'(family deity) of the Dogras).A Raghuvanshi descendant, 'Agnigarba' who was living as a recluse, came to Nagarkote (Kangra, Himachal Pradesh), in the Shivalik hills. When the Raja of Kangra came to know about this person's ancestry, he offered him the hand of his daughter and a part of kingdom. The river Ravi was then the boundary of Nagarkote. Agnigarba crossed it and captured some villages in the Kathua area and declared himself as sovereign king. After his death, his son Bayusharva (B.C. 1530-1500) married the princess of Parole (Kathua). The princess was known as Erwan and she died young. The Raja founded a city after her which is still found near Parole, though now a small village and at the 'Samadhi' of the queen, a `Mela' (fair) is held at every `Baisakhi' (13th or 14th of April) every year. Bayusharva extended the boundaries up to the river Ujh. Bayusharva's great grandson, Bahulochan was enthroned after his death. He migrated from Erwan and built his fort on the banks of river Tawi. Bahulochan died in a bloody battle with Chadaras, Raja of Sialkot (Shayalkot) and his younger brother Jambulochan (B.C 1320-1290) ascended the throne. In those days the area beyond Tawi (the present city of Jammu) was used for hunting. Tradition has it that one day Jambulochan came to this area and while he was sitting behind a bush to ambush some bird or animal, he saw a lion( a tiger in some accounts) and a goat drinking water from the same pond. This peaceful coexistence encouraged him to found the city of Jammu, which some say is named after him. One of his descendants, Raja Shaktikaran (B.C 1200-1177) introduced the Dogri Script for the first time. Another of his descendants, Jasdev founded the city of Jasrota on the bank of river Ujh, and another Raja, Karan Dev built a fort on the banks of the river Basantar. In the early centuries of the first millennium the area came under the sway of the Indo-Greeks, with their capital at Sakala (Sialkot).

Among the enlightened rulers of Jammu was Raja Ranjit Dev, (1728-1780) who introduced certain social reforms such as a ban on 'Sati' (immolation of the wife on the pyre of the husband) and female infanticide.

Later, under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the state became part of the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab. Ranjit Singh rendered this state to his general, Maharaja Gulab Singh, who extended the boundaries to western Tibet with the help of General Zorawar Singh, who has been referred to by British Historians as the 'Napolean of India'.Dogra rule extended beyond the Jammu Region and the Kashmir Valley to the Tibetan Buddhist Kingdom of Ladakh and the Emirates of Hunza, Gilgit and Nagar. After the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1846, Jammu again became an independent Rajput Kingdom under Maharaja Gulab Singh, as per the treaties signed between the British and the Sikhs

Pratap Singh, (enthroned in 1855) in saw the construction of Banihal Cart Road (B.C. Road) mainly to facilitate telegraph services. The last rules of Dogra Dynasty was Raja Hari Singh, who ascended the throne in 1925. He made primary education compulsory in the State, introduced laws prohibiting child marriage and threw open places of worship for the low castes. His reign saw the accession of Jammu & Kashmir to the newly independent Indian Union in 1947. Although he originally manouevered to maintain his independence by playing off India and Pakistan against each other, Maharaja Hari Singh Dogra, the last king of the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir ceded his kingdom to the Indian Union in 1947, after Pakistan's founder and Governor-General Mohammad Ali Jinnah, frustrated by his failure to merge his kingdom into Pakistan, incited armed Pashtuns from the neighbouring North West Frontier Province to invade the kingdom in an attempt to seize it. This invasion by Pakistani tribals and the consequent accession to India sparked the First Indo-Pakistan War.

Dogra man

.In 1951 Maharaja Hari Singh's rule was terminated by the assembly and his son Yuvraj(Prince) Karan Singh was made 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' ('President of the Province') and Governor of the State in 1964.

Dogra Culture

The Dogra culture is descended from that of the Indo-Aryans who settled in and became the main population of India. Dogras are divided into castes on the same lines as Hindus in other parts of India, but have local variations.

Art, literature and music

Basohli, Ramnagar and Jasrota in the Jammu Region, are famous for the `Pahari Style' of miniature painting. Dogri folk literature comprises of (a) Prose forms short stories, proverbs and riddles; (b) Verse from classified as under : 1. Ballads :- (a) Baran, (b) Kaarkan, (c) Love ballads, (d) Devotional, (e) those of women saints. 2. Lyrics :- They are vast and varied and difficult to mention e.g. love lyrics, ceremonial lyrics, dance lyrics etc.

Dogri folk songs too range from love to heroism and sacrifice. Ceremonial lyrics give analysis of human reaction to ceremonies. 'Biayian' are sung to celebrate the birth of male child, indicating gender bias. Family lyrics pertain to household members such as mother, father, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law and their relationships.

Marriage among Dogras

Age old legacy of orthodox customs prevail in the far flung areas of Jammu. An interesting polyandrous custom of 'tham'- marriage (marrying a pole) was prevalent in rich hindus from hilly regions. Such a woman enjoyed sexual relations with many men and her issues would be regarded as thamma-de-putter (son's of the pole) and revenue records would register their names as such. Polygamy too was prevalent in some regions but is looked down upon. Another type of marriage is 'Dohry' (Double) - take a daughter and give them your daughter. 'Gotra' and `Kula' exogamy is maintained. 'Chadar dalna', or marrying the brothers widow is also found in Jammu. Child marriage was common too (Girls 10-14 years, and Boys 15-18 years) but Maharaja Hari Singh banned this in 1940 and raised the age of marriage for girls to 16 years and boys to 18 years. In the hilly areas of Udhampur, Kathua and Doda people also take concubines termed as 'Duals'.

Dogra Cuisine

Wheat, maize and Bajra are staple food. Mitha Madra is a favourite and is cooked from milk, dry fruits and semolina. Preparations of Rajmash, 'auria' a dish of curd fermented by rye; 'ambal' made from jackfruit, jaggery and tamarind are favourites, especially during ceremonial cooking. The expert cooks are called 'Siyans', usually Brahmins. Non vegetarian food was limited to Rajputs and Vaish (Mahajans). 'Khatta Meat' - mutton cooked with sour pomegranate seeds or lime juice and flavoured with fumes of a burning charcoal soaked in mustard oil.

The martial tradition of the Dogras

The Dogras are known for their valour. The Dogra Regiment was among the regiments of the British Indian Army, which made significant contributions in both the world wars on all fronts from the Far East to Europe and North Africa. At Independence, it became an infantry regiment of the Indian Army composed largely but not exclusively of the Dogra people. The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, another regiment of the Indian Army, consisting of mainly Dogras was formed out of the former army of the Kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir after it was absorbed into the Indian Army.

Famous Dogras

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