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Gurjari (गुर्जरी, گُوجَری), also known as Gujari, Gujri, Gojari, or Gojri, is a variety of Rajasthani spoken by the Gurjars and other tribes of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.[2][3] The language is mainly spoken in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Delhi and other parts of India. In Pakistan it is mainly spoken in Azad Kashmir, Malakand Division , and Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gujranwala Division, Gujrat Division and Pothohar region of Punjab.The government of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had recognized Gujari by including it in the sixth schedule of the state constitution.[4]

Gurjari
Gojri, Gurjari, Gujjari
गुर्जरी, گُوجَری
Gurjari written in Takri, Nastaliq script (middle) and Devanagari (bottom)
Native to	India, Pakistan, Afghanistan
Region	Rajasthan, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, North Maharashtra, Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, southeastern Afghanistan
Native speakers	(1 million cited 1992–2000)[1]
Language family	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Indo-Aryan Western Rajasthani–Marwari Rajasthani Gurjari
Writing system	Takri, Nastaliq script, Devanagari
Language codes
ISO 639-3	gju
Glottolog	guja1253

As per classification of languages of British India, G.A. Grierson in the first Linguistic Survey of India categorised Gujari language under Western Pahari group of Languages.[5]

In Pakistan, the language is understood by Gujjars across the country and is spoken in upper or hilly areas including the Hazara, Malakand and Peshawar divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Azad Kashmir. A number of organisations and institutions in Pakistan work for the development of Gujari, including a Gujari-language news channel. It is also spoken in two provinces in southeastern Afghanistan.

Literary traditions

Gujari folklore is very large, including songs, ballads and folktales, known as Dastans. Hundreds of folk songs have been recorded and published, including "Nooro", "Tajo", "Nura Beguma", "Shupiya", "Kunjhdi", "Mariyan".[6]

A modern tradition of creative writing encompasses poets such as Sain Qadar Bakhsh, Noon Poonchi, and others. Others such as Mian Nizam ud Din, Khuda Bakhsh Zar, Zabih Rajourvi, Shams ud Din Mehjoor Poonchi, Mian Bashir Ahmed, Javaid Rahi, Rafiq Anjum, Milki Ram Kushan, Sarwari Kassana, Naseem Poonchi have also made remarkable contributions to Gujari through poetry, prose and criticism.

Institutions and media

All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendra run various Gujari programmes. Radio Kashmir Jammu, Srinagar, Poonch in India and seven radio stations of Pakistan and PTV air Gujari programmes and news bulletins accepted across Jammu and Kashmir. Books have been published in Gujari, including encyclopedias, poetry, fiction and non-fiction, on topics including dictionaries, grammars, nature, folklore, art and architecture, agriculture, sociology and research.[7]

The National Academy of Letters, Sahitya Akademi, recognized Gujari as one of the major Indian languages for its National Award, Bhasha Samman, and other programmes. The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages established a Gujari Department in its Central Office in the 1970s and published in Gujari. They organized seminars, conferences, etc. for the development of the Gujari Language. Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education made curriculum in Gujari up to Middle Standard for teaching Gujari in schools. The University of Jammu Council approved the opening of Gojri Research Centre in Jammu and University of Kashmir that have been awarded doctorate degrees on completing research projects on the language. In Pakistan administered Kashmir, the Gujari Academy has been established and postgraduate studies departments were set up in various universities and regional research centers.

Revival

In lower or plain areas of Pakistan, Gujjars have a major concentration in districts like Islamabad, Attock, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Lahore and Layyah. However, due to the revolution of time, the majority of them have forgotten or stopped speaking Gujrai. Gojri Bahali Programme (Gojri Revival Programme) has been launched in these areas to encourage Gujjars to restart speaking Gujari. Though this programme has a particular focus on these areas, it extends to the whole of Pakistan. Under this programme, Gujjars are being persuaded to readopt Gujari as their mother language. They are also being asked to mention it in the mother language column of various forms at educational institutions; when applying for computerised national identity card; and while filling out their particulars when seeking employment. Under this programme, the federal government will be asked to add Gujari in the mother language column of the population census. Similarly, the University of Gujrat will be asked to set up Gojri Department. The programme is the initiative of Muhammad Afsar Khan, a Kundoana Gujjar from Chakdina village in Gujrat district. Kundoana Gujjars are a branch of Khatana Gujjars and trace their descent from Kundo, a famous Gujjar who lived during the reign of Mughal King Akbar or immediately before him in Gujrat district. His grave survives to date in Makiana village in Gujrat tehsil.[8]

Some important Gujari books

Dictionaries :[9]

• Gojri Dictionary 6 Volume Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
• Concise Gojri Dictionary Ed. Javaid Rahi, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
• Hindi- Gojri Dictionary Ed. Javaid Rahi, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation
• Folk-Lore Dictionary 2 VOL of Gujjar Tribe Ed. Javaid Rahi, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation
• Hindi- Gojri Dictionary Ed. Javaid Rahi, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation
• Gojri English Dictionary Ed.Dr. Rafiq Anjum

Books / Author/ Javaid Rahi[10]

• Lok-Virso – (Research )Awarded by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages(1999)
• Jammu Kashmir ke Qabaila-aur-unki Zubanein (Research /Urdu) –(2010)
• Gujjar Tribe of Jammu and Kashmir (Research English) (2015)
• Gujjar Shanakhat Ka Safar (History and Culture Urdu-2005)
• Gojri Lok Geet -2018
• Gujjar Aur Gojri (2004)
• Gujjar Tarekh (2009)
• Tagore ki Chunam Shairi (2011) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
• Gojri Grammer (2012) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
• Qadeem Gojri Lughat (2013) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
• The Gujjar Tribe of J&K (2012) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
• The Gujjars vol 1 to 6 (2013–16) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
• The Gujjars Tribe of Jammu and Kashmir Research Book

Gujari journals

Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages[11][12]

• Sheeraza Gojri-Bi-Monthly
• Maharo Adab Gojri
• Shingran Ka Geet
• Gojri Ka Lal
• Qadawar
• Paneeri
• Gojri Look Geet
• Gojri Look Kahani
• Gujjar Aur Gojri
• Gojri Zaban-o-Adab

GOJRI BOOKS Published by NGOs

• Akhan Gojri Quotations JK Gojri Anjuman 2004 Edited by Dr. Rafeeq Anjum
• Gojri Kahawat Kosh Gojri Quotations JK Gojri Anjuman 2004 Edited; by Dr. Rafeeq Anjum
• Anjum Shanasi Biography JK Gojri Anjuman 2007 Edited
• Sajra Phull ( Hakeem) Selected poetry JK Gojri Anjuman 2007, Edited
• Peehng (Mukhlis) Selected poetry JK Gojri Anjuman 2007, Edited by Dr. Rafeeq Anjum
• GOJRI BOOKS Published by BAZM E ADAB KALAKOTE
• SAJAR BOOT – book series
• گوجری سیرت النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم(لشکار محمد) مصنف مفتی محمد ادریس ولی ہسوال گوجر

References

• 1992: Rensch, Calvin R., Hindko and Gujari - National Institute of Pakistani Studies, 305 pp. ISBN 969-8023-13-5.
• 2012: Javaid Rahi, The Gujjar Tribe of Jammu & Kashmir -Gulshan Books, Srinagar J&K 190001, 305 pp. ISBN -13|8183391030.

External links

• Dr. R.P. Khatana. Gujari Language and Identity in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Gojri Language Textbook for Class1
• Gojri Language Textbook for Class2
• Gojri Language Textbook for Class3
• Gojri Language Textbook for Class4
• Gojri Language Textbook for Class5
• Gojri Language Textbook for Class6
• Gojri Language Textbook for Class8

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