Mythologies of the Dogra Tribe

 

The Dogras or Dogra people, are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group living primarily in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring Pakistan, consisting of the Dogri language speakers. They live predominantly in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, and in adjoining areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Some also live in northeastern Pakistan. Their historical homeland is known as DuggarDogra Rajputs of the Jamwal clan ruled Jammu from the 19th century, when Gulab Singh was made a hereditary Raja of Jammu by Ranjit Singh, whilst his brother Dhian Singh was the Sikh Empire's prime minister of Punjab, until October 1947. Through the Treaty of Amritsar (1846), they acquired Kashmir as well. The Dogra Regiment of the Indian Army primarily consists of Dogras from the Himachal PradeshPunjab and Jammu regionThe term Dogra is thought to derive from Durgara, the name of a kingdom mentioned in an eleventh century copper-plate inscription in Chamba. The inscription mentions the Raja of Chamba facing an attack by Kiras aided by the Lord of Durgara (durgāreśwara). In medieval times the term Durgara is believed to have turned into Duggar, eventually transforming to 'Dogra'. Kalhana's Rajatarangini makes no mention of a kingdom by any of these names, but the kingdoms could have been referred to by their capital cities (such as Vallapura, modern Billawar, or Babbapura, modern Babor). In modern times, the term Dogra has become an ethnic identity, referring to all who speak the Dogri language, irrespective of their religion.


The Dogra dynasty of Dogra Rajputs from the Shivalik hills created Jammu and Kashmir when all dynastic kingdoms in India were being absorbed by the East India Company. Events led the Sikh Empire to recognise Jammu as a vassal state in 1820, and later the British added Kashmir to Jammu with the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846. The founder of the dynasty, Gulab Singh, was an influential noble in the court of the Sikh emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh, while his brother Dhian Singh served as the prime minister of the Sikh Empire. Appointed by Ranjit Singh as the hereditary Raja of the Jammu principality, Gulab Singh established his supremacy over all the hill states surrounding the Kashmir Valley. After the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1846, under the terms of the Treaty of Lahore, 1846, the British Indian government acquired Kashmir from the Sikh Empire and transferred it to Gulab Singh, recognising him as an independent maharaja. Thus, Jammu and Kashmir was established as one of the largest princely states in British India, receiving a 21-gun salute for its Maharaja in 1921. It was ruled by Gulab Singh and his descendants till 1947.


“Duggar Pradesh”; also famously known as Jammu; is the native land of world’s renowned warriors and artists, named “Dogras”. Jammu is the winter capital of the State (the summer capital being Srinagar, in the Kashmir Valley), and is bounded by the “Pir Panjal” Range of the middle Himalayas in the North, by Punjab in the south, by Ladakh in the East and by Pakistan in the West. Dogras have known to inhabit the adjoining areas of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and North-eastern Pakistan. One of the proud moments came on 22nd December 2003, when Dogri; mother tongue of Dogras; was included in the 8th schedule of the constitution of India. Dogra culture is a secular mix of various castes and tribes, which over the period had matured into its present shape. People belonging to various tribes came here and got settled, and established their own power centers in certain areas of this land.  In the beginning they had different life style as well as traditions, but due to certain changes in the society, people came together and rituals and thoughts were exchanged. Today, it is difficult to differentiate which caste/tribe had influenced the life-style of the other. So sociologically, it is the land of nomadic tribes and civilization.


Dogra culture is a secular culture of various castes and tribes, which got present shape with the passage of time. People belonging to various tribes came here, got settled and established their own power centers in certain areas of this land.  In the beginning, they had different lifestyle as well as traditions. But due to specific changes, people came together and had exchange of ritual and thoughts. Today, it is difficult to differentiate that which caste/tribe had influenced the life-style of the other. So ,Sociologically, It is  the land of nomadic tribes and civilization. The family is standard social unit today and it has been found in some form or other at almost all levels of cultural development. We have patriarchal families. In the olden days, there was joint family system in Duggar, which is still prevalent in rural areas.  The great-grandfather and grandfather lived among their grand children together.  The joint family sometime might have the strength up to 50-60 members in a family. They lived very peacefully as the orders of the elders were followed without any argument.



























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