Dogra

The Dogras (Dogri: डोगरा / ڈوگرا) are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group in India and Pakistan. Being a diversified group, the Dogras include both savarnas such as Brahmins, Rajputs, Vaishyas and non-savarnas. Dogra Rajputs are claimed and believed by religious Hindus to be Suryavanshi along with Chandravanshi Rajputs of Chattari origin. They ruled Kashmir from the 19th century, when Gulab Singh was made Governor General of Kashmir by the Sikh Emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh, till independence. They live predominantly in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir but also in adjoining areas of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and northeastern Pakistan.^[1] The Brahmin Dogras are predominantly Saraswat Brahmins, genetically of common origin with Saraswat Brahmin of Kashmir.^[2] They speak their own language, Dogri, which was recognized as one of the official languages of India in 2003. Most Dogras are Hindus, however some are Muslims.

The Jammu region

The Jammu region, 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, in the south by Punjab, to the east by Ladakh and close to the west by Pakistan. The lower Himalayan ranges begin behind the town of Jammu, which rests on a slope over 1,300 feet (400 m) above sea level, overlooking and commanding the plain watered by the Chenab, Ravi, Tawi and Ujh rivers. The Jammu region consists of ten districts: Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Poonch, Kishtwar, Reasi, Samba, Ramban and Rajouri. The city of Jammu is the winter capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu Dogras traditionally inhabited the area between the slopes of the Shivalik range of mountains, the sacred lakes of Saroien sar and Mannsar but later spread over whole of Jammu region. They generally speak Dogri and other dialects similar to Dogri. The majority of the Dogra are followers of Hinduism but a large number in Jammu and Kasmir also believe in other religions. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, some Dogras embraced Islam. These factors, together with the effects of immigration into the region, have resulted in the Dogra population of Jammu and Kashmir including members of all three religions. The Dogra Raj emerged as a regional power, particularly after Maharaja Gulab Singh emerged as a warrior and his subjects received special martial recognition from the British Raj. The rule of Gulab Singh's Raj extended over the whole of the Jammu Region and a large part of the Ladakh region as early as March 1846 and a large part of the Indian Punjab (now Himachal Pradesh). The Kashmir Valley was also handed over to Gulab Singh by the British Government as part of the territories ceded to the British Government by Lahore State according to the provisions of Article IV of the Treaty of Lahore dated 9 March 1846. Under the Treaty of Amritsar in the same year, the Dogra king of Jammu and the state was thereafter known as the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir State (Raj), also thereafter referred as Kashmir State. The term Dogra hence is more akin to the subjects of Himachal Pradesh, some areas of Punjab and the whole region of Jammu that was ruled by Raja Gulab Singh as part of the Dogra Raj irrespective of the religion of the inhabitants.

Cultural profile

• Kud, a ritual dance performed in honour of Lok Devatas. This dance style is performed mostly at night. It is spontaneous dance and people of all ages and sexes participate in this folk dance. Instruments used during this dance are Narshingha, chhaina, flute, drums etc. It is the rhythm of music which controls the movement of participants. This dance continues for the whole night. Number of participants ranges from 20 to 30 members.
• Heren, a traditional theatre form performed during Lohri festival by 10–15 members. This style is mostly performed in hilly regions of Jammu.
• Fumenie and Jagarana, a dance style performed by the ladies on the eve of groom's departure to in-laws house. Both the songs are sung by a group of females consisting of 15–20 members. This traditional dance form depicts the feelings and emotions of women folk.
• Bakh/Gwatri/Kark/Masade, a chorus narrative sung by a group of 10 singers without the accompaniment of any musical instruments.
• Gwatri, a singing–dance combined tradition in which the singers narrate some text which is enacted by the Gwatari dancers.
• Karak, a narrative ballet sung by a community called 'Jogies'. They narrate a popular folk tale in their dance style, performed by three members with accompaniment of a typical folk instrument called 'Rabab'.
• Benthe, the chorus singing tradition performed specific community of tribal called Gujjar and Bakerwal. Dance is performed by 5–7 members.^[3]

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 the origin of the name to the word jambudv*ipchandraa, a combination of the words 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 Chinese traveller Xuanzang describes the valley of Pamir as "the centre of Jambudwipa." Some attribute the name to Jambavantha or Jamwant, the Riksharaja (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 River. Another popular belief is that Jammu owes its name to Raja Jambulochan, and the city remains significant since the 14th century BC. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India the origin of the word "Dogra" is said to have arisen from the fact that the cradle of the Dogra people lies between the two lakes of Sruinsar and Mansar. Dwigart Desh (meaning country of two hollows) was converted into Duggar and Dugra, which then became Dogra.

The Royal House of Jammu and Kashmir (Dogra dynasty)

Dogra dynasty was a dynasty of Hindu Rajputs who ruled Jammu & Kashmir from 1846 to 1947. 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).

Maharaja Hari Singh, the last monarch of Dogra Rajput dynasty which ruled Jammu & Kashmir.

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 Empire of the Punjab after it was captured from its Afghan rulers. Ranjit Singh rendered this state to his general, Maharaja Gulab Singh Jamwal, who belonged to the Jamwal Rajput clan that ruled Jammu. He extended the boundaries of Jammu to western Tibet with the help of General Zorawar Singh. The Sikh Empire 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 First Anglo-Sikh War in 1846, the British gave Kashmir and the title of 'Maharaja' to Gulab Singh - the chief minister - as a reward for aligning with them against the Sikhs.^[4]

Dogra culture

Dogra cuisine

^[5] Wheat, maize and bajra are staple food besides rice, cereals and a tangier preparation made out of either mango or tamarind also popularly known as maani, the whole dish is called Dal Puth Maani and is savoured together as a combination. Mitha Madra is a favourite and is cooked from milk, dry fruits and semolina. Preparations of Rajmash (a special variety of red kidney beans), auria a dish of curd fermented by rye ; ambal made from pumpkin, jaggery and tamarind are favourites, especially during ceremonial cooking. The expert cooks are called Siyans, usually Brahmins."Kalari" a milk preserved by special way of cogulation of proteins and then fried on pan to make it delicious.

Non-vegetarian food was limited to Rajputs and Vaish (Mahajans). 'Khatta Meat' - mutton cooked with sour pomegranate seeds (Anardana)or lime juice and flavoured with fumes of a burning charcoal soaked in mustard oil. Keur is one of the well known foods of Dogras. It is prepared by flour and butter and served with sugar and curd. Mostly, it is served to bridegroom at the time of marriage by the in-laws. Kalaari is also one of the favourite food of Dogras in the rainy season. It is prepared by flour mix, cottage cheese and milk cream (malai) with water with help of a small cup shaped pot. Kalari is served with milk. Kalari cheese is also popular in the Jammu region and in Jammu and Kashmir state more generally. Babbru/Pathoru are preparerd by flour and fried in mustard oil. Babbru is served with maani/potato/kheer/curd.

Karan Singh, the son last monarch of Dogra Rajput dynasty which ruled Jammu & Kashmir.

Kheer is a dish prepared from milk by adding some rice and dryfruit in it. It is served iaalt all the special occasions and festivals. Another popular exotic dish is Guchiyyan (dried mushroom - black morel), usually added as an ingredient in pulao as it grows naturally in forests and cannot be cultivated; it is a priced commodity (approx 500 Rs. per 100 gms.) and makes an excelled dish with mountain potatoes (Pahadi Aloo). Saffron or Kesar is extensively used to flavour sweet dishes and for its anti-oxidant benefits.^[6]

Military history of the Dogras

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.^[6]

Notable Dogras

• Adarsh Sein Anand – Padma Vibhushan and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India
• Premchand Degra - Indian bodybuilder of Punjab
• Balraj Madhok – Founder of Praja Parishad and ex-President of Janasangh.
• Bansi Lal Sharma – geo-scientist from Jammu who was a member of the 9th Indian Expedition to Antarctica
• Chaman Lal Gupta – politician, BJP Leader, Ex Minister Union of India.
• Zorawar Singh – General of Maharaja Gulab Singh
• Bhim Singh – Leader of the JKNPP, Ex General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee and international activist for secular democratic values.
• Hari Singh (1895–1961) – last ruling Maharaja of the princely state / State of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Karan Singh – Congress leader and first President of Jammu and Kashmir. Son of Maharaja Hari Singh.
• K. L. Saigal – Hindi movie singer and actor
• Maharaja Gulab Singh – General of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and later Maharaja of the Dogra State of Jammu and Kashmir
• Ram Nath Shastri- Padama shri and Dogri writer.
• Malika Pukhraj – singer
• Monica Dogra – singer and actor
• Mukesh Rishi – Hindi film actor
• Nirmal Chander Vij – Retired Chief of Army Staff.
• Om Prakash – veteran actor
• Padma Sachdev – Dogri writer.
• Paras Dogra – cricketer who plays for Rajasthan Royals
• Prem Nath Dogra – Founder of J&K Praja Parishad and later All India President of Bhartiya Jana Sangh.
• Shesh Paul Vaid – IPS officer.
• Shivkumar Sharma – Santoor player
• Tirath Das Dogra – former director All India Institute of Medical Sciences, forensic medicine expert, vice chancellor of SGT University. Member of Medical Council of India.
• Alla Rakha – Padma Shri awardee and tabla player.
• Vidyut Jamwal – Hindi film actor.
• Subedar Major Vijay Kumar – silver medalist in rapid pistol firing event at London Olympics-2012.
• Zakir Hussain (musician) – tabla player and a musician, son of Ustad Allah Rakha.
• Mithun Manhas – IPL player.
• Balraj Puri – Journalist.
• Ved Rahi – Hindi Films Producer and Director.
• Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh – Deputy CM J&K
• Anil Goswami – Former Chief Secretary, Union Home Ministry
• Prof. Ved Kumari Ghai – Padma Shree Awardee and Sanskrit Scholar
• Lala Mehr Chand Mahajan – Former Prime Minister Jammu And Kashmir
• Thakur Baldev Singh Jasrotia Ex M.P, M.L.A

References

External links

• Genealogy of the ruling chiefs of Jammu and Kashmir
• Article on Shri Dr. Karan Singh, by Indian Princely States website
• Duggar Times- A portal of Dogras
• Proclamation of May 1, 1951 on Jammu & Kashmir Constituent Assembly by Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh from the Official website of Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India
• Beauty of Jammu