KashmiriChopan commonly known as “Pohul” forms a specific class of peopleresiding in various areas of Kashmir valley. Mostly residing in the remoterural areas of Kashmir, Chopans contribute to the rich cultural history ofKashmir by serving as shepherds in the villages. Chopans have been rearingsheep in the villages over the years. Largely a landless community of peopleand from the economic perspective a very backward category. Far from theexposure and modern trends the Kashmiri Chopans till date serve, as nomadic,through the profession of movement with their livestock to various regionalpastures of Kashmir in the summer season. Kashmiri shepherds rare the sheep offarmers under all volatile weather circumstances in these pastures. Thereby areexposed to nature’s extraordinary beauty and medical resources found in theseremote higher altitudes. In fact, even today people approach to Chopans invillages for certain medically valuable herbs and food.
Chopansyet form a typical class of Kashmiri society which has its own culturallifestyle and profession. It is interesting to mention this community has yetthe culture of marrying within the community.
Thevalley of Kashmir, by sir Walter Lawrence’s defines Kashmiri chopan as a cheeryand an active men who lives a healthy life in the mountains very close tonature. He also describes significance of shepherds in Kashmir.
Livingin this fashion, with no resources, thecommunity failed to gear itself up for any race of development, education orpolitics over the years. There was no commission which could have provided anywelfare or reservation for this community as it was provided to many. So amovement in the name of Jammu and Kashmir Chopan Welfare Association (JKCWA)emerged in the year 1996 with the primary demand of inclusion of KashmiriChopans in the scheduled tribe list of J&K, ensuring welfare of thisbackward community. But one feels sorry to describe these demands were neverrespected by any political power but were rather politicised. The irony is thatChopans till today have no reservations in any fields – education, jobs or any other social sector.
Thepolitics exploited the basic demand of chopans. Our demands were always put industbin.The demand of Kashmiri Chopans are unjustifiable, rather it is a casewith a strong basis.
Followingpoints need mention here.
1)J&K Legislative assembly passed a resolution on April 10 , 2000 which was arecommendation of ST status to Chopans.
2)The national commission for denotified , nomadic and semi nomadic tribes hasdeclared Kashmiri Chopan as a nomadic tribe in India.
3) Ministry of social justice and empowermentenlists Chopans at serial 33 for inclusion of Chopans under ST. Moreover,J&K’s commission for backward classes observes similar in job to that ofGaddi community serving as shepherds in upper Himalayan areas who are already benefited by ST.
Butthe irony is that instead of having this strong legal basis, the KashmirChopans till date wait for the justice in their favour.
Inthe current context it would be good to mention the representatives of KashmiriChopans, the JKCWA has not lost allhope. In fact various groups have met advisors of former governor of state byhanding certain memoranda about the genuine rights and demands of backwardchopan community, and reminded them about the pending case. Recently a a fullfledged meeting was ordered on 21 Jan 2020 in presence of various stateadministrators under the title of “inclusion of Chopans under ST” .But it is unfortunate to mention that the meeting couldn’t happen yet.
Concludingwith the words that a complete justice is to be ensured on urgent basis in thematter of prolonged ST demand of Kashmir Chopans before the next generation ofthe community suffers the deprivation of rights.
ChopanAshfaq is currently a masters student at Central University of Kashmir.