Gurjar

Gurjar or Gujjar is a pastoral agricultural ethnic group with populations in India and Pakistan and a small number in northeastern Afghanistan. Alternative spellings include Gurjara, Gojar, Gūjar, Gurjjara, and Gūrjara. Although they are able to speak the language of the country where they live, Gurjars have their own language, known as Gujari. They variously follow Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. The Gurjars are classified as Other Backward Class (OBC) in some states in India; however, Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Himachal Pradesh are categorised as a Scheduled Tribe. Hindu Gurjars today are assimilated into several varnas.

History

Origin

Historians and Anthropologists differ on issue of Gurjar origin.General Cunningham identifies the Gujjars with Kushanas (Indo-Scythian people) of eastern tartars. He explains that 'Korso' and 'Kushan' written on the coins of Kushana King Kanishka is same as Gorsi and Kusane clans of Gurjars respectively. He further adds that Gujars came to India in the 3rd wave of migration around the mid third century CE. Ibbeston also supports Indo-Scythians descend of Gurjars. K.S.Singh also support the theory on the basis that beside Jats, Gurjars are the only race of foreign origin in north west part of Indian subcontinent who are known to have been powerful during early centuries of Christian era.