Javaid Rahi

Javaid Rahi is an Indian author, a tribal social reformer, and a researcher of national repute.[1][2][3] He has done pioneering work in the preservation of the Culture and Heritage of indigenous communities of North-western India focusing on tribal Gujjar-Bakerwal culture. He is a prolific writer of Gujari, Urdu and Punjabi.[4][5]

Javaid Rahi
Born1 September 1951 (1951-09) (age 70)
Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir,
EducationUniversity of Jammu (MA, Ph.D)
Occupation
  • Author
  • tribal social reformer
Awards

As a researcher, he has authored 12 books in Gujari/ Gojri Urdu and English and edited more than 300 books/ magazines highlighting the history, culture, and literature related to communities such as Gujjars, Bakarwals, Gaddis, and Sippis, who are listed in the Constitution of India as Scheduled Tribes. In addition to this, he has written numerous research papers and contributed to literary and cultural treaties of tribal communities of India.[3][4][6][7]

Early life

Born in a small village Chanadak in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, to Babu Noor Mohammad Noor, a Gojri writer and playwright, in 1970, he did his Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) from the University of Jammu in 2004. He also worked extensively on the six 'Tribal Languages' of Jammu and Kashmir.[8]

Tribal Social reformer and Media influencer
Dr. Javaid Rahi received award for his outstanding contributions in the field of Tribal Research from the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on National Tribal Pride day (15th Nov 2021) Organised by Tribal Affairs Department J&K Govt.

He is a tribal social reformer and Media influencer among Gujjars and Bakarwals. He enjoys a huge fan following in nomadic groups for his extraordinary services to tribes. In tribal areas, he is known particularly as a cultural icon. For his outstanding work in the field of tribal research and social reforms among the tribes of J&K, Dr. Rahi has been Awarded by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on the eve of 'National Tribal Pride day' on 15th Nov 2021, in a program organized by Tribal Affairs Department, J&K Govt, at Jammu -the winter capital of UT.[9]

On the eve of Republic Day 2022, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has awarded Javaid Rahi with UT level 'Tribal Award 2022' for his outstanding contribution to Tribal Literature, especially to the Gojri language and Gujjar Culture.[10]

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Tribal status was granted to Gujjars, Bakarwals, Gaddis, Sippis, and other communities, in 1991, but they were without full rights -available to Tribes residing in the rest of India. In 2000, Dr. Javaid Rahi started work for the renaissance of tribal identity, art, literature and besides he made aware tribes about their rights as STs.[11] [12]

Dr. Javaid Rahi addressing a Tribal Rights Awareness Programme at Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir

During his campaigns spread over 21 years, he, while presiding over tribal conferences, seminars pleaded for the adaptation of a national model to develop the Tribal communities of Jammu and Kashmir educationally, socially, economically and culturally.[13][14][15][16]

In 2019, the Government of India extended all the countrywide laws which empower Scheduled Tribes of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir through an Act passed by the Parliament of India titled "Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act, 2019" on 5 August 2019 which were widely hailed by the tribal groups.[17][18][19]

From 2019 onwards, Dr. Javaid Rahi has started a UT-wide campaign, organized public gatherings to make aware the Scheduled Tribe communities of Constitutional safeguards, and apprised them about Tribal laws extended to J&K to empower tribes culturally, ethnically, educationally, socially, and politically. Under this campaign, he traveled across Jammu and Kashmir to guide the nomadic population about newly extended laws include about SC/ST Atrocities Act-1989, Forest Rights Act -2006, Delimitation to reserve Constituencies for Tribes-2019, Conservation Act 1980, Amendments in Panchayati Raj Act -which were made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir to pull out the Tribes from marginalization and social exclusions.[20] He also started audio-visual awareness programs for tribes of J&K, during COVID-19, on Social Media platforms including YouTube Channels, Facebook Pages, Radio, and TV programs.[21][22][23]

Career

From 1994 to 2021, Dr. Rahi has served in a number of cultural bodies in the Jammu and Kashmir, including All India Radio Jammu/ Srinagar as News Editor/ Reader (till 2000), Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages as Chief Editor-Gojri from 2000 onwards and edited a number of books and compiled the first-ever Gujari dictionary, containing around 70,000 words.[24] This was the fourth dictionary project compiled under his supervision. Prior to this he has compiled Hindi-Gojri Dictionary, Folk-lore Dictionary of Gujjar tribe and Gojri Classic Dictionary.

He also compiled a research project published in book form titled 'Encyclopedia of Himalayan Gujjars', Folk-Songs of Gujjars Bakarwals, Gujjar Shanakhat ka Safar for Gurjardesh Charitable Trust, Jammu, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation among others.[25] He also compiled Encyclopedia of Himalayan Gujjars, Folk-Songs of Gujjars Bakarwals, Gujjar Shanakhat ka Safar for Gurjardesh Charitable Trust, Jammu, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation among others.[26] He remained head of Curriculum Committees of the University of Jammu, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education and compiled a series of Textbooks in Gojri for Board and Syllabus in Gojri for master's degree Courses.[27] Presently he is working /anchoring the Gojri program to make aware JK tribes through local TV Channels/ Social Media groups.

Main works

Books

Rahi has authored a number of reference books in Gujari, Urdu, English, and other languages, published by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation.[28][29]

Dictionaries
  • Compiled first-ever Gojri Dictionary (Concise) –901 pages -Published by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, in 2015
  • Compiled first-ever Lok-Warsti Dictionary (Folk-Lore Dictionary) –(Volume 2) a Project by Ministry of Culture Govt of India, New Delhi, published in 2002 -2003
  • Compiled first-ever Hindi- Gojri Dictionary Published by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation J&K in 2002.
  • Compiled and edited Lughat-e-Gojri (Dictionary of Classical Gojri) Published by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 2014

Encyclopedia
  • Research: Written "Himailyai Gujjar Encyclopedia" (Encyclopedia of Himalayan Gujjars) a Project of Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India allotted under Cultural Heritage of Himalaya Scheme, published in 2004.

Research books

Edited journals

Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages

  • Sheeraza Gojri Monthly Since 1994 to 2018
  • Maharo Adab Gojri Since 1994 to 2018
  • Shingran Ka Geet Since 1994 to 2018
  • Gojri Ka Lal Since 1994 to 2018
  • Qadawar Since 2003 to 2018
  • Paneeri Since 2005 to 2018
  • Gojri Look Geet Since 1994 to 2018
  • Gojri Look Kahani Since 1994 to 2018
  • Gujjar Aur Gojri Since 1994 to 2018
  • Gojri Zaban-o-Adab Since 1994 to 2018

Recognition
  • J&K Tribal Awards 2022 : Department of Tribal Affairs Government of Jammu and Kashmir for contribution to Tribal literature (Gojri Language).[30]
  • Jagom Memorial National Award’ for his distinguished services in the field of preservation and documentation of intangible tribal folk cultural heritage of Gujjars -Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir[31]
  • Prestigious Sardar Vallabhai Patel Medal for the year 2010[32]
  • BGSB University felicitates Dr. Javaid Rahi[33]
  • Best Book Award (2000) Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages"[34]
  • Best Play-script Award (1998) in the Gujari language. Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages."[34]
  • National Fellowship (2000) Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture in New Delhi.[1][35]

References
  1. "Of a Gujjar Scholar and Social activist". Daily Excelsior. 18 October 2020.
  2. "Javaid Rahi: Latest News & Videos, Photos about Javaid Rahi". The Economic Times.
  3. "Writer Javaid Rahi felicitated". Tribune India. Jammu. 16 December 2016.
  4. "List of Publications of Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust, Jammu (J&K)". Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust | Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu (J&K) - India.
  5. Mir, Hilal (28 July 2018). "Gojri: The language that's spoken but rarely read". Hindustan Times.
  6. "Gujjars campaign for national recognition of Gojri". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 4 March 2018.
  7. Rāhī, Jāvīd (2011). The Gujjar Tribe Of Jammu & Kashmir. ISBN 978-8183391030.
  8. "Life Story: Javaid Rahi, cultural activist, writer". The Dispatch. 14 July 2021.
  9. "J&K transforming on an unprecedented scale, speed: LG". Greater Kashmir. GK News Network. 16 November 2021.
  10. "First ever J&K UT level Tribal Awards announced on Republic Day eve". Greater Kashmir. GK News Network. 26 January 2022.
  11. "J-K Gujjars demand rights like other tribal communities in the country". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 21 October 2018.
  12. "J-K Gujjars demand rights like other tribal communities in the country". Outlook. Jammu. Press Trust of India. 21 October 2018.
  13. "Gujjars demand national model to rehabilitate J&K tribes". DNA India. Press Trust of India. 16 January 2011.
  14. "Gujjars demand extension of Forest Rights Act to J&K". The Economic Times. Jammu. Press Trust of India. 8 February 2015.
  15. "Implement SC/ST Act in state too: Gujjars". Tribune India News Service.
  16. "Extend SC/ST Act to J&K, demand Gujjars". Greater Kashmir.
  17. "Forest Rights: A big relief for Gujjars, Bakerwals". Daily Excelsior. 8 November 2019.
  18. "New laws will empower Gaddis, Gujjar-Bakerwal of J&K: Rahi". Daily Excelsior. 22 November 2020.
  19. "New laws will empower Gujjar, Bakerwal, Gaddis of J&K : Javaid Rahi - Scoop News Jammu Kashmir". www.scoopnews.in.
  20. https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/new-laws-will-end-marginalization-of-tribes-javaid-rahi/
  21. "Forest Right Act will boost cultural practices: Rahi". Daily Excelsior. 28 February 2021.
  22. "Forest Rights Act will boost tribal economy of J&K: Javaid Rahi". Daily Excelsior. 3 January 2021.
  23. "Treating JK Tribal at par with STs of India reverse historical injustice: Javaid Rahi". www.kipnews.in.
  24. "conversation with Dr. Javaid Rahi". INDIA HEADLINE IN. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  25. "Dr Javaid Rahi posted as Chief Editor in JKAACL Central Office". GREATER KASHMIR MEDIA SERVICE. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  26. "conversation with Dr. Javaid Rahi". INDIA HEADLINE IN. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  27. "BOSE organises 6 day workshop in Gojri to develop text books for schools". Daily Excelsior. 30 October 2017.
  28. "Why I Gojri Books of Javaid Rahi published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages". viaf.org.
  29. "Why I Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust Jammu -Gojri Books by Dr Javaid Rahi". viaf.org.
  30. https://kashmirreader.com/2022/01/26/govt-announces-jk-tribal-awards/
  31. https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/javaid-rahi-awarded-for-documenting-gujjar-culture-of-jk/
  32. https://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100628/j&k.
  33. http://www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=63140
  34. "Year 2000-01, Book LOK VIRSO, Award Winner Javid Rahi Under Best Book" (PDF). JKAACL, Govt of Jammu & Kashmir.
  35. "Author Directory about Javaid Rahi". Down To Earth Magazine, New Delhi.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.