Bakkarwal

The exact origin of the Bakkarwal as a distinct group is uncertain and debated by historians, but they are deeply connected to the Gujjar, the broader pastoral community of the Indian subcontinent whose presence in the region goes back centuries of movement between Central Asia and northwestern India. Over time, the groups linked to the Bakkarwal settled in the highlands of Jammu and Kashmir, drawn by the abundant alpine fields at the foot of the Himalayas.

Since then, they have built a way of life based on transhumance: moving up with the herds to the high pastures in summer and down to the lower valleys in winter, a cycle that has shaped generations and still defines the people's identity today. In 1991, the Bakkarwal were officially recognized as a tribe by the Indian state.

Bakkarwal life revolves around herds of sheep, goats, and cattle, and seasonal migration between summer pastures high in the Himalayas and lower valleys in winter. Entire families travel with their animals, setting up and breaking down camps along routes repeated year after year.

This life on the move also shapes their social organization: strong family and tribal ties, hospitality as a central value, and a deep knowledge of the land passed down from father to son. Men wear a traditional turban called a dastar, and women a cap of their own called a topi. In recent decades, however, many families have left the nomadic path, settling on the slopes and seeking more stable housing amid the pressures of modern life.

The Bakkarwal are almost entirely Sunni Muslim, and the Islamic faith is deeply woven into the people’s identity. Being Bakkarwal and being Muslim go hand in hand in how the community sees itself and is recognized by its neighbors, with practices and customs shared with the other Muslim Gujjar groups of the region.

Surrounded by a Hindu majority across the rest of India and by different currents within Islam itself in Kashmir, the people sustain their religious practices even amid social tensions and the disadvantaged position they face as a group considered a lower caste. Faith also shapes important moments in family life, including the rites observed around death.

The heart language of the Bakkarwal is Gujari (also spelled Gojri), of Indo-Aryan origin, spoken by Gujjar communities across parts of northern India and neighboring countries. Portions of Scripture in Gujari have been available since 2022, and audio recordings exist, but the New Testament and the complete Bible do not yet exist in the language. With a people who are mostly illiterate and accustomed to oral tradition, audio tends to be the most natural path for the Word to reach families.

Decades of conflict between the Indian government and separatist groups in Kashmir have placed the Bakkarwal and their herds under direct threat, forcing many families to abandon the nomadic way of life and settle on the slopes. Add to this the weight of being seen as a lower caste, a high illiteracy rate, and the near total absence of Scripture and Christian community in the region, and the result is a people isolated by both geography and social standing.

Armed conflict in Kashmir continues to threaten the security and livelihood of those who still live off their herds and seasonal migration, pushing families toward a settled life that is not always wanted or prepared for. There is a concrete need for lasting peace in the region and for alternative livelihoods for those who lose access to traditional grazing routes.

On the spiritual front, the Bakkarwal people lack access to the complete Scriptures in their own language and contact with communities of faith who can walk alongside them through the changes they are facing.