Polygamy still prevalent in nomad Gujjars

The practice of polygamy is still prevalent within the nomad Gujjar community of Jammu and Kashmir where more than 62 per cent of them have two or more than more wives, a study said.
"On Polygamy, 62 per cent nomads favour marrying two or more women - to generate human resources to run daily tribal affair while around 18 per cent of them favour having three to six or more wives," said Javaid Rahi, Secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation while releasing the study today.
He said that 89 per cent nomad Gujjars arrange first marriage of their children at the age of 14 to 18.

"Around 72 per cent girls get engaged to relative boys at the time of their birth or at the age of six," he said.
He said that 5 to 10 per cent marriages among Gujjars were arranged in a hurry by abducting a girl (un-married) or woman (Married) with her consent, for marriage.
"42 per cent nomad Gujjars favour 'Kadhu' - the abduction and they consider this as an act of heroism and valour to marry a women of their choice, while 39 per cent said it is anti-social," Rahi said.

He said that the girl's family gives dowry of Rs 5,000 including a box, bedding, a few kitchen utensils and other essentials of tribal migrations.

"They fix just Rs 5,000 to 10,000 as 'Mehar'- a religious bounding, and give gifts to brides like buffaloes, cow, sheep, goats or a camel on her entry to grooms house," he said.
Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation is an independent agency involved in Gujjar studies and research especially related to nomadic tribes of the Jammu and Kashmir.