A Part From The Gujars and Dogri -Dogra Culture

The natural hardships of the people were further aggravated by an oppressive feudal system. The autocratic rule of the Maharaja, exploitation by the landlords and moneylenders, and inhuman practices like beggar (forced labor) made the life of the Dogris miserable under the so- called Dogra rule.

A part from the Gujars and Dogri –speaking Muslims, a majority of the Pothoari –speaking people living across the Chinab and in the districts of Rajouri and Poonch are also Muslims. They came from the neighboring states of Punjab and Kashmir. The local Muslims were converted under the influence of Sufi preachers like Sayyid Farid –ud- Din and his son Issar –ud- din who lie buried in Kishtwar. Budhan Shah, a contemporary and friend of Guru Nanak, and Roshan Shahwali, are both buried near Jammu city. These saints are revered by Hindus and Muslims alike.

Rugged, rocky and barren lands made life in Jammu extremely hard. Women had to walk miles to fetch drinking water in pitchers from ponds which were also used by cattle. Men folk had to eke out a living from dry and infertile fields, which they did not own. According to a Dogra poet, there is no life worse than that of the Kandi. A saying in Dogri, however, describes the hardships of climbing hills of the Kandi rather good- humouredly: `Climb through perseverance, seduce a woman through talking.