Gujari
| Gujari | |
|---|---|
| |
| |
 | |
| Pronunciation | [ɡuːdʒəreː] ⓘ |
| Native to | India, Pakistan, Afghanistan |
| Region | |
Native speakers | 20 million (2018-2022 estimates)[b] |
Standard forms |
|
| Dialects |
|
| Takri, Perso-Arabic script, Devanagari | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | gju |
| Glottolog | guja1253 |
 Gujari speakers in different districts of Indian states, northern areas of Pakistan and eastern provinces of Afghanistan. | |
Gujari[c] (گُجری) also spelt Gurjari, Gojri, Gujri, Gojari, or Gurjar[a] is a Central Indo-Aryan language belonging to the Indo-Iranian subdivision of the Indo-European languages, spoken by most of the Gurjars in the northern parts of India and Pakistan, as well as in eastern parts of Afghanistan.[18][19] Gujari is the second most widely spoken language in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, after Pahari, and after Kashmiri in Jammu and Kashmir.[20] It is mostly spoken in the northern Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and north western Indian states, including, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Haryana and also in the eastern parts of Afghanistan.[21]: 68-69 Gujari has strong linguistic similarities to Rajasthani, Punjabi, Haryanvi, Gujarati, Dogri, and Pahari, especially in phonology and morphology, indicating the bond between it and these various Indo-Aryan languages.[22]: 112
It is spoken by 19% of population in Azad Kashmir and by 9.5% population in Jammu and Kashmir as the mother tongue.[d] Gujari is the second most spoken language in Azad Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir,[24] and rank sixth or seventh in Gilgit-Baltistan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gujari is a major language, ranking after Pashto, Hindko, and Saraiki. It is mainly spoken in the northern half of the KPK province.[25]
Gujari is written mainly in the Perso-Arabic script in Pakistan, but in India it is written in both the Perso-Arabic script and Devanagari. In 1999 the Government of Jammu and Kashmir recognized Gujari by including the language in the sixth schedule of the state constitution.[26][27][28]
In March 2025 the Government of Azad Kashmir included the Gujari an optional subject in the course curriculum for grades sixth and eight.[29][30] On 27 October 2025 the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa made Gujari the sixth officially recognized language in the provincial assembly.[31][32]
Origin and history
[edit]Origin
[edit]Some scholars have linked the Gujari language's origins and characteristics to the Gurjar Apabhraṃśa, a language form described by ancient Sanskrit grammarians.[33]
In the Indian subcontinent, the language known as "Indik" eventually evolved into Sanskrit and became the language of the elite. As Sanskrit spread, it branched out into various regional languages, known as Prakrit or Indo-Aryan languages.[21]: 67
Some scholars believe Gujari is one of the oldest languages of India. According to Münir Öztürk, I. Faridah-Hanum, and Khalid Rehman Hakeem the origin of the Gujari language can be traced back to 400 BC, and it possesses a rich vocabulary.[34] Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and Mahmood Ahmad Khan state that Gujari existed before the birth of the Jesus Christ.[35]: 109
Rita Kothari noted that Gurjar Apabhramsa was used as a literary language by the 12th century and linked Gujari with Gurjar-Apabhramsa, with references in poet Bhoja's work (1014 AD). Ancient Indian philosopher Patanjali's classification described Apabhramsa as languages spoken in northern India.[36] However, the term Apabhramsa is broadly applied in Indology, making it unlikely that Gujari was specifically known as Apabhramsa or directly descended from Gurjar Apabhraṃśa.[37][36]
History
[edit]Significant progress has been made in standardising Gujari writing notably with the publication of "Gojri Grammar" by T. Grahame Bailey in 1905 and with the publication of a six volume book of Gujari dictionary by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) in 1992 which was put together over a period of ten years.[22]: 109
Also notable publications published by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages include Sheeraza and Awaz-e-Gurjar Journals published with Gujari literature.[22]: 109
In 1992 Hallberg and O'Leary carried out a comprehensive study of the Gujari dialects spoken by Gujjars in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and classified them into Eastern and Western dialect groups on the basis of lexical similarity and intelligibility.[38]
In 1997 Hugoniot and Polster also examined the Eastern Gujari dialect of Dodhi Gujjars of the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.[38]
It was also officially declared as a mother tongue in 2006 with the admission of Gujari as a mother tongue by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE).[22]: 109
According to Bukhari's (2007) observations, Gujari has been significantly shaped by other Indo-Aryan languages, including Urdu, Hindko and Pahari.[39]: 1
In March 2023, a Gujjar organisation Gujjar Qaumi Movement (GQM) petitioned the Peshawar High Court for included Gujari in the census of 2023.[40]
In March 2025, Government of Azad Kashmir included Gujari language as an optional subject in the curriculum of Classes 6 and 8.[29][41]
In May 2025 Gojri language books by Professor Muhammad Naseer Miskeen in the Gojri language were republished by Gandhara Hindko Academy in Peshawar and Gojri short stories in Urdu in "Gojri Afsaaney" and "Sheesho", comedy poetry.[42]
Gujari was admitted as a local language at the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 27 October 2025 (unanimously) becoming the sixth language of the provincial legislative assembly.[31][32]
Literary traditions
[edit]Gujari folklore is very large, including songs, ballads and folktales, known as Dastans. Hundreds of folk songs have been recorded and published, including "Nooro", "Tajo", "Nura Beguma", "Shupiya", "Kunjhdi", "Mariyan".[43]
A modern tradition of creative writing encompasses poets such as Sain Qadar Bakhsh, Noon Poonchi, and others. Others such as Mian Nizam ud Din, Khuda Bakhsh Zar, Zabih Rajourvi, Shams ud Din Mehjoor Poonchi, Mian Bashir Ahmed, Javaid Rahi, Rafiq Anjum, Milki Ram Kushan, Sarwari Kassana, Naseem Poonchi have also made remarkable contributions to Gujari through poetry, prose and criticism.[44]
Dialects
[edit]The Gujari language have two major dialects Eastern Gujari and Western Gujari.[44][45] Both of these two dialects spoken in Pakistan:[46] in the areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir. These two dialects share approximately 64% to 94% lexical similarities.[45]
Western Gujari
[edit]Western Gujari is mainly spoken by the Gurjars in the Hazara region and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[45][47] These districts include Battagram, Swat, Dir, Haripur, Mansehra, and Black Mountain. It is also spoken in many areas of eastern Afghanistan.[48] Western Gujari is easily understand for the speaker of eastern Gujari.[45]
Eastern Gujari
[edit]Eastern Gujari is mostly spoken in the Shinkari area of eastern Mansehra and also in Nagaki, Kakul, and Sarban union councils located near Abottabad district of Hazara region.[48] It is also mixed with northern Hindko and Pahari languages.[45][49]
Other dialects
[edit]Van Gujari
[edit]Van Gujjari is a variety of the Gujari language spoken by the Van Gujjars of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Bakarwali
[edit]Bakarwali or Bakerwali Gujari is mainly spoken by the Bakarwal Gujjars in Indian administrated Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.[50]
Banihari
[edit]Banihari Gujari is mainly spoken by the Dhodhi or Banihara Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir. It is closely related to Dogri, Kashmiri and Gujari spoken in various villages of Kashmir.[51]
Regional dialects
[edit]- Fakir Gujari (or Fakeer): is a dialect of Gujari spoken in Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir (Union territory). It has 30 constant sounds and 11 vowels sounds.[52]
- Kunar Gujari: Kunar or Kunari Gujari is mainly spoken by the Gujjars of Kunar province in Afghanistan.[53]
- Chitral Gujari: Chitrali Gujari is mainly Gujari spoken in the Chitral valley and Ashriki area of Chitral.[53]
- Swat Gujari: It is spoken by the Gujjars of Peshmal and Raguhu valleys of Swat district.[53]
- Gilgit Gujari: It is spoken in Naltar Valley and Bala in Gilgit-Baltistan.[53]
- Kaghan Gujari: It is poken mainly in Mittikot village in Kaghan Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[53]
- Poonch Gujari: Mainly spoken in Mendhar and Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.[53] Poonch Gujari dialect in Suran Valley of Punch district has 32 constant sounds and 10 vowels sounds.[52]
- Gujaranwala Gujari: It is mainly spoken by the Gujjars migrated from Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, India.[53]
- Dir Gujari: Mainly spoken in Sheringal area in the Panjkora Valley of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.[53]
- Southern Hazara Gujari: It is spoken in Tarchatti in the Hazara region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.[53]
- Central Azad Kashmir Gujari: Mainly spoken in Trarkheli area of Azad Kashmir.[53]
- Southern Azad Kashmir Gujari: Mainly spoken in the Kotli district of Azad Kashmir.[53]
- Maharashtrian Gujari: also known Khandeshi Gujari or Ded Gujari, Is a dialect of Gujari spoken by Gurjars in the Marathwada, and Khandesh regions of Maharashtra. It is mixed with local languages like Marathi, Ahirani, Bhili and Powari.[54]: 106 - 107
Classification
[edit]Most scholars disagree on the precise classification of the Gujari with one particular language.[55] Walter Roper Lawrence said that the Gujari language was Parimu or Hindko (Hindki). Scholars have since disputed this assumption after conducting research.[33]
Colin Paul Masica and Sir George Abraham Grierson argued that the language Gujari is closely related to the group of Rajasthani languages.[56][57] Grieson argued that either Rajasthani was the dialect of Gujari or vice versa. He found that it is indeed evident that Gujari has been rehashed to Rajasthani – because there are strong similarities between it and Marwari and even stronger similarities between it and Mewati.[33][58] Although J.C. Sharma disagree with Grierson's grouping of Gujari with Mewati or Marwari. He said that a language cannot be classified based on just one feature. So, classifying by a single criterion is wrong.[55]
Ethnologue, lists the language as not classed as in the Marwari branch of the Rajasthani languages, but has three distinct dialects of Gujari in existence: Western Gujari, Eastern Gujari and Dhed Gujari. Khandeshi (or Dedh Gujari) is spoken mainly in some parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat.[59]
Additionally, in the linguistics Survey of India (the) George Abraham Grierson placed Gujari within the Western Pahari language family.[60]
As noted by Jagdish Chandra Sharma (J. C. Sharma), psychological aspects of Gujari are similar to those of Punjabi language.[48]
Prior to the partition of India Gujari was enumerated in census reports as a dialect of (Marwari) Rajasthani by the State Government of Rajasthan[33] Some scholars argue that Gujari is closely related to the Marwari language.[33]
Frederick Drew wrote in 1875 that Gujari is a type of Pahari language, but his conclusion was later disputed by the Indian Census of 1911. The Indian Census of 1941 states that although Gujari has been classified as Pahari language since Drew's writing, that label may not be more reliable than that earlier given to it as Rajasthani.[33][22]: 112
Wanye E. Losey disagreed with the classification of Indo-Aryan languages and submitted that observation of Gujari language in the Phonological and Morphological sense in no way seems to implicate any relation between it and Rajasthani (Marwari) or Punjabi language.[48][55]
Most linguistics scholars (researchers) agree that Gurjari belongs to the Central Indo-Aryan language group.[27][9] However, some scholars disagree and place Gujari in the Western Indo-Aryan language group instead.
Geographical distribution
[edit]Gujari is spoken by 20 million people in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.[61]
India
[edit]Jammu and Kashmir
[edit]Gujari speaking Gujjars and Bakarwals are concentrated in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir and also in Kargil district of Ladakh. As per 2011 census in Jammu and Kashmir there were 11,35,196 Gujari speakers and 34,858 were Khandeshi-Gujari (also known Ded-Gujari) speaking individuals. Total their population was 1,170,054.[62]
There are approximately 8 million Gujari speakers in Jammu and Kashmir.[8]
Population
[edit]Districts wise Gujari speakers per 2011 census in Jammu and Kashmir.
| Districts | Gujari | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Rajouri | 2,21,553 | 35.17% |
| Kishtwar | 33,127 | 14.36% |
| Kupwara | 80,163 | 9.21% |
| Baramulla | 34,750 | 3.45% |
| Pulwama | 22,189 | 3.96% |
| Shupiyan | 23,425 | 8.8% |
| Anantnag | 1,23,606 | 11.46% |
| Kulgam | 26,827 | 6.32% |
| Bandipore | 34,586 | 8.82% |
| Badgam | 23,912 | 3.01% |
| Srinagar | 8,935 | 1% |
| Udhampur | 28,770 | 5.18% |
| Jammu | 59,048 | 3.86% |
| Samba | 13,766 | 4.32% |
| Ganderbal | 61,070 | 20.21% |
| Poonch | 1,86,658 | 40.39% |
| Doda | 30,200 | 7.53% |
| Ramban | 30,654 | 12.18% |
| Reasi | 77,674 | 25.6% |
| Kathua | 21.599 | 3.5% |
Historical population
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | 283,741 | — |
| 1961 | 209,327 | −1.51% |
| 1971 | 695,375 | +12.76% |
| 1981 | 428,106 | −4.74% |
| 2001 | 747,850 | +2.83% |
| 2011 | 1,170,054 | +4.58% |
| source: Indian census 1941[65] _ 1961[65] _ 1971[65] _ 1981[66] _ 2001[67] _ 2011[67] | ||
The Gujari speaking population in Jammu and Kashmir was 7,47,850 with an increase of +2.83% according to the 2001 Indian census.[67]
The 2011 Indian census showed a +4.58% increase in the Gujari speaking population, reaching 1,170,054 in the Jammu and Kashmir region.[67]
Maharashtra
[edit]In the 2011 Indian census, the Gujari-speaking population in Maharashtra state was recorded as 55,735.[68]
Himachal Pradesh
[edit]In 1961 census in Himachal Pradesh Gujari speaking Gurjars were recorded as 4,927.[69] In the 2011 Indian census, the Gujari-speaking population was recorded as 14,127, mostly spoken by Muslim Gujjars in the Chamba, Kangra and Solan districts.[70]
Indian Punjab
[edit]In the 2011 Indian census, the Gujari-speaking population in Punjab, India was recorded as 7,024, spoken by Muslim Gujjars in the Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Pathankot districts.[71]
Madhya Pradesh
[edit]In Madhya Pradesh's 1961 census Gujari speaking were recorded as 453.[69] In the 2011 Indian census, the Gujari-speaking population in Madhya Pradesh was recorded as 5,977, spoken by Hindu Gurjars.[72]
Uttarakhand
[edit]In the 2011 Indian census, the Gujari-speaking population In Uttarakhand was recorded as 3,822, mostly spoken by Muslim Gujjars in the Dehradun and Haridwar districts.