The Bodh Scheduled Tribe of Jammu and Kashmir: An Overview

Abstract

The Bodh Schdeuled Tribe located at Paddar sub-division in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory of India has not been recognised separately by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the Union Territory tribal list. If, the government does not recognise, as a consequence of modernization, local socio-cultural values, traditions, rituals and dialects will either undergo change or may be extinguished. The tribe has unique socio-cultural values, indigenous social skills, food habits, religious practices, marriage rituals, dialect and geographical significance. So, exploring, promoting, and preserving their historical existence, cultural values, indigenous social skills, rituals, traditions and geographical significance is necessary. In the present paper, the investigators have focused on the historical existence, socio-cultural values, economic provisions and educational opportunities undertaken by the government towards the upliftment of living conditions of the Bodh Tribe of Paddar. The history, socio-cultural values, indigenous social skills, rituals, traditions and other components have not been presented in written form. It is essential to preserve these components for their harmonious life in society. Without the existence of these components, it is not possible to live a harmonious life for any tribe. Therefore, the investigators have tried to vomit about these components in the present paper. The data has been collected from primary and secondary sources through purposive sampling. The present paper has employed interview schedules, focused group discussions, and survey method techniques.