Saraz region

Saraz or Siraj is a hilly region located in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. Traditionally, it was a pargana in Kishtwar Province. The region is defined mainly on the basis of linguistics where the majority of people speak Sarazi as their mother tongue.

Saraz

Saraj or Siraj
Region
Saraz
Coordinates: 33.173996°N 75.711074°E / 33.173996; 75.711074
Country India
Union TerritoryJammu and Kashmir
Areas (Located in Saraz)
  • Mahalla
  • Breswana
  • Doda
  • Dessa
  • Kulhand
  • Rajgarh
  • Ganika
  • Bhagwa
  • Kashtigarh
  • Koti
  • Bijarani
  • Malwana
  • Jodhpur
  • Babor
  • Jatheli
  • Bharat
  • Udayanpur

The region currently takes up the northern half of Doda district and parts of neighbouring Ramban and Kishtwar districts. Its population in 2011 stood at 180,000 people.[1]

About and Demographics

Saraz is a rural area, located on right bank of Chenab river which includes its district headquarter Doda district. The areas on the left bank of river are geographically located in Bhaderwah area.

Saraz is a large area, known for Sarazi dialect spoken here. It includes various villages such as Rajgarh, Ganika, Bhagwah, Dessa, Kashtigarh, Koti, Bhangra, Bijarani, Mahalla, Kulhand, Malwana, Jodhpur, Babor, Jatheli, Bharat and Udayanpur.

The major native language of the region is Sarazi. It is widely used as a lingua franca alongside Hindi/Urdu, but as a first language it is primarily associated with the Hindus. Most Muslims are speakers of Kashmiri; there are also Muslim communities who speak Sarazi, Gojri or Watali, but many of these have been shifting to Kashmiri in recent generation, and even those who preserve their native language still acquire Kashmiri as a second language. A minority of people also know Dogri. The languages of administration and education are Urdu and English.[1][2]

History

In the past, Doda was largely inhabited by Sarazi population before people started settling there from Kashmir and other adjoining areas.[3] The reasons for Kashmiri population settling in Saraz during the 17th and 18th centuries is a matter on which historians disagree.[4] However Sumantra Bose says it was repression by feudal class that drew people to the district of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar.[5] The northern side of Doda district borders with the erstwhile Anantnag district of the Kashmir region. People often migrated from Kashmir to Saraz area whenever there were famines in Kashmir.

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References
  1. Ashiqehind, Vikalp (2018). "Sarazi: Endangered Language of the Chenab Valley". Sahapedia.
  2. Mahajan, Chakraverti (2018). "Saraz and Sarazi: Situating a Language and Linguistic Zone in Jammu and Kashmir". Sahapedia.
  3. "Story of Doda misunderstood by Kashmir". Greater Kashmir. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  4. "Mini Kashmir". Kashmir Life. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  5. Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris 2015, p. 23.


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