Conerns about the region’s socio-spatial identity

Gurez, which is known for its Dard ethnic identity lies in north Kashmir of District Bandipora. Apart from its unique ethnic identity, the tribe is intrinsically wedded to land, water, and forests. They have a long history and in a way ancestral relationship to their lands and natural resources. These elements are not merely resources for them but are stitched to their ethnicity. The health and the well being of forests, glaciers, and soil are critical for the people of Gurez and their survival.

The contemporary life of Dards of Gurez reflects a blend of tradition and modernity. Dard community, like many other indigenous communities around the world, have been influenced by the changing dynamics of the 21st century. The Dardic socio-ecological aspects have experienced various positive as well as the negative changes and adaptations over time. On one hand the people are happy with the transformation, easement of life, more connectivity, modernisation and on the other hand apprehensions about loss of ecology and tradition are felt bad about. The tales of loss of ecological wealth are narrated with a heavy heart. Everyone I approached for interviews was eager to share their stories about the ensuing ecological threat and ‘crisis’.

With the advent of massive unplanned tourism, the majority of Dards of Gurez valley who were previously engaged in agriculture activities such as potato cultivation, beans, wheat, millet etc. is rapidly converting their cultivable land into construction of hotels, cafes, resulting in a loss of their traditional livelihoods and ways of life. This phenomenon is increasingly observed in the heartland (Dawar Tehsil) of Gurez valley. One of the drastic outcomes is the development of capitalistic greed and surplus, wherein the pursuit of capital overshadows the preservation of Gurez’s socio-ecological balance.

Majority of the people who have already migrated from Gurez to other parts of Kashmir are shifting back to Gurez as business investors, doing the massive construction of hotels, resorts, and other infrastructure with least emphasis for environmental sustainability. Their capitalistic greed has serious environmental and climatic consequences on the people who are living in Gurez. In areas like Dawar, traditional architectural styles used to involve substantial use of wood, mud and stone due to its abundance and suitability for the local environment. However, the focus has shifted towards the massive concrete structures with more industrial and brutal overtones and less eco-friendly.

Today, the waves of commodification and consumerism have impacted the life in the region by decreasing their connect to indigenous agriculture practices and ecological heritage. Even Dawar, that was once thought of as symbol of Dard tribe has become increasingly tied to market based economic urban life, blending rural and urban life of Kashmir. A larger part of Dawar has been ‘commoditized and concertized’, amidst environmentally critical times and its strong effect on the region’s socio-spatial identity.

The climatic and seasonal variations in the valley of Dards are undergoing drastic changes when it comes to the risks associated with these changes. While the boost in urban connectivity can offer numerous economic benefits, it is essential to ensure that this development is inclusive, respecting the local culture, and preserves the region’s ecology and environment. Additionally, the involvement and engagement of the local community are crucial to ensure that the massive tourism is not affecting Gurez’s ecology and ethnicity.

Class 12^th Student from Baduab highlighted that “administration must ensure that development projects are carried out with a keen focus on preserving the cultural and environmental integrity of Gurez Valley. Development should not come at the cost of environment”, she said

This unmanaged anti-ecological approach leads to various environmental risks including the changing water and land use characteristics in Gurez.

Ajaz Ahmad Dar, local Social and Environmental activist said “that sate administration along with the local stakeholders must protect the environment and ecology of Gurez, as it is intrinsically linked to our ethnicity and identity. He also stated that tourism can be a good source of economy and prosperity only if we ensure the preservation of environment, ecology and ethnicity in a balanced and holistic way”.

Elements at Risk & Climatic Vagaries

There are different elements that are involved and affected by the climatic variation in the borderland Gurez. The valley has rich history of forest resources, with the advent of mismanaged tourism flow; this unplanned movement of tourists has created pressure which had led to environmental degradation at massive level, posing great threat to biodiversity. The first thing which comes under the target of climatic risk will be the distinctive wild flora like cumin locally called “black zeera”.

While interviewing Suhail Shaheen Lone, resident of Gurez, he said “Most of these species are already at the verge of extinction due to change in climatic pattern and massive restructuring of eco-friendly ethnic community. Because of loss of biodiversity, damaged landscape, physical and chemical changes in the surroundings, has impacted their social life and work pattern”.

Octogenarian people of Dard tribe of Gurez strongly believe that development is crucial but not at the expanse of environmental risks. Their vision is to create a harmonious blend of progress and tradition, where development enhances the quality of life without sacrificing the cultural fabric and the rich environmental ethos of the tribe. When asked about development, they firmly asserted that progress should be pursued, but not at the cost of our environment, culture and traditions. They emphasized the need for sustainable development that uplifts the standard of living for the people of Gurez while preserving their socio-ecological heritage. Anwar Khan, 115 “strongly advocates for a balanced approach that respects environment, ecology and local customs and values”.

In 2023, the Gurez valley in general and Dawar in particular had been declared as the best “Nation Off beat Tourist Destination” in India. On the one side, Gurez is considered as the best tourist destination and on the other side massive consumption, worsening waste disposal scenes, polythene and other non-biodegradable products are visible in and around the local forests, cultivable land and near the banks of rivers. Everyone from local to national level is evaluating the economic benefits of tourism, no one is assessing the socio-ecological degradation accelerated by the massive flux of unplanned tourism. Increased wastage, water pollution, air pollution from transportation are degrading the ecology of Gurez. No one is focusing on sustainability of ethnicity and ecology. A growing tourism exerts unsustainable demands on the ecology of Gurez valley, resulting in widespread erosion of ecosystem, and accelerating ecological risks in near future.

Disheartened by negative transformation of tribe, Aqeela Akhter, at the tender age of 17, “exemplifies an extraordinary blend of intellectual brilliance, ecological reverence, and a clear vision for community empowerment”. Her commitment to preserving the ecological richness of Gurez while advocating for responsible and sustainable development demonstrates wisdom and maturity beyond her age. Aqeela’s journey serves as a profound source of inspiration for her peers and the entire tribe. Her efforts are not merely focused on the quantitative aspects of progress but also on ensuring that the qualitative essence of Gurez’s socio-ecology thrives in the face of massive tourism.

Tahir Magray Msc Zoology student of Dawar said “While tourism can offer economic avenues, but it can also lead to exploitation of ecology and environment, where the profits become curse for the future generation. This has also become a bane for the state leading to unchecked, ill-planned constructions and massive commodification of community via tourism and development. As concrete structures take over land, rivers and streams it restructures their customary relationships with their land, forests and rivers”.

The field excerpts identified the emerging environmental concerns like flash flooding, loss of agricultural land, environmental hazards and risks. Cultural and ecological preservation can become a basis for solving and reducing the consequences of the crisis the region might be witnessing in future. By combating the ecological and environmental threats in Gurez valley, the Government along with the involvement of community stakeholders can aid in managing this hazardous tourism by being a model of sustainable eco-tourist destination. This massive conversion of agriculture fields into hotels and other big business infrastructure produces a “ripple effect” where Gurez’s environment and ecology is altered which in turn can have dangerous effects on the indigenous Dard tribe population.

Dr Suheel Rasool Mir is an Early Career Sociologist, working on the Borderlands of Kashmir and Ladakh, Sociology of Ethnicity and Sociology at Margins. He is the author of Cultural Encyclopedia of Dard Tribe.