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Preface:
Afghanistan is
the place of origin of several tribes and nations, which during the
centuries lived together with a big proud, but with enormous troubles and
difficulties.
With time these
tribes became famous and stabilized their national identity as real
residents to this country, as set out in article 4 of the Afghanistan
constitution as follows:
The nation of
Afghanistan shall be comprised of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman,
Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, Brahwui
and other tribes.
Basically the
purpose of the present topic is to focus on the situation of whom which are
absolutely forgotten that pointed out in the constitution as “Other
tribes”.
In addition to
other parts of the country, also in north east zone people are living with
the very poor condition under the name of Jogi or the Badakhshan people call
them Qawal ha.
However this
people are very hardworking in nature, but unbelievably having very high
patience.
Migration to
Afghanistan:
It is worth
mentioning that, Jogi people are illiterate, there for, we can not specify
the exact time of their displacement, however according to their elders they
left Kolab tow centuries ago when Lagui ha attacked theme and they all
escaped to Afghanistan.
Their place of
origin is from Kolab which is located in the neighboring country of
Tajikistan. There main profession was husbandry, while there coming to
Afghanistan they had their own flocks of animals, but due to worse situation
gradually they lost every thing. Some of them claim the existence of their
sixth generation here in Afghanistan since they left Kolab.
Basically, this
ethnic minority are Tajik, Suni-with Islam religion. Along side, Dari
language they can also talk with a special locally languages. In addition to
that, they know other locally languages too where they settle.
Mainly this
people are divided in to five tribes, for example; Qataghani, Kulabi,
Balkhi, Sag baz (dog trainer) and Halwa khor.
The Proportion
of their families in north east zone as follows:
-
Qataghani
120 house holds.
-
Kulabi 450
house hold ( app 300 kunduz and 150 Takhar)
-
Balkhi 400
house hold.
-
Sag baz 500
house hold.
-
Halwa khor
120 house hold.
They are
estimated to be Approximately 10000 people.
Living standard:
Life condition
of this people is so amazing, even different than the life of Kochi people.
mainly they are rural and during the four season of the year they tour from
one place of resident to other one.
Economically,
women are the only source of income and bread winner for the rest of the
family members. Men have no obligation in this regard as they are mainly
unemployed and have no occupation. Their mobile house is made of worn out
varied cloth which can be moved so easily.
Tools and
appliances which are required for living are few, comprised of some dress
and dishes. There is no any reach man among them, economically they are all
in one level, it means they are all living in poverty.
While their
coming to a place or village they take part in all locally ceremonies and
gatherings as others, they go for the prayers to the nearest mosques and
whiles their being in the dessert performs the prayer on collective manner
among them selves.
As it is pointed
out, Jogi women are extremely hard working, which toils away all day long
for earning something for subsistence of their family, and doing this by tow
ways.
-
Through
fortune telling.
-
Begging, if
the first one does not have any income.
As the market
of fortune telling has stagnated recently, there for, begging is their
profession.
Commonly the
words which used in fortune telling by Jogi women are similar, while saying,
even some house wife women believe and thinks to be all the words are
absolutely right which make them interested a lot.
They try to find
the exact information first regarding the specific family or families which
they are interested in to trying their fortune. By doing this they get some
people happy and some unhappy, because the past and future of some one is
described by theme.
Zulykha a woman
which she was very clever and open minded described their life style as
follows:
“I am the second
wife of my husband and I have 2 son and 6 daughters, the first wife of my
husband has 4 son and 7 daughters. Totally my husband has 19 son and
daughter”. We have our bags on our shoulders every time, by doing this we
support our families; we have no option without this. She also added we
know that “fortune telling” is not correct, but through this we earn
some bread for our families. Thanks Allah she stated, from the past up to
now we haven’t been involved in any kind of crime, murder, pederasty,
robbery, theft or some thing else as the others. Even there haven’t been
any complain against us in the court or some where else.
Mainly the men
of this minority group are involved and eager to play with quail and the
Sagbaz tribe apart form playing with dogs, are al so eager to play quail.
The best dog for
this people is by name of Makhmal, which they get it from north province of
Mazari sharif, for the purpose of hunting Bodana (one bird by this name).
While, playing
with dogs or Bodana, there is no any sort of condition or betting between
them.
Increasingly,
some men of this tribe are al so interested to play “Buzkashi” which
is common in some parts of Afghanistan. Ultimately there are around 20 guys
who know about the Buzkashi game and the famous one is Pahlawan sherin who
is the richest person among the Jogi people, that so far could save about
100000 Afghani through this game and it will be spend for his future
requirements like, shrouding and burial, he stated.
Meanwhile,
every family has a horse which is used while their movement to other places.
It is worth mentioning that this people are not well interested to have a
profession or job. Totally there are four persons having the profession of
goldsmiths and carpentry. They are just expert in fishing net waving and
making cage for their Bodana.
Due to a cold
weather in Badakhshan province Jogi people are not interested to live there
into winter season, rather they are willing to be in kunduz, Takhar and
Baghlan provinces which have warm climate.
It is worth
mentioning that, they know all the families based in north east provinces of
Kunduz, Takhar and Baghlan, because while doing their job, they try to
search in every street, region etc.
Access to
education:
The interviews
conducted with some women, elders and literate people of this vulnerable
group, specially an interviewee by the name of Qari Ghulam Faroq, deducted
that, they are the only people in afghan society who do not have the
accessibility to education. Because all the time they moving around and that
is why they are not familiar with the education and its advantages, as well
as religious learning.
They don’t
have any Moulavi either among them (a person who know about the Islamic
issues in a high level), except just in every tribe they have four or five
mulas with low level of Islamic learning, just train the children and youths
in primarily Islamic issues as well as doing the job of Imam daily in five
times prayer.
Qari Ghulam
Faroq is the only person among the Jogi people who could just memorize the
12 chapter of holy Quran. He al so stated, by this he could gain a lot of
advantages as he was employed by UNAMA as a civic educator for Kochi People,
during the parliamentary election based in Badakhshan province. Through this
he al so bought a part of land and now he has made a house for his residence
in Badakhshan, but now he is unemployed and looking for a job.
Mean while, he al so prohibited his wife from begging and
fortune telling. Ghulam Faroq al so mentioned that, among them there is
person who calls him as a doctor, but he doesn’t know well, whether he is an
educated person or not.
He frankly stated that, however fortunetelling is not true,
but it is their necessity, to use it as a source of income.
Ghulam Sediq is one of the other interviewee, in kunduz
province, stated, since some months one of the Ex Jihadi commanders by the
name of Mir Alam khan let them to live and camp temporarily on his own land.
He added during this period of time we gradually understood the advantages
of knowledge and differences between literate and illiterate persons. So we
went to our nearest school for the enrollment of our children and teenagers,
but the head master said, due to your migratory in every season we are not
allowed to attend your teenagers in the School.
The reader may think and ask himself:
Does any one
have the authority to not let the others in accessing to education in this
time?
Health
situation:
Although, the illiteracy overshadowed in every aspect of
their lives, in addition, they have no attention to their health issues.
While suffering to health problems and diseases they do not use or take any
medication for their health treatment, they resist wither they recover
normally or pass a way. They just believe, on their religious elders when
they get sick or face to any problem.
Recently some of them, while facing with health problems,
refer to doctors, but regretfully, majority of them due to economic problems
can’t afford the fees of the doctors.
The women in the time of pregnancy, do their activities as
usual even up to the final day of delivery; they just rest at least for tow
or three days after the child birth. And delivery also takes place normally
(they never refer to doctors or midwife).
Many times it has been seen that 7-8 month pregnant women
along side 2 - 3 years old babies al so carrying the full bags from morning
to after noon. With doing this we can understand that how they have a hard
and pain full life in to days world.
Engagement and Marriage:
The proper age for the marriage should be between 14- 20
amongst this people. But the age of the daughters must not be higher than
20.
“Ejab wa quabool”
(The affirmation and acceptance) of the boy and girls for the marriage is as
good as the other people and tribes based in Afghanistan, if a daughter
engages according to choice of her parents, the “Maher” (a marriage
portion payable to the wife) is taken by parents. Mean while there would be
no sensitivity or problem if a daughter chose a boy as her future husband,
just with the difference of “the Maher” would not be taken by the
parents of the daughter.
Mainly for the first time, proposing for marriage being
suggested by the boys, but as mentioned, the girls have also the right to
choose a person as their future life partner.(it seems that , they are more
open minded than the other tribes in Afghanistan).
As this people are in a very poor economic situation, the
marriage portion is not so high; almost 10 up to 20 thousand Afghani is the
highest rate.
The wedding ceremony is conducted by their religious elder,
or if he was not available, they refer to the nearest locally religious
elder in order to proceed the ceremony.
The period for the engagement is six months up to one year
and it would be not prolonged more than this.
Another kind of engagement amongst the Jogi people, which is
not so common, is called “Daman chak” and it takes place when in tow
families simultaneously tow babies (boy and daughter) are born, they are
engaged to each other according to the choice of their parents. But it is
worth mentioning, when they became young, it is their interest and choice
whether they want and love each other or not. And there will be no interfere
and sensibility from the parents of the tow parties.
The most marriages take place as a “Badal” (tow
families exchange their daughters among themselves) and this happens on
willingness and agreement of each family and due to economic depression the
wedding ceremonies of this people aren’t so sumptuous.
Funeral
ceremonies:
As mentioned, at
least the Jogi people have not a piece of land through out the Afghanistan,
there for; they perform their funeral ceremonies in the places where they
are, settled. They do not transfer the funerals to other places, death
bodies are buried where they are living.
After the
burial, we must give food as a charity to all locally people when some one
dies, and also, In the past charity ceremonies cost about 20000 up to 50000
Afghani a man said. Traditionally, the family of death has to prepare about
(140 Kg) raisins for the breakfast of the invited people and if there is any
restaurant in our vicinity, then we must provide food (at least for 100-200)
people, but he added, hopefully since one year according to demand of our
elders and with the support of all the people, we are decided to eradicate
this custom, which is economically not appropriate with the life style of
our people.
Social
status:
Jogi people are not paid due courtesy and respect in the
society. Usually they are holding in contempt and
abjectness, even some times they are humiliating by lewd persons.
Their behavior is most regrettable, when face some one.
One of the elder of this people with a bitter sigh said that:
As a matter of fact, our nature is lower than the others,
because begging is something very shameful, but after all we do this for our
substances and to support our families.
And another man
said: “The price of all the tools and requirements
which belongs to our houses is equal to the price of one door or windows of
the other people houses”.
While their
movements to other places, locally people harass them greatly, even some
times they do not allowed to stay or camp in the places which they want to
be there for a short period of time. For instance, he stated in year 1384
(2005) some of us camped in Zakhil village which is located on the outskirt
of the kunduz city, while reaching spring season, the villagers expelled us
explicitly to do not stay there any more.
Another example:
we about 60 families camped for a short period of time in an old grave yard
called “khuwaja Abdull Marouf” which is located in Faizabad city of
Badakhshan province, but with time according to the suggestion of some
religious elders, governmental authorities expelled us, but we protest
widely, against this action of the authorities, we were suppose to launch
our selves in Kokcha river, but governmental authorities respond to our
demands immediately and after some days they allocated some land in a area
which belongs to ex brigade headquarter of Badakhshan province.
Even we have
faced such problems in the areas which were completely unutilized and
uncultivated.
One of the
interviewee stated, among the north east provinces of kunduz, Takhar,
Badakhshan and Baghlan, mainly people welcome them in Badakhshan province
and this resulted in earning the more food than the other provinces.
A number of Jogi
people were most satisfied and pleased from one of the ex Jihadi commander
“Mir Alam’ because 10 years ago he let 40 families of Kulabi and Balkhi
tribes of Jogi people to camp on his own land.
Each one of the
five tribes has respect and most courtesy to each other. Mean while they
have the connection of relationship too.
One day, for the
greetings of Jogi people I went to their tent, during our conversation I saw
tow beg puts on the oven, so I asked them whither they have a party or this
is for their selves? Replied me yes we have a party to night, because some
of our relatives recently came from Mazari sharif province, because they
have the right on us to be invited. That is why we invited them.
And their
invitation may goes on for ten day among the other families.
Political
involvement:
They have never
been involved in any political issues and tried to be independent and
impartial.
Although, since
there residence in Afghanistan, they have not received any Identification
card, from any government which could prove they are the citizen of
Afghanistan like the other people, but they were al so called for military
services in the time of khalq regime (peoples Democratic Party of
Afghanistan), So the regime drafted 23 young boys for military service by
force and were dispatched to Herat province, but after passing three months
they could find the chance to escape from there and came back to their
families.
This action of
the governments of that time caused the Jogi people emigration to Pakistan
in year 1981. They were al so living in one of the Afghan emigrants camps up
to the end of 1992. In this period of time they were al so walking around as
usual, and now they are well familiar in all parts and cities of Pakistan.
In the time of
Jihad, on behalf of this tribe there were 2 persons (Abdul karim Zargar that
has martyred and the other one is still alive. These tow persons were
serving with “Commander Amir Chughyee”.
During the
registration process for the elections (both presidential and parliamentary)
they have all registered them selves for the voting.
A man said: in
the past our elders referred to governmental authorities many times as
regards Jogi people requirements and necessities, like allocation of land
for them, obtaining of citizenship of Afghanistan and enrolments of our
children and teenagers in the School. However the authorities did not
considers our demands, rather they insulted our elders. And now we are so
wander and too needful. While our settlement in an area at first we are
looking wither the land owner would allowed us to stay or not.
A man said:
“After all, we are also human beings and created by Allah. We must have also
the right to access to education, freedom of thoughts, housing.
When Allah
created human beings, also grant him a dignity and inalienable rights, but
it is too depressing why the governments so far violating their rights and
they haven’t done any thing in favor of them yet”.
The Jogi people
actively participated in both presidential and parliamentary elections. They
saying, we voted for Mr. Karziai, although no one told us to vote for him,
we did this because we were too hopeful that he might also cooperate us and
he will meet to our necessities. But unfortunately, since five years, no one
asked about our living condition. Some other people under the name of “Kochi”
available in Afghanistan they are also similar to Jogi people, but the
governments support them well , allocate them land and their voices are also
heard, even they have their representatives in Afghan parliament, but
unfortunately for us, there is no right to open the door of offices.
The objective of
the topic:
Usually in daily
conversation we define the term of “Right”
is the legal or moral entitlement to do or refrain from doing
something or to obtain or refrain from obtaining an action. Although we used
it every time, but it has many meanings indeed. And through this we can
respond the question, that why so far there hasent been any attention or
care concerning this people.
We can find out
that, in one hand they face too economic depression and on the other hand
the lack of educated people, caused them to not reach and obtain their right
which belongs to every human being. Any way, we have to pave the ground to
reach the voices of these voiceless people to the world.
Isn’t amazing,
the people who are absolutely deprived of their economic, Social and
cultural rights?
Do we know the
tribe or nation, who do not have any one, a small part of the land for their
living?
Is it believable
the entire generations of a tribe have no access to education?
Is it true, the
people who many times referred to schools for enrolment of their children,
but they were told, because you have no citizenship of Afghanistan so far,
that why we can’t do this?
And many more
questions.
In fact one
would answer to these questions, with initiating of protection activities
and before that there must be wide assessments programs in order to find the
proper solution as regards their access to their humanitarian rights.
I am certain, if
we do not protect and support these people, their future will be darker.
I am not just
concern; rather this is my responsibility to make every possible effort as
regards obtaining their humanitarian rights.
I have also some
suggestions about this, which would be presented in a proper time.
For the time
being I just shared my concerns regarding this unique people.
Note: this topic
has not references. It has been provided through my assessments, interviews,
and meetings within tow year.
With regards |
