Javaid Rahi

Dr. Javaid Rahi (born in, Chandak, Poonch, J&K in India) is an Indian researcher and prolific scholar. He has been the recipient of a number of national awards, including a National Fellowship from Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture, New Delhi, in 2000 for his outstanding contributions in the field of Tribal and Nomadic Research. He has done pioneering work for the preservation and propagation of the Gujjar Culture.^[1]

Literary background

Rahi is a researcher, historian and writer of Gojri and Urdu Language. He has authored a number books in Urdu and Gojri and edited more than 300 titles and periodicals in different languages, published by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and languages.^[2]

He also headed various research projects including Encyclopedia of Himalayan Gujjars, Folk-Lore Dictionary of Gujjar Tribe, and Hindi-Gojri Dictionary and Qadeem Gojri Lughat Projects.

He has compiled first ever Gojri Dictionary containing 70,000 words spoken by the Gujjars and Bakerwal communities and this is the fourth dictionary project which has been compiled under his supervision. ^[3]

He was appointed as Head of the Gojri wing of the State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 1994. Under his headship, the Gojri wing of State Cultural Academy has been able to publish hundreds of books in Gojri, Urdu and English.

In September 2009 he was appointed as first Chief Editor of Gojri in the State Academy.^[4]

As National Secretary of Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation an NGO working on tribes of India, Dr. Rahi has done remarkable work in field of Tribal and Nomadic Heritage, Sociology and Economics.^[5] He has also worked as convenor of Gojri Language in the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (BOSE), under Ministry of Education, Government of Jammu and Kashmir and has introduced Gojri into the school curriculum up to 12th standard.^[6]

Literary work in Gojri

• Look Virso (1999) Awarded by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
• Gojri Look Geet (2009)
• Gujjar Shanakhat Ka Safar (Urdu) ( 2003)
• Gujjar Aur Gojri (2004)
• Encyclopedea of Himalyan Gujjars (2004)
• Hindi Gojri Dictionary (2005)
• Folk-lore Dictionary of Gujjar Tribe (2006)
• Jammu Kashmir ki Qabaili Zubanain (2009)
• Gujjar Tarekh (2009)
• Tagore ki Chunam Shairi (2011)
• Gojri Grammer (2012)
• Qadeem Gojri Lughat (2013)
• The Gujjar Tribe of J&K (2012)
• Concise Gojri Dictionary ( 2015)
• The Gujjars vol 1 to 6 ( 2013-16)

Edited Journals

• Sheeraza Gojri Monthly Since 1994 to 2016
• Maharo Adab Gojri Since 1994 to 2016
• Shingran Ka Geet Since 1994 to 2016
• Gojri Ka Lal Since 1994 to 2016
• Qadawar Since 2003 to 2016
• Paneeri Since 2005 to 2016
• Gojri Look Geet Since 1994 to 2016
• Gojri Look Kahani Since 1994 to 2016
• Gujjar Aur Gojri Since 1994 to 2016
• Gojri Zaban-o-Adab Since 1994 to 2016

References