# Javaid Rahi

Javaid Rahi is an Indian author, researcher and tribal social worker. He is a writer and poet of Gojri, Punjabi and Urdu languages. He has written 25 books and edited over 300 books and issues of magazines in different languages especially in the field of tribal literature, history, and culture of pastoralists including Gujjars, Bakarwals, Shina-Dard, Sippis, and Gaddis— and other Scheduled Tribes groups of India.

## Early life

Rahi completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) from the University of Jammu in 2004. He conducted study on the six "tribal languages" of Jammu and Kashmir including Gujari, Shina, Gaddi, Balti, Purgi and Ladakhi also known as Boti.

## Social work and reforms

Javaid Rahi started tribal social activism in 1994 through awareness among Tribal and marginalised communities about constitutional rights and guaranties grant to them as Scheduled Tribe .
Through tribal conferences, seminars, and public gatherings, he worked to press for adoption of a national model in J&K, aiming to empower the ST communities previously deprived of constitutional rights under the state's special status pre-2019. In 2019, in result of a long struggle, the nationwide laws including Political Reservation for STs, Forest Rights Act 2006, SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989, Conservation Act 1982 and many other Acts are implemented in J&K "Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act, 2019," that empower Scheduled Tribes J&K.
From 2019 he travelled tribal areas of J&K to inform tribal communities about new laws extended.With his awareness programmes thousands of Forest Dwellers tribal families are now enjoying rights under Forest Rights Act of 2006.

## Tribal Research and literary work

His research studies on tribal communities were carried out for institutions such as Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Central Institute of Indian Languages, Tribal Research Institute-J&K, Department of Tribal Affairs, J&K besides community organisations including Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust, Jammu and Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation.
Javaid Rahi also served as a member of Curriculum Committees for master's degree in Gojri run by University of Jammu and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Rajouri and University of Jammu. He also compiled a series of textbooks in Gojri for schools from 1st primary to 12th class, for the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education.
Under his supervision, the first-ever Gujari dictionary was compiled, containing a vast repository of approximately 70,000 words, further enhancing the linguistic heritage of the tribal communities.

## Main works
### Books

Rahi has authored a number of reference books in Gujari, Urdu, English, and other languages, published by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation.

### Dictionaries

* Compiled first-ever Gojri Dictionary (Concise) –901 pages -Published by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, in 2015.
* Compiled first-ever Lok-Warsti Dictionary (Folk-Lore Dictionary) –(Volume 2) a Project by Ministry of Culture Govt of India, New Delhi, published in 2002 -2003.
* Compiled first-ever Hindi- Gojri Dictionary Published by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation J&K in 2002.
* Compiled and edited Lughat-e-Gojri (Dictionary of Classical Gojri) Published by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 2014

### Encyclopedia

* Research: "Himailyai Gujjar Encyclopedia" (Encyclopedia of Himalayan Gujjars) a Project of the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India allotted under the Cultural Heritage of Himalaya Scheme, published in 2004.

### Research books

* Lok-Virso – (Research )Awarded by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages(1999)
* Jammu Kashmir ke Qabaila-aur-unki Zubanein (Research /Urdu) –(2010)
* Gujjar Tribe of Jammu and Kashmir (Research English) (2015)
* Gujjar Shanakhat Ka Safar (History and Culture Urdu-2005)
* Gojri Lok Geet -2018
* Gujjar Aur Gojri (2004)
* Gujjar Tarekh (2009)
* Tagore ki Chunam Shairi (2011) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
* Gojri Grammer (2012) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
* Qadeem Gojri Lughat (2013) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
* The Gujjar Tribe of J&K (2012) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
* The Gujjars vol 1 to 6 (2013–16) Published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
* The Gujjars Tribe of Jammu and Kashmir Research Book

## Awards and recognition

The government of Jammu and Kashmir awarded Javaid Rahi with the State Level "Tribal Award 2022" presented to him by Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha for his outstanding work in the field of tribal research and social reforms. He was also awarded on first 'National Tribal Pride day' on 15 November 2021, by Tribal Affairs Department, J&K Govt.
* J&K Tribal Awards 2022 : Department of Tribal Affairs Government of Jammu and Kashmir for contribution to Tribal literature (Gojri Language).
* Jagom Memorial National Award’ for his distinguished services in the field of preservation and documentation of intangible tribal folk cultural heritage of Gujjars -Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir
* BGSB University felicitates Dr. Javaid Rahi
* Best Book Award (2000) Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages"
* Best Play-script Award (1998) in the Gujari language. Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages."
* National Fellowship (2000) Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture in New Delhi.