Pahari people (Kashmir)
The Pahari people or Pahari-speaking people (abbreviated to PSP; ) constitute a linguistic group that forms a heterogeneous society consisting of a number of communities inhabiting in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining states. They are mainly referred to two groups. The main group of Pahari people of Jammu and Kashmir speak seven languages/dialects which are classified as Western Pahari by G.A. Grierson in the first Linguistic Survey of India. They constitute Bhadarwahi, Sarazi, Bhalesi dialect, Padri dialect, Gaddi language, the Gujari language, and Kangri-Dogri language. The Bhadarwahi, Sarazi, Bhalesi, Padri , and Gaddi languages are mainly found in Doda district, Ramban district and Kishtwar district and Kathua district of the Jammu region, while speakers of Gujari are found throughout J&K. The other group predominantly speaks Lahnda (Western Punjabi) dialects including Pahari–Pothwari in Poonch and Rajouri Districts and Hindko in Baramulla and Kupwara Districts of Jammu and Kashmir but refer to themselves as the "Pahari Speaking People" and the government of Jammu and Kashmir has intiated variouse developmental scheme for them including a Development Board for Pahari Speaking People, Residential Hostels for students, 4% reservation in Jobs and Admission in J&K  institutions.However, the Bhaderwahi, Siraji, Bhaleesi and Padri speaking communities are also demanding similar reservation for them as they are the main speakers of dailects classified under Pahari language spoken in Jammu and Kashmir. People and Languages. Pahari is an ambiguous term that has been used for a variety of languages, dialects and language groups, most of which are found in the lower Himalayas.It fall under Indo-European of languages spoken in the Himalayas, divided into Eastern Pahari (Nepali), Central Pahari, and Western Pahari, consisting of a number of dialects and languages. In Jammu and Kashmir, Pahari was listed  as regional language in the sixth schedule of Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (the erstwhile state). Pahari has been promoted by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages since 1978. The Pahari people who speaks Bhadarwahi, Sarazi, Bhalesi, Padri are mainly belongs to Brahmin and Rajput (Sharma, Rana, Parihar, Chandail and others) castes. They have their own History ,Culture, languages, fairs and Festivals. The Gurjars of J&K speaks Gujari language and the Gaddi dailect is spoken by Gaddi People. The Pahari-Pothwari speaking people, consisting of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs castes. Some of the main castes of  PSP are Sayyad, Brahmins, Rajputs (both Hindus and Muslims), Jat (Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs), Khatris, Mahajans, Sudhan or Sudans, Teli, Maliks, Mughals, Mirs,Qureshies, Arain/Milhar, Awan, Janjoua, Dhund, Rajas, Tarkhan, Sheikh,Kumhar (Ghumiar)Pathan, Kashmiris and a number of other castes. These groups are widely spoken Pothwari in the Pakistani territory of Azad Kashmir. In Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Pothwari language is known under various local names such as "Pahari" , "Poonchi / Punchi" , Mirpuri , "Chibhali", is spoken by approximately 1 million people concentrated in the region between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers: most significantly in the districts of Poonch and  Rajouri, to a lesser extent in neighbouring Baramulla and Kupwara, as a result of the influx of refugees during the Partition of 1947 – scattered throughout the rest of Jammu and Kashmir. Close to 747,000 people in the United Kingdom also associate themselves with the Lehnda dialects such as Pahari-Pothwari , Mirpuri , Punchi are spoken mother tongue in the UK behind English. The community popularly calls themselves Pahari-Pothwari and Mirpuri and is a diaspora community that migrated from Mirpur, Azad Kashmir in the 1960s after the creation of the Mangla Dam, which caused the displacement of close to 110,000 people  during that time. Affirmative Actions. The J&K Govt has initiated various ' Affirmative Action' for Pahari Speaking People ( Pahari-Pothwari Group). . A set of policies and practices have been launched for them including the constitution of Advisory Board for the Development of Pahari Speaking People in the year 1989 in light of cabinet decision No:227 dated 20-10-1989, the opening of Pahari hostels and Scholarship for students. The objective of board is to develop Pahari People on the prototype of Gujjar Board. In 1989, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has recommended the case of Pahari Speaking People to the  Union Government of India to grant Scheduled Tribe status and the associated affirmative action.All the Chief Minister of J&K supported their demands from time to time. and this recommendation was reiterated in 1994 by the governor of Jammu and Kashmir and the chief ministers of the state. Gujjars who are already listed under Scheduled Tribes status in Jammu and Kashmir since 1991 are opposing the grant of ST and other similar benefits to the Paharis with the argument that such a step will dilute the entire Scheduled Tribe status. In April 2020, the government of Jammu and Kashmir granted  to Pahari-speaking people a four percent reservation for direct recruitment and admission and distribution of seats in professional institutions. This has sparked disagreements between representatives of the two unrelated "Pahari" communities – those of eastern Kashmir and those of mountains of western Jammu – as to which group of the two constitutes the "genuine Paharis" with a more disadvantaged status and therefore stronger claim to receiving the benefits of the reservation policy. Gujjar-Pahari rift on grant of Scheduled Tribe status. In Jammu and Kashmir, Pahari Speaking People (the Pahari-Pothwari group) are demanding a Scheduled Tribe quota reservation for them , but the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir have already declared ST in 1991 in J&K, are opposing the grant of tribal status to PSP merely on the basis of Language. Gujjars are of the view that such a move will adversely affect the development of genuine tribes, particularly the Gujjars and Bakerwals as the Paharies are for ahead in comparison with Gujjars in terms of Social status, Education, and economical conditions. The demand for grant of ST status by Pahari-speaking people is based on the sole premises of the linguistic identity as "Pahari Speakers" and they are not identified  as a particular tribal identity and mere language does not become any criteria for recognition as a tribe. The Gujjars are arguing that Pahari Speaking People (the Pahari-Pothwari group) are already enjoying 4% reservation under Actual Control Line category, 10% under RBA, 4% under other social castes, 10% under economically weaker section, and 4% under Pahari speaking People Category besides general category and now they are trying to get a share in 10% reservations granted to Gujjars under ST.