DARD ARYANS

About: 

• Nomenclature: ‘Dard’ is derived from a Sanskrit word, ‘Daradas’, which refers to people who live on hillsides. 
  
  
• Region: Dard Aryans is a tribe of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region. The Dard Aryans inhabit Dha, Hanu, Beema, Darchik and Garkone villages in Leh and Kargil districts. The villages are together called the Aryan valley. 
  
  
• Background: Dard Aryans are believed to be the original descendants of ‘pure Aryan race’. According to researchers, the ‘Aryans of Ladakh’ or the ‘Brokpas’ were a part of Alexander’s army and had come to the region over 2,000 years ago. 
  
  
• Culture: 
  • The people of this region have unique physical features, social life, ethnic culture and language. The tribe is known for its liberal customs and ornate costumes. 
    
    
  • The community prohibits marriage with outsiders to keep the gene pool intact. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Population: The tribe is considered “threatened” due to their depleting numbers, which, at present, is around 4,000. 
  
  
• Threats: 
  • Due to modernization, migration, and religious conversion, etc., their traditions and culture are at threat. 
    
    
  • They are mainly dependent on agriculture and are “educationally and economically backward”. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Schedule Tribes Status: ‘Dard Aryan’ is ‘NOT’ among the list of notified Schedule Tribes. 
  
  
• Steps taken: Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) has taken up the following initiatives to preserve their cultural heritage – 
  • It has provided Assistance in setting up a few Museums in the Regions of Dard Aryans in Leh, Laddakh, Kargil, etc., with the help of local community. 
    
    
  • A festival of Dard Aryan was organised by in January, 2019 at IGNCA, in which around 35 artists from Dard Aryan regions participated. 
    
    
  • It organised a workshop at Dha-hanu, Laddakh, Jammu & Kashmir in June 2018 for documentation of traditions of Aryan Valley. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Demands: 
  • Set up a tribal hostel in the region, 
    
    
  • Declare the Aryan valley a heritage village to boost tourism.