Saraz region

Saraz or Siraj is a hilly region located in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir. Traditionally, it was a Pargana[lower-alpha 1] in Kishtwar Province. Saraz is also spelt as Siraz or Siraj.

Saraz

Saraj or Siraj
Region
Country India
Union TerritoryJammu and Kashmir
Areas (Located in Saraz)
  • Mahalla
  • Breswana
  • Doda
  • Dessa
  • Kulhand
  • Rajgarh
  • Ganika
  • Bhagwah
  • Kashtigarh
  • Koti
  • Bijarani
  • Malwana
  • Jodhpur
  • Babor
  • Jatheli
  • Bharat
  • Udayanpur

About and Demographics

Saraz is a rural area, located on right bank of Chenab river which includes its district headquarter Doda district. The areas on the left bank of river are geographically located in Bhaderwah area.

Saraz is a large area. It includes various villages such as Rajgarh, Ganika, Bhagwah, Dessa, Kashtigarh, Koti, Bijarani, Mahalla, Kulhand, Malwana, Jodhpur, Babor, Jatheli, Bharat and Udayanpur.

History

In the past, Doda was largely inhabited by Sarazi population before people started settling there from Kashmir and other adjoining areas.[2][3] The reasons for Kashmiri population settling in Saraz during the 17th and 18th centuries is a matter on which historians disagree.[4] However Sumantra Bose says it was repression by feudal class that drew people to the district of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar.[5][2] The northern side of Doda district borders with the erstwhile Anantnag district of the Kashmir region. People often migrated from Kashmir to Saraz area whenever there were famines in Kashmir. Hindus of this region speak Sarazi, Muslims speak Kashmiri, while Muslims can also speak Sarazi. This sociocultural region is united by its local language Sarazi. According to linguist Grierson, Sarazi is a dialect of Kashmiri. But locals of the region believe that it has little match with Kashmiri. Sarazi is widely spoken in the region.[6]

Notes
  1. A pargana was a former administrative unit of the Indian subcontinent, used primarily, but not exclusively, by the Muslim kingdoms. Parganas word is of Persian origin and were introduced by the Delhi Sultanate. A pargana consists of several mouzas as a revenue unit, which are the smallest revenue units, consisting of one or more villages and the surrounding countryside. Tarafs are the larger subdivisions of parganas. Under the reign of Sher Shah Suri, administration of parganas was strengthened by the addition of other officers, including a shiqdar, an amin or munsif and a karkun.[1]

References
  1. "What does pargana mean?". www.definitions.net.
  2. "Sarazi: Endangered Language of the Chenab Valley". Sahapedia. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  3. "Story of Doda misunderstood by Kashmir". Greater Kashmir. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  4. "Mini Kashmir". Kashmir Life. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  5. Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris 2015, p. 23.
  6. "Saraz and Sarazi: Situating a Language and Linguistic Zone in Jammu and Kashmir". Sahapedia. 15 Nov 2018. Retrieved 17 Jun 2020.


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