Kanjar Tribe

PRELIMS BITS: 

• Location: The Kanjar tribe is a nomadic group found in North India, Kashmir, and Pakistan.
• History: Labeled a “criminal tribe” during colonial rule, they were decriminalized after Independence.
• Demographics: Around 5,000 Kanjar live in Pakistan, with larger populations in India. They typically do not own land and travel using mule-drawn carts.
• Occupation: Historically associated with hunting, fishing, basket weaving, and entertainment.
• Language: They speak Kanjari, which shares affinities with Indo-Aryan Prakrits and Romani, along with several regional languages.