The Shepherd community is one of the largest communities of India with 12 Crores population spread from Kashmir to kanyakumari.This community is found in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and Karnataka.
Though culturally, Socially and professionally they are one community, Shepherds of India are known by different names across the country as Dhangar in Maharashtra, Kuruba in Karnataka, Rabari,Maldhari,Bharwad in Rajasthan and Gujarat, Gaddi, Bakkarwal in Bengal, Kurumban, Kurumba, Kuruman in Tamilnadu, Gowala in Tripura and Pal,Baghel,Gadaria,Dhangar in UP, Bihar and MP, Kuruma in Andhra Pradesh, Gadaria,Pal in Haryana and Punjab respectively.
Shepherds of India are basically nomadic in nature as they wander from place to place. They are culturally and traditionally very rich.
They have fragmented social identity due to different names in different parts of India and now are facing area restrictions throughout India.
In addition to fragmented social identity, Shepherds throughout India have lost their political Identity due to different nomenclature. Shepherds in majority part of India are in OBC Schedule, Shepherds of extreme north India and in some parts of India are in ST Schedule, Shepherds of Central-north India are in SC Schedule, in some of the states they are considered as the Nomadic Tribes.
In this connection to bring uniformity in the nomenclature and to unite all the shepherds of the country who are scattered, the leaders of the Shepherd community all over the country met in Delhi and planned to launch a federation of Shepherds called Shepherds India International. This Shepherds India International was established in the year June 2014 having its head office at New Delhi.
Shepherds India International has successfully organized many conferences in Tamilnadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
