History and study of the Jats/Preface

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Today, there are about 30 million Jats living in north-western South Asia who follow Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism. The breakdown figure for each of these three great faiths of South Asia is roughly the same. An interesting point to note is that even though they are divided into these three groups, they still identify themselves as Jats.

Historical records and archaeological finds show that the presence of their forefathers was felt as far as France and Spain and deep into Chinese territory during ancient times which contributed to change in the shape of the world. The original home of the Jats was in Central Asia. During the early part of the Christian era, most of the Jats were uprooted by the Mongol people from their homeland in Central Asia (after their ruling for over one thousand years, Chinese Authorities constructed the 1500 miles long the Great Wall of China at the cost of the lives of 400,000 workers. Today this wall is nicknamed as the longest cemetery in the world (all the workers who died were buried inside the wall), and the only man-made object visible from the outer space. In turn Jats invaded India to the South and the Roman Empire in the West. Thus, they established themselves as (Alans) in France, Spain, Portugal and so on, in the fifth century A.D.

Overtime, the western Jats (Alans, Sarmatians, Scythians etc) were assimilated into the local population and disappeared as a distinguishable group. In India, however, the Jats ruled almost continuously for over five hundred years (around 4th century B.C. to 6th century A.D.) and in one form or the other, continued ruling up to the middle of the twentieth century (e.g. Jat Sikh ruler Maharaja (king) of Patiala, Punjab a Sidhu Jat). Furthermore, due to various reasons, they continue to exist as an identifiable community.

In Sikhism, Jats form a substantial majority (over 70%) and this majority is very visible among the Sikhs residing in western countries.

The objective in writing this book has been to add knowledge to historical literature, to provide a better understanding of the background of the South Asian Jats and their descendants living in the West as well as to satisfy personal curiosity of their Jat roots. This book is not directed against any individual or group of individuals. It is only meant to preserve a history that is slowly being lost with the passing of the generations.

History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. End of Page 1

As it will become apparent to readers after filtering through these pages I have relied heavily on the short quotations taken from the works of many other authors. The main purpose of this exercise was to present thoughts of these authorities in an exact fashion without tempering with their words, so the reader can pass his/her own judgement without the hassle of additional research. However, for each quotation, a complete reference down to the page number is provided for the benefit of the reader if he/she wishes to deliver further on the subject in question. The wording in some quotations has been slightly changed without sacrificing their exact meanings, but to preserve the integrity of an individual or community.

I have written as objectively as possible. If, at any place in the book I have overlooked this factor, I sincerely apologize to the concerned bodies or individuals. After all I am a human!

I am grateful for all the publishers and authors whose works have been quoted or have been used during the course of writing the book. In particular, I am sincerely grateful to the following publishers:

• Oxford University Press

• Lexicon Publications

• Archibald Constable and Co.

• Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.

• Time Life Books

• Sterling Publishers

• The University of Winsconsin Press

• Bouma's Boekhuis N.V. Publishers

• Sunita Publications

• Encyclopedic Britannica, Inc.

• Harvard University Press

• B.R. Publishing Corporation

• Sumit Publications

• Cambridge University Press

• S. Chand & Company Ltd.

• Languages Department, Patiala, Punjab

• Indological Book House

• Kitab Mahal Private Ltd.

• Mittal Publications

• Macmillan & Co. Ltd.

• The Outlook Company

• MeCllelland and Steward Ltd.

• Ess Ess Publications

• Paragon Book Reprint Corp.

• Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co. Ltd.

• Eyre & Spottiswoode

• Atma Ram & Sons

History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. End of Page 2

• Cultural Publishing House

• Progressive Books

• Faber and Faber Ltd.

• Peter Own Ltd.

• Punjabi University

• Academic Publishing Co.

• Atlantic Publishers & Distributors

• Penguin Books

• People's Publishing House

• Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green

• Dorset Press

• Alfred A. Knopft

• World Sikh University Press

• Oriental Books Reprint Corporation

• AMS Press, Inc

• Pioneer Press

• Holt, Rinehart and Winston

• Thames and Hudson Ltd.

• University of California Press

• Frederick A. Praeger

• Today & Tomorrow's Printers and Publishers

• Henry G. Bohn

• Longmans, Green, and Co.

• Barnes and Noble

• G.P. Putnam's Sons

• Eastern Book House

• Bhartiya Publishing House

• Sushil Gupta (India) Private Ltd.

• Argonaut, Inc., Publishers

• New York Public Library

• Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.

• National book Trust

• Haskell House Publishers Ltd.

• New American Library, Inc.

• University of Minnesota Press

• California University Press

• Sterling Publishing Co.

• North Carolina University Press

• Biblo and Tannen

• Atheneum Publishers

• Dryden Press, Inc.

• Kennikat Press

• University of Wisconsin Press

• People's Publishing House

History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. End of Page 3

• Prima Publishing

• Chanakya Publications

• Columbia University Press

• Canadian Sikh Studies Institute

• University of Toronto

The book is composed of ten chapters plus an appendix. Chapter 1 establishes the Scythian origin of the Jats with the aid of the works of over fifty authorities, historical records and archaeological findings. A list of useful literature concerned with Jats or Scythians is provided as well. Chapter 2 describes the ancient history of the Jats and the Scythians in Central Asia and India and Chapter 3 covers the events concerning the Jats during the Muslim rule in India. The period from eights century A.D. to the end of the seventeenths century is covered. Chapter 4 presents a historical analysis of the specific events concerning the Jats following the Sikh faith. Most of the Jat Sikh history covers period after the seventeenth century. A history of the Jats following the Hindu and Muslim faiths is presented in chapter 5. As there was very little information available concerning Muslim Jats, the Chapter emphasizes the Jats of the Hindu faith.

Chapter 6 covers the ancient history of the Jats (Alans, Sarmatians, Scythians, Goths and Jutes) in the western countries. Jat place names, particularly those found in South Asia are discussed in chapter 7. The chapter is basically concerned with city, town and village names. Chapter 8 studies the culture of the Jats with reference to the Scythians. As the large majority of the South Asian Jats particularly the Jat Sikhs that have migrated to various western countries over the last hundred years, thus Chapter 9 is devoted to the information concerning them. Chapter 10 presents information on Jat clan names and their population distribution in selective Punjab (India) districts. Also, a short comparison of the South Asian Jats and similarity or identical western clan names (over fifty) is presented.

The appendix lists over five hundred references directly or indirectly concerned with the Jats for those who may desire to conduct further research. At the end of each chapter the cited references are provided with as much information as possible. And in the reference listing (if applicable) the first page number corresponds to the first citation of the reference, the second the second citation of the same reference, the third the third citation of the same reference and so on.

It is hoped that this book will serve as a useful document to both general readers and readers with expertise in the field alike. The use of simple and straightforward language and to explain unfamiliar terms immediately after their usage in parenthesis was emphasized to facilitate understanding. The author is fully aware that these explanations may appear to be repetitive at times but the main reason for them was to help the general reader. In addition, most of the times the term "Hindu" is used in the geographical sense, rather than a religious one. It must be remembered that the ancient Persians used to describe people living east of the river Indus as "Hindus".

History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. End of Page 4

The author is deeply indebted to many people including friends and relatives for their interest and encouragement throughout the project. In particular, I wish to thank my colleague Professor Stavros Tavoularis for his help especially with respect to ancient Greek authors and related fruitful discussions despite his intense academic nvolvements.

I also greatly appreciate the patience and intermittent disturbances of my children, Jasmine and Mark, resulting in many coffee breaks, which helped to produce new school of thoughts!

At last but not the least, I thank my wife, Rosy for typing the entire manuscript, her help in proofreading, her patience, and the coffee-making!

B.S. Dhillon

Ottawa, Ontario

History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. End of Page 5

Dedication

This book is affectionately dedicated to my relatives Jaswinder and Amarjit S. Sidhu and family, Jagir S. and Raj Grewal and family and to my late maternal grandparents Dulip

S. Mann and Hukam K. Gill.

History and study of the Jats. By Professor B.S Dhillon. ISBN-10: 1895603021 or ISBN-13: 978-1895603026. End of Page 6

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