Jat rulers in Rajasthan

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Jats were in majority

Rajputana name for Rajasthan prior to independence creates confusion as if Rajput population is in majority in this state. Thakur Deshraj has provided facts that total Jat population in Rajasthan in 1931 census was 11,42,025 where as Rajput population was 6,33,830. Thus Jats were about double the population of Rajputs. Shekhawati was part of Jaipur state, which had the highest Jat population of 3,13,609. In some of the princely states it was about 25 percent of total population, forming the single largest caste. ^[1] As per Imperial Gazeteer of India v-8, p-22, More than 44 per cent of the population in Bhadra tehsil in 1901, were Jats at that time. ^[2]

Other ruling clans

Historical traditions are that Jats, Bhils, Ahirs, Gujars, Meenas and some other tribes had a great contribution in building the state of Rajasthan along with Rajputs. All these tribes had to suffer great difficulties to protect their culture and the land. Millions of them martyred for this land. ‘The Hinduan Suraj’ title to Udaipur was due to Bhils. Jats had been fighting since beginning. Gujars had been exterminated in Bhinmal and Ajmer areas fighting with the invaders. Bhils ruled Kota and Bundi one time. Gujars were sardars in Alwar, Jodhpur and Ajmer areas. ^[3]

The truth is that purohits, Charans and Court poets out of greed for money and land gave prominence to Rajputs. Later James Tod wrote annals after taking bribe from Maharaja Udaipur and Maharaja Jodhpur of the Rajputana state. He was biased towards these states and Rajputs. The earlier contributions of warriors and protectors of the land Jats, Bhils, Gujars and Meenas were neglected and lost in the history. ^[4]

Antiquity of Jats in Rajasthan

Jats lived in the Thar Desert since ancient times according to the puranic sources. They were also settled in Sindh and Punjab who migrated to the desert area of Rajasthan from time to time. The Author of the book ‘India of the dark ages’ writes that Jat republics were present in Rajasthan. Rule of Yaudheyas in desert area and naga Jats in Nagaur has been mentioned. ^[5] These republics were there till the rule of Harshavardhana. After the fall Harsha in 647 AD, the Jat republics weakened due to invasions by Mugals, Turks, Muslims and Yavanas. In the sixth and seventh century when new Agnikula clan of Rajputas was created in mount Abu, many of the Jat clans merged in them. Rajput sangha was formed from Gujar clans also. The Jat clans who joined Rajput sangha were termed Rajputs. Jat clans who did not leave the Vedic tradition of widow marriage remained in Jat sangha. Later during Muslim rule, to avoid the excesses by Mugals some of these Rajputs started child marriages of girls and the widow marriages, these groups left Rajput sangha and joined again the Jats and Gurjars. According to the records of Bhats, the rule of Anangapal and Prithvi Raj Chauhan was on these Jat areas of Ajmer, Sambhar, Fulera, and Shekhawati and up to Delhi. After the fall of Prithvi Raj Chauhan, there was no alternative left for these clans except to join the Jat sangha. The large number of common clans amongst Rajputs, Jats and Gurjars indicates that intermixing of clans with these sanghas was a trend at that time. ^[5]

Rule of Yaudheyas Jats in Rajasthan

Yaudheyas are identified with the Jats clan Joiyas or Johiya^[6] of Bahawalpur and Multan Divisions (Pakistan) and Bikaner, Rajasthan (India). Yaudheyas were the rulers of South-Eastern Punjab and Rajasthan. Even today these areas are inhabited by the Johiyas.

Alexander had heard about a very powerful people beyond the river Beas. Arrian describes them as gallant fighters, good agriculturists and having constitutional government. [Ibid.] Though they have not been specifically named, there is little doubt in their being Yaudheyas. ^[7], ^[8] It is said in the Adi Parva of Mahabharata that Yaudheya was son of Yudhishthira by his Shivi wife. ^[9] They find mention in the Sabhaparva of the Mahabharata under different name-Mattamayura. It is said that starting from Khandavapratha Nakul marched towards west and reached Rohitika-beautiful, prosperous and rich in cattle and horses and dear to Kartikeya. He also captured Marubhumi and Bahudhanya. Because these three places had been the chief centres of Yaudheyas and also because Kartikeya finds depiction on the Yaudheya coins, Mattamayura is merely another name for the Yaudheyas. This ancient name is preserved in Jat gotra as Mori, Maur, Mor. ^[10]

It appears that the political power of the Yaudheyas was eclipsed under the Mauryas. But after their decline the Yaudheyas again became politically dominant and had their heydays up to the rise of the Guptas. ^[11]

During the glorious period of the Yaudheyas their neighbours in Rajasthan were Malavas (Jaipur, Tonk, Ajmer), Shivis (Chittor), Matsya (Alwar) and Maukharis (Kota). The Yaudheyas probably formed a confederacy with these and others and, as Atlekar suggests, gave a final blow to the tottering Kushan Kingdom.^[12] The Yaudheya chiefs who bore the titles Maharaja Senapati appear to have been chosen for this purpose by Yaudheya gana. During this period they might have developed some contacts with the Vakatakas, Bharashivas and other Naga families, under the subjugation of the Guptas, they must have developed closure toes with the Guptas. It is probably during these centuries that they absorbed some elements of their neighbours. The Jat Gotra names Malava, Mokhar, Makhar, Machchar, Bharshiv, Nag, Dharan may be understood against this back ground. ^[13]

Pali inscriptions

By the end of fifth and the beginning of the sixth century, their southward migration from Sind, second in line, took place and they reached Kota in Rajasthan, probably via Bikaner regions. From Kota they migrated further east and established their rule at Malwa under the rule of Salichandra, son of Vira Chandra. Salichandra erected a minster (mindra) on banks of the river Taveli in Malwa.

The sixth century Pali inscription (dated samvat 597-56 = 541 AD) mentions the race as Jit. Thus the term ‘Jit’ probably derives its nomenclature after the epithet of the founder of the tribe Jit Salindra. ^[14] According to James Tod, in Rajasthan and Punjab the tribe retained their ancient name Jit. ^[15], ^[16]

Migration of Jats from Sind to Rajasthan

Migration of Jats from Sindh to Rajasthan

As for the migration of Jats from Sind, it may be assumed that natural calamity and increase in population compelled them to migrate from their original abode in search of livelihood.^[17]Hoernle has propounded the 'wedge theory' for the migration of most of the ancient tribes. This wedge theory tends us to believe that the Jats were among the first wave of the Aryans, and their first southeast migration took place from the Nort-West, and established their rule at Sorpur in Multan regions. Further they migrated towards east and stretched their abode from Brahmanabad (Mansura) to Kathiawar. As Jataki, the peculiar dialect of the Jats, also proves that the Jats must have come from the NW Punjab and from other districts (e.g. Multan) dependent upon the great country of the Five rivers.^[18] By the end of fifth and the beginning of the sixth century, their southward migration, second in line, took place and they reached Kota in Rajasthan, probably via Bikaner regions. From Kota they migrated further east and established their rule at Malwa under the rule of Salichandra, son of Vira Chandra. Salichandra erected a minster (mindra) on banks of the river Taveli in Malwa.^[19] Probably after their defeat by Sultan Mahmud in 1027 AD, and later hard pressed by the Ghaznavi Turkish Commander, the Jats of Sind again migrated to Rajasthan and settled themselves in Bundi regions.^[17]The second inscription found at Bundi probably dates from circa samvat 1191 (1135 AD) possibly refers to the Jats as opponents of the Parmara rulers of Rajasthan.^[20]

When Muhammad bin Qasim attacked Dahlilah, a fortified town in between Roar and Brahmanabad, most of the inhabitants (the Jats) had abandoned the place and migrated to Rajasthan via desert and took shelter in the country of Siru (modern Sirohi) which was then ruled by King Deva Raj, a cousin of Rai Dahir.^[21] However, the third migration took place in early eighth century and Jats of lower Sind migrated to Rajasthan, probably via Barmer regions. By the twelfth century, the Jats settled in western Punjab, as the native poet Abul Farj Runi mentions them along with the Afghans.^[17]Meanwhile, they also extended their abode in the eastern part of the Punjab (now Haryana), as in the end of the twelfth century they resisted Qutb-ud-din Aybak in the region of Hansi.^[22]

Jat clans who ruled in Rajasthan

Jat clans who ruled in Rajasthan are:

Balhara, Bamraulia Beniwal, Bhadu, Bhati, Bhukar, Bidiyasar, Bijarnia, Chahar, Dhaulya, Gaina, Garhwal, Gatwal, Godara, Gora, Jakhar, Johiya, Kalher, Kaswan Katewa, Khoja, Khokhar, Kularia, Loyal, Mann, Maurya, Naga, Nagil, Nain, Nehra, Punia, Sahu, Sangwan, Saran, Sihag, Suhag, Sheoran, Sinsinwar,

References

1. ↑ Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992, page-694
2. ↑ Imperial Gazeteer of India v-8,p-22
3. ↑ Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 588.
4. ↑ Dr Natthan Singh, Jat-Itihas, (Jat History), Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad, F-13, Dr Rajendra Prasad Colony, Tansen marg, Gwalior, M.P, India 474 002 2004, page-91
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Sahiram, Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page - 14
6. ↑ Cunningham , A. Coins of Ancient India, London, 1891,pp. 75-76
7. ↑ Brahma Purana, Ch. 13
8. ↑ Harivansha, Ch. 32
9. ↑ Mahabharata ch. 95, 76
10. ↑ Maheswari Prasad, “Jats in Ancient India”:The Jats, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Vol.I, p. 23
11. ↑ Maheswari Prasad, “Jats in Ancient India”:The Jats, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Vol.I, p. 23
12. ↑ A.S. Atlekar and R.C. Majumdar, The Vakataka Gupta Age, p.27
13. ↑ Maheswari Prasad, “Jats in Ancient India”:The Jats, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Vol.I, p. 25
14. ↑ James Todd, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Vol. I, inscription No. I,, pp. 622
15. ↑ Ibid., op. cit., p.88
16. ↑ Dr S. Jabir Raja (AMU), “The Jats of Punjab and Sind”: Their settlements and migrations (c. 5th-12th AD)”, The Jats, Vol. I, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, 2004, p. 54
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1 17.2} Dr S.Jabir Raza, The Jats - Their Role and Contribution to the Socio-Economic Life and Polity of North and North West India. Vol I, 2004, Ed Dr Vir Singh
18. ↑ Richard F. Burton, op. cit., p.246
19. ↑ Inscription No.1, Tod, op.cit., Vol.II, Appendix pp. 914-917.
20. ↑ Inscription No.II, Tod, op.cit., Vol.II, Appendix, pp. 917-919 and n. 13
21. ↑ Chachnama, p.166
22. ↑ Hasan Nizami, Tajul-ma'asir, Fascimile translation in ED, Vol. II, p.218

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