Delhi

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Delhi was the site of the magnificent and opulent Indraprastha, capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata, founded around 5000 BC. Hindu texts state that the city of Delhi used to be referred to in Sanskrit as Hastinapur, which means "elephant-city". A village called Indraprast existed in Delhi until the beginning of the 19th century. The British demolished the ancient village to make way for the construction of New Delhi in the late 19th century. Archaeological evidence suggests that Indraprastha once stood where the Old Fort is today. Excavations have unearthed shards of the grey painted ware (c. 1000 BC) that some archaeologists associate with the age of the Mahabharata, but no coherent settlement traces have been found.

The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya Period (c. 300 BC); since then, the site has seen continuous settlement. In 1966, an inscription of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (273-236 BC) was discovered near Srinivaspuri. Two sandstone pillars inscribed with the edicts of Ashoka were later brought to the city by Firuz Shah Tughluq in the 14th century. The famous Iron pillar near the Qutub Minar was commissioned by the emperor Kumara Gupta I of the Gupta dynasty (320-540) and transplanted to Delhi during the 10th century.

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Delhi was founded by Jats

  • According to BS Dhillon the naming of Delhi has been done after Dhillon Jats.
  • Professor Qanungo has written, "It is not unlikely that this famous city derives its name from the Dhillon Jats, who are still found in large numbers in Delhi district".
  • Bhim Singh Dahiya also supports Qanungo's assertion by adding, "Its (Delhi's) old name was Dhillika as is recorded in the inscription of Someswara Chauhan, in 1169 A.D. Later on the suffix "ka" was deleted and the city was named Dhilli".
  • A well known Indian historian, Romila Thapar, indirectly said that Delhi in the earlier times was called "Dhillika".
  • As per Ferishta, a Persian writer of the early seventeenth century; "---Dehloo (Dhillon in Punjabi is pronounced as "Dhilon" or "Dhilo") the uncle of the young king, aided by the nobles, having deposed him, ascended the musnud. This prince, as famous for his justice as for his valour devoted his time to the good of his subjects, and built the city of Dehly".
  • General Sir A. Cunningham, Director-General of the Archeological Survey of India, conducted a comprehensive study in 1860s and published his report in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
  • Sir Cunningham wrote,"According to a popular and well known tradition, Dilli or Dhilli (Delhi) was built by Rajah (king) Dilu or Dhilu, whose date is quite uncertain. This tradition was adopted by Ferishta. I confess, however, that I have but little faith in the dates of any Hindu traditionary stories, unless they can be supported by other testimony. That the city Dhilli was founded by a Rajah of similar name is probable enough, for it is the common custom in India, even at the present day, to name places after their founders". Taking all of the above factors into consideration, and being aware of the fact that in India, non-Jats never have clan names such as Dhilu, Dhilo, or Dhillon, it is probably safe to conclude that the city of Delhi was built by a Dhillon Jat king and also Dhillon Jats claim their origin from a king as per Rose."

Jat rulers of Delhi

According to Thakur Deshraj the descendants of Maharaja Yudhisthira have ruled here for many generations. ‘Satyarth Prakash’ has mentioned the chronology of rulers of Indraprastha. The author of ‘Rajtarangini’ and editor of ‘Haripriya’ have published this list in their books. In this list there appears the name a king a ‘Jiwan’ descended from ‘Virmaha’. ‘Waqyat panch hajar risala’ has mentioned him as ‘Jiwan Jat’. Maharaja Jiwan ascended to the thrown of Delhi prior to 481 BC. He ruled for about 26 years.

Chronology of Jat rulers of Delhi

Satyartha Prakash by Swami Dayanand Saraswati has published a list of Aryan kings of Delhi. [1]Raja Virsalsen was killed by Raja Virmaha. His 16 generations ruled Delhi for 445 years, 5 months and 3 days. Thakur Deshraj has given the details of thse Pandavavanshi Jat rulers.[2] The chronology of these Jat rulers is as under:

  • Raja VirMaha (817 BC - 800 BC)
  • Mahabal or Swarupbal (800 BC-744 BC)
  • Sarvdutt or Swarupdatt (744 BC-708 BC)
  • Virsen (708 BC-668 BC)
  • Singdaman or Mahipal (668BC-624 BC)
  • Kalink or Sanghraj (624 BC-595 BC)
  • Jitmal or Tejpal (595 BC-515 BC)
  • Kaldahan or Kamsen (515 BC-506 BC)
  • Shtrumardan (506 BC-481 BC)
  • Raja Jiwan (481 BC-455 BC)
  • Virbhujang or Hari Rao (455 BC- 424 BC)
  • Virsen II (424 BC- 389 BC)
  • Udaybhat or Adityaketu (389 BC - 372 BC)

According to Risala their period has been prescribed as under – Mahabal ascended to the throne of Delhi in 800 BC. At that time the ruler of Ujjain city in India was Buddha and Bahmanshah was ruler in Persia. After Mahabal, Sarvdutt or Swarupdatt ascended to the throne of Delhi in 744 BC. During this period Tamisang was born to Ladkun in Khata. Maharaja Virsen became the ruler in 708 BC when Darashah I was ruler of Iran. In 668 BC Maharaja Mahipal ascended to the throne of Delhi. He was so brave that he was popular as Singhdaman. During his regime Kastap had become the ruler of Iran. After death of Singhdaman, Kalink or Sanghraj sat on the throne in 624 BC. Raja Jitmal ascended to throne of Delhi in 595 BC. Kaldahan or Kamsen became ruler of Delhi in 515 BC. His rule extended up to Brahmpur which was known as Kamyvan (Kaman) after Kamsen. In 506 Strumardan became the ruler of Delhi after Kamsen. Thakur Deshraj has worked out the year 481 BC, when Raja Jiwan ascended to the throne of delhi. Maharaja Jiwan became the ruler of Delhi in 478 BC. During the rule of Maharaja Jiwan, one Persian delegation had come to India which studied the conditions of India by visiting various places. After Maharaja Jiwan, Virbhujang or Hari Rao, Virsen II, Udaybhat or Adityaketu were three Jat rulers of Delhi till 372 BC. Adityaketu lost his throne to his own Chieftain Dharandar or Dhaniswar due to conspiracy.

Thus Jats ruled Delhi for about 445 years.Raja Jiwan and his descendents were Pandav vansi. The rule of Delhi went to other people after 27 generations of Yudhidthira. After them Jogi, Kayastha, Pahadi and Vairagi people ruled Delhi. Vikramaditya was also a ruler of Delhi during this period.

Jat villages in Delhi

Aauchand, Adhchini, Bakkargarh Bakkarwala, Bawana, Bharthal, Bijwasan, Chirag Delhi, Deenpur, Dhansa, Dichau, Hamid Pur, Hiran Kudna, Jind, Kair, Kanjhawala, Kapasedha, Katwaria Sarai, Kutabgarh, Ladosarai, Majra Dabas, Mitraon, Mubarak Pur, Mukhmail Pur, Mungesh Pur, Munirka Najafgarg, Nangli Poona, Nangloi, Palam, Pooth Kalan, Pooth Khurd, Rang Puri, Ranikhera, Rasoolpur, Shahpur Jaat Siraspur, Sultanpur Majra Tikri Kalan,

References

  • Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934.
  • Dhillon, B. S., History and Study of the Jats, Beta Publishers, Canada, 1994.
  • Bhim Singh Dahiya : Jats the Ancient Rulers, Dahinam Publishers, Sonepat, Haryana
  • Bhim Singh Dahiya: History of Hindustan: Dahinam Publishers, Sonepat, Haryana, (Translated from Persian by Alexander Dow, ESQ. Edited by B.S.Dahiya)
  • History of the Jats : Contribution to the History of Northern India (Upto the Death of Mirza Najaf Khan, 1782)/Kalika Ranjan Qanungo. Edited and annotated by Vir Singh. Delhi, Originals, 2003, xiv, 226 p., $12. ISBN 81-7536-299-5.

External links

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