The Jats - Their Role in the Mughal Empire/Acknowledgment
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The present work owes its origin to the deep impression which Professor K.R. Qanungo's brilliant work, History of the Jats, created on me. Naturally, when I took up research my first desire was to work on the Jats. In this I was fortunate to receive encouragement from and the kind guidance of Dr. Ishwari Prasad, Professor Emeritus, University of Allahabad, the renowned historian who has had a legend of rare eminence for decades. He advised me to concentrate on the dynamic role of the Jats in the history of the later Mughals rather than attempt a narrative of the Jat in the history on the traditional lines. So I did, but I may hasten to add that I have confined myself mainly to the role of the Jats of Bharatpur, although, wherever the Jats of the other places have been referred to in the various original sources and a discussion of their role has been deemed relevant to our theme, they have not been left out.
I am greatly indebted for the valuable help received from diverse sources, institutions and individuals without whose co-operation this work could not have been brought to a successful close.
It is my pious duty to express my sincere thankfulness to my revered supervisor, Professor Ishwari Prasad. Despite his old age and a busy schedule, he allowed me the privilege of writing this thesis at his feet. He has been very kind and affectionate throughout and allowed me to tax him time and again to get the fullest advantage of his erudite scholarship. But for his affectionate patronage, encouragement, guidance and personal interest, this work could not have at all been completed.
I feel it a privilege to express my gratitude to Maharajkumar Dr. Raghubir Singh of Sitamau. He generously provided me the fullest possible facilities to use his rich library.
I am also grateful to Professor S.H. Askari. Inspite of his old age and frail health, he took pains to guide me to the relevant material both in the Khuda Bakhsh Library and in his personal collection and discussed with me many passages from the original sources. Among the valuable material which he made available to me, I must here
make a pointed reference to his personal typed copy of the translation, [1] of lqbalnama, which he had prepared for publication.
I shall be failing in my duty if I do not allude to the encouragement and scholarly guidance which I have received from Professor Satish Chandra, Professor K.A. Nizami and Professor Irfan Habib. Prof. Nizami was extremely kind in providing me all possible help during my stay in Aligarh. No less kind were Dr. Paramatma Sharan and Dr. Ganda Singh, who took great interest in my studies and always extended relevant information whenever I made a request. I must also express my gratitude to Professor Lallanji Gopal, Dr. G.D. Bhatnagar and Dr. C.B. Kapoor, who have given me much of their precious time going through my script and suggesting valuable improvements. Had it not been for their personal interest and affectionate help, the work could not have been submitted in its present form.
I also owe deep gratitude to Chowdhary Richhpal Sing, ex Secretary, All India Jat Maha Sabha, Shri Jagdeo Singh Sidhanti, President, Sarva-Khap Panchayat, Chowdhary Qabul Singh, Secretary Sarva-Khap Panchayat and Mr. Mahendra Singh Varma for placing at my disposal the documents of Jat history collected by them, some of which have not been used earlier. At one time or the other they also took the trouble of accompanying me to Jat areas for the collection of Jat traditions and the Sakhas.
For their sympathetic help in providing me the necessary facilities for work, I am also thankful to the librarians and the staff of the British Museum Library, India Office Library, R.S. Library, Sitamau, Khuda Bakhsha Library, Patna, Bharatpur State Museum Library, Hindi Sahitya Samiti Library, Bharatpur, Public Library, Bhartpur, B.H.U. Library, M.UA. Library, Shibli Academy Library, Azamgarh, Kashi Vidyapith Library, ete.
Of my well-wishers, who have been of valuable help to me I would like to make a special reference to Dr. WK. Lele, Reader in Marathi, B.H.U., Dr. H.C. Nayyar, Head of the Urdu Dept., B.H.U. and Miss Asha of Mauritius, who have helped me in utilising, the Marathi, Persian and French sources respectively. Dr. Mrs. K. Gopal, Shri M.P Singh and Shri PN. Saksena took great pains for me and deserve my thanks.
I shall never forget the debt of Professor S.M. Tiwary, Dean Faculty of Commerce and Business Management, B.H.U. (my uncle-in-law) and Mr. K. C. Tiwary (my brother-in-law) who have worked for me very hard indeed.
1. I may be excused for striking a very personal note here. When Prof Askari suggested to me the Ms. of Tarikh-i-Bharatpur, [1] be remarked that Sir Jadu Nath Sarkar had asked him to utilize that Ms. for his research studies on the Jats. Prof Askari added that he was happy on my taking up the subject and making a suitable use of the Ms.
I. This work is written by Anand Rai - Editor