PDA

View Full Version : R S Joon- military exploits of the Jats- 1



ravichaudhary
July 12th, 2004, 02:55 AM
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JatHistory/message/1544


Joon- military exploits of the Jats- 1

History of the Jats - R S Joon, (1938, 1968, Delhi)

CHAPTER XIII - Military Exploits of Jats



Jats, Ahirs, Gujars and Rajputs are the four chief martial races of
India. The Jat race, as has been proved earlier, is the oldest of
these and gave birth to the others. Jats have inherited a brilliant
record of warfare and warfare is now in their blood. Agriculture has
kept them strong. Protection of their cattle from thieves and wild
animals has kept up their bravery. Tales of heroism of their
ancestors have kept up their spirit.




Jats make the finest soldiers. They are fearless and loyal. They are,
however, sensitive and require firm and fair leadership. These
qualities have been recognized by all high ranking British and Indian
Army Officers who had an occasion to command Jat troops. As Officers
Jats have shown outstanding qualities of leadership during world war
II and in all actions fought by Indian Army after independence, thus
disproving the earlier British notion that although they produced
good soldiers, the Jats lacked the qualities of becoming Officers.


To quote General KM Cariappa from the foreword of this book he
says "During my service in the Army I had on many occasions Jats
soldiers and Jat units under my command. Their sense of duty, loyalty
to the country, their efficiency as soldiers and their bravery as a
class were all of the highest order. I have happy memories of these
in these fine sons of our soil".




In Jun 1951, I with my friend Risaldar Harnarain Singh had gone to
Dehradun to see the passing out parade of my son Dal Singh. General
K.S. Thimmaya who was the Commandant, addressing a Nepalese Minister
present there, said "I have served with Jats since 1927. What
impressed me most was their ability to retain their sense of humour
in the most adverse circumstances. Their numbers were increased in
the Army as a result of their exceptional performance during the
first World war."





Major Kingsley a famous Jat squadron commander of the 19th K.G.V.O.
Lancers used to say that Jats respect a strong Commander and cannot
stand a weakling, however popular he may try to become. The biggest
punishment for a Jat is to pardon him.




In 1934, during the reunion of 19th Lancers, Major Mostyn Owen
complained to Risaldar Major Honorary Captain Inder Singh that he was
harassed by the indiscipline of Sikh Squadron. Inder Singh retorted
that a weak commander could never succeed with Sikhs and he would
recommend to the CO (Commanding Officer) to change the CO. The major
apologized.



At least a score of present Jat gotras participated in the
Mahabharata. The Jats fought grim battles against Alexander the
Great in the 3rd century BCE. In the 5th century CE under the
leadership of the Jat Raja Yashodharman, Jats gave a crushing defeat
to the Huns.





The Jat army of Harsh Vardhan conquered the whole of Northern India.




Mahmud Ghazni tasted defeat at the hands of Jats and they beheaded
Muhammad Gauri.




The Jats resisted the invasions of Babar and Timur and the excesses
of later Muslim rulers. It is written on page 214 of Chandra
Vidyalankar's book of history that when Nadir Shah was returning from
the plunder of Delhi, the Jats way laid him and looted the property
back.




It is on record of Jat Sarv Khap that when Timur was watching the
massacre of Delhi hillock near Raisina, Ranbir Singh, a warrior of
Gulia Jat Gotra could not bear it. He took a dagger, single handed he
crept close to Timur and pounced on him. He was killed by Timur's guard
but left a behind a record of unparalleled bravery.



The Jat army of Bharatpur holds the rare record of never having being
defeated by the British forces.


See the files action for extracts for most of his book

mbamal
July 12th, 2004, 04:35 AM
gr8 info...No one messes with a Jat!!

varuntomar
July 12th, 2004, 09:22 AM
that new photograph was a pleasant surprise mandeep