Ram Sarup Joon

Ram Sarup Joon (राम सरूप जून) was a Jat historian of repute from Jhajjar, Haryana. He is author of book History of the Jats.

Early life

He was born at village Nuna Mazrah in Jhajjar district in Haryana.

Ram Sarup Joon writes that ....He started his studies in 1900 AD when he was eleven years old in one of the first schools to be opened in that area.

He had written a book "History of the Jats" in Hindi in 1938 which was translated in English in 1967. The English version was translated from Hindi by his son Lt. Col. Dal Singh, Kumaon Regiment. He was in the Indian army. His son Major Risal Singh was also in Indian army , 3/9 The Jat Regiment, who was commissioned in 1938. His son Major Rishal Singh died on 21 June 1940 in a battle fought against the enemy at the Imphal-Kohima front.

In Army

Ram Sarup Joon writes that ....In about 1935 or 1936, when the British had enough time to forget the services of the Jats, another secret circular was issued to dismiss army men with Arya Samaj views. And this naturally applied to Jats only because there were no Arya Samajis amongst Muslim and Sikhs. At that time I was senior JCO of the Jat Squadron and also officiating Risaldar Major in 19 King George V’s Own Lancers. The Commanding Officer Lt. Colonel R. Dening called me and said, “I want you to give me the names of all with Arya Samaji views. I have full “trust that you will give me a correct list.” I replied. “Sir. I will give you all the names, but you may be disappointed because myself in whom you have full faith, have been a staunch Arya Samaji ever since I joined the Army All the persons in Jat Squadron are Arya Samaji and I am sure most of the Jats in the Indian Army are Arya Samajis. But they are absolutely loyal to the Government. The Commanding Officer said in much anger ‘I didn’t want to hear so much of truth'. His reply to the circular was that there were no Arya Samaji’s in the Regiment.

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Ram Sarup Joon writes that ....In June 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."

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Ram Sarup Joon writes that ....When I joined 5th Cavalry on 1 May 1907, the pay of the foot soldier was nine rupees good conduct increment every third year. ....When I got enrolled I had to deposit Rs.500/- as an advance for getting the horse and the mule. I got saddlery on installments. About four or five soldiers used to get together and do combined cooking.One could use the langar but the cooking was of a very poor standard. With two and a half ears of service I became acting Lance Dafedar. Cuttings increase with the rank and I could save only eight annas at the end of the month. I thought it was not worth serving for and applied for discharge. My Squadron Commander Major Williams used the good old theme on me that Jats didn't join for pay and that I should look forward to becoming the Risaldar Major of the Regiment one day. I stayed on and served for 39 years and 4 months. Thus the saying became truth.

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Ram Sarup Joon writes that ...My son Lieutenant Colonel Dal Singh also contributed to the war efforts in his minor position. He was a Company Commander in 8 Kumaon in Chowkibal area in Jammu and Kashmir.His battalion bore the first burn of the infiltrators and were subjected to major raids on 7th August and 13August 1965. In the latter his CO was killed and 2IC seriously wounded. Major Dal Singh assumed command of the battalion, retrieved a precarious situation, established two important posts dominating Pakistan occupied Kashmir territory and commanded the battalion successfully through a difficult period.

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Major General H.S. Gahlaut was Ram Sarup Joon's Son-in-law, and belongs to village Nangloi in Delhi State. He has been an outstanding sportsman and was Captain of All India Volley Ball team from 11939 to 1942. He served with distinction in World War II and severely wounded in action.

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Pensioner

Ram Sarup Joon writes that ....In March 1947 I also happened to go to the Hamdard Dawakhana, Delhi to purchase some medicines and I happened to go through a Muslim area Having served in army, I did not know what fear was - and carried only a leather covered iron rod in my hand. The Muslim employees of the Dawakhana looked at me with surprise and one of them asked me “Why have you come”. I replied “Just to purchase some medicine.” Then he asked me'; ”You appear to be a servicemen', to which I replied “Yes, I am a pensioner”. Soon came another queries, “Are you alone?" The man then reminded me that those were bad days and that one should not have come after all”. He enquired if I had a revolver with me. I showed them my stuff and said that was the only weapon with me. Then some people collected round me and gave me a chair and asked me what the latest position was in the rural areas-“ and why I should not try to bring about better relations between the Hindus and the Muslims ? " I told them frankly that the Muslims from the urban areas had been led astray by the Muslim League and it would have bitter consequences. The Hindus from the urban areas had been exploiting the rural people and that too was a terrible mistake. The rural population was not afraid of riots. If riots occurred they would plunder ‘both the Hindu and the Muslim capitalists of the towns'. I made it clear to them that they were not afraid of the Muslim daggers.I went on telling them that they had no idea of the vast strength of the rural people who would just butcher the muslims in the towns, that they were only afraid of the bullet of the British Army and the truth was that British were helping the Muslims. Those Muslim employees of Lal Kuan Dawakhana nodded their heads and accepted whatever I had told them. Of course they said that all Muslims were not so bad and they advised me to return home carefully.

Author of Jat history

Ram Sarup Joon was one of the pioneer Jat Historians. His Jat History both in Hindi and English were well received by the reading public. The Jat History [English] by Ram Sarup Joon is available on line at Jatland Wiki History of the Jats.

Edotor note

Ram Sarup Joon served in the British Indian army in World war one. He saw the events leading upto the second war, and the partition of India. When he left the army he wrote his book in 1938 in Urdu which was revised an English version was released in 1967. History of the Jats/Chapter X contains events he himself lived through and provide a unique perspective - of the British duplicity, the Hindu Muslim divide, the Indian National Congress's shortsightedness.

References

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