Jats Perspective on the Origin of Rajputs
The “Rajput” (from Sanskrit raja-putra, "son of a king") is just an attractive and fascinating title, purposely created by the Arab invaders, and it is not a pool of clans of a particular race that was born naturally. The entire concept embodied in the term “Rajput” contradicts the ancient concepts and standards of the Indian Arya basic social system of clans and classes (Castes). Indian Arya clans are just based on apical ancestors thus title, city (region), language, and Guru-ship based clans or such artificial sub-clans have no existence in Arya society at all. The terms “Rajput” and “Rajasthan” were introduced by the foreigners in the early medieval period thus these terms are not mentioned anywhere in Sanskrit literature, and ancient history of India, or else it must be commonly used across the subcontinent. However, the usage of the term Rajput mainly confined to a specific region that was not previously known as Rajputana and Rajasthan. The historian John Keay in his book, India: A History, stated that the Rajputana name was coined by the British. Before that Rajasthan was known as Gurjaratra and Jangladesh. Interestingly, at the time of Mahabharata this state/region was known as Matsya Desh and Muchakunda Tirtha.
The Arab Muslim invaders divided Jats to create social-political space by introducing a new fake ethnic pool known as Rajput to prolong their rule in the occupied areas of India. Mostly, the inferior and materialistic clans jumped in that pool to get at least some share in power. There is nothing free in this world so the Arab invaders used the so-called superior clans as instrumental in suppressing the Sindhis and to keep Jat and Gujjar clans away from them. From that point of time enmity between Jats & Rajputs, and Gujjars & Rajputs started and that still persists. Later, British invaders
[p.2]: very smartly meddled to muddle the history and minds of the readers to attain their objectives. However, neither British rulers nor Rajput historians can rationally explain the origin of the Rajputs, thus it is still an interesting subject of debate. Let’s see the following four main theories on the origin of the Raptus.
1. Foreign Origin Theory of Rajputs
2. Mixed Origin Theory
3. Kshatriya Theory of Origin
4. Agnikula Theory
The Foreign Origin Theory of Rajputs says that they are descendants of the races like Sakas, Kushanas, Hunas, etc. The theory mainly rely on the argument that Fire was the main deity of the Sakas and Hunas and the Rajputs are also fire worshipers and in many other things the Rajputs resembles more or less these foreign tribes thus it can be inferred that Rajput migrated from the foreign lands. This theory was supported by Dr. VA Smith, Col. James Todd, and William Crooks etc.
Mixed Origin Theory was propagated by Dr. DP Chatterjee. It says that some Rajputs are descendants of local Aryans while others are descendants of foreign races such as Hunas, Sakas, Kushanas, etc.
The foreign and mixed origin theories were not acceptable to Gauri Shankar Ojha, Ved Vyas, and Vaidya. Therefore, in 1926 Gauri Shankar Ojha a Rajasthani historian rushed to protect their identity by introducing A Theory of Descent from Kshtriya Heroes. The theorist says that Rajputs rulers of Mewar, Jaipur and Bikaner are pure Aryans and are descendants of the Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi dynasties of the Kshatriyas. Furthermore, they say that they have physical resemblance with the Aryans and most of their customs also look like the documented Arya customs.
[p.3]: Agnikula theory came from the Prithvirajroso of Chandarbardai. According to this theory, Rajputs were the result of Yoga performed by Hrishi Vashistha at Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu. The four Rajput clans form Agnikunda (Agni: fire, & Kunda: energy Shape) are Chauhan, Chalukya, Parmaras, and Pratiharas. Now, it is also theorized that all the Rajput clans were born from that fire to avoid complications and to give an impression as if it is a gene pool.
The foreign origin theory was not supporting the Aryan Invasion theory thus the Mixed Origin Theory was propagated by adding Aryans in the list of invading races like Sakas, Kushanas, Hunas etc. This was so unnerving for some Rajputs so they came up with Kshatriya Theory of Origin while relying on the history of the ruling families of Mewar, Jaipur and Bikaner. The Kshatriya Theory of Origin mainly relies on the history of ancient Hindu Arya clans so it was not covering the non-Aryan races so some desperate Rajputs capitalized the 1042 C.E. years’ old myth of Agnikunda to prove their different origin. However, that myth does not run deep in history as compare to the history of Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi clans. Furthermore, the embedded concept of ajanama in Agnikula theory clearly conflicts with the Vedic teachings and the principles of Dharma or natural law. If they go for Agnikula theory then they cannot established their link with Aryans at all. Interestingly, the more Rajput apply their minds on this subject the more they entangle in the mesh of contradictions and confusions.
Now let me shed light on some interesting Rajput clans such as Khan-zada and Rai- zada, having Persian suffix “zada” that also means son of. Perhaps, the ruling class of Arab-Iranian sayyid zadas influenced the aforementioned clans that they rushed to amalgamate the Persian word “Zada” with their surnames to get supplementary respect. This needless amalgamation of Persian language in the family names further shows the artisan of human mind that on one hand, discloses the age of the clans and on the other hand, it unveils the materialistic mentality.
[p.4]: The term Khanzada means son of a Khan, but no rational explanation has been given by the Rajput historians, from where the Khan Sahib born in Rajputs and why it is considered as a clan in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Nepal, and Sindh instead of a Rajput community of the converted Muslims. Each Khanzada clan in different states has its own vague tradition as to when they converted to Islam and they originally belong to which clan. The community that claims to be the first to convert to Islam are the Dikhit Khanzada Rajput of Banda District in UP, claims to have been converted at the hands of Mohammad Ghori thus they also call themselves Ghori Dikhit. Interestingly, in Bihar, the Khanzada clan is also known as Diwani Pathans. In Persian, the term “divan” means a royal court. The royal courts of Pathans in Bihar bestowed the title and status of Pathan to the Rajput converts thus they are known as Diwani Pathan Rajputs. Now a simple logical question arises here that how come their conversion can change their clans or family names? Why it cannot be considered a wicked and tricky move first to establish close ties with Pathans /Khans invaders then to mix-up with them by converting to their faith to gain their limited share in power. After considering their trend and logic you may agree, if the British rule continues in India, then today you may find Jhon-zada or Christ-zada Christian Rajput community in India.
Now from Bihar I take you to Himachal Pradesh to make you acquaint with another Rajput clan known as Pathania. Pathania (please carefully note that it’s not Paithania) is a clan that claims to be a branch of the Tomars of Delhi. Pathania clan says that they derived their clan name from Paithan today known as Pathankot. Pathania clan claims that they had established a small kingdom of Nurpur in Himachal Pradesh during the 11th century and ruled it until 1849. Like all other Rajputs, this city/region based clan is also misleading and boasting about its origin and rule. The true fact is that Paithan (not Pathankot) was referred by Mughals in Ain-i-Akbari as pargana headquarter not as a semi-independent state. Mughal used mercenary Pathan clans such as Marwat, Khattak, and Yusufzai etc and they built a fort (Kot/Qila) from the kingdom’s funds later known as Pathankot (it means fort of Pathans) and the area
[p.5]: was a small administrative division of Mughals that had a largest timber market of Asia at that time. After the fall of Mughals the entire region became part of the Sikh Jatt Empire that ended in 1849. Let’s see some statistics of “The census of India, 1931” to ascertain the truth. The total Rajput population of Gurdaspur district was just 91,459 of which Muslims numbered 56,668 that is 62% of the total Rajput Population.
According to “The Census of India, 1911” the main Rajput clan of Pathankot was Bhatti and Sulehria that has a population of 3673 and 1907 respectfully. However, Pathania is the weakest Rajput Clan in Tehsil Pathankot as well as in the entire district that had a population of just 71 persons. Sometimes the fact is not digestible because of the size of the myth and over rated history of the Rajput clans.
Anyway, there is another interesting Rajput clan in Uttar Pradesh. The Urdu speaking Rohilla Pathan Rajput is the largest Pashtun community in India. Aurangzeb awarded the Katehar region in Uttar Pradesh to the mercenary Daud Khan and his adopted son Ali Muhammad Khan Bangash soon after their arrival in that region (in 1705). The Rohilla Pathan Rajputs has seventeen interesting sub-groups, Marwat, Durrani, Naghar, Ghorghushti, Ghori, Kakar, Yousafzai, Barakzai, Mohammadzai, Wazir, Orakzai, Daudzai, Ghilzai, Mohmand, Afridi, Barech, and Khalil. They also prefer to marry communities of similar social status such as Mughals, Rajputs, and Shaikh. According to “The Census of India, 1901” the Pashtun population of Bareilly district was 40,779, while the total population was 1,090,117. This is one out of the best Rajput examples of dragging sense out of nonsense.
Ghakar/Gakhar Pathan Rajput clan in Punjab and KPK claims to be the descendants of Bahram V, the Sassanid ruler of Persia. They arrived in the Potohar region as Persian settlers after the invasion of Sasanians in 565 CE. Due to the geographic location of Ghakar/Gakhar stations they prefer to play on both sides of the wickets by claiming their Pathan Persian origin as well as their Rajput origin or status. Despite the above mentioned historical fact, Ghakar is considered to be a prominent Rajput clan in Punjab.
[p.6]: Chandravanshi Bhatti are Yadus/Yadav, native to Khyber Pakhtonkhawa and North- West Punjab. After the rise of Kushana, the Bhatti clan moved from Ghazni to central, eastern and southern Punjab, northern Sindh and Jaisalmer as well. Thus, the clan’s head is in central Punjab where they are known as Jats and its tail in Jaisalmer where they enjoy Rajput status, even though they joined the Rajput club at belated stage. This reflects Rajput is an artificial and multi ethnic pool of clans and its doors are always open for new comers.
The martial clans of Punjab continuously fought the invaders thus it always remained under the direct rule of the invaders. Because of that struggle the richest region Punjab had lost several thousand ancient Mandirs and forts. If they had adopted the Rajputs’ strategy then they could at least convert their forts into hotels to glorify their past that would have several examples of inter-religious royal marriages alliances with the invaders to protect the material and political interests instead of the dignity. Mostly the size of Rajput princely states, especially in Rajasthan are equal to present day tehsil or district in Punjab thus their small barred states were technically unable to resist the invaders. An Indian General rightly sum-up by saying that Rajputs are brats and opiated knights that did not take any pain to lead from the front and lost all major wars. That’s why, throughout the timeline they had a consistent compromising policy that even reflects through their architecture that has the Arab, Persian, Mughal, and British influence. The symbols of Rajput states do not run deep in past as it also clearly reflects the influence of symbols used by the British Government in India. On the contrary, an Arya Punjabi, from either varna is a focused, hardworking, and dedicated person, that achieves success or faces loss but does not give up on his persistence. A feature very similar with the Germanic people and also the Slavs of Eastern Europe. Look at the history of Punjab, how many times it is been destroyed but you would never see Punjabi falling for being a victim mentality but the region rises again from the ashes of war, stronger than before.
[p.7]: Also the Jats were good cavalry men, most Jat households had a few heads of mares that served all the utilitarian purposes, from farm work, commute, sports, and war, just like the Irish, and Germanic people, they did not have many servants but took care of their mount and felt pride in their livestock. Based on similarities of other Arya people of Europe, they are famous for being hard workers and brave warriors, in fact they are best at whatever they do. Similarly if you see the Sikh in the west, in short time of a 100 years, they dominate their respective fields in their respective regions. Neither my ancestors nor other powerful Jat clans of the fertile lands of India ever desired to jump into the artificial pool of Rajputs. Interestingly, the might of Jats reflects through its powerful and dominating several thousand clans, each clan generally clustered in native tribal belt mostly comprised over several hundred villages, and each village is founded by their ancestors whom the clan still adore to attain spiritual growth and satisfaction, whereas the concept is exactly opposite in Rajputs that’s why one cannot name more than five to seven Rajput clans without big pauses.
Furthermore, Jat sub-clans believe in egalitarianism as their Arya ancestors did because it’s a matter of blood and genes. Whereas, Rajputs believe in elitism as it is all about material and wealth. The more a Rajput attain material the more impressive title he prefers to use such a Rana, Rao, Rai, Rai Sahib, and Raja etc.
The Sanskrit term Gotra refers to the people who are descended of a male lineage from a common male ancestor therefore the “Gotra / Clan” term is antagonistic to the concept of surname based on profession, language, region, and guru ship. In other words, the term “gotra” itself does not give any room for fallacy classification of group of people on the bases of title, profession, language, area, and guru-ship. Reverting to the main topic, the term gotra and the embedded concept in the term Rajput is antagonistic to each other. The Hindu concept of Varnas (Castes) and Gotras (clans) are two different concepts; the former is changeable whereas the latter is unchangeable. The Rajput mythologies are ridiculing the Arya dharma and Indian
[p.8]: history yet the native Indians including Brahmans, Jats, Marathas, Gujars, and others are tolerating it for no sane reason. At least one must ask why do Rajput last names are mostly son of or related to titles? Did their tribes or clans only evolve form coming into power?
The British officers in India smartly drafted their official reports and Gazetteers having double edge blades that effectively severed the administrators in the past and is still paving the way for their rule in future by disintegrating major martial ethnic groups such as Jats. Nowadays, these official records are considered to be an authentic historical records of different ethnic groups. Anyway, apparently some confusing and minute dents in their writings are misleading many of us, for example, they stated that clans in north (Punjab) migrated from south (Rajasthan) and vice versa then further they tried to inculcate the notion that major Jat clans have Rajput origin. The myth of Rajput origin and their over rated history is discussed above just to foil the conspiracy in good time.
References:
1- History of Ancient India: Earliest Times to 1000 A. D. By Radhey Shyam Chaurasia,
page 193 -195
2- The Census of India, 1931JATS’