The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations/The Origin of Jats from Rajput-Gujar union

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The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations

Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria)

Manthan Publications, Rohtak. ISBN 81-85235-22-8

Chapter IV A:The Origin of Jats from Rajput-Gujar union

Jat-Rajput Union theory ?

The two scholars, N.N. Vasu and V.N. Vasu1 refer to a story which describes the Jats as the offspring of the Rajput-Gujar union. As the story goes, "a Rajput king, fascinated by the health and beauty of a Gujar damsel, married her. The issues of their union came to be known as Jats." This is a fantastic theory. There is no dearth of such anecdotes and fables concocted by the court poets of the Rajput chiefs to degrade the Jats in popular estimation and to glorify their patrons.

Linking Jat Gotras with Rajputs ?

Another such baseless and absurd attempt on the origin of the Jats was recently made by Dr. J.N. Kaushikla1a. The testimony of such tales has neither an independent value nor any historical foundation. with the ascendency of Rajputs in the north-western India, the next attempt of the court bards2 and charans was to link all the important Gotras of the Jat tribes with the Rajputs in order to exalt their lineage and satisfy the ego and arrogance of the de novo created class of rulers in Rajputana. The theory is open to substantial criticism.

Jat-Rajput Union theory disproved

In a patrilineal society, as that of the Rajputs, the progeny of the Rajput-Gujar union might well be called Rajputs and not even Gujars. How, can, then, their issues be called Jats? Philologically also the derivation of the word Jat is impossible from even the compound word Rajput-Gujar. Sufficient historical evidence is at hand to disprove the theory. The Rajputs, as Vincent Smith3 informs us, appeared in the eighth century AD. According to Dr. P. Saran4 the word "Rajput" in its ethnic sense was not used until tenth century AD. Similarly the word Gujar did not appear as such before seventh century AD., whereas there is unassailable evidence of the existence of a Jat ruling dynasty over Kota-Bundi as early as 400 AD.5 During this very period as many as 12000 talented Jats are said6 to have been invited by Bahram Gour to participate in the Iranian national celebrations. Even earlier, A.S. Basum Ansari7 finds the Jats moving up the shores of the Persian Gulf in the 2nd and 3rd ceturies AD. In view of this unimpeachable testimony the Jats, being older, cannot be the issues of the Rajput-Gujar union, who appeared on the Indian historical scene at least four centuries later. Prof. K.R. Qanungo8 also attests that the Jats were the earlier occupants of lands from where they were ousted by Rajputs; from Malwa, Jaisalmer, Bikaner; and Delhi the Jats were displaced by

The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations: End of p.67

the Parmars, Bhattis, Rathors and Tanwars respectively. So with the giveen Proofs of the earlier existence of the Jats In Rajasthan, it is not possible to accept the Vasu brothers' hypothesis. Their attempts are like trying to milk the bull or like putting the cart before the horse.

The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations: End of p.68

Note: See rest part of this Chap at - The Origin of Jat from Ajaat ....68-70

Notes and References

1. Hindi Visvakosa, Vol. VIII, p. 193.
1a. Haryanvi-Hindi Kosh, Haryana Sahitya Academy, Chandigarh, 1985, p.296. When I pointed out to Dr. Kaushik the absurdity of the theory vide my letter no. J. I-88, dated 21.10.88, he apologized for his grave mistake vide his letter no. nil dated 8.11.88 addressed to me.
Similarly, Prof. Teja Singh (a Bania), Janta Colony, Rohtak, author of His theory of Haryana (1974), tendered unconditional written apology to the Gen. Sec. Jat Welfare Association (Regd.) Rohtak for his absurdly wrong remarks at out the Jats in his book.
2. Ami Chand Sharma, Jat Varna-Mimamsa, V. Aihaspur, Distt. Hissar, V.S. 1967.
3. Oxf. His. of Ind., 3rd ed., p. 190.
4. Studies in Med. Ind. His., p. 23.
5. Tod, op.cit., Vol. I, pp. 621-24.
6. McRitchie, David; op.cit., 1976, Delhi, pp. 4-5.
7. Dr. Sigrid Westphal-Hellbusch, op.cit., p. 102.
8. Historical Essays, Delhi, 1960, p. 44.

The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations: End of p.70

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