Educational Institutes
The spread of the Arya Samaj had a very significant impact on education in the region. Prior to this, there was little education among the Jats. Most traditions and narratives were passed on verbally.
Much of the spread of education resulted from the establishment of gurukuls, which were especially influencial in Rohtak. The gurukul in Matindu was established by the Dahiyas in 1914 and the one in Bhenswal by the Maliks in 1919.
The gurukul at Matindu was situated about 17 miles southwest of Rohtak, near the market town of Kharkhoda. The manager of the gurukul was Master Piru Singh Dahiya, himself a man of little schooling. The boys' education there was strongly imbued with asceticism and the doctorines of the Arya Samaj. In 1919, it had forty six students. Education was free, and the institution was maintained by levies in kind imposed at harvest time on the Jat peasants of the neighbourhood. In addition, travelling collectors raised subscriptions from various Jat regiments. The chief of their squad was Piru Singh.
The gurukul Jhajjar was founded (on the outskirts of Jhajjar) by Mahashaya Bishembar Das, Swami Parmanand and Swami Brahmanand in 1924. Interestingly, these gurukuls were not affiliated with gurukul Kangri, but were independent. Set up during the first world war, they emphasised guru-bhakti (reverence for the teacher) and the virtues of manliness through exercises, particularly in the akharas - ideals which formed a part of pre-existing religious culture and were also central to the Arya Samaj.
The assertion of the Jats through education incensed the dominant Hindu literati and also hurt muslim sentiments. Colonial officials and missionaries perceived the gurukuls as a fundamental threat to proselytization and th christian education in the region.
Piru Singh succeeded in forging close links with prominent Jat lawyers, notably Sir Chhotu Ram and Lal Chand, who were actively promoting recruitment to the army and strengthening their ties with the imperial authority in southeast rural Punjab. The Jats challanged the established educated Hindu elites through community institutions such as Jat Schools, which were run by the Jat Educational Board abd the Jat Association.
The Jat Association was founded in Rohtak in 1913. Its aim was 'the advancement of the jat community'. This was followed by the establishement of the Jat Educational Board. Chaudhary Baldev singh took the initiative in establishing the Jat Vedic School in Rohtak in 1913.
Arya Pathshalas were established within a 3 kos (mile) radius from villages, offering primary education. The Jat families made regular donations to boarding houses, gurukuls, pathshalas ans schools. these institutions created a community spirit through priti bhojans, jalsas and shastarths.
These schools and gurukuls played a dual role. On one hand, they defied the hegemony of the educationally superior castes and thwarted the progress of conversion and western education. On they other hand, they promoted political quietism and social conservatism.
Back to History