Everything about Jats totally explained
The
Jat people (
IAST: Jāṭ,,, ), are an
ethnic group of people native to mainly the
Punjab region of
Northern India and
Pakistan that have attributes of an
ethnic group,
tribe and a
people.
The Jat people are considered by some to be the merged descendants of the original
Indo-Aryans and a later addition of
Indo-Scythian tribes of the region, merging to form the Jat people. Others conclude a native
Indo-Aryan lineage on the basis of ethnological, physical and linguistic standards. The Jat people of India and Pakistan are not to be confused with the peripatetic Jats of
Afghanistan, who are a distinct ethnic group.
The Jat people have a discrete and distinct cultural history that can be historically traced back to ancient times.
People
The Jat people are an ethnic people spread over
Northern India and
Pakistan (mainly the Punjab region) including large populations living in the
EU,
US,
Canada,
Australia and
UK. Historically, most
South Asians have been farmers and even today
(two-thirds) 66% of Indians are farmers. The Jat people have traditionally been no different to other
South Asians and have been mainly agriculturalists
(landlord farmers) and members of the military as soldiers and officers serving in the
Jat Regiment and most other regiments in India & Pakistan. However, in modern times
(last 40 years) they're mainly a
professional class for example Doctors, engineers, politicians and etc. The Jat Regiment is one of the longest serving and most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. Historically, there have been many Jat kings and other leading figures in history. The Jat people have also produced many prominent politicians and political leaders in Pakistan & India including
(Choudhary Charan Singh, Chaudhary Bansi Lal, Chaudhari Devi Lal and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi). This includes many
Senators/
ministers in the
US and
Canada, including the American State Senator from
Minnesota,
Satveer Chaudhary (the first South Asian state senator in American history).
People Demographics
The
census in 1931 in India recorded population on the basis of ethnicity. In 1925, according to
Professor Qanungo the population of Jats was around nine million in South Asia and was made up of followers of three major religions as shown below:
Professor B.S. Dhillon, states by taking population statistical analysis into consideration the Jat population growth of both India and Pakistan since 1925, Professor Quanungo's figure of nine million could be translated into a minimum population statistic (1988) of
30 million.
According to Hukum Singh Pawar (Pauria), adequate statistics about Jat people population are available in the Census Report of India of 1931, which is the last and the most comprehensive source of information on the Jat people, who were estimated to be approximately ten million in number at that time. From 1931 to 1988 the estimated increase in the Jat people population of the Indian subcontinent including Pakistan respectively is 3.5% Hindu, 3.5% Sikh and 4.0% Muslim. Dr Sukhbir Singh estimates that the population of Hindu Jats, numbered at 2,210,945 in the 1931 census, rose to about 7,738,308 by 1988, whereas Muslim Jats, numbered at 3,287,875 in 1931, would have risen to about 13,151,500 in 1988. The total population of Jats was given as 8,406,375 in 1931, and estimated to have been about 31,066,253 in 1988.
The region-wise break-up of the total Jat people population
(including the Jat Hindu, Jat Sikh and Jat Muslim) is given in the following table. The Jat people, approximately 73%, are located mainly in the
Punjab region:
| Name of region |
Jat Population 1931 |
Jat Population 1988 |
Approx
Percentage |
| Punjab region |
6,068,302 |
22,709,755 |
73 % |
| Rajasthan |
1,043,153 |
3,651,036 |
12 % |
| Uttar Pradesh |
810,114 |
2,845,244 |
9.2 % |
| Jammu & Kashmir |
148,993 |
581,477 |
2 % |
| Balochistan |
93,726 |
369,365 |
1.2 % |
| NWFP |
76,327 |
302,700 |
1 % |
| Bombay Presidency |
54,362 |
216,139 |
0.7 % |
| Delhi |
53,271 |
187,072 |
0.6 % |
| CP & Brar |
28,135 |
98,473 |
0.3 % |
| Ajmer-Marwar |
29,992 |
104,972 |
0.3 % |
| Total |
8,406,375 |
31,066,253 |
100 % |
Military and politics
A large number of Jat people serve in the
Indian Army, including the
Jat Regiment,
Sikh Regiment,
Rajputana Rifles and
the Grenadiers, where they've won many of the highest military awards for gallantry and
bravery. Jat people also serve in the
Pakistan Army especially in the
Punjab Regiment, where they've also been highly decorated. The Jat Regiment is an
infantry regiment of the
Indian Army, it's one of the longest serving and most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment has won 19 battle honours between 1839 to 1947 and post independence 5
battle honours, eight
Mahavir Chakra, eight
Kirti Chakra, 32
Shaurya Chakras, 39
Vir Chakras and 170 Sena medals
Major
Hoshiar Singh of Rohtak won the
Paramvir Chakra during Indo-Pak war of 1971.
Rohtak district, which has a high density of Jat people, has the distinction of producing the highest number of
Victoria Cross winners of any district in India.
Traditionally they've dominated as the political class in Punjab.
A number of Jat people belonging to the political classes have produced many political leaders, including the 6th
Prime Minister of India,
Prime Minister Choudhary Charan Singh. Moreover, there have been many Jat Kings and warriors throughout history.
Origin
Several scholars, including
Alexander Cunningham, B. S. Dhillon,
James Tod and
Bhim Singh Dahiya, believe that the Jats are the merged descendants of the
Indo-Aryans living in the Indian subcontinent and a later addition of
Indo-Scythians from
Central Asia.
Others scholars, including
E. B. Havell, KR Qanungo,
Sir Herbert Risley, C.V.Vaidya, and
Thakur Deshraj, advocate a native
Indo-Aryan lineage on the basis of ethnological, physical and linguistic standards.
The
Sinsinwar Jat people rulers of
Bharatpur have been recorded as
Yadav by Prakash Chandra Chandawat.
The Hindu mythological account in
Deva Samhita traces the origin of Jats to
Shiva's locks (see
Origin of Jat people from Shiva's Locks).
The Jat people of India and Pakistan are not related with the peripatetic Jats of
Afghanistan, who are a distinct ethnic group.
Etymology of the word Jat
Central Asian and
Gothic word "Jaet".
G. C. Dwivedi writes that the Persian
Majmal-ut-Tawarikh mentions Jats and
Meds as the descendants of Ham, living in
Sind on the banks of the river
Bahar. S.M. Yunus Jaffery believes that the Jat people have been
mentioned in Shāhnāma, a well-known
Persian epic.
Ancient Jat kingdoms
Professor K.R. Kanungo writes that when
Muhammad bin Qasim invaded
Sind, the
Kaikan region in
Sind was in independent possession of Jats. The first Arab invasions in the region were repelled by the Jats.
According to
Thakur Deshraj and Cunningham, the Jats of the
Panwar clan ruled
Umerkot in Sind prior to Mughal ruler
Humayun.
Thakur Deshraj also mentions that the Susthan region in Sindh was ruled by Chandra Ram, a Jat of
Hala clan. Chandra Ram lost his kingdom (known as Halakhandi) to the Muslim invaders sent by
Muhammad bin Qasim.
There is no information of any important Jat state in a period of two centuries following
Kushan rule. However, in the beginning of
fifth century, there's evidence of the Jat ruler
Maharaja Shalinder ruling from "Shalpur" (the present-day
Sialkot); his territory extended from
Punjab to
Malwa and
Rajasthan. This is indicated by the Pali inscription obtained by
James Tod from village
Kanswa in
Kota state in year
1820 AD.
Medieval period
Rajasthan. The
Bikaner region (then known as
Jangladesh) in the
desert region of Western India was dominated by the Jats. At what period the Jat people established themselves in the Indian desert isn't known. By the 4th century they'd spread up to
Punjab in India. The small Jats in this region were inhabited by Jat clans ruled by their own chiefs and largely governed by their own customary law.
There were several small Jat rulers in North India. These included
Garhwals of
Garhmukteshwar,
Kaliramnas (who ruled near
Mathura),
Khirwars of
Brij and
Narsinghpur,
Nauhwars (who ruled the area surrounding the Noh lake area near
Mathura), the
Koīls of Kampilgarh (the area that's now
Aligarh), the
Halas, the
Kuntals, the
Pachars, the
Thenuas, the
Toouts, and the
Thakureles.
The Jats also dominated the
Malwa region, under rulers like
Harshavardhana,
Shiladitya,
Singhavarma,
Vishnuvardhan, and
Yasodharman.
Rise of Jat power after 1699
In 1699, the Jats of
Gokula region around
Mathura rebelled against the powerfule Mughal rulers (see
1669 Jat uprising). The rebellion was essentially the result of the political provocation aggravated by the economic discontent, and further aggravated by the religious persecution and discrimination.
In the disorder following Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Jat resistance resumed, organized under the leadership of
Churaman (1695–1721). Churaman's nephew,
Badan Singh (1722–1756), established a kingdom centered at
Deeg, from which he extended his rule over Agra and Mathura.
Badan Singh's eldest son and successor,
Maharaja Suraj Mal (1707–1763), extended his kingdom to include
Agra,
Mathura,
Dholpur,
Mainpuri,
Hathras,
Aligarh,
Etawah,
Meerut,
Rohtak (including
Bhiwani),
Farrukhnagar,
Mewat,
Rewari and
Gurgaon. He has been described as one of the greatest Jat rulers. Suraj Mal moved the capital from
Deeg to
Bharatpur in 1733.
Rustam, a Jat king of the Sogariya clan, had laid the foundation of the modern city of Bharatpur. During the
British Raj, the princely state of Bharatpur covered an area of 5,123 sq.km, and its rulers enjoyed a salute of 17 guns. The state acceded unto the
dominion of India in 1947.
According to
Cunningham and
William Cook, the city of
Gohad was founded in 1505 by the Jats of Bamraulia village, who had been forced to leave Bamraulia by a
satrap of
Firuz Shah Tughluq. The Gohad later developed into an important Jat state, and was later captured by the
Marathas. The Jats of Gohad signed a treaty with the British and helped them capture
Gwalior and Gohad from the Marathas. The British kept Gwalior with them and handed over Gohad to Jats in 1804. Gohad was handed over to the Marathas under a revised treaty dated
22 November 1805 between the Marathas and the British. As a compensation for Gohad, the Jat ruler Rana
Kirat Singh was given
Dhaulpur, Badi and Rajakheda; Kirat Singh moved to
Dhaulpur in December 1805. After Maharaja Suraj Mal,
Maharaja Jawahar Singh,
Maharaja Ratan Singh and
Maharaja Kehri Singh (minor) under resident ship of
Maharaja Nawal Singh ruled over
Agra Fort.
Genetics
A recent study of the people of Indian Punjab, where about 40% or more of the population are Jats, suggest that the Jat people are similar to other populations of the
Indus Valley. The study involved a
genealogical DNA test which examined single
nucleotide polymorphisms (mutations in a single DNA "letter") on the
Y chromosome (which occurs only in males).
Jats share many common
haplotypes with
German,
Slavic,
Baltic,
Iranian, and
Central Asian groups. It found Jat people share only two haplotypes, one of which is also shared with the population of present-day
Turkey, and have few matches with neighbouring
Pakistani populations. This haplotype shared between the two Jat groups may be part of an
Indo-Aryan (or
Indo-European) genetic contribution to these populations, where as the haplotypes shared with other
Eurasian populations may be due to the contribution of Indo-European
Scythians (
Saka,
Massagetae) or White
Huns.
Jat people are considered a
Forward class in the vast majority of states in India, with a few exceptions in a small number of areas were they're
Other Backward Class (OBC). In Rajasthan, the Jat people are classified as OBC, except in
Bharatpur and
Dhaulpur districts. In
Rajasthan the Jat people are a wealthy and rich section of society but the
BJP in 1999 in order to win their votes gave them OBC for political reasons. Some specific clans of Jats are classified as OBC in some states. Eg. Muslim Jats in
Gujarat and Mirdha Jat people (except Muslim Jats) in
Madhya Pradesh. Land reforms, particularly the abolition of
Jagirdari and
Zamindari systems,
Panchayati Raj and
Green revolution, to which Jat people have been major contributors, have immensely contributed to the economic betterment of the Jat people.
Adult franchise has created enormous social and political awakening among Jat people. Consolidation of economic gains and participation in the electoral process are two visible outcomes of the post-independence situation. Through this participation they've been able to significantly influence the politics of north India. However since demise of
Charan Singh and
Devi Lal and rise of
OBC and
BSP their influence is on decline. Economic differentiation, migration and mobility could be clearly noticed amongst Jats.
Life and culture of Jat people
The
Life and culture of Jats is full of
diversity and approaches most closely to that ascribed to the traditional
Aryan colonists of India. The Jat lifestyle was designed to foster a
martial spirit. Whenever they lost their kingdoms, Jat people retired to the country-side and became landed barons and the landlords with their swords girded round their waists. In the government of their villages, they appear much more democratic. they've less reverence for hereditary right and a preference for elected headmen. In Punjab, the Jats usually eat meat, especially goat meat. Punjabi Jat people are also fond of spinach with cornflour roti. However, food habits within individual families can be completely different so no major specific food habit can be given for millions of Jats. Mathura's Jat people are pure vegetarian. Their Foods are Dal, Milk Ghee, Matha, Bajri ki rootia and etc. A portion of Jats consider non-vegetarian food undesirable but many of Jats, and particularly the ones who belonged to the martial/warrior stock and defied Brahmin orthodoxy, usually took it (non-vegetarian food) quite liberally for example it's part of regular diet for Jat Sikhs as also segments of Warrior clan Hindu Jats now scattered in parts of Haryana and U.P. who formed part of erstwhile Jat royalty/aristocracy/nobility. No doubt meat consumption was essential for sustained war fare and only the purely agrarian Jats of peaceful farming habits who didn't have much to do by way of taking to martial ways and adversities of wars, could remain purely Vegetarian. In some proportions it can be said that the incidence of meat consumption increases directly with the influence/dominance levels exerted by a particular regional grouping of Jats during medieval /aristocratic periods for example It is particularly high in areas of Punjab (including modern day Haryana) where the king was a Jat and is almost non existent in areas of Rajasthan (except Bharatpur and Dholpur where Jat king was est.) whereby it may be noted that the social condition of Rajasthan (except as stated) Jats wasn't very high in pre-independence days.
Jat people Organizations
The Jats have always organized themselves into hundreds of patrilineage
clans,
Panchayat system or
Khap. A
clan was based on one small gotra or a number of related
gotras under one elected leader whose word was law. The big Jat clans now are so big that individual in them are only related to each other by individual that lived typically hundreds years ago. Mutual quarrels of any intensity could be settled by orders of Jat elders. In times of danger, the whole clan rallied under the banner of the leader. The Jat
Khap or Panchayat "system is territorial and highly democratic.
District and a number of
Khaps form a '
Sarva Khap' embracing a full province or state. Negotiations with anyone were done - at '
Sarva Khap' level.
In addition to the conventional
Sarva Khap Panchayat, there are regional
Jat Mahasabhas affiliated to the
All India Jat Mahasabha to organize and safeguard the interests of the community, which held its meeting at regional and national levels to take stock of their activities and devise practical ways and means for the amelioration of the community.
The
Association of Jats of America (AJATA) is the main Jat people organization of
North America. It performs as the main body, forum and lobby for Jat people issues in
North America.
The
North American Jat Charities (NAJC) is one of the main Jat people Charities of
North America. It performs as a charity for the welfare Jat people in
North America.
Social customs of Jat people
The only criterion of superiority is age. The Jat people are ethnically and culturally required to marry within their community. With the advancement of modern
civilization, as people are becoming less dependent upon and more tolerant towards each other, the joint family system is going out of vogue. It is still prevalent in the less advanced areas.
Religion
Jat people are followers of many faiths. Today they follow
Hinduism,
Islam, and
Sikhism. As per
Indian caste system Jat people are classified in
Hinduism as
Kshatriyas.
Language
Jat people usually speak
Hindi and its dialects (
Rajasthani,
Haryanvi,
Malvi),
Punjabi and its dialects,
Urdu,
Dogri,
Sindhi or
Gujarati.
Sikh and
Muslim Jats from the Punjab mostly speak
Punjabi and its various dialects (such as
Maajhi,
Malwi,
Doabi,
Saraiki,
Pothohari, and
Jhangochi). (See -
Haryanavi Language
&
Rajasthani_Language)
List of Jat People Clans
The Jat people clan names are unique in South Asia. However, some of their clan names do overlap with the Rajputs and Gujars.
List of Jat Clans have been compiled by many Jat historians like Ompal Singh Tugania, Bhaleram Beniwal
Dr Mahendra Singh Arya and others,
Thakur Deshraj,
Dilip Singh Ahlawat, Ram Swarup Joon etc.
The above lists have more than 2700 Jat gotras.
Thakur Deshraj,
Ram Swarup Joon and Dilip Singh Ahlawat have mentioned history of some of Jat gotras. Some websites of Jats have also prepared list of Jat Gotras with details of history and distriburion.
Famous Jat people
The Jat people have produced famous personalities in all the fields of life such as Rajas, Politicians, Generals, Administrators, Actors, Freedom fighters, Reformers, Technocrats, Players, Industrialists and Businessmen.
Jats in popular culture
- The "Jat Lancer" is a mercenary Indian cavalry unit in the Age of Empires.
Maula Jat is one of the most popular films in the history of Pakistani cinema. It has been described as a kind of Pakistani/Western style movie, the story mostly revolves around the clashes between Maula Jat.
Many Punjabi songs are written around evey day life of Jat people.
The 1975 Hindi film Pratigya had a popular song Main Jat Yamla Pagla shot on Dharmendra a Jat himself and acted as a Jat person role in the film.
Ghulami (1985), Indian Hindi movie by Dharmendra, focuses on the caste and feudal system in Rajasthan and a rebellion started by Dharmendra, as a Jat youth, against the Jagirdars.
Veer Tejaji is a Rajasthani language movie, based on the life of Tejaji, made in the 1980’s. It shows the life of Jat people and their position in the society in eleventh century.
Heer Ranjha is one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab. It tells the story of the love of Heer and her lover Ranjha. Heer Saleti is an extremely beautiful woman, born into a wealthy Jat family of the Sials clan. Ranjha (whose first name is Dheedo; Ranjha is the surname), also a Jat, is the youngest of four brothers and lives in the village 'Takht Hazara' by the river Chenab.
Photo gallery
Image:Charansing.jpg|Jat people: The Sixth Prime Minister of India Choudhary Charan Singh.
Image:Devilal.jpg|Jat people: Former Deputy Prime Minister of India Chaudhari Devi Lal.
Image:Dhanna Bhagat.JPG|Jat people: Dhanna Bhagat.
Image:GurdasMaanLiveInConcertWembleyArena2007.jpg|Jat people: Gurdas Maan.
Image:PRMaderna.jpg|Jat people: Parasram Maderna.
Image:Mansukh Ranwa.jpg|Jat people: Mansukh Ranwa.
Image:Mahendra Singh Tikait.jpg|Jat people: Mahendra Singh Tikait.
Image:Maharaja Kisan Singh.jpg|Jat people: Maharaja Kishan Singh.
Image:Raja Ram.JPG|Jat people: Raja Ram Jat.
Image:Drgssirohi.JPG|Jat people: Dr. Giri Raj Singh Sirohi.
Image:K Natwar Singh.jpg|Jat people: former Indian Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh.
Image:Daulatram Saran.jpg|Jat people: Daulatram Saran.
Image:Kumbharam Arya1.jpg|Jat people: Chaudhari Kumbharam Arya.
Image:Dr Natthan Singh.jpg|Jat people: Natthan Singh.
Image:Sardar Singh Agre.JPG|Jat people: Sardar Singh Agre.
Image:Maharaja Jawahar Singh.jpg|Jat people: Jawahar Singh.
Image:Gugera War of independence.jpg|Jat people: Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal.
Image:Swami Omanand.jpg|Jat people: Swami Omanand Sarswati.
Image:Justice Mahavir singh.jpg|Jat people: Justice Mahavir Singh.
Image:Raja Mahendra Pratap.jpg|Jat people: Raja Mahendra Pratap.
Further Information
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