Jat states in Rajasthan

Jat republics in Jangladesh

Jangladesh was the name of a region of northern Rajasthan state in India. [Jibraeil: "Position of Jats in Churu Region", The Jats - Vol. II, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2006, p. 223] It included the present-day districts of Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh.Fact|date=August 2007 These districts are predominant districts of the Jat people. It corresponds to the former princely state of Bikaner, which was founded in the 15th century and persisted until shortly after India's Independence in 1947. The principal towns of Jangladesh at present are Bikaner, Churu, Rajgarh, Ratangarh and Reni. There is mention of this province in Bhisma Parva of Mahabharata. [ [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06009.htm Bhisma Parva On line] ] At every stage of invasion to India the foreign invaders had to encounter with the Jats of this region. At what period the Jat people established themselves in the Indian desert is not known. By the 4th century they had spread up to Punjab in India. [Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas, 1934, p. 616-624]

The north-eastern and north-western Rajasthan, known by the name Jangladesh in ancient times, [Jibraeil: "Position of Jats in Churu Region", The Jats - Vol. II, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2006, p. 221-223] was inhabited by Jat clans ruled by their own chiefs and largely governed by their own customary law. [Dashrath Sharma, Rajasthan through the ages, Jodhpur, 1966, Vol.I, p. 287-288] Whole of the region was possessed by six or seven cantons namely Punia, Godara, Saran, Sihag, Beniwal, Johiya [James Todd, Annals and Antiquities, Vol.II, p. 1126=27] and Kaswan [Ibid., Seventh clan of Jats] . Besides these cantons there were several clan of Jat people, simultaneously wrested from Rajput proprietors for instance Bagor, Kharipatta, Mohila or Mehila, [James Todd, Annals and Antiquities, Vol.II, p. 1126=27] Bhukar, Bhadu, Chahar. [Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas, Delhi, 2002, p. 269-285] According to History of Bikaner State and by the scholars, the region was occupied by Jat people with their seven territories. It is said about Jat territories that "Saat Patti Sattavan Majh" (means seven long and fifty-seven small territories). [G.S.L.Devra, op. cit., Cf. Dayaldas ri Khyat, Part II, p. 7-10] Following are the main clans and their heads with capital and number of villages in each territory. [Jibraeil: "Position of Jats in Churu Region", The Jats - Vol. II, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2006, p. 222] , [Dr Brahma Ram Chaudhary: The Jats - Vol. II, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2006, p. 250]

Table of Jat republics in Jangladesh:

According to James Todd, during the period of Rathor domination ("intermediate between Timur's and Babur's invasion of India", i.e. sometime between 1398 and 1526) out of total 2670 villages in the Jangladesh, 2200 villages were under the rule of Jat people. ["Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan". (1829-1832) James Tod and William Crooke, Reprint: Low Price Publications, Delhi (1990), Vol.II, Appendix. pp. 1126-1127.] Each canton bore the name of the community, and was subdivided into districts. After Chauhans, Jat people completely established their supremacy and hold over administration in their own traditional fashion, which continued till the conquest of the region by Rathores. [Ibid., p.103] The Jats claimed their right over the land which was under their possession, before the Rathores occupied it and this claim was inherited by their descendants, who used to divide the land among themselves for cultivation. It appears probable that in the early period of their conquest the Rathores could not exercise any definite claim on the land as landlords. However, it was possible only in the 17th century, [Ibid, p.203] due to internal rivalries among Jat people, Godaras surrendered.Later on most of Jat clans in Rajasthan had to accept Rathor's suzerainty in mughal times due to the rathores having made alliance with the mughals. [G.S.L. Devra, op. cit., 7-8, Cf. Dayaldas ri Khyat, part 2, p. 4-5] , [Jibraeil: "Position of Jats in Churu Region", The Jats - Vol. II, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2006, p. 223]

Other republics in Jangladesh
*Bhadu - Bhadus were rulers in Jangladesh where they established an important city Bhadra. Samantraj was a popular ruler of Bhadus. Bhadus had a war with 'Bhagore' people and after capturing it they moved to Marwar area. Bhadus also occupied many villages in Ajmer-Merwara. [Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Delhi, 1934, p. 597]

*Bhati - Jat Bhatis ruled Bhatner, presently Hanumangarh, and Bhatinda. Bhatner was historically important because it was situated on route of invaders from Central Asia to India. [Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Delhi, 1934, p. 601]

*Bhukar - Bhukars were initially settled at Sambhar in Rajasthan. They were the rulers in this area and their ruling method was that of 'Bhomia-chor'. Gothra Bhukaran was their capital.
*Chahar - In the thirteenth century, a Chahar Jat, Raja Maldeo ruled at Sidhmukh in Jangladesh.

*Jakhar - The king of the Jakhar clan, Jakhbhadra, settled in Jangladesh and made his capital at Reni (modern-day Taranagar). Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 594-95. ] At a later date, the Jakhars established a kingdom, the ruins of which are found at Madhauli, which was in the princely state of Jaipur. Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 594-95. ]

*Sangwan - The Sangwan jats ruled at Sarsu in Jangladesh region of Rajasthan in 8th to 10th century.

*Sahu - They have been the rulers of a small republic in Jangladesh. Their capital was at village Dhansia, situated at a distance of 65 km in northwest of Churu town. [Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudee, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998, p.282 ] There were 84 villages in their territory. [GSL Devra, op. cit., Cf. Dayaldas ri Khyat, Part II, pp. 7-10] , [Jibraeil: "Position of Jats in Churu Region", The Jats - Vol. II, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2006, p. 222]

Jat republics in Marwar

*Dhaulya
*Dudi
*Gaina
*Jewlia
*Karwasra
*Kulhari
*Moond

Jat republics in Matsya region

*Katewa

*Khoja

*Vijayrania - Mentioned as Varetatae people of Greek language by Megasthenes were rulers in Khandelawati. Vijayranias founded a village called 'Vijarna' in 1078 and constructed a fort at 'Ladhana' in 1178. One chieftain Jagsingh of this clan founded his rule in Palsana of Shekhawati region in year 1255.

Jat republics in southern Rajasthan

*Jatrana - This is an ancient gotra. According to Kautilya they fought against Alexander the Great. According to Alberuni this hilly place called Chittor ( Jattaur) was the capital of the Jatrana clan. They call themselves descendants of Tur.
*Gora - In ancient times ruled in Ajmer-Merwara, Mewar, and Bundi-Sirohi areas in Rajasthan. They are descendants of Pingala Nagavanshi. [Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998, Page 237 ]

*Ranthambore - It was founded by Ran Mal Jat, by putting a stambh (pillar) at the location of present Ranthambore. He challenged the neighbouring rulers for battle. The area around Ranthambore was ruled by Gora and Nagil jats till two centuries prior to the rule of Prithvi Raj Chauhan. [Thakur Deshraj : Jat - Itihas, 1934, p. 593]

* Sheoran - A branch of Shivi Jats ruled in Malwa and Rajasthan.

* Chandlai - A small republic founded by Jat chieftain 'Chandla'. He got constructed a pucca pond near the village in the name of her daughter ‘Bhala’ and put an inscription on it on baisakh sudi 15 samvat 1027 (970 AD). Chandla was ruler of Tonk at that time. [Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, p.603-604] , [Rajasthan Sandesh, Year 1, Vol 2]

References