Chahar (clan)

Chahar (चाहर) also known by variations like Chahad, Char and Chaharag, is a gotra or clan of Jats in India. People belonging to this clan are found in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Chahars are said to have originated from the Chola Rajput dynasty of south India.^[1]

History

Raja Chahar Dev was the ruler of Narwar fort in Gwalior region at the end of 13th century. It is said that the name of the Chahar Jat clan comes from this king. Coins of Chahar Dev are found in the region with "Asawar Sri Samant Dev" marked on one side and the figure of a king riding a horse on the other side.

Later Chahar Dev was defeated and killed by Muslim invaders. After this, his descendents moved to Brij Bhumi (i.e. Agra-Mathura) region of Uttar Pradesh. Many of the Chahar jats are still found in this region, see below. After some more years, one group of his descendents moved to Matsya region of Rajasthan and another group moved to Jangladesh region, also of Rajasthan. Till today this is the geographic configuration and distribution of the Chahar Jat population.

In all these areas (that is Agra/Mathura, Matsya and Jangladesh) the Chahar Jats became important among the peasant communities and were Choudharies or village headmen. They often served as the important assistants, darbaris and officers of the big Rajput rulers and the Muslim and British overlords. There are many stories of the loyalty and courage of the Chahar village headmen. The Muslim rulers of north India would award the office of Faujdar to people who had responsibility of protecting some territory. Chahar Jats have served as Faujdars in the past, just like some other clans including Sinsinwar, Sogarwar and Kuntal.

Maldev, father of Somadevi, is an important figure and all Chahars are proud of him. Sometime in the 15th century, Maldev was the Chaudhary (village headman) of Sidhmukh village in Jangladesh (the area around Bikaner). He was a vassal of the Bhati Rajput ruler of Jaisalmer. He gave a tough fight to a Muslim army which was returning to Delhi after plundering Jaisalmer. The chief of the Muslim army wanted to take away Maldeo's daughter, Somadevi, as a booty of war. Maldeo refused to surrender his daughter to the Muslim invader. He gave tough fight but was killed and Somadevi was forcibly taken away. Remaining members of Maldeo's family migrated to the Jhunjhawati region.

Distribution in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is the main area where Chahar Jats are found. They are mainly concentrated in the districts of Jaipur and Sikar.

• Jaipur city and surrounding district: Localities/villages of Ambabari, Brahmpuri, Galta Road, Gandhi Nagar, Ganesh Colony (Khatipura), Harijethi ka Chowk, Jawahar Nagar, Kartarpura, Murlipura Scheme, Sanganer, Tonk Road and Yagyashala ki Bawri.
• Sikar district: Sikar city, Sutot, Bujianau, Sewa ki Dhani, Vijaypura (Rulyanimali), Panana, Gordhanpura, Fatehpura, Dhahar ka Bas, Kerpura, Kashi ka Bas, Dhani Motipura, Dholasari, Srimadhopur, Vijaypura (Fagalwa), Bodala (Kotari Luharwas), Vijaypura (Sihot Badi).
• Churu district: Thathawata, Bagsara, Dhani Chhoti Chahara Wali, Charwas, Chhoti Tirpali, Paharsar.
• Hanumangarh district: Sangaria, Dabadi, Bolanwali, Ganeshgarh, Mallarkhera, Ratanpura, Saliwala.
• Jodhpur district: Basni
• Bharatpur district: Bharatpur city, Nagla chahar, Bhara Rekh Pura.
• Chittorgarh district: Chanderia
• Jalore district: Jalor city
• Jhunjhunu district: Pabana, Chaharon ka Baas, Charawas, Goth, Kuhadu ka Baas (Mandawa), Lutoo, Bakra, Bhurasar ka Bas, Rijani, Samaspur
• Sawai Madhopur district: Gangapur City, Kherda
• Dholpur district: Dholpur city.

Distribution in Uttar Pradesh

Within Uttar Pradesh, Chahar jats are found mainly in Agra district. A few villages in Mathura and Bareilly districts also have some population of Chahars.

• Agra district: Villages of Jarua Katra, Kuthaoli, Bhandai, Baad, Beri Chahar, Bishehara, Gaharra, Gharhi Jaitu (Murkiya), Kagarol, Khallauwa, Rithori, Mankenda and Tikari.
  • Chahar Pal region: One of the most prominent concentrations of people belonging to the Chahar clan lies in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh state. This area is known as Chahar Pal region or Chaharwati. It comprises 242 villages, which are spread across the tehsils of Agra, Fatehabad and Kheragarh,^[2] all within Agra district. The main villages are Akola Agra, Veri, Jengora, Ramnagar Agra, Kakua, Kuthaoli, Lauria, Vaiman,Sarsa,Arhera,Jindpura,Ghadi Nandu,Akhabai,Shital Kund,Chekora,Heeraman Ngar,Rojhauli,Malikpur,Jegara,Salembad,Teekri,Jajau, Chahar Basairi and Bhandai.^[3] This is a very large Khap and it has produced many great leaders.
• Bareilly district: Chahar Nagla village
• Mathura district: Dhana Teja village

Distribution in Madhya Pradesh

• Bhopal district
• Sehore district
• Shivpuri district
• Harda district
• Nimach district
• Gwalior district: Birlanagar
• Ratlam district: Ratlam city, Berchha, Mundari, Namli, Bilpank, Chikliya, Delanpur, Kalori Khurd, Kanser, Narayangarh Sailana.

Distribution in Haryana

• Bhiwani District: Ghasola, Samaspur, bharvi.
• Sirsa District: Jhittikhera
• Jhajjar district: Silani
• Hissar District: Banbhori, Sandlana, Chhana
• Sirsa District: Kaluana, Sahuwala
• jind District: Bagru Khurd, RamGarh

Distribution in Punjab

• Hoshiarpur district: Chahar village in Garhshankar tehsil
• Nawanshahr district: Chahar Mazara village in Nawanshahr tehsil
• Sangrur district: Chhahar village in Sunam tehsil.
• Rupnagar district: Two villages both having the same name, which is Chahar Majra. One village of this name is in Anandpur Sahib tehsil and the second village of the same name is in Kharar tehsil. Both tehsils are within Rupnagar district.

Notable persons of the clan

• Captain Bhagwan Singh, IAS and Indian High Commissioner to Fiji. He hailed from village Jengora.
• Ajay Singh, former High Commissioner of India to Fiji and Tuvalu.
• "Sumit Chahar", a 12th class student from,village Silani, Jhajjar, Haryana has cleared NDA ssb and also have been selected for computer science program in one of worlds best Universities(University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign ranked no. 4 all over world for computer science).
• DEVRAJ SINGH ex-directeral general of indian army

Further reading

• Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi). Published by Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934.
• Newsletter of the Jat Samaj, Agra. Issues of January 2000, February 2000 and November 1999.

References

1. ^ Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudee, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar. Adhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998 p.242
2. ^ Jat Bandhu, Agra, April 1991
3. ^ Dr Ompal Singh Tugania, Jat Samuday ke Pramukh Adhar Bindu, Agra, 2004, p. 15