- Jat Kingdoms in Medieval India
The
Jat people of India had numerous kingdoms during medieval to modern times.The Jat Uprising of 1669
The Jat uprising of 1669 under
Gokula in region around Mathura occurred at a time when the Mughal government was by no means weak or imbecile. [Girish Chandra Dwivedi, The Jats – Their role in the Mughal empire, Ed by Dr Vir Singh. Delhi, 2003, p. 15] In fact this period of Aurangzeb’s reign witnessed the climax of the Mughal Empire. [J.N.Sarkar, History of Auranzeb (Calcutta): 1912, I, Introduction, XI-XIII] , [F.X. Wendel, Memoires des Jats, 10] during the early medieval period frequent breakdown of law and order often induced the Jats to adopt a refractory course. [J.N. Sarkar, History of Auranzeb (Calcutta): 1912, I, Introduction, XXVIII f.] But, with the establishment of the Mughal rule, law and order was effectively established and we do not come across any major Jat revolt during the century and a half proceeding the reign of Aurangzeb. [Girish Chandra Dwivedi, The Jats – Their role in the Mughal empire, Ed by Dr Vir Singh. Delhi, 2003, p. 15]Historians have generally ascribed the said Jat rebellion to Aurangzab’s religious discrimination and the oppression of local officers. [K.R. Qanungo, History of Jats (Calcutta: 1925), p. 34] , [U.N.Sharma, Itihas, p.88] . [
Thakur Deshraj , Jat Itihas, p. 629] These, however seem to have been the contributory causes but neither the sole nor the dominant factors which precipitated the revolt. The real cause of the Jat rebellion of 1669 lay deeper than have been assigned to it so far. [Girish Chandra Dwivedi, The Jats – Their role in the Mughal empire, Ed by Dr Vir Singh. Delhi, 2003, p. 15]The Jat rebellion of 1669 was essentially the result of the political provocation aggravated by the economic discontent and set ablaze by the religious persecution. [Girish Chandra Dwivedi, The Jats – Their role in the Mughal empire, Ed by Dr Vir Singh. Delhi, 2003, p. 25]
Once their combined efforts proved fruitful under later leaders and bright future prospects appeared ahead. Their circumstantial union assumed a little fixed character. Consideration of common benefit might also have been instrumental in leading the tribal and democratic Jats to prefer, accept and finally adopt the institution of kingship. To such circumstances may be traced the genesis of the Jat state of Bharatpur and the eventual emergence of the principalities of
Patiala ,Nabha andJind which were the Jat republicans until India's independence. [Bingley, Sikhs, p. 12]The rise of Jat power
The rise of Jat power has always taken place against tyranny, injustice, economic and social exploitations and was never overawed by claims of racial or tribal superiority. They have always stood in ancient as well as medieval times like rock in the face of invaders seeking to ravage the motherland. Whenever the occasion arose they beat their ploughshares into swords and taking advantage of decrepit political structure, they laid the foundations of political power under several tribal chiefs. [Preface by Ram Niwas Mirdha in G.C. Dwivedi’s, The Jats, Their role in the Mughal Empire, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2003]
They have shown in all times – whether against Sultan
Mahmud of Ghazni , or againstNadir Shah andAhmad Shah Abdali – the same propensity to fall upon the rear of a retreating army undeterred by the heaviest odds, or the terror-inspiring fame of great conquerors. When encountered they showed the same obstinate and steady courage unmindful of the carnage on the field or of the miseries that were in store for them after defeat. [Qanungo, Jats,30] , [G.C.Dwivedi, The Jats, Their role in the Mughal Empire, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2003, p.11-12]In 1669 this race of warrior-agriculturists, the Jats, rose against the narrow and over-centralised despotic regime of
Aurangzeb . The Jat power under the leadership ofChuraman took a big leap forward during the rule of the imbecile successors of Aurangzeb. [G.C.Dwivedi, The Jats, Their role in the Mughal Empire, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2003, p.55-56]Gohad
According to the "Rajputana Gazetteer", the
Jagir of village Bamrauli nearAgra , was transferred to the Chauhan and Kachwaha Rajputs of Bairath (nearAlwar ), during the rule of theTomar Rajputs inDelhi in the 11th century. DuringFiruz Shah Tughluq 's regime, hissatrap in Agra, Muneer Mohammad, forced the Jats of Bamrauli to leave the village in 1367. The Bamraulia Jats moved to the region of Gwalior beyond the Chambal river. According toCunningham andWilliam Cook , the Bamraulia Jats founded the city ofGohad near Gwalior in 1505. Later it developed into an important Jat State that continued till Indian Independence. The Jat rulers of Gohad were awarded the title ofRana . Singhan Deo was the first Jat ruler of the state of Gohad. The chronology of Jat rulers of Gohad has 17 names: Singhan Deo I, Singhan Deo II, Devi Singh, Udyaut Singh, Rana Anup Singh, Sambhu Singh, Abhay Chander, Ratan Singh, Uday Singh, Bagh Raj, Gaj Singh, Jaswant, Bhim Singh,Girdhar Pratap Singh ,Chhatar Singh ,Kirat Singh . In 1708 the Bhadauria forces under Umara-i-Uzzam Maharajadhiraj Sriman Maharaja Mahendra Gopal Singh of Bhadawar invaded and annexed large parts of the state after defeating Rana Bhim Singh,including the fort of Gohad. Gohad remained a part of Bhadawar state till 1738.The British Government concluded a treaty with Jats and with their help defeated
Maratha s and won backGwalior andGohad from them. The British kept Gwalior with them and handed over Gohad to Jats in 1804. [Dr. Ajay Kumar Agnihotri (1985) : "Gohad ke jaton ka Itihas" (Hindi), p.63]Gohad was handed over to Marathas under a revised treaty dated
22 November 1805 between Marathas and Britishers. Under this treaty Gohad ruler RanaKirat Singh was givenDhaulpur , Badi and Rajakheda in exchange with Gohad. RanaKirat Singh moved toDhaulpur in December1805 . [Dr. Ajay Kumar Agnihotri (1985) : "Gohad ke jaton ka Itihas" (Hindi), p.71] Sindhias could take over Gohad on27 February 1806 with the help of Britishers. Thus theRana Jat rulers ofBamraulia gotra ruled Gohad for 300 years from1505 -1805 . [Dr. Ajay Kumar Agnihotri (1985) : "Gohad ke jaton ka Itihas" (Hindi)]Dholpur
The present town of Dholpur, which dates from the 16th century, stands somewhat to the north of the site of the older town built in the 11th century by Raja Dholan (or Dhawal) Deo, a Tomara Rajput chieftain; it was named as Dholdera or Dhawalpuri after him.Modern research says in 10 th century Jats took over the control of Dhaulpur.Before jats The Yadav were rooler in buddha time.After that Tomer of Gwaliar Win Dhaulpur but Jats remain there Emperor.
In 1450, Dholpur had a Raja of its own. However, the fort was taken by
Sikander Lodi in 1501 and transferred to a Muslim governor in 1504. In 1527, after strenuous resistance, the fort fell toBabur and came under the sway of the Mughals along with the surrounding country. It was assigned by EmperorAkbar to the province of Agra. A fortified "sarai " built during the reign of Akbar still stands in the town, within which is the fine tomb of Sadik Mohammed Khan, one of his generals.During the dissensions which followed the death of emperor
Aurangzeb in 1707, Raja Mahendra Kalyan Singh Bhadauria of Bhadawar obtained possession of Dholpur. His family retained it until 1761, after which it was taken successively by the JatMaharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur; by Mirza Najaf Khan in 1775; by theScindia ruler of Gwalior in 1782; and finally, by theBritish East India Company in 1803. It was restored by the British to the Scindias under the "Treaty of Sarji Anjangaon", but in consequence of new arrangements, was again occupied by the British. Finally, in 1806, the territories of Dholpur, Ban and Rajakhera were handed over to Kirat Singh of Gohad, in exchange for his own state of Gohad, which was ceded to the Scindias.From this point begins the history of the princely state of Dholpur, a vassal of the British during the Raj. After Independence, it was incorporated into the newly-formed state of
Rajasthan .Bharatpur
In the disorder following Aurangzeb's death in
1707 , Jat resistance resumed, organized under the leadership ofChuraman (1695 –1721 ). The Jat power under the leadership ofChuraman took a big leap forward during the rule of the imbecile successor ofAurangzeb . Aurangzeb left behind a host of serious problems for his weak successors to deal with people highly agitated like Jats. [G.C.Dwivedi: The Jats, Their role in the Mughal Empire, EdDr Vir Singh , 2003, p.55] Churaman's nephew,Badan Singh (1722 –1756 ), established a kingdom centered atDeeg , from which he extended his rule over Agra and Mathura.Badan Singh 's eldest son and successor wasMaharaja Suraj Mal (1707 –1763 ) . Suraj Mal, described as the "JatPlato " and the "Jat Ulysses", extended his kingdom to includeAgra ,Mathura ,Dholpur ,Mainpuri ,Hathras ,Aligarh ,Etawah ,Meerut ,Rohtak ,Farrukhnagar ,Mewat ,Rewari andGurgaon . He was described as the greatest warrior and the ablest statesman that the Jats had ever produced. The author of Siyar says, Suraj Mal had in his stable twelve thousand horses, mounted by so many picked man, amongst whom on horseback and then wheeling round in order to load under shelter, and these men had by continual and daily practice become so expeditious and so dangerous marksmen, and withal so expert in their evolutions, that there were no troops in India and could pretend to face them in the field. Nor was it thought possible to wage war against such a prince with any prospect of advantage. [Siyar IV, p. 28] , [K.R. Qanungo, History of the Jats, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2003, p. 97]Suraj Mal moved the capital from
Deeg to Bharatpur after 1733.Rustam , a Jat king of the Sogariya clan, had laid the foundation of the modern city of Bharatpur. After him, control passed to his son,Khemkaran and then to Suraj Mal. Khemkaran was a warrior. He was awarded with the title "Faujdar ", which is still used by all Sogariyas. The beautiful palace and gardens at Deeg and the Bharatpur fort, both built by Suraj Mal, symbolised the coming of age of the Jat state. Suraj Mal died on 25 December, 1763.The chronology of
Sinsinwar Jat clan rulers of Bharatpur is as under:Gokula (? - 1670] ,
Raja Ram (1670 - 1688),Churaman (1695 - 1721),Badan Singh (1722 - 1756),Maharaja Suraj Mal (1756 - 1767),Maharaja Jawahar Singh (1767 - 1768),Maharaja Ratan Singh (1768 - 1769),Maharaja Kehri Singh (1769 - 1771),Maharaja Nawal Singh (1771 - 1776),
Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1776 - 1805),Maharaja Randhir Singh (1805 - 1823),Maharaja Baldeo Singh (1823 - 1825),Maharaja Balwant Singh (1825 - 1853),Maharaja Jashwant Singh (1853 - 1893),Maharaja Ram Singh (1893 - 1900) (Exiled),Maharani Girraj Kaur (1900-1918) (regent),Maharaja Kishan Singh (1900 - 1929),Maharaja Brijendra Singh (1929-1947) (Joined the Indian Union)During the
Raj , the state covered an area of 5,123 sq.km. Its rulers enjoyed a salute of 17 guns. The state acceded unto thedominion of India in 1947. It was merged with three nearby princely states to form the 'Matsya Union', which in turn was merged with other adjoining territories to create the present-day state of Rajasthan.Kuchesar
In the mid-eighteenth century the
Dalal Jats of Mandoti,Haryana , built the mud fort ofKuchesar in Uttar Pradesh.Mud fort of kuchesar famous for tourism now a days.Ballabhgarh
The founders of the princely state of
Ballabhgarh wereTewatia Jats, who had come from village Janauli, which is more than 2000 years old. TheTevatia Jat Sardar Gopal Singh left Janauli in1705 (inPalwal ) and got settled at Sihi, a village of Tewatia Jats in Ballabgarh at a distance of about 5 km from Ballabhgarh. Charan Das's son, Balram Singh, rose to a powerful king in this dynasty. Princely state of Ballabgarh is after his name. He was brother in law ofMaharaja Suraj Mal and mama ofJawahar Singh .Raja Nahar Singh (1823 –1858 ) was a notable King of this princely state. The forefathers of Jat Raja Nahar Singh had built a fort here around 1739 AD. The small kingdom of Ballabhgarh is only 20 miles from Delhi. The name of the Jat Raja Nahar Singh will always be highly regarded among those who martyred themselves in the 1857 war of independence.Patiala
Patiala was a state ofSiddhu Jats ancestry in Punjab. [History of the Jatt Clans - Dr H.S Duleh.] [ [http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=824 A Gateway to Sikhism | Historical Sikh Events: Phulkian Misl - A Gateway to Sikhism ] ] Its area was 5932 sq. mile and annual income Rs 1,63,00,000/-. The rulers of the erstwhile states of Patiala,Nabha andJind trace their ancestry to Jat sardar Phul of Siddhu ancestry. [Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998 ] Apparently the appellation of dynasty "Phulkian" is derived from their common founder. One of sons of Phul, Ram Singh had son Ala Singh, who assumed the leadership in 1714 when Banda Bahadur was engaged in the fierce battle against the Mughals. Ala Singh carved out an independent principality from a petty Zamindari of 30 villages. Under his successors, it expanded into a large state, touching the Shivaliks in north, Rajasthan in the south and upper courses of the Yamuna and Sutlej rivers while confronting the most trying and challenging circumstances.Nabha
Nabha was a state ofSiddhu Jats. [History of the Jatt Clans - Dr H.S Duleh.] [ [http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=824 A Gateway to Sikhism | Historical Sikh Events: Phulkian Misl - A Gateway to Sikhism ] ] founded by grandson of Chaudhary Phul Singh. Chaudhary Phul Singh had six sons namely, 1.Tiloka 2.Ram Singh 3.Rudh 4.Chunu 5. Jhandu and 6.Takhtmal. Annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-. [Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998 ] Phul, was Chaudhri (Governor) of a country located at the south east of Dihli. Phul’s descendants founded 3 States:Patiala ,Jind andNabha . Nabha was founded by the great-grandson of Phul in 1755. [ [http://www.uq.net.au/%7Ezzhsoszy/ips/n/nabha.html Genealogy of the ruling chiefs of Nabha] ] According to another version they the founder of this Sikh dynasty descent from Jaisal, clan ofBhati s the founder of the State of Jaisalmer in 1156.Jind
Jind state in Haryana was founded by descendants of Phul Jat ofSiddhu ancestry. [History of the Jatt Clans - Dr H.S Duleh.] [ [http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=824 A Gateway to Sikhism | Historical Sikh Events: Phulkian Misl - A Gateway to Sikhism ] ] Jind was a state ofSiddhu Jats founded by grandson of Chaudhary Phul Singh. Chaudhary Phul Singh had six sons namely, 1.Tiloka 2.Ram Singh 3.Rudh 4.Chunu 5. Jhandu and 6.Takhtmal. Tiloka had two sons namely, 1. Gurudutta 2. Sukh Chain. Sukh Chain's descendants ruledJind state and Gurudatta's descendants ruledNabha state.Area of the state was 1259 sq mile and annual income of Jind state was Rs 30,00,000/-. [Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998 ] According to another version stating descent from Jaisal, founder of the State of Jaisalmer in 1156, the founder of this Sikh dynasty, Phul, was Chaudhri (Governor) of a country located at the south east of Dihli. Phul’s descendants founded 3 States: Patiala, Jind and Nabha.By the
nineteenth century , Jats ruled the states of Bharatpur,Dholpur ,Gohad ,Kuchesar ,Ballabhgarh ,Patiala ,Nabha andJind . The Jats established a reputation of being determined and sturdy.Mursan
Mursan state ofThenua Jats was located in the Hathras (Mahamaya Nagar) district inUttar Pradesh . The most well-known ruler of this estate was the Jat nobleman,Raja Mahendra Pratap (1886 -1979 ), who was popularly known as AryanPeshwa . The third son of Raja Ghansyam Singh, he was adopted by Raja Harnarayan Singh ofHathras .Mahendra Pratap married a lady from a Jat Sikh family based in the
princely state ofJind inHaryana .Punjab Pakistan (Maharaja Ranjit Singh)
Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780 -1839 ) was from Sandhawalia [History of the Jatt Clans - H.S Duleh "(Translation from original Punjabi work "Jattan da Itihas" by Gurjant Singh)."] Jat clan of Punjab and became theSikh emperor of the sovereign country of Punjab and theSikh Empire . Ranjit Singh's fatherMaha Singh was the commander of theSukerchakia misl and controlled a territory in west Punjab based around his headquarters atGujranwala .Ranjit Singh succeeded his father at the young age of 12. After several campaigns, his rivals accepted him as their leader, and he united the Sikh factions into one state. He conquered vast tracts of territory on all sides of his kingdom. From the capture of
Lahore in1799 , he rapidly annexed the rest of the Punjab and became undisputed ruler of northern India and the land of the five rivers. And even then, to secure his empire, he invadedAfghanistan , and severely defeated the Pathan militias and tribes. Ranjit Singh took the title of Maharaja onApril 12 1801 (to coincide withBaisakhi day). Lahore served as his capital from1799 . In1802 he took the holy city ofAmritsar . In the year 1802, Ranjit Singh successfully invadedKashmir .Other states
There are so many other Jat states. If we included Jats state of Punjab, these are more than Rajput states. Some of the states to mention are:
*
Vrindavan (Mathura ) [mr Dileep chaudhry of Vrindavan have a Haveli related with jats state prove it]
*Saidpur (Bulandshahar ) [British sources of 1857 Revolt]
*Peshawa (now inAligarh ) [Now a Days Royal family live in this fort,famous in world for exporting hourse]
*Nanda Devi inGarhwal Nandraj Jat built temple of Nanda Devi. Jat of Garhwal called as Nanda jats
*Dungarpur ofRajasthan - it was jat state in ancient times
*Firojbad , UP - in 1739, Jats of Mahavan attacked on Firojabad and killed the faujdar of Firojabad then rooled over it more than 30 years.
*Alwar - In the age of Maharaja Surajmal, Jawahar singh (son of Maharaja) won the fort of Alwar for a brief period.
*Gwalior - Jat rulersMaharaja Bhim Singh Rana (1707-1756) and Maharaja Chhatar Singh Rana (1757-1782) occupied the Gwalior fort twice, Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana from 1740 to 1756, and Maharaja Chhatra Singh Rana from 1780 to 1783. During this period they constructed historical monuments in the Gwalior Fort*
Agra - Many years Jats ruled Agra. After a seize of one month Maharaja Suraj Mal captured Agra Fort on12 June 1761 and it remained in the possession of Bharatpur rulers till 1774. [Dr. Prakash Chandra Chandawat: Maharaja Suraj Mal aur unka yug, Jaypal Agencies Agra, 1982, Pages 197-200] After Maharaja Suraj Mal,Maharaja Jawahar Singh ,Maharaja Ratan Singh andMaharaja Kehri Singh (minor) under resident ship ofMaharaja Nawal Singh ruled overAgra Fort . There is ahaveli in the name Maharaja Nawal Singh in Agra Fort and also aChhatri ofMaharaja Jawahar Singh built in right side of Khasmahal near the Chhatri of Rosanara-Jahanara. [Agra Gazeteer 1884, page 620] , [Jatbandhu Agra, 25 January 2005]References
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