Indo-Aryan origin of Jats
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The Indo-Aryan origin of Jats has been advocated on the basis of ethnological, physical and linguistic standards by many historians like E.B.Havell,[1] Qanungo,[2] C.V.Vaidya,[3] Sir Herbert Risley,[4] Thakur Deshraj,[5] Mangal Sen Jindal[6]etc.
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[edit] Vedic Aryans
Arya is related to the Indo-European word "Aristocracy" and was used in the same context in Vedic tradition, as a designation for moral and spiritual heroes. Later this term came to signify anyone of good and noble character. The word Aryan is derived from arya, which meant "exalted" or "noble one" in the Indian and Persian languages. Seventy percent of those living in modern Iran are native speakers of Iranian/Aryan dialects. India is referred to as Aryavarta, which means "Abode of the Aryans". Indo-Aryan speaking people form majority of the population of northern India. This is also the area inhabited by Jats as is clear by comparison of distribution of Jats areas with Aryavarta.
[edit] Aryavarta
Aryavarta (Sanskrit: "Abode of the noble or excellent ones (see arya)" or "Abode of the Aryans") is the ancient name for northern and central India. It is erroneous to give this name to the whole of India, since the borders of Aryavarta have been described differently in sources from different times.
[edit] Jats: Theory of Aryan origin
Dr Natthan Singh writes that Jats were the pure Aryans and their original homeland was Sapta Sindhu. On the basis of historical facts the Jats are reported to be present in India from 3102 BC. [7] [8] They had to migrate from India on economic, social and political reasons for some period but they returned back to India. In the migration also they did not leave their language and cultural traditions. Due to this reason only Jats do not have linguistic or physical similarities with Huns and Scythians. [9] This view is also supported by Thakur Deshraj who writes that on the basis of ethnological, physical, cultural and linguistic standards Jats are pure Aryans who inhabited the areas on the banks of Ganga-Yamuna or Sarswati-Sindhu during Vedic civilization. [10]
Thakur Deshraj, [11] Ram Lal hala [12] and Al-Biruni[13] consider Jats to be the descendants of Krishna.
Sir Herbert Risley declared the Rajput and the Jat to be the true representatives of the Vedic Aryans. [14] Risley has mentioned in 1901 census report that as per their physique Jats are pure Aryans.[15]
Qanungo appeared to rely on Sir Risley's theory. Qanungo wrote, "The European pioneers of Indian antiquities and ethnology apparently started with the presumption that fine and energetic martial peoples like the Rajput and the Jat must have been comparatively newcomer from the north-west into India who overcame the effete descendants of the Vedic Aryans (Hindus)----. [16]
If popular tradition counts for anything, it points to the view that they (Jats) are an essentially Indo-Aryan (Hindus?) People who have migrated from the east to the west and not Indo-Scythian----and No Hindu has been ever known to claim a Chinese origin, but the people of China----[17]
The Jats has been declared by all eminent authorities, to pass successfully the combined test of the physical type and language of true Aryan.” [18]
Khushwant Singh (A well respected Indian Journalist) wrote,
"It is now generally accepted that the Jats who made the northern plains of India their home were of Aryan stock. The origin of the Jats has been exhaustively dealt with by K.R. Quanungo, who states emphatically that the Jats are of Aryan stock (Hindus) that came from Rajasthan into Punjab". [19]
Dr. Trump and Beams very strongly claimed a pure Indo-Aryan descent for Jats both in consideration of their physical type and language, which has been authoritatively pronounced as a pure dialect of Hindi, without slightest trace of Scythian.
C.V.Vaidya in History of Medieval Hindu India writes that-
“Lastly we have to speak about the Jats. Their ethnological characteristics also we have already seen, are clearly Aryans. They are fair tall high nosed and long headed. Does their history contradict of their being Aryans ? ….. They are the purest Aryans in India and belong to the first race of Aryans invaders according to our view the solar race of Aryans. …There is not a scrap of historical evidence even to suggest much less to prove such immigration there is neither foreign mention of their coming into India nor have they any tradition of their own sometime coming into India nor is there any historical India record stone inscription or other of their so coming, and we can only ascribe such theories to that unaccountable bias of the winds of many European and native scholars to assign a foreign and Scythic origin to every fine and energetic caste in India.” [20]
E.B.Havell writes based on physical features and the language that Ethnographic investigations show that the Indo Aryan type described in Hindu epic a tall fair complexioned long headed race with narrow prominent noses broad shoulders long arms thin waists like a lion and legs like a deer is how (as it was in the earliest) most confined to Kashmir the Punjab and Rajputana and represented by the Khattris, Jats and Rajputs. [21]
The Jat historian Thakur Deshraj refers to E.B.Havell as above and Mr. Nesfield who said that-
“If appearance goes for anything the Jat could not be Aryans.” He further refers to distribution of races of ‘North Western Provinces of India’ where it has been said that the arguments derived from language are strongly in favour of the pure Aryan origin of the Jats. If they were Scythian conquerors where there Scythian language gone to and how came it that they now speak and have for centuries spoken an Aryan language, a dialect of Hindi”. [22]
“Jat” approaches closely to that ascribed to the traditional Aryan colonies of India. The stature is mostly tall, complexion fair, eyes dark, hair on face plentiful, head long. Nose narrow and prominent but very long. [23][24]
The original home of Jats is certainly connected with original home of Aryans, since Jat is definitely a tribe of Aryan race. [25]
[edit] References
- ^ E.B.Havell: The history of Aryan rule in India, page 32
- ^ Qanungo: History of the Jats
- ^ C.V.Vaidya: History of Medieval Hindu India
- ^ Sir Herbert Risley: The People of India
- ^ Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihasa
- ^ Mangal Sen Jindal: History of Origin of Some Clans in India
- ^ Dr Natthan Singh: Jat - Itihas (Hindi), Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad Gwalior, 2004 (Page 9)
- ^ CV Vaidya: Mahabharata a criticizm, Bombay 1904 (Page 55-78)
- ^ Dr Natthan Singh: Jat - Itihas (Hindi), Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad Gwalior, 2004 (Page 38)
- ^ Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihasa, Page 64
- ^ Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihasa, Page 65
- ^ Ram Lal Hala, Jat Kshatriya Itihas
- ^ Al-Biruni, India:Trans by Kayamuddin, Published by National Book Trust, India, 1997 page-176
- ^ Sir Herbert Risley : The People of India
- ^ Sir Herbert Risley: Census of India report 1901, Page 500
- ^ Qanungo: History of the Jats
- ^ Qanungo: History of the Jats
- ^ Qanungo: History of the Jats
- ^ Khushwant Singh: The History of the Sikhs, 1963
- ^ C.V.Vaidya: History of Medieval Hindu India
- ^ E.B.Havell: The history of Aryan rule in India, page 32
- ^ Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihasa
- ^ Risley, H., The People of India
- ^ Qanungo: History of the Jats
- ^ Mangal Sen Jindal: History of Origin of Some Clans in India
