View source for Jats: South-Eastern Districts (Punjab)

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This article is an extract from <br/>

PANJAB CASTES <br/>

SIR DENZIL CHARLES JELF IBBETSON, K.C. S.I. <br/>

Being a reprint of the chapter on <br/>
The Races, Castes and Tribes of <br/>
the People in the Report on the <br/>
Census of the Panjab published <br/>
in ''' 1883 ''' by the late Sir Denzil <br/>
Ibbetson, KCSI <br/>

Lahore : <br/>

Printed  by the Superintendent, Government Printing, Punjab, <br/>

1916. <br/>
''Indpaedia is an archive. It neither agrees nor disagrees ''<br/> 
''with the contents of this article.''
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[[Category:India|J]]
[[Category:Communities|J]]

=South-Eastern Districts=

The last group of Jat tribes 
that I have to discuss is fliat which occupies the Jamna districts, Jind, 
Rohtak, and Hissar. They call themselves Jat not Jat, and are the same 
people in every respect as the Jat of the Jamna-Ganges dodb and the lower 
Jamna vallev, differing however in little save religion from the great Sikh Jat 
tribes of the Malva ; though perhaps the latter, inhabiting as they do the 
wide unirrigated plains of the central States, are of slightly finer physique 
than their neighbours of the damper riverain. The eastern Jats are almost 
without exception Hindu, the few among them who are Musalman being 
known as Mula or unfortunate,and dating their conversion almost without 
exception from an ancestor who was taken as a hostage to Dehli and there 
foreibly circumcised. Indeed these men were not unfrequently received back 
into caste on their return from captivity, and their descendants are in this 
ease Hindus, though still known as Mula. Their traditions show them to 
have come up either from Bikaner and Rajputana, or northwards along the 
Jamna valley, and very few of them appear to have come from the Panjab to 
the Jamna. The Jats of Gurgaon indeed still look upon the Raja of Bhartpur 
as their natural leader, and the fall of Bhartpur- made such an impression on 
their minds that old men still refer to it as t he fera from which they date 
events. 

The Jat of these parts is, if anything, even a better cultivator than the 
Sikh Jat ; and that, chiefly because his women assist him so largely in the 
field, performing all sorts of agricultural labour whether light or heavy, except 
ploughing for which they have not sufficient strength, and sowing which is 
under all circumstances a prerogative strictly confined to the made sex. 
Directly we leave the south-eastern districts and pass into the Sikh tract, 
women cease to perform the harder kinds of field-work, even among the Jats ; 
while in the Musalman districts they do not work at all in the fields. So 
essentially is the Jat a husbandman, and so especially is he the husbandman 
of these parts, that when asked his caste he will quite as often reply zamindar  
as Jat, the two names being in that sense used as synonymous. The social 
standing of the Jat is that which the Gujar, Ahir, and Ror enjoy ; in fact 
these four castes eat and smoke together. They stand at the head of the castes 
who practise kasewa or widow-marriage, a good deal below the Rajput, but 
far above the castes who grow vegetables, such as Arain and Mali. If the 
social scale is regulated by the rules of the Hindu religion they come below 
Banyas, who are admittedly better Hindus. But the manly Jat despises 
the money-grubbing Banya, and all other castes and tribes agree with him. 

In the extreme south-eastern corner of the Panjab the Jats who have 
come in from the north and west, from Rajputana and the Panjab, are known 
as Dhe, to distinguish them from the original Jat tribes of the neighbourhood 
who are collectively called Hele, the two sections abstaining from intermarriage 
and having in some respects different customs. In Sirsa again, that meeting 
place of races, where the Bagri Jat from the Bikaner prairies, the Sikh Jat 
from the Malwa, and the Musalman Jat from the Satluj valley, meet the Jat 
of Hissar, the last are distinguished as Dese and the Musalman Jats as 
Pachhdde or western ; but these terms appear to be unknown to the people in 
their respective homes. There the superiority of the Sikh and DeseJats over 
the stunted Bagri and the indolent enervated Jat of the Satluj is most 
strikingly apparent. 

There is an extraordinary division of the Jats of Dehli, Rohtak, and 
Karnal, and indeed of the other land-owning- castes who have for the most 
part taken the one side or the other, into two factions Imown as Dehia and 
Haulania. I quote the following- passage from my Settlement Report of 
Karnjil and Panipat : — 

The Dehias are called after a Jat tribe of that name, with its head-quarters about Bhatganw 
in Sunpat, having originally come from Bawana near Dehli. The Haulania faction is headed by 
the Ghatwal or Malak Jats, whose head-quarters are Dher-ka-Ahulana in Gohana, and who were, 
owing to their successful opposition to the Rajputs, the accepted heads of the Jats in these parts. 
Some one of the Emperors called them in to assist him in coercing the Mandahar Rajputs, and 
thus the old enmity was strengthened. The Dehia Jats, growing powerful, became jealous of the 
supremacy of the Ghatwals and joined the Mandahars against them. Thus the country side was 
divided into two factions ; the Gujars and Tagas of the tract, the Jaglaii Jilts of thap'a Naultha, 
'•and the Latmar Jats of Rohtak joining the Dehias, and the Huda Jats of Rohtak, and most of 
the Jats of the tract except the Jaglans, joining the Haulanias. In the mutiny, disturbances 
took place in the Rohtak district between these two factions, and the Mandahars of the Nardak 
ravaged the Haulanias in the south of the tract. And in framing my zails I had to alter my 
proposed division so as to separate a Dehia village which I had included with Haulanias, and 
which objected in consequence. The Dehia is also called the Jat, and occasionally the Mandahar 
faction, Even Sir H. Elliott seems to have been unaware of the existence of these factions. The 
Jats and Rajputs seem, independently of these divisions, to consider each other, tribally speaking, 
as natural enemies ; and I have often been assured by Jats, though I do not beheve it, that they 
would not dare to go into a Rajput village at night.

Mr. Maconachie quotes a Dehli tradition which makes two brothers from 
Rajputjina called Mom and som the respective ancestors of the Haulania 
Rajputs of the doub and the Haulania Jats of Rohtak. 

Here again, in the south-eastern districts, the distinction between Jat and 
Rajput is definite and well-marked, the Jat always practising and the Rajput 
always abstaining from karewa ; though I do not think that here a family 
could raise itself from the former to the latter caste by discontinuing the 
custom, as would appear to be possible elsewhere. The figures for the tribes 
we are to consider are given in Abstract No. 77 on the opposite page,the 
tribes being roughly arranged from north to south down the Jamna valley, 
and then westwards along the southern border of the Province. The last five 
tribes will be considered under Rajputs ; and they are shown in this abstract, 
not because they are returned as Jats especially in this part of the Panjab, but 
because the Rajput tribes to which they belong will be discussed under the 
head of Rajputs of the Eastern Plains. The tribes in this group are neither so 
large nor so important as those of the Sikh tracts, and in many cases  Ihave 
little or no information to give concerning them. There seems a great 
tendency in these parts to split up into small clans, retaining the tradition of 
common tribal descent, but commonly using the name of the clan and not of 
the tribe. 

==The Jat tribes of the South-Eastern Districts==
The Ghatwal (No. 1)

This is the 
only one of the tribes now under consideration who trace their  origin from Ghar Ghazni ; and even 
they place that city in the Decean and not in Afghanistan. They claim descent from Saroha 
Rajputs. Their head-quarters are at Ahulana in the Gohana  tahsil of Rohtak, and they occupy 
the country between it and the Jamna, being numerous in the north of Delhi and the south of 
Karnal. I suspect that our figures for Rohtak are considerably under the truth. Ahulana is said 
to have been founded 22 generations ago, and gives its name to the Haulania faction already 
mentioned. The Ghatwal are often called Malak, a title they are said to have obtained as 
follows : — 

In the old days of Rajput .ascendancy the Rajputs would not allow Jats to cover their heads 
with a turban, nor to wear any red clothes, nor to put a crown (mor) on the head of their 
bridegroom, or a jewel (nat) in their women's noses. They also used to levy seiguorial rights 
from virgin brides. Even to this day Rajputs will not allow inferior- castes to wear red clothes or 
ample loin clothes in their villages. The Ghatwals ohtained some suceesses over the Rajputs, 
especially over the !Mandahars of the dodh near Deohan and Manglaur, and over those of the Begar 
near Kalanaur and Dadri, and removed the ohnoxious prohihitions. They thus acquired the title 
oi Malah (master) and a red turban as their distinguishing mark ; and to this day a Jat with a 
red pagri is most probahly a Ghatwal.

Mr. Fanshawe says that the title is a mere nickname conferred by a Malik or chief called Rai 
Sal ; yet in Rohtak they appear generally to he called Malak rather than Ghatwal, and perhaps 
this is the cause of the smallness of the Rohtak figures, though I ordered the two names to be taken 
together. Who the Ghatwal of Bahawalpur are, I cannot explain. I may notice that there are 
inseveral parts of India, and especially in Monghyr and its neighbourhood, tribes of low-class 
Raiputs called Ghatwals, who holder held assignments of revenue on condition of defending the 
ghats or passes in the hills by which the hill tribes were wont to make predatory incursions into 
the plains below. 

''' The Dagar (No. 2)''' — The D agar are numerous in Dehli and Gurgaon and there is a small 
Colony in Rohtak. I have no information concerning them. 

''' TheJakhar andSangwan (Nos. 3 and 14)''' — These tribes are said to be descended from a 
Chauhan Rajput only 20 generations back, who came from Bikaner, and whose four sons founded 
the Jakhar, Sangwan,Piru, and Kadian Jats, for the last two of which I do not show separate 
figure- as they are of but little importance. The Sangwan are most numerous in Jind and Hissar, 
though there is a small colony of them in Rohtak also ; while the Jakhar are almost confined to 
Gurgaon and the adjoining jhajjar  tahafl of Rohtak. 

''' The Sahrawat (No. 4)''' — The Sahrawat claim to be descended from Sahra, a son or grandson 
of Raia Anangpal Tunwar. They are almost confined to Dehli, Gurgaon, Rohtak, and the 
adjoining Patiala territory. In Rohtak their settlement dates from some 25 generations back. 

''' The Dehia (No. 5)''' This is the tribe which has given its name to the Dehia faction men
tioned in section 439. They are found on the north-eastern border of the Sampla and the adjoining 
portionof the Sunpat  tahsil of Rohtak and Dehli. They claim to be descended from a Chauhan 
Rajput named Manik Rai by a Dhankar Jat woman. This is probably the Manik Rai Chauhan 
who founded Hansi. Another account makes then- ancestor Dhadhij, son of Haria Harpal, son of 
Prithi Raja. The Dehia is one of the 36 royal tribes of Rajputs, whose original home was about 
the confluence of the Satluj with the Indus.' They are probably the Dahise of Alexander. 

''' The Golia (No. 6)''' — The Golia or Gawalia are a very curious tribe. They declare that they  
were originally Brahmans who lost caste by inadvertently drinking liquor placed outside a distillers  
house in large vessels . The Local Brahmans apparently admit the truth of the  story. They 
now intermarry with Jats, but not with the Dagar or Salanki; for while they were Brahmans the 
latter were their chents, while when they first lost caste the former alone of all Jat tribes 
would give them their daughters to wife, and so have been adopted as quasi brethren. They came 
from Indor to Rohtak some 30 generations ago. They are only found in Rohtak and Karnal. 
The scattered entries probably reier to a few Gwalas or Ahirs who have been returned as Jats. 

''' The Rathi (No. 7)''' — The word Rath is used in Sirsa as synonymous with Pachhada, to denote 
Musalman Jats or Rajputs from the Satluj. It is said to mean strong-handed or zahardast. 
In Rohtak, however, there is a distinct Rathi tribe of Jats who claim to be by origin Tunwar 
Rajputs, and are among the oldest inhabitants of the tract. They are descended from a brother of 
The ancestor of the Rohal and Dhankar Jats, and the three tribes do not intermarry. They are 
found in Dehli and Gurgaon as well as in Rohtak, and apparently in Ludhiana, though it is 
perhaps doubtful whether these last are the same tribe. 

''' The Khatrl (No. 8)''' — This tribe appears to be very numerous in Dehli, and to be found also 
in Rohtak and Patiala. I have no information regarding them. 

''' The Dalai (No. 9) '''  — This is another of the great Rohtak tribes, and is found also in the 
adjoining territory of Dehli, Hissar and Jind. They claim to be descended from a Rathor Rajput 
who  settled in Rohtak and married a Bargujar Jat woman some 30 generations back. By her he 
had four sons from whom the Dalai, Deswal, Man, and Sewag? Sewab Jats have sprung, and 
these four tribes do not intermarry. But compare the account of the origin of the Man given in 
section 435. The same four tribes have a tradition of common descent and a prohibition against 
inter-marriage in Karndlalso. 

''' The Ahlawat (No. 10)''' — The Ahlawat are said to be descended from a Chauhan Ribput 
who came from Sambhar in Jaipur- some 30 generations ago. From him sprang the Ahlawat, 
Olian, Biima, Mare, and Jun Jats who do not intei-marry. The tribe is found in Rohtak, Dehli 
and Karnal. Its members worship a common ancestor called Sadu Deb. 

''' TheDhankar(No. 12)''' — I have said that the Dhankar are of the same stock as the Rathi. 
They are almost confined to jhajjar in Rohtak, and are perhaps nothing more than a local clan of 
the Rathi tribe. 

''' The Phogat (No. 13)''' — This tribe possesses  some importance in Jind, and has spread into the 
neighbouring portions of Gurgaon and Rohtak. The only fact I have concerning them is that they 
will not intermarry with the Deswal ; but the reason is not explained, 

''' The Sangwan (No. 14)''' — The Sangwana, re descended from the ancestor of the Jakhar already 
mentioned. Their head-quarters are in Jind ; but they are also found in Rohtak and Hissar. 

''' The Pawania (No. 15)''' — The Pawania are a Hissar tribe who are also found in Rohtak, Sirsa, 
Jind, and the detached portion of Patiala and, curiously enough, in Ambala. I have no information 
to give regarding them. 

''' The Bahniwal (No. 16)''' — The Bahniwal are found chiefly in the Hissar division and Patiala. 
They are also found on the Lower Satluj in Montgomery, where they have probably returned them
selves as Bhatti Rajputs, which they claim to be by descent. Mr. Purser says of them :—In 
numbers they are weak ; but in love of robhery they yield to none of the tribes.They gave much 
trouble in 1857. In the 15th century the Bahniwklheld one of the six cantons into which Bikaner 
was then divided. 

''' The Nain (No. 17)''' — The Nain are chiefly found in the detached portions of Patiala, but 
have spread into Hissar and Dehli. I have no information regarding them.