10-30-2005, 05:24 PM
Jat History
Fresh bodies of Jat cultivators began moving into the Agra province in the 16th and 17th centuries and the Jat population soon outnumbered the original landholders. The Jats gained wealth and power through their hard work, industriousness, and bravery. They rose up first in opposition to bigoted or greedy Mughal governors in the 1660s, and later when Aurangzeb was away in the Deccan fighting the Marathas, began looting his territories without compunction.
<b>The kernel of Jat power was planted by Badan Singh who wisely attached himself to Sawai Jai Singh, the leading Hindu potentate of North India in the 18th Century.</b> Under the protective arm of the Lord of Jaipur, the Jats gathered military and financial muscle and built strong forts like Deeg, Bharatpur, and Kumbherâall in the Agra province. Badanâs successor, Suraj Mal expanded into the Delhi province and came into conflict with Salabat Khan.
The Jat peasant was usually armed with a wooden staff or a spearâin this manner groups of them had first surrounded and robbed Mughal caravansâgradually shifting to matchlocks and swords as they gained wealth and confidence. The richer among them bought horses and formed a contingent of cavalry by hiring Rajput mercenariesâbut at the core it remained an infantry army.
and:
The downfall of the Jats was exactly parallel to that of the Ruhelas. Suraj Malâs son Jawahir Singh cleared the country beyond the Chambal River of the Marathas and even picked a fight with his familyâs benefactor, the Raja of Jaipur. Jawahirâs Jat nobles opposed his policy; hence he hired Purbia infantry under French adventurers and used them to destroy his nobles. This foreign-led army helped Jawahir in his wars but they could be easily enticed by better pay. Hence after Jawahirâs death these foreigners joined the service of the Delhi Emperors.
Robbed of its natural leaders, abandoned by the foreign mercenaries, and deprived even of a robust peasant-king, the Jat kingdom became a minor factor in North Indian politics. Just as the Ruhelas fell to British-controlled Avadh, so too the Jats came under the protective embrace of the Maratha chief, Mahadji Sindhia.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Only valid and honest discussion, no name calling to any forum member.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And how about no name calling to Indian communities or falsification of their history?
Fresh bodies of Jat cultivators began moving into the Agra province in the 16th and 17th centuries and the Jat population soon outnumbered the original landholders. The Jats gained wealth and power through their hard work, industriousness, and bravery. They rose up first in opposition to bigoted or greedy Mughal governors in the 1660s, and later when Aurangzeb was away in the Deccan fighting the Marathas, began looting his territories without compunction.
<b>The kernel of Jat power was planted by Badan Singh who wisely attached himself to Sawai Jai Singh, the leading Hindu potentate of North India in the 18th Century.</b> Under the protective arm of the Lord of Jaipur, the Jats gathered military and financial muscle and built strong forts like Deeg, Bharatpur, and Kumbherâall in the Agra province. Badanâs successor, Suraj Mal expanded into the Delhi province and came into conflict with Salabat Khan.
The Jat peasant was usually armed with a wooden staff or a spearâin this manner groups of them had first surrounded and robbed Mughal caravansâgradually shifting to matchlocks and swords as they gained wealth and confidence. The richer among them bought horses and formed a contingent of cavalry by hiring Rajput mercenariesâbut at the core it remained an infantry army.
and:
The downfall of the Jats was exactly parallel to that of the Ruhelas. Suraj Malâs son Jawahir Singh cleared the country beyond the Chambal River of the Marathas and even picked a fight with his familyâs benefactor, the Raja of Jaipur. Jawahirâs Jat nobles opposed his policy; hence he hired Purbia infantry under French adventurers and used them to destroy his nobles. This foreign-led army helped Jawahir in his wars but they could be easily enticed by better pay. Hence after Jawahirâs death these foreigners joined the service of the Delhi Emperors.
Robbed of its natural leaders, abandoned by the foreign mercenaries, and deprived even of a robust peasant-king, the Jat kingdom became a minor factor in North Indian politics. Just as the Ruhelas fell to British-controlled Avadh, so too the Jats came under the protective embrace of the Maratha chief, Mahadji Sindhia.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Only valid and honest discussion, no name calling to any forum member.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And how about no name calling to Indian communities or falsification of their history?