06-10-2008, 12:56 AM
An example of how Islamic rule and British rule have reduced people to backward status.
From Pioneer 10 june, 2008
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Gujjars equal to RajputsÂ
Second opinion: Priyadarsi Dutta
It is proving to be a comedy of 'terrors' with the Gujjar agitation showing no signs of abating. And if Jagan Gujjar, the infamous outlaw, can execute his plan of "blowing up the palace of Vasundhara Raje", it would certainly be a Kodak moment in the theatre of the absurd. What an irony for the Rajasthan Government that recently cropped an entire chapter from Jaishankar Prasad's novel, Kankal, which is studied as part of the Hindi syllabus in Class XI and brands Gujjars as nothing more than robbers.
<b>The Gujjars (a corruption of the original Gurjar, which means vanquisher of enemies) are less interested in an image makeover, though they should be. </b>The imperatives of the 21st century 'knowledge era' might have bypassed the Gujjars, but in the self-devouring labyrinth of Government's reservation policy it is expedient to prove oneself more backward than others.
<b>The agitating Gujjars may not take kindly to any memory of the glorious days of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. Their triangular realm extended across west and central-north India, stretching from Gujarat to Bihar, between the sixth and 11th centuries. Pratiharas (Parihars) were considered the best of Rajputs. They, along with Chauhans, Parmars and Solankis (Chalukyas) had emanated from the sacrificial fount of the legendary Agnikul Yagna, performed on Mount Abu. Their king, Rajyapal, was ensconced at Kannauj, the political and commercial capital of the time, when Mahmud Ghaznavi's hordes knocked at its gates in 1019. Rajyapal, a pale shadow of his illustrious predecessors who had measured sword with the Arabs, abjectly surrendered Kannuaj. The Rajput confederacy was moved to ire for Rajyapal. Their leader, Vidyadhar Chandel, prince of Gwalior, killed Rajyapal, but gave a miserable account against Ghaznavi.</b>
<b>Thereafter it was the series of Muslim invasions that brought about a decline in Gujjar fortunes. Consequently large-scale conversions followed. Interestingly Pakistan's visionary, Chaudhary Rehmat Ali was also a Gujjar. If they took to banditry, it was a result of their ouster from power and influence.</b> If Gujjars are unable to mend their reputation even in this modern era, the unworthy descendants of illustrious predecessors should suffer the blame. Had they united for development of their community, like the Nadars of Tamil Nadu, they never would have needed to block national highways.
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Also the British crimnalized a whole set of people calling them criminal tribes and setup areas for them.
From Pioneer 10 june, 2008
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Gujjars equal to RajputsÂ
Second opinion: Priyadarsi Dutta
It is proving to be a comedy of 'terrors' with the Gujjar agitation showing no signs of abating. And if Jagan Gujjar, the infamous outlaw, can execute his plan of "blowing up the palace of Vasundhara Raje", it would certainly be a Kodak moment in the theatre of the absurd. What an irony for the Rajasthan Government that recently cropped an entire chapter from Jaishankar Prasad's novel, Kankal, which is studied as part of the Hindi syllabus in Class XI and brands Gujjars as nothing more than robbers.
<b>The Gujjars (a corruption of the original Gurjar, which means vanquisher of enemies) are less interested in an image makeover, though they should be. </b>The imperatives of the 21st century 'knowledge era' might have bypassed the Gujjars, but in the self-devouring labyrinth of Government's reservation policy it is expedient to prove oneself more backward than others.
<b>The agitating Gujjars may not take kindly to any memory of the glorious days of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. Their triangular realm extended across west and central-north India, stretching from Gujarat to Bihar, between the sixth and 11th centuries. Pratiharas (Parihars) were considered the best of Rajputs. They, along with Chauhans, Parmars and Solankis (Chalukyas) had emanated from the sacrificial fount of the legendary Agnikul Yagna, performed on Mount Abu. Their king, Rajyapal, was ensconced at Kannauj, the political and commercial capital of the time, when Mahmud Ghaznavi's hordes knocked at its gates in 1019. Rajyapal, a pale shadow of his illustrious predecessors who had measured sword with the Arabs, abjectly surrendered Kannuaj. The Rajput confederacy was moved to ire for Rajyapal. Their leader, Vidyadhar Chandel, prince of Gwalior, killed Rajyapal, but gave a miserable account against Ghaznavi.</b>
<b>Thereafter it was the series of Muslim invasions that brought about a decline in Gujjar fortunes. Consequently large-scale conversions followed. Interestingly Pakistan's visionary, Chaudhary Rehmat Ali was also a Gujjar. If they took to banditry, it was a result of their ouster from power and influence.</b> If Gujjars are unable to mend their reputation even in this modern era, the unworthy descendants of illustrious predecessors should suffer the blame. Had they united for development of their community, like the Nadars of Tamil Nadu, they never would have needed to block national highways.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Also the British crimnalized a whole set of people calling them criminal tribes and setup areas for them.