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Rajput (from the Sanskrit tatpurusha compound rājaputra, "son of a king") is a Caste among Hindus in India, Pakistan and Nepal. They claim descent from the ancient royal warrior dynasties of India and have roots to Rajputana, which is a part of Rajasthan. They are numerous in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,Gujarat, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Delhi in India. In Pakistan, Rajputs are found in Punjab, North West Frontier Province, and Sindh. Within the Hindu caste system, present day Rajputs constitute one of the principal groups belonging to the Kshatriya varna. A small number of Rajputs who practice Islam in India and Pakistan are also referred to Muslim Rajputs.

The Rajputs were designated by the British as a "Martial Race". The martial race was a designation created by officials of British India to describe "races" (peoples) that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle and to possess qualities like courage, loyalty, self sufficiency, physical strength, resilience, orderliness, hard working, fighting tenacity and military strategy. The British recruited heavily from these "martial races" for service in the colonial army.

In Rajasthan and central India there arose a number of small kingdoms ruled by dynasties that came to be called the Rajputs (from Sanskrit raja-putra: "son of a king"). The name was assumed by royal families that claimed Ksatriya status and linked their lineage either with the Suryavamsi or the Candravamsi, the royal lineages of the itihasa-purana tradition, or else with the Agnikula (Fire lineage) based on a lesser myth in which the eponymous ancestor arises out of the sacrificial fire. The four major Rajput dynasties — Pratihara, Paramara, Chauhan and Chalukya—claimed Agnikula lineage.

The Chalukyas of Gujarat had three branches: one ruling Mattamayura (the Malava-Chedi region), one established on the erstwhile kingdom of the Capas at Anahilapataka (Patan), and the third at Bhrgukaccha (Bharuch) and Lata in the coastal area. By the 11th century they were using Gujarat as a base and attempting to annex neighbouring territories of Rajasthan and Avanti. Kumarapala (c. 1143–72) was responsible for consolidating the kingdom. He is also believed to have become a Jaina and to have encouraged Jainism in western India. Acharya Hemacandra, an outstanding Jaina scholar noted for his commentaries on political treatises, was a well-known figure at the Chalukya court. Many of the Rajput kingdoms had Jaina statesmen, ministers, and even generals, as well as Jaina traders and merchants. By the 14th century, however, the Chalukya kingdom had declined.

Adjoining the kingdom of the Chalukyas was that of the Paramars in Malawa, with minor branches in the territories just to the north (Mount Abu, Banswara, Dungarpur, and Bhinmal). The Paramars emerged as feudatories of the Rastrakutas and rose to eminence during the reign of Bhoja. An attack by the Caulukyas weakened the Paramaras in 1143. Although the dynasty was later re-established, it remained weak. In the 13th century the Paramaras were threatened by both rising Yadava power in the Deccan and the Turkish kingdom at Delhi (see below The coming of the Turks); the latter conquered the Paramaras in 1305.

The Kalacuris of Tripuri (near Jabalpur) also began as feudatories of the Rastrakutas, becoming a power in central India in the 11th century during the reigns of Gangeyadeva and his son Laksmikarna, when attempts were made to conquer territories as far afield as Utkala (Orissa), Bihar, and the Ganges-Yamuna Doab. Here they came into conflict with the Turkish governor of the Punjab, who had extended his territory as far as Varanasi. To the west, there were conflicts with Bhoja Paramara, and the Kalacuris declined at the end of the 12th century.

The Chandel's, whose kingdom comprised mainly Bundelkhand (Jejakabhukti), were feudatories of the Pratiharas. Among the important rulers was Dhanga (c. 950–1008), who issued a large number of inscriptions and was generous in donations to Jaina and Hindu temples. Dhanga's grandson Vidyadhara (1017–29), often described as the most powerful of the Chandel kings, extended the kingdom as far as the Chambal and Narmada rivers. This brought him into direct conflict with Mahmud of Ghazni, when the latter swept down from Afghanistan in a series of raids. But the ensuing battles were indecisive. The Candellas also had to face the attacks of the Chauhans, who were in turn being harassed by the Turks. The Turkish kingdom at Delhi encroached into Bundelkhand, but the Chandel's survived until the 16th century as minor chieftains.

The Gahadavalas rose to importance in Varanasi and extended their kingdom up the Ganges-Yamuna Doab including Kannauj. The king Jaichand of Kannauj (12th century) is mentioned in the poem Prthviraja-raso of Chandbardai, in which his daughter, the princess Sanyogita, elopes with the Chauhan king Prthviraja. Jaichand died in battle against the Turkish leader, Muhammad of Ghor, and his kingdom was annexed.

Inscriptional records associate the Chauhan's with Lake Sakambhari and its environs (Sambhar Salt Lake in Jaipur district). Chauhan politics were largely campaigns against the Chalukyas and the Turks. In the 11th century the Chauhans founded the city of Ajayameru (Ajmer) in the southern part of their kingdom, and in the 12th they captured Dhillika (Delhi) from the Tomaras and annexed some Tomara territory along the Yamuna River. Prthviraja III has come down both in folk and historical literature as the Chauhan king who resisted the Turkish attacks in the first battle at Tarain (Taraori) in 1191. Prthviraja, however, was defeated at a second battle in the same place in 1192; the defeat ushered in Turkish rule in northern India.

Rajput dynasties played a prominent role in the history of northern India and Western India(Gujarat). They developed an ethos of warlike chivalry that served as the benchmark for other Indian communities as the latter ascended to regional dominance. This martial ethos did not preclude patronage of the arts: distinctive forms of painting and architecture developed under the aegis of Rajput courts, and classical music found support. Thus, the Rajputs have contributed directly and indirectly to many facets of the Indian culture.

Demographics

The 1931 census of British India was the last to record caste affiliation in a manner that provides reliable information on Rajput demographics. Any present-day estimates are speculative; they also vary widely. These figures are of interest as they denote the approximate spread and composition of the Rajput community.

The 1931 census reported a total of 12.8 million people self-describing as Rajput. The United Provinces (being approximately present-day Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal combined) reported the largest population of Rajputs, at 3,756,936. The (then united) province of Bihar & Orissa, corrosponding to the present-day states of Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand, reported a Rajput population of 1,412,440. Rajputana, which was almost co-terminus with the present-day state of Rajasthan, reported a figure of 669,516. The Central Provinces and Berar reported a figure of 506,087, the princely state of Gwalior of 393,076, the Central India Agency of 388,942, the Bombay Presidency of 352,016, the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir of 256,020, and the Western India States Agency of 227,137 Rajputs. The undivided province of Bengal (including present-day Bangladesh reported a figure of 156,978 Rajputs. The princely states of Baroda and Hyderabad reported figures of 94,893 and 88,434 respectively.

Rajputs typically speak whatever languages are spoken by the general population of the areas they live in. Hindi and Urdu are the primary languages, as most are situated in the "Hindi-speaking states" and Pakistan, but Gujarati and Punjabi are also spoken among Rajputs residing in Punjab and Gujarat in India and Pakistan.

Origins

The traditional occupations of the Rajput are war and agriculture. As many scholars have pointed out, these areas lend themselves uniquely to the ingress of groups that were not formerly affiliated with those professions. The gradual accommodation of the new entrants into the social and family circle of the traditional community is the essential quid pro quo of the Sanskritization that the aspirant community essays.We present both traditional legends and some scholarly works made by researchers on the origin of the Rajputs. Rajputs born out of Brahma Hand or landed from Sun or Moon or born out of fire..

Legendary Accounts

As Kshatriyas, the Rajputs regard themselves as being descended from the vedic warrior class. Legend ascribes to the Rajputs an origin stemming from certain Hindu deities; every Rajput must eventually belong to one of three great patrilineages, being:

• The Agnivanshi lineage, claiming descent from Agni, the Hindu Fire-god;
• The Suryavanshi lineage, claiming descent from Surya, the Hindu Sun-god;
• The Chandravanshi lineage, claiming descent from Chandra, the Hindu Moon-god.

Some scholars also count Nagavanshi, Rishivanshi and Vayuvanshi as traditional lineages. The Yaduvanshi lineage, claiming descent from the Hindu god Krishna, are in fact a major sept of the Chandravanshi lineage.

The aforementioned three patrilineages (vanshas) sub-divide into 36 main clans (kulas), which in turn divide into numerous branches (shakhas) to create the intricate clan system of the Rajputs. The principle of patrilineage is staunchly adhered to in determining one's place in the system and a strong consciousness of clan and lineage is an essential part of the Rajput character. As the 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica states, this tradition of common ancestry permits an indigent Rajput yeoman to consider himself as well-born as any powerful landholder of his clan, and superior to any high official of the professional classes. Authoritative listings of the 36 Rajput clans are to be found in the Kumārpāla Charita of Jayasimha and the Prithvirāj Rāso of Chandbardai.

Among the legends mentioned above, the one which addresses the origin of the Agnivanshi Rajputs is particularly interesting, not least because they were the earliest to rise to political prominence. This legend begins with the puranic legend wherein the traditional kshatriyas of the land were exterminated by Parashurama, an avatara of Vishnu. Later, the legend says, sage Vasishta performed a great Yajna or fire-sacrifice, to seek from the Gods a provision for the defense of righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the very flames of the sacrifice -- the first Agnivanshi Rajput. In some versions of the legend, all the Rajput lineages rose thus from the sacred flames.

Scientific View

In the past many scholars viewed the Agni kunda (fire-sacrifice) legend as suggesting, in an allegorical manner, the possibility that people who were not hitherto regarded as kshatriyas could come to be regarded as such after the customary fire-sacrifice based purificatory rituals. Subsequent scholarly works on the origin of the Rajputs have been supportive of this view. James Tod pioneered this view and suggested that Scythian (Gujjar, Saka, Huna) tribes which invaded India in the 6th century AD and disappeared into the population soon afterwards were the forbears of present-day Rajputs. He offered sociological and historical evidence to back his view. Many later historians have accepted the views of Tod, including Rapson, Ibbetson, Elliot, Ephilstone, Dahiya, Dhillon, Banerjea, Sharma, Sinha, Shrava, Puniya etc. These all tend to agree with his assessment, which according to some scholars, is supported by anthropological research. Because today direct archaeological sources for tracing the origin of Rajputs are available, many scholars take the view that alternative accounts based on the Puranas or folklore are mistaken.

Political History

Rajput history, being a part of broader north Indian history, can be classified easily into several distinct periods.

Early History

The Rai Dynasty, who ruled Sindh in the 6th and 7th centuries and were displaced by an Arab army led by Bin Qasim, are sometimes held to have been Rajputs. According to some sources, Bin Qasim, an Arab who invaded Sindh in the 8th century, also attacked Chittorgarh, and was defeated by Bappa Rawal. Certain other invasions by marauding "Yavvanas" are also recorded in this era. By this time, the appellation "Yavvana" (literally: "Ionian/Greek") was used in connection to any tribe that emerged from the west and north-west of present-day Pakistan. These invasions may therefore have been a continuation of the usual invasions into India by warlike but less civilized tribes from the north-west, and not a reference to the Greeks or Indo-Greeks. Lalitaditya of Kashmir defeated one such Yavvana invasion in the 8th century and the Pratiharas rebuffed another in the 9th century.

The Rajput Period

The first Rajput kingdoms are attested to in the 7th century and it was during the 9th, 10th & 11th centuries that the Rajputs rose to prominence in Indian history. The four Agnivanshi clans, namely, the Pratiharas (Pariharas), Solankis (Chaulukyas), Paramaras (Parmars) and Rahevars (Rever), Chauhans (Chahamanas), rose to prominence first.

Major Kingdoms

The Gurjara Pratiharas established their rule over Malwa and ruled from Bhinmal and afterwords Ujjaini in the 8th & 9th century. One branch of the clan established a state in Mandore, Marwar in 6th and 7th century where they held sway until they were supplanted by the Rathores in the 14th century. Around 816 AD, the Pratiharas of Ujjaini conquered Kannauj, from which city they ruled much of northern India for a century. They went into decline after Rashtrakuta invasions in the early 10th century. The Bargujars, Kachwahas, Chandelas and Tomaras all originate as vassals of the Pratihara kingdom. (See Gujjars).

The Solankis were descended from the Chalukyas who ruled much of peninsular India between the 6th and 12th centuries. In the 10th century, a local branch of the clan established control over Gujarat and ruled a state centered around the town of Patan. They went into decline in the 13th century and were identified as the Vaghelas or Baghel as known in Madhaya Pradesh.

The Paramaras were near neighbours of the Solankis. They originated as feudatories of the Rashtrakutas and rose to power in the 10th century. They ruled Malwa and the area at the border between present-day Gujarat and Rajasthan. Bhoja, celebrated king of Malwa, belonged to this dynasty. In the 12th century, the Paramaras declined in power due to conflict with the Solankis and succumbed to attack from the Delhi sultanate in 1305.

The Rever's originated as "Suryavanshi" of The State of Tarangagadh. The sword of Rever is known in the history of war in 11th century. They ruled Taranga and the area at the border between present-day Gujarat and Rajasthan belonged to this dynasty.

The Chandelas In the early 10th century, the Chandelas ruled the fortress-city of Kalinjar. A dynastic struggle (c.912-914 AD) among the Pratiharas provided them with the opportunity to extend their domain. They captured the strategic fortress of Gwalior (c.950) under the leadership of Dhanga (ruled 950-1008). Dhanga's grandson Vidyadhara (1017-29) expanded the Chandela kingdom to its greatest extent, from the Chambal river in the northwest to the Narmada River in the south, thus covering a large portion of the present-day state of Madhya Pradesh.

The Tomars originated as feudatories of the Pratiharas and rose to power in the wake of the decline of that power. Tomars estabilsed the Delhi(c.736) Kingdom and founded the city of Dhillika modern Delhi. Their most famous ruler was Anangpal. The Tomara clan established a state in present-day Haryana.

The Chauhans originated as feudatories of the Pratiharas and rose to power in the wake of the decline of that power. Their state was initially centered around Sambhar in present-day Rajasthan. In the 11th century, they founded the city of Ajmer which became their capital. In the 12th century, they captured Delhi from the Tomaras. Their most famous ruler was Prithviraj Chauhan, who won the First Battle of Tarain against an invading muslim army but lost the second battle of Tarain the following year. This loss heralded a prolonged period of muslim rule over northern India.

The Kachwaha or Kushwaha dynasty of Suryavanshi Rajputs was established in eleventh century AD in Dhundhar.The area later known as Jaipur state.

The Rathore or Rathod dynasties.

The Guhilots (later known as the Sisodias) established the state of Mewar in the 8th century. This state was founded by Bappa Rawal, who ruled from Chittorgarh.

The Bhati kingdoms of Jaisalmer, Pugal, Bhatner, Patiala etc.

The Thakial established the Bhimber state in nothern punjab at the foothills of Kashmir. The Chib Chand, took over the kingdom, when he married the only daughter of the last Thakial raja.

Other early states: The Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi Rajputs later established independent states. The Chandela clan ruled Bundelkhand after the 10th century, occupying the fortress of Kalinjar; they later built the famous temples at Khajuraho.

Legacy

The organization of Rajput clan finally crystallized in this period. Intermarriage among the Rajput clans interlinked the various regions of India and Pakistan, facilitating the flow of trade and scholarship. Archaeological evidence and contemporary texts suggest that Indian society achieved significant prosperity during this era.

The literature composed in this period, both in Sanskrit and in the Apabhramshas, constitutes a substantial segment of classical Indian literature. The early 11th century saw the reign of the polymath king Bhoja, Paramara ruler of Malwa. He was not only a patron of literature and the arts but was himself a distinguished writer. His Samarangana-sutradhara deals with architecture and his Raja-Martanda is a famous commentary on the Yoga-sutras. Many major monuments of northern and central India, including those at Khajuraho, date from this period.

Islamic invasions (c.11th-16th centuries)

The fertile and prosperous plains of northern India had always been the destination of choice for streams of invaders coming from the north-west. The last of these waves of invasions were of tribes who had previously converted to Islam. Due to geographic reasons, Rajput-ruled states suffered the brunt of aggression from various Mongol-Turkic-Afghan warlords who repeatedly invaded the subcontinent. In his New History of India, Stanley Wolpert wrote "The Rajputs were the vanguard of Hindu India in the face of the Islamic onslaught."

Within 15 years of the death of the Muhammad, the caliph Usman sent a sea expedition to raid Thana and Broach on the Bombay coast. Other unsuccessful raiding expeditions to Sindh took place in 662 and 664 AD. Indeed, within a hundred years after Muhammad's death, Muslim armies had overrun much of Asia as far as the Hindu Kush. However, it was not until c.1000 AD that they could establish any foothold in India.

In the early 11th century, Mahmud of Ghazni conquered the Hindu Shahi kingdom in the Punjab. His raids into northern India weakened the Pratihara kingdom, which was drastically reduced in size and came under the control of the Chandelas. In 1018 AD, Mahmud sacked the city of Kannauj, seat of the Pratihara kingdom, but withdrew immediately to Ghazni, being interested in booty rather than empire. In the ensuing chaos, the Gahadvala dynasty established a modest state centered around Kannauj, ruling for about a hundred years. They were defeated by Muhammad of Ghor in 1194 AD, when the city was sacked by the latter.

Meanwhile, a nearby state centered around present-day Delhi was ruled successively by the Tomara and Chauhan clans. Prithiviraj III, ruler of Delhi, defeated Muhammad of Ghor at the First Battle of Tarain (1191 AD). Muhammad returned the following year and defeated Prithviraj at the Second Battle of Tarain (1192 AD). In this battle, as in many others of this era, rampant internecine conflict among Rajput kingdoms facilitated the victory of the invaders.

Later Rajput States

Prithviraj Chauhan proved to be the last Rajput ruler of Delhi. The Chauhans, led by Govinda, grandson of Prithviraj, later established a small state centered around Ranthambore in present-day Rajasthan. The Songara sept of the Chauhan clan later ruled Jalore, while and Hada sept of the same clan established their rule over the Hadoti region in the mid-13th century. The Rever Maharaja Ranavghansinh ruled Taranga, while region in the 11th century. The Tomaras later established themselves at Gwalior, and the ruler Man Singh built the fortress which still stands there. As we have seen, Muhammad's armies brought down the Gahadvala kingdom of Kannauj in 1194 AD. Some surviving members of the Gahadvala dynasty are said to have refugeed to the western desert, formed the Rathore clan, and later founded the state of Marwar. The Kachwaha clan came to rule Dhundhar (later Jaipur) with their capital at Amber.

Other relocations surmised to have occurred in this period include the emigration of Rajput clans to the Himalayas. The Katoch clan, the Chauhans of Chamba and certain clans of Uttaranchal and Nepal are counted among this number.

Conflict with the Sultanate

The Delhi Sultanate was founded by Qutb ud din Aybak, Muhammad of Ghor's successor, in the early 13th century. Sultan Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316) conquered Gujarat (1297), Malwa (1305), Ranthambore (1301), Chittorgarh (1303) Jalore and Bhinmal (1311), all after long sieges and fierce resistance from their Rajput defenders.

First Jauhar: In particular, the siege of Chittor (1303), its brave defence by the Guhilas, the saga of Rani Padmini and the Jauhar she led are the stuff of immortal legend. This incident has had a defining impact upon the Rajput character and is detailed in a succeeding section.

Ala-ud-din Khilji delegated the administration of the newly conquered areas to his principal Rajput collaborator, Maldeo Songara, ruler of Jalore; the latter was soon displaced by his son-in-law Hammir, a scion of the lately displaced Guhila clan, who re-established the state of Mewar c.1326 AD. Mewar was to emerge as a leading Rajput state, after Rana Kumbha expanded his kingdom at the expense of the sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat.

Mughal Era (16th-18th c.)

The Delhi sultanate was extinguished when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. Rana Sanga, ruler of Mewar, rallied an army to challenge Babur. He was betrayed by one of his Rajput generals, and was defeated by Babur at the Battle of Khanua on March 16, 1527. However, it was not until the reign of Akbar that the structure of relations between the Mughal imperium and the Rajput states took definitive shape.

Second Jauhar: Rana Sanga died soon after the battle of Khanua; shortly afterwards, Mewar came under the regency of his widow, Rani Karmavati. The kingdom was menaced by Bahadur Shah, ruler of Gujarat. According to one romantic legend of dubious veracity, Karmavati importuned the assistance of Humayun, son of her late husband's foe. The help arrived, but too late; Chittor was reduced by Bahadur Shah. This is the occasion for the second of the three Jauhars performed at Chittor. Karmavati led the ladies of the citadel into death by fire, while the menfolk sallied out to meet the besieging Muslim army in a hopeless fight to the death.

Mughal-Rajput Alliance

Babur's son Humayun was an ineffectual ruler who was forced to spend long periods in exile. His son Akbar, however, was made of a different mettle. Akbar consolidated his inheritance and expanded what had been the "Delhi sultanate" into a wide empire. A main factor in this success was indubitably his co-option of native Rajput chiefs into his empire-building project; his reign countenanced, for the first time, the involvement of Hindus in the affairs of the empire. The Rajput chiefs collaborated with alacrity, an alliance cemented by marriage, with numerous Rajput noblewomen being wed to mughal grandees. The Kachwahas were the first to extend matrimonial alliances with Akbar; they pioneered a trend that soon turned pervasive and played no small role in extending Rajput influence across the Indian sub-continent, from Bengal to Afghanistan to the Deccan. Indeed, two successive mughal emperors, Jehangir and Shah Jehan, were born to Rajput mothers.

Rajput chiefs served as mughal officers and administrators across the mughal empire and enjoyed much influence in the government. In this period, the aristocratic image of the Rajputs can be said to have finally crystallized; consequently, caste-divisions became rigid. The trend of political relations between Rajput states and the central power was the precursor for similar relations between them and the British.

Maharana Pratap

Third Jauhar: However, these relations were not universally approbated. Mewar, which justly enjoys a unique position in the Rajput mind, held out and valiantly gave battle to Akbar. After a brave struggle, Mewar's chief citadel of Chittor finally fell to Akbar in 1568. The third (and last) Jauhar of Chittor transpired on this occasion. When the fall of the citadel became imminent, the ladies of the fort committed collective self-immolation and the men sallied out of the fort to meet the invading muslim army in a hopeless fight to an honourable death.

Prior to this event, Mewar's ruler, Udai Singh, had retired to the nearby hills; he was succeeded while in exile by his son Rana Pratap as head of the Sisodia clan. Even in exile, the Sisodias did not rest; under the able leadership of Rana Pratap Singh, they harassed the mughal administrators of the land enough to cause them to make accommodatory overtures. Rana Pratap, a present-day Rajput icon, rebuffed every such overtures of friendship from Akbar, and rallied an army to meet the mughal forces. He was defeated at the battle of Haldighati on June 21, 1576 and was forced to withdraw to the Aravalli ranges. However, he carried out a relentless guerilla struggle from his hideout in those hills, and never gave in to the mughal power. By the time of his death, Rana Pratap Singh had reconquered nearly all of his kingdom from the Mughals, except for the fortress of Chittor. After Pratap's death, his son Amar Singh continued the struggle for some time, but finally entered into alliance with the mughals. He thus regained control of his state as a vassal of the mughals.

The Sisodias rulers of Mewar were famously the last Rajput dynasty to enter into alliance with the Mughals. The Rajput states thereafter remained loyal to the mughal empire for over two centuries, until it was supplanted by the British Raj. Indeed, even as late as in the early 19th century, Rajput courts rarely failed to formally affirm their loyalty to the (by now entirely powerless) mughal emperor in all their official communiques and documents.

Maratha and British Suzerainty (18th-20th c.)

The Marathas of the Deccan rose to power in the 18th century. They conquered the major portion of India during this period, including the Rajput states of central and western India. Jodhpur was conquered by Sindhia, who annexed the fort and town of Ajmer and levied a tribute of 60,000 rupees. James Tod, whose personal observation pertains to this period, records that internecine disputes, succession wars and the relentless exaction of levies by the Marathas left the Rajput states immiserated, and that the Rajput states repeatedly petitioned the British administration for protection. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818), 18 states in the Rajputana region, of which 15 were ruled by Rajputs, entered into "subsidiary alliance" with the HEIC and became princely states under the British Raj. The British took direct control of Ajmer, which became the province of Ajmer-Merwara. A vast number of other Rajput states in central and western India made a similar transition. Most od them were placed under the authority of the Central India Agency and the various states' agencies of Kathiawar.

The British colonial officials in general were very impressed by the military qualities of the Rajputs. In his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan James Tod writes:

"What nation on earth could have maintained the semblance of civilization, the spirit or the customs of their forefathers, during so many centuries of overwhelming depression, but one of such singular character as the Rajpoot? . . . Rajast’han exhibits the sole example in the history of mankind, of a people withstanding every outrage barbarity could inflict, or human nature sustain, from a foe whose religion commands annihilation; and bent to the earth, yet rising buoyant from the pressure, and making calamity a whetstone to courage. . . . Not an iota of their religion or customs have they lost. . . ".

When India gained its independence in 1947, the Rajput states acceded unto the dominion of India and dominion of Pakistan. They were all merged into the union of India before 1950.

Culture and Ethos

The Rajput ethos is martial in spirit, fiercely proud and independent, and emphasizes lineage and tradition. Rajput patriotism is legendary, an ideal they embodied with a sometimes fanatical zeal, often choosing death before dishonour. Rajput warriors were often known to fight until the last man.

All recorded instances of jauhar and "Saka" have featured Rajput defenders of a fort, resisting the invasion of a Muslim force. On several occasions when defeat in such an engagement became certain, the Rajput defenders of the fort scripted a final act of heroism that rendered the incident an immortal inspiration and afforded the invaders only an exceedingly hollow, inglorious victory. In such incidents, the ladies of the fort would commit collective self-immolation. Wearing their wedding dresses, and holding their young children by the hand, the ladies would commit their chastity to the flames of a massive, collective pyre, thereby escaping molestation and dishonour at the hands of the invading army. As the memorial of their herioc act, the ladies would leave only the imprint of the palm of their right hands on wet clay, which have become objects of veneration. This immolation would occur during the night, to the accompaniment of Vedic chants. Early the next morning, after taking a bath, the men would wear saffron-coloured garments, apply the ash from the pyres of their wives and children on their foreheads and put a tulsi leaf in their mouth. Then the gates would be opened and men would ride out for one final, heroic, hopeless battle, dying gloriously on the field of honour.This fight till death of men is called "Saka" The historic fort of Chittor, seat of the Sisodia kingdom of Mewar, was the site of the three most famous Jauhars recorded in history.

The Rajput lifestyle was designed to foster a martial spirit. Tod (1829) describes at length the bond between the Rajputs and their swords. The double-edged scimitar known as the khanda was a popular weapon among the Rajputs of that era. On special occasions, a primary chief would break up a meeting of his vassal chiefs with khanda nariyal, the distribution of daggars and coconuts (page-453). The Karga Shapna ritual, performed during the annual Navaratri festival, was another affirmation of the Rajput's reverence for his sword.

By the late 19th century, there was a shift from an emphasis on questions regarding the political relations amongst the Rajputs to a concern with kinship (Kasturi 2002:2). According to Harlan (1992:27), many Rajputs of Rajasthan are nostalgic about their past and keenly conscious of their genealogy, emphasizing a Rajput ethos that is martial in spirit, with a fierce pride in lineage and tradition. These are indeed the timeless values of the Rajput community, as the Encyclopedia Britannica (1911 edition) affirms in its resume of the contemporary social values of the community;

The tradition of common ancestry permits a poor Rajput yeoman to consider himself as well born as any powerful landholder of his clan, and superior to any high official of the professional classes. No race in India can boast of finer feats of arms or brighter deeds of chivalry, and they form one of the main recruiting fields for the Indian army of the day. They consider any occupation other than that of arms or government derogatory to their dignity, and consequently during the long period of peace which has followed the establishment of the British rule in India, they have been content to stay idle at home instead of taking up any of the other professions in which they might have come to the front.

Cognate Communities

The mainstream Rajput community comprises of Hindus belonging to the Kshatriya caste and to a specific set of 36 clans. Several other communities identify themselves as being Rajput, typically claiming to be of partial Rajput descent. They are found both in the Hindu community and in other religious groups.

Cognate Hindu communities: Certain Hindu communities claim partial descent from the Rajput community while holding social identities that set them apart from the main communion. The Garasia Scheduled tribe of the Aravalli hills are among these. Many Rajputs perforce fled to the hills at various points in history, where they are said to have occasionally intermarried with the Bhils; the Garasia community claim to be descended from such intermarriage. Some sections of the Gaddi scheduled tribe of Himachal Pradesh ascribe to themselves a similar heritage, as do the Gadia Lohar community of nomadic blacksmiths. Certain specific sections of the Jain and Marwari communities also hold themselves to be of part-Rajput descent. Clans and tribes belonging to Oad community also claim its lineage as being that of Rajputs.

Sikh Rajputs: The census of 1931 recorded the existence of 50,000 people who claimed to be both Rajput and Sikh. Occasional instances of inter-marriage between them and Hindu Rajputs are recorded particularly those claming a common Gujjar ancestry.

Muslim Rajputs: The census of 1931 recorded a population of 2.1 million Muslim Rajputs in British India, concentrated primarily in Panjab and the United Provinces with smaller numbers in other places. In Panjab, Sindh, and Kashmir, they made up the majority of those claiming to be Rajput. The great majority of Muslim Rajputs today live in Pakistan. Detailed information on the community is available at the Muslim Rajputs page.

The Muslim Rajputs trace their lineages back to Hindu Rajputs who converted to Islam. Kasturi (2002:2) affirms that one or more branches in a stratified clan lineage could indeed be Muslim. However, there is no inter-marriage or other clan relations between Muslim and Non-Muslim Rajputs; however, Muslim Rajputs may intermarry with Muslims of other communities. Nevertheless, Muslim Rajputs usually marry amongst themselves, and only seldom depart from the custom of endogamy. The Thukrai community of East Champaran district in Bihar, India are among those noted for maintaining a strict tradition of Muslim Rajput endogamy. Prominent Muslim Rajput personalities include, Raja Alla Ditta Khan An Activist of Khilafat movement and Ex. soldier of WW1 in Royal Indian Army, Raja Sajjawal Khan, Zaildar and renowned personality of Mirpur Jammur Kashmir, Gen. Asif Nawaz Janjua,Ex. chief of army staff Pakistan,General Iftikhar Janjua, Pakistani military commander; Amir Khan, British Olympic silver medalist for boxing and Rana Sehar Ali-Noor.

Famous Rajput Personalities

Historical

The Rajputs have contributed to many facets of Indian life, both historically and in the modern age. A few prominent Rajputs are mentioned below:

• Bappa Rawal
• Rana Hamir
• Prithviraj Chauhan
• Rani Padmini(Queen of Rana Ratan Singh of Chittor)
• Rana Kumbha
• Rana Sanga
• Rani Karmawati (Sent "Rakhi" to Humayun.But the help did not reach in time.II Jauhar of Chittor)
• Rana Udai Singh II (Found the city of Udaipur)
• Maha Rana Pratap
• Dulla Bhatti
• Banda Bahadur
• Mira Bai(Famous devotee and poet)
• Raja Anangpal (Founded Dhillika, Modern Delhi)
• Raja Pajawan or Pajjun (King of Amber.Brother in law and general of Prithviraj Chauhan)
• Raja Bhagwant Das (King of Amber Rajasthan.Won Kashmir and western parts for Moughals)
• Raja Man Singh I of Amber (King of Amber, Rajasthan.General of Akbar extended boundaries of India from Afganistan to Assam and far south)
• Mirza Raja Jai Singh I (King of Amber.Great warrior and statesman.He was responsible for Shivaji's surrender)
• Sawai Jai Singh II (Founder and King of Jaipur)
• Raja Man Singh (King of Gwalior, MP)
• Rawat Kandhal the uncle of Rao Bika who made him the dynasty'
• Raja Bhoj Parmar (King of Malwa)
• Rao Jodha (Found city of Jodhpur)
• Raja Amar Singh Rathore
• Raja Maldeo (King of Jodhpur. Nearly defeated Sher Shah Suri)
• Veer Durga Das Rathore
• Maharaja Jaswant Singh (King of Jodhpur)
• Rao Bika (Found Bikaner city)
• Maharaja Ganga Singh (First to bring canals in the desert)
• Keshari Singh Champawat (Freedom fighter of 1857 from Ahuwa district Pali Rajasthan)
• Gopal Singh Kharawa (Freedom fighter in 1857, from Kharawa Ajmer district Rajasthan)
• Kunwar Singh (Freedom fighter of Bihar in 1857)
• Veer Kunwar Singh Parmar (Ujjaini)(Leader of 1857 Freedom Fight)
• Baba Ramdevji Tanwar(Worshiped like god in Rajasthan,Gujrat,MP.Main temple at Ramdevra Jaisalmer Rajasthan)
• Gogaji Chauhan (Worshiped like god in Rajasthan,Haryana, UP. Temple at Gogameri, Hanuman garh,Rajasthan)
• Pabuji Rathore(Local diety of Rajasthan)
• Guru Jambhoji Panwar (Founder of Bishnoi Sect.Main temple at Mukam Rajasthan.)
• Raja Vikramaditya Parmar of Ujjain
• Raja Bharatri Parmar of Ujjain
• Raja Bhoj Parmar of Bhojpur Bihar after his name great Bhojpuri language is given this name,
• Babu Amar Singh Panwar (Ujjaini) Younger brother of Veer Kunwar Singh of Bihar.
• Sri Hardbu Ji Shankla (Panwar) - Renowned Saint
• Rao Shekha

Modern

National Politics

• Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Prime Minister of India (Dec.2, 1989-Nov.10, 1990)
• Late Rajendra Singh Tomar (Rajju Bhaiyya, RSS)
• Chandra Shekhar, Prime Minister of India (Nov.10, 1990-June 21, 1991)
• Jaswant Singh, Former Leader of opposition, Rajya Sabha
• Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice-president of India
• Arjun Singh - HRD Minister
• Maharaja Manvendra Shah Panwar of Tehri Garhwal (10 Times Sitting MP of Lok Sabaha)
• Youraj Tookoji Rao Pawar (Dewas), Minister in MP Govt.
• Rana Chandra Singh Sodha (Parmar)- Ex- Ruler of Amarkot in Pakistan and only Hindu Leader.
• Karan Singh (Congress Leader from J&K)
• Rajnath Singh (Former Chief Minister of UP and current BJP President)
• Maharani Gayatri Devi - Third Maharani of Jaipur
• Pratap Singh Rudi (Former Aviation Minister from Bihar)

State Politics

• Digvijay Singh (Congress Leader & Former Chief Minister of MP)
• Raman Singh (Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh)
• Shiv Raj Singh Chauhan (Chief Minister of MP)
• Bheem Singh (Panther Party Leader from J&K)
• Ajashatru Singh (Congress Leader from J&K, Son of Karan Singh)
• Narendra Singh Tomar - President BJP MP State
• Amar Singh (UP Leader of Samajwadi Party and Chairman of UPIDC)
• Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiya - Strong Rajput King and Minister in UP Govt.
• Dr. Ramesh Chand Tomar (Former 2 times BJP MP from Hapur Constituency, UP)
• Narendra Singh Shishodia (BJP MLA, Modinagar, UP)
• Mohar Singh Rathore, Churu - Rajasthan
• Jai Veer Singh Chauhan (Former Minister & currently MLA from Baroli constituency in UP)
• Veer Bhadra Singh (Former Chief Minister and Congress Leader from Himachal Pradesh)
• Surendra Singh Chauhan (Former Jail Minister from UP)
• Tan Singh, Barmer - Rajasthan

Business

• Ramesh Chauhan - Business - Connected to Bisleri & 77
• Dr. Ashok Kumar Chauhan - Established Amity University
• Ravi Singh - Restaurateur of New Zealand
• Hammad Arshad - Famous businessman in UK

Academics

• Prof. Kharag Singh Shishodia (IIT - New Delhi)
• Prof. Ashok Raghav (IIT - New Delhi)
• Dr. Raj Dev Singh( Gyanpur Harraiya Basti) - Professor University of Gorakhpur.
• Dr. Raj Kumar Singh Reader(Gyanpur Harraiya Basti) Education
• Dr. Shiv Mangal Singh 'Suman', Ujjain - Madhaya Pradesh V C
• Dr. Laxman Singh Rathore, Jodhpur Rajasthan V C

Defense

• Admiral Manvendra Singh
• Sagat Singh, Churu - Rajasthan
• Capt. Vikram Singh,(Advisor to PM Chandra Shekhar & President Punjab Rajput Sabha)
• Capt. Baldev Singh (Father of Chandrachood Singh, Film Actor)
• Karni Singh Rathore K.C.

Administration & Civil Servives

• Ch. Abdul Hameed Khan, Rehabilitation Commissioner of East and West Pakistan.
• Raja Sajjawal Khan (Zaildar of Mirpur Jammu Kashmir)
• Bhism Narayan Singh Panwar (Ex. Governor of Tamil Nadu and Assam)
• Akhand Pratap Singh - Former Chief Secretary of UP

Sports

• Dhyan "Chand" Singh - Olympian Hockey player pupolarly known as Magician of Hockey.
• Chetan Pratap Singh Chauhan - Ex. Cricketer & Former MP from Amroha
• Lal Chand Rajput - Ex. Cricketer from Bombay
• Rudra Pratap Singh - Cricketer - Bowler
• Danish Kaneria (Pakistani Rajput, Cricketer)
• Dalip Singh Rana aka The Great Khali-Famous Wrestler and Bodybuilder
• Ajay Chauhan - Wrestler
• Pargat Singh Panwar (Hockey Player,Sikh Rajput)
• Rajesh Tomar - Wrestler and title-holder of "Hampi Hamsari"
• Rajesh Chauhan - Indian Cricketer
• Mahendar Singh Dhoni - New superstar of India cricket team FROM UTTARANCHAL AND IN RANCHI
• Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Olympic Silver Medalist

Art, Culture, Cinema & Fashion Industry

• Raghavendra Rathore - Well-renowned fashion designer and son of Royal Jodhpur family
• Sunidhi Chauhan - Indian Renowned Singer
• Niharika Singh - Former Miss India Earth
• Sonal Chauhan - Fashion & Modelling
• Dr. Shivdan Singh Chauhan - Noted Hindi Litterateur, freedom fighter and recipient of the Soviet Land Nehru Award.
• Shailendra Chauhan - A poet of National Eminence
• Chandrachood Singh - Film Actor

Computers & Information Technology

• Dr. Arun Chauhan - Computer Scientist and Professor of Computer Science
• Pravesh Kumar Tomar - Renowned IT Professional (Computer Sciences Corporation)
• Raja Rashid Ashraf - IT Professional Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir
• Sohan Singh Chauhan - Computer Expert

Medicine

• Dr. LS Chauhan - Leader in Tuberculosis Research.
• Dr. Vijay Singh Chauhan - Cardiologist
• Dr. Rajesh Chauhan - An eminent doctor listed in Who's Who of the World in Medicine & Healthcare.
• Dr. Anoop J Chauhan - Renowned expert in respiratory medicine.
• Virendra Rajawat - Established first Reference Elisa Medical Laboratory in Jaipur
• Dr. Chitranjan S. Ranawat -Renowned orthopaedician and surgeon.Operated A.B.Vajpeyee Ex PM

Crime

• Sher Singh Rana (Murdered Phoolan Devi)
• Dacoit Lakhan Singh
• Dacoit Saudan Singh

Misceleneous

• Anand Kumar Singh Chauhan - B.Tech. National Institute of Foundry & Forge Technology
• Rana Kahan Singh Pundir - Working as Project Engg with SARCO Dubai(U.A.E)
• Dr. Brij Pal Singh Chauhan - An eminent scientist in cytogenetics and plant breeding.
• Anoop Chauhan - Senior Marine Engineer
• Dr. Shyam Vir Singh Chauhan - An eminent scientist in plant physiology.
• Pankaj Kumar Chauhan - Engineer and Ph D, A product from IIT Kharagpur.
• Mrityunjay Chauhan - Environmental Engineer
• Sundeep Chauhan - Leader in eLaw
• Jay Chauhan - Barrister & Solicitor
• Rajeev Singh (Gyanpur Harraiya Basti) Advertising Consultant
• Zohair Ul Mulk - Great Rajput King who defeated British General Cooks.
• Thakur Raja Fahad Hassan, kotli Azad Jammu & Kashmir (President of students youth wing Punjab Lahore)

The Finest Stories of Rajput Valour

Thakur Sher Singh Parmaralias Swami Apratimanand Ji, Kalinga ,Haryana .

He has been hailed as the Most Influential Thinker in the 21st century '.He is credited with having inspired the historical INDO-US Treaty of 18th July , 2005.He is a prominent Academician,Author ,Geographer ,Geopolitician ,Geostrategist, Philosopher and Poet.His prominent works include "Kyan Waqt Gujar Gayan ?" & "Gaeography , Economics and Economic Geography".His poems display a sincere deep yearning for Universal Peace ,Harmony ,Coexistence,Love , Religious Tolerance and Deep love for Mother India besides the deep concern for the down-trodden.

A former Indian customs officer , he is well known for The bold seizure of silver illegally landed worth 2.5 Crores effected by him under most adverse circumstances in the dead of the night at a remote sea beach on the Western Indian shores in 1991 at the young age of just 24 years.The Indian Customs authorities have this to say about this splendid accomplishment :"...Shri Sher Singh Parmar then Inspector of Customs Harnai Port...booked a seizure case of smuggled silver worth Rs. 2.50 Crores ( Approx. ) displaying exemplary bravery , resourcefulness and boldness on at Anjarla - Sawani ( Taluka Dapoli , Dist. Ratnagiri ) a remote western Indian Sea-Shore."

The Sawani-Anjarla Silver Seizure Case:

He joined the Central Excise Department, Government of India as an inspector in the year 1999. He exhibited commendable initiative in the collection of intelligence and preventive activities. While working at the Harnai Customs Office, he received an urgent call around 0030 hours on the midnight of 30th of January, 1991 to seize the silver that was being landed illegally at Sawani-Anjarle beach, a remote spot some 7-8 kilometre away from the customs office. He immediately rushed to the spot with just one sepoy at his disposal. On reaching the Paj-Anjarle creek, 4 kilometre away from the customs office, with great difficulties he persuaded the Hody Owner to ferry him and his sepoy on to the other side of the creek. Nearing the Landing Spot, he noticed 25-30 smugglers. He had just one sepoy. Time was crucial. It was a no-win situation. However, he decided to take risk to his own life and ordered his sepoy to open fire in different directions at different angles. He himself opened fire from the revolver bursting the tyres of the Vehicles ( a truck tempo and a Hero-Honda motorcycle ) parked there that were meant to carry the contraband goods and smugglers. He shouted the names of his seniors/juniors/colleagues who were actually not present on the scene. He flashed torchlight from different positions on the beach. He boldly challenged the fleeing smugglers to face him. But, by 0130 hours the smugglers leaving the contraband goods behind fled away thinking that they were attacked by a big force of Customs Officers. This courageous step, exemplary bravery, presence of mind and resourcefulness helped him outwit a well equipped and numerically a bigger number of smugglers. At 0330 hours, he was joined by his another sepoy. He alongwith his sepoys safeguarded the contraband goods till 0700 hours in the morning when the seizure was formally effected after the arrival of a bigger force of Customs Officers on the Landing Spot. This resulted into the seizure of Silver and other contraband goods which were valued at Rupees 2.5 Crores approximately then in 1991.

A firebrand Customs Officer of Pune Customs, he was deployed at the Bankot creek, one of the most vulnerable points along the western Indian coast, in the critical period of January and February, 1993 during the hey days of RDX and other ammunitions smuggling, but he successfully ensured that there was no such incident in his charge. Whereas the Customs Officers of Mumbai Customs just across the Bankot creek fell prey to help the smugglers smuggle-in RDX and other ammunitions which ultimately was used in the inhuman serial bomb blasts that rocked Mumbai in March, 1993 causing enormous death and destruction.]-(TIMES OF INDIA ,DECEMBER, 2006 mytimesmyvoice - archive)

Presently, this great Paramara Hero with a frail health but possessing A WILL of Iron and NERVES of STEEL is leading a life of abject economic poverty, deprivation and misery primarily due to his unpardonable ignorance by Indian Government.]

Famous Modern Rajput Surnames

Baghel, Bhati, Bhatti (Bhati), Bais, Bhadoria, Bhayal, Bhist, Bika, Banirot, Bidawat, Chhaunkar, Chauhan, Chudasama, Chandel, Chandrawat, Chundawat, Dewra, Hada, Jadeja, Jadon, Jayas, Jhala, Jodha, Jamwal, Kushwaha (Kachwaha), Kandhal, Naruka, Negi, Pundir, Pawar, Parmar (Panwar), Parihar, Pratihar, Raghav (Badgujar), Raghuvansi, Rathore, Rajawat, Rawal, Sankhla, Solanki, Shekhawat, Sikarwar, Sengar, (Sisodia, Gahlaut or Rana, Ranawat), Sodha, Tomar (Tanwar), Vaghela,

See also

• Rajput clans
• Martial Race
• History of Rajputs
• Mair Rajputs of Punjab
• Sikh Rajputs
• The Rajput Regiment
• Forward Castes
• Rajputs and Zoroastrianism
• Rajputs and Buddhism
• Muslim Rajputs

Notes

1. Glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and NWFP, H A Rose
2. Rajputs: A Scythian people?
3. Review of the book "Marginal Muslim Communities In India", edited by M.K.A.Siddiqui (2004)

Further References

• Template:Harvard reference .
• Kasturi, Malavika, Embattled Identities Rajput Lineages, Oxford University Press (2002) ISBN 0-19-565787-X
• M K A Siddiqui (ed.), Marginal Muslim Communities In India, Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi (2004)
• Template:Harvard reference.
• W.W. Hunter, The Indian empire, its people, history and products. First published: London, Trubner & Co., Ludgate Hill, 1886. ISBN 81-206-1581-6. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
• Dasharatha Sharma Rajasthan through the Ages a comprehensive and authentic history of Rajasthan, prepared under the orders of the Governemnt of Rajasthan. First published 1966 by Rajasthan Archives.

Further Readings

External links

• The Historic Mandore of the Pratihara (Parihar)
• Rajputs Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition; 2005
• Rajput Encyclopedia Britannica; 1911
• British Association of Rajputs
• Yahoo Group of Rajput World
• RajputIndia.com
• The Mewar Encyclopedia
• Ek Tha Raja
• Kota Chauhan Clan
• Jodhpur Rathore Clan
• Origin of Rajputs
• Rajput Vansh and Clans
• Rewa Baghel Clan
• Marwari Horse
• The Mair Rajputs of Punjab
• "Sikh Rajputs" in Punjab and Haryana

• Social groups of India
• Social groups of Rajasthan
• History of India
• Rajput chiefs
• Indian monarchs
• Ruling Hindu clans
• Rajputs
• Kshatriya
• Indo-Aryan peoples
• Warriors
• Military history of India
• Demographic history of India