There are almost as many theories
about the origin of Gurjars as there are writers who have done any
research in this matter. Just about any research, deep or
superficial. Every original writer differs from every other on one
count or the other. Here I would like to recollect all that I have
gathered about the origin of Gurjars. My source of this view is
partially what has been written in some of the books and a part is
arrived at by filling the missing links showing what would have
happened in the past.
Gurjar history dates back to more than
three thousand years. How much more than this can not be said with
certainty. The reason is not that we don't have any historical
records of their origin or early period but that their evolution was
so gradual that one couldn't feel the transition immediately. So it
is almost impossible to fix a particular date for their origin. It is
a principle, a way of living, a culture which makes one a Gurjar. It
is not a religion and nor does religion bind it. There are Gurjars
who are Hindus and there are Gurjars who are Muslims, Sikhs or Jains
etc etc.
There is no solid base behind the
theory that the Gurjars migrated from China, Central Asia or some
other far off place into India. There might have been people in India
who were Gurjars but their forefathers came into India from other
parts of the world including China and Central Asia, but it is not
true that Gurjars originated in Central Asia or some other part of
the world and from there they came to India. Rather the vice versa is
very much possible that though they originated in India, later many
of them moved to other parts of the world and took Gurjar culture
elsewhere. Huns and other such tribes entered India as migrant tribes
having different physical attributes and some of these migrant clans
became Hinduised and adopted Gurjar culture and thus came to be known
as Gurjars thereafter. In this way we can see that though Hun and
Kushana tribes adopted Gurjar culture, not all Huns and Kushans might
have become Gurjars. At least they might not have been Gurjars from
initial stage in their history wherever they might have been, be it
in China, Central Asia or elsewhere. It was just like samrat Ashok
getting influenced and then adopting Buddhist way of life
Gurjars as a distinct culture
originated in the north-western part of Indian Sub-continent, along
the plains of Indus, Satluj and now extinct Saraswati Rivers covering
parts of present day Rajasthan and Punjab, on both sides of border ie
India and Pakistan. It did not start as a different religious or
other ethnic group but as a culture and as followers of certain
principles set-out mutually in the larger interests of the
individuals, the society and the country they belonged to. These were
the principles laid down to be followed by everyone who wanted to be
a part of that culture. The language they used was derived from
Sanskrit and is known as Gurjari, Gujjari or Gojri language. It is
considered to be mother of many a North Indian languages.
There was no religious bondage. In
fact at that time outlook towards religion was philosophical and not
fundamentalist. All those people who adopted that system gradually
became an identity distinct from rest of the people and started
commanding respect from others. As the culture was a refined system,
it influenced more and more people and they took this system to even
far off places by migrating to those places from the land of their
origin.
Some of the kings, especially the ones
who entered India and established their kingdoms here, and followed
this exclusive way of life, ruled states small or big and at the same
time many other rulers adopted it when they came in contact with this
culture. Later on the off-springs of those families who ruled a
state at one time or the other started calling themselves Rajputs
irrespective of whether they further got to rule or not.
It was during the Moghul and the
British period that the followers of this culture could no longer
hold on to the glorious past and during this period degradation took
place as their followers, true to their principles and ethics,
opposed the foreign powers but lost in their war and thus lost all
the favours of the government as well. They were always an irritant
to invaders who came from outside of India. They very strongly and
openly opposed the English power but by that time, being out of power
for almost 700 years and being in constant war with their mighty
opponents, they had lost most of their power so though they continued
to oppose the British power, they did not meet with great success.
And in the bargain got worst of both, the political and economical
progress.
Gurjars very actively took part in
first war of independence in 1857 and had risen up in rebellion
against British power. As the British Imperialist power succeeded in
suppressing the uprising, they started witch hunt and targeted the
Gurjar community, amongst others, being most active against the Raj.
Subsequently Britishers acted very vindictively and displaced many
Gurjars and uprooted many Gurjar villages, my village Chandrawal
being one such village, confiscated many movable and immovable
properties, hounded and killed many young and old male members of the
community and banned all recruitment of Gurjars in government
services. This was enough to deprive Gurjars of their rightful due.
They were not in a position to fully put to use their talent and
energy and thus this lack of avenues, aided by frustration on being
neglected by the government led them to other acts like robbery and
dacoity against the British government as well as those people within
or outside their groups who supported government and its oppressive
policies.
This transformation from
'noble-people' to rebellious ones did not come out instantly. It took
hundreds of years. Thankfully it is over now and community is now on
its way to restore its past glory and with fast all-round
development, aided by a sincere and conscious effort, it will surely
not take that long but a far far short time for the community to
regain and relive its past glory.
