- Warfare for Wealth
- Vedic life in India
- Vedic Age
- Varna system
- Vajji
- Upanishads
- Trade and traders
- The Wise Beggar- Upanishad
- The Value of Paper
- The system of Ashrams
- The study of skeletons
- Gautama Buddha
- The story of Kisagotami
- The Story of Baryga
- The spread of Buddhism
- The Silk Route
- The Second Urbanisation
- The sangha
- The iron pillar
- The beginning of Bhakti
- The “achievements” of Nagabhata
- Six Schools of Indian Philosophy
- Samudragupta the warrior
- Oracle bones
- New Social and Political Groups traces from history
- New kingdoms along the coasts
- New and Old Terminologies used in History
- Monasteries
- Men as RULERS and KINGS
- Literature, art and books
- Legacy and Decline of the Gupta Empire
- Janapadas, Mahajanapadas
- Jainism
- Irrigation and villages during Ashoka
- Iron tools and agriculture in ancient India
- Inamgaon
- Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita
- Graves and Burials
- Early humans in INDIA (Locate)
- Ashoka’s war in Kalinga
- Ashoka’s inscription describing the Kalinga war
- Ashoka’s dhamma?
- Ashoka (a unique ruler)
- Arikamedu
- Archaeological evidences ?
- An Empire, Dynasty, and Kingdom
- Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari
- A poem about trade (class 6 NCERT)
- A description from the Silappadikaram
Mediveal Indian History
- Rise of Sultanate
- Zabt and Zamindars
- Who were the Tribal people?
- Who were the Mughals?
- The Watan Jagirs
- The tradition of Miniatures
- The three orders of Society
- The Rulers of Delhi
- The Reformation and Martin Luther
- The Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century
- The Maratha Kingdom-Shivaji
- The Jats (1680)
- The Idea of Supreme God in Ancient India
- The Gonds- A Closer Look
- The circle of justice: What Minhaj–Siraj thought about Raziyya
- The Ahoms from Brahmaputra Valley
- The “lost wax” technique
- Temple towns and Pilgrimage centres (Thanjavur)
- Taxes on markets, Traders Big and Small
- Religion in India After the 13th Century
- Provincial Kingdoms of Medieval India
- PIRS and temples
- Sultan Muhammad Tughluq
- Officers’ List in Mughal Empire
- Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis - the religious groups
- Mughal Relations with Other Rulers
- Mughal Military Campaigns
- Mughal marriages with the Rajputs
- Mughal Empire [Babur, Humayun] & Sur Dynasty
- Mughal Empire – Babur
- Mughal Emperors, Mughal Traditions of Succession
- Mansabdars and Jagirdars
- Mamluk Dynasty
- List of Officers in Delhi Sultanate
- Later Mughals & Decline of Mughal Empire
- Khilji Dynasty
- Kathak- Heroic tradition
- Jagannatha Cult-Indian Tradition
- Islam and Sufism
- India under the Mughals
- Humayun (1530-1556)
- Heroism and Rajputs
- Gardens, tombs and forts during the Mughals
- From Garrison Town to Empire: The Expansion of the Delhi Sultanate
- FISH as food
- Early Medieval Southern India (Imperial Cholas)
- Early Medieval Northern India
- Chieftains and their fortifications
- Cheras and Malayalam Language
- Bhakti Movement (8th to 18th Century)
- Baba Guru Nanak
- Arab and Turkish Invasions
- Akbar Successors
- Akbar (1556-1605)
- Administration under the Delhi Sultanate
- A Closer Look: The Cholas
- A Closer Look: Administration and Consolidation under the Khaljis and Tughluqs
Modern India History
- What Happened to the Court Artists?
- Freedom is our Birth Right
- Classical dances in India
- Why the Demand for Indian Indigo?
- What Happened to the Local Schools?
- Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age
- Tipu Sultan- The Tiger of Mysore
- The sword of Tipu Sultan and Wootz steel
- The Emergence of Nationalism
- Social Customs in the early 19th century
- The Rise of Gandhi in Indian Freedom Struggle
- The Regulating Act of 1773
- The Permanent Settlement of Bengal
- The Lucknow Pact, 1916
- The Government of India Act 1919
- The Charter Act 1853
- Subsidiary Alliance
- Revolutionaries in the Indian Freedom Movement
- Revolt of 1857 – First War of Independence Against British
- Popular Uprisings in the 18th and 19th Centuries -Politico-Religious Movements
- Popular uprisings against the British by deposed Chieftains and Landlords
- Poona Pact
- Pitt’s India Act, 1784
- Peasant Movements in the 19th Century – Rangpur Dhing
- Peasant Movements in the 19th Century – Indigo Rebellion
- Peasant Movements in the 19th Century – Deccan Riots of 1875
- Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan – Early Years, Partition, Arrest and Exile
- Indian National Movement – Extremist Period
- Indian National Congress Sessions
- Indian National Army (INA)/Azad Hind Fauj
- Indian Independence Act 1947
- Indian Councils Act 1892
- Indian Councils Act 1861
- India’s Struggle for Independence – Nana Saheb
- Important Indian Freedom Fighters - Lala Lajpat Rai
- Home Rule Movement
- Government of India Act 1935
- Government of India Act 1858
- Gandhi-Irwin Pact
- Dr. B R Ambedkar
- The Doctrine of Lapse
- Charter Act of 1833
- Charter Act of 1813
- Charter Act of 1793
- Causes of the Rise of the Indian National Movement
- Cabinet Mission
- C R Formula or Rajaji Formula (1944)
- Bhagat Singh – Background, Contributions, Execution
- Battle of Plassey
- Battle of Buxar
- Bardoli Satyagraha
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- August Offer
World History
- Athanaric
- Atahualpa
- Asuka Period
- Astarte
- Aspasia of Miletus
- Artemisia I of Caria
- Artemis
- Artaxiad Dynasty
- Artaxerxes I
- Artashat
- Arslan Tash Amulet
- French Anti Slavery Pamphlet
- Apartheid- Elaborate on the end of the system.
- Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre.
- Great Wall of China and its convict-built protection.
- Ancient Egypt-Concept of life and death
- Nuclear Arms Race-Post World War II
- Witch hunts and the Catholic Church.
- Communities of the Caribbean and Brazil
- Korean Democracy and IMF Crisis
- Korean War
- Establishing Democracy in China: 1949-65
- Rise of the Communist Party of China
- Civil wars of China
- Opium Wars
- The Meiji Restoration
- The Political System of Japan
- Ancient civilization and the use of weapons.
- Spain and Britain-Battle of the sea
- The Nagasaki Events and Hiroshima.
- Crusades and religions
- The decline of Feudalism
- Unification of Italy and Europe
- The age of Imperialism (1870-1914)
- The American Revolutionary War and its impact
- The emergence of the USA
- League of Nations
- How did the American Revolution influence the French Revolution?
- Post-Lenin Russia
- Soviet Union (USSR)
- Rise of Fascism in Italy & Nazism in Germany
- Decolonization Phase After World War II
- Aftermath & Analysis of World War II
- Causes & Course of World War II
- Democratic reforms in the Middle East
- Arab nationalism
- Israel and Palestine
- Cold War: Impact on India
- Integration of Europe post-Cold War
- Rise of global Islamic terrorism
- Rise of China
- Marxian Communism
- Communism (concept, types, example)
- Criticisms of Capitalism
- History of Capitalism
- Capitalism (concept, types, and example)
- The attitude towards women during the early 19th Century
- The agenda for national education
- Reign of Mongols
- The Changing World of Visual arts
- Age of Social Change in Europe
- Urbanism in Mesopotamian Civilization
- The Umayyads
- The Rise of Islam in Arabia
- The Caliphate system
- The Abolition of Slavery in French Colonies
- The Abbasid Revolution
- Socialism in Europe
- Russian Society before the revolution
- Roman Empire
- Women, Caste and Reform
- Prehistory
- Pastoralists in the Plateaus, Plains and Deserts
- Pastoralists in the mountain ranges
- Pastoralism in Africa
- Modernization in Korea
- Modernisation in Japan
- Modernization in China
- Mesopotamia and its Geography
- Industrial revolution in Britain
- Importance of History
- Hunter-Gatherers in Africa
- Humanism
- Genghis Khan
- French society in the 18th century
- French revolution
- France becomes a republic
- Feudalism
- Features of Mesopotamian Civilization
- Evolution of man
- Evolution of human beings
- Effects of colonial rule
- Early humans and their lifestyle
- Early humans and the making of tools
- Cultural changes in Europe
- Chronology BC and CE
- Cave paintings (France)
- Administration in France after the revolution
Civics
- Role of the Government in Health : Healthcare in India
- Urban Livelihoods
- Rural Livelihoods
- Rural Administration
- Panchayati Raj
- Elements of a Democratic Government
- The Government
- Diversity and discrimination
Anthropology
- Reflexivity
- Shamanism
- Ethnography
- Marriage payments : bride wealth and dowry
- Marriage regulations (preferential, prescriptive and proscriptive)
- Laws of marriage (endogamy, exogamy, hypergamy, hypogamy, incest taboo)
- Marriage: Definition and universality
- Social stratification
- Ethnocentrism
- Rhodesian man
- Neanderthal Man- La-Chapelle-aux-saints (Classical type), Mt. Carmel (Progressive type).
- Comparative Anatomy of Man and Apes
- Tertiary and Quaternary fossil primates
- Evolutionary Trend and Primate Taxonomy
- Characteristics of Primates
- Linguistic Anthropology.
- Archaeological Anthropology
- Biological Anthropology
- Social-cultural Anthropology
Sociology
- Sociological Network
- Objectivity and Reflexivity in Social Science
- Indian Sociological Thinkers
- Post Modernism, Post Structuralism and Post Colonialism
- Hermeneutic and Interpretative Traditions
- Parenting in LGBT families
- Intergenerational marriage
- Mass media harassment
- Character representation in Kids’ cartoons
- Online dating; the positive and negative effects
- How the social media aided the “black lives matter” campaign
- Eco feminism
- Tribal communities in India
- The idea of Indian village and village studies.
- Modernization of Indian tradition.
- Education and social change.
- Agents of social change.
- Sociological theories of social change.
- Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.
- Systems of Kinship
- Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults
- Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties.
- Labour and society
- Formal and informal organization of work
- Social organization
- Social mobility
- Theories of social stratification
Performing Arts
- Odissi Dance
- Indian Classical Music – Hindustani
- Dhvani Siddhanta’ of Anandavardhanacharya
- Rasa and its constituent elements
- Sri Shankuka
- Bhatta Lollata
- Rasa Sutra of Bharata
- Nayaka–Nayika Bheda
- Natya, nritta and nritya
- Indian Classical Theatre
- Bharata’s Natyashastra
- Shilappadikaram: In terms of content, characters, and relevance to Indian Theatrical Practice
- Mahabharata: In terms of content, characters, and relevance to Indian Theatrical Practice
- Ramayana: In terms of content, characters, and relevance to Indian Theatrical Practice
- Cultural History of India
Biographies
- Benjamin Franklin
- Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007) Prime Minister of Pakistan 1993 – 1996
- Oprah Winfrey (1954 – ) American TV presenter, actress, entrepreneur
- Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) German composer
- Lyndon Johnson (1908 – 1973) US President 1963 – 1969
- Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005) American civil rights activist
- Pope Francis (1936 – ) First pope from the Americas
- Queen Victoria ( 1819 – 1901) British monarch 1837 – 1901
- Paul McCartney (1942 – ) British musician, member of Beatles
- Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) British Prime Minister during WWII
- Muhammad Ali (1942 – 2016) American Boxer and civil rights campaigner
- Bill Gates (1955 – ) American businessman, founder of Microsoft
- Donald Trump (1946 – ) Businessman, US President
- John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963) US President 1961 – 1963
- Marilyn Monroe (1926 – 1962) American actress, singer, model
- Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) Italian, painter, scientist, polymath
- Walt Disney
- Lata Mangeshkar
- Indira Gandhi
- Jawahar Lal Nehru
- Babur
- Aristotle
- Galileo Galilei
- Enid Blyton
- Christopher Columbus
- Simon Bolivar
- Stephen Hawking
- Sir Isaac Newton
- Alfred Nobel
- Marie Curie
- Alexander Fleming
- Charles Darwin
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- M.K. Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi)
- Socrates
- George Washington
- Benito Mussolini
- Adolf Hitler
- Abraham Lincoln
- Martin Luther King
- William Shakespeare
- Mikhail Gorbachev
- Thomas Jefferson
- Margaret Mead
- Robert K. Merton
- Talcott Parsons
- Emile Durkheim
- Karl Marx
History of Art
- Mycenaean Culture & Art: History & Influence:
- Amarna Period: Definition & Art:
- The Luxor Temple in Egypt: Facts & Overview
- Queen Hatshepsut: Facts, Accomplishments & Death
- Ancient Egyptian Sculptures & Paintings: Innovation & Examples
- Egyptian Pyramids: Definition, Facts & Structure:
- Funerary Beliefs, Practices & Temples in Ancient Egypt:
- The Pharaohs as Patrons of the Arts
- Ancient Egyptian Art & Architecture: History, Politics & Culture:
- Assyrian Art and Architecture
- Art of the Babylonians: Style, Examples & Achievements
- Mesopotamian Art During the Akkadian Dynasty & Neo-Sumerian Period
- Sumerian Art and Architecture
- Human & Animal Forms in the Art of the Ancient Near East:
- Representation of Spiritual Beliefs in the Art of the Ancient Near East
- Artworks of the Ancient Near East: Materials, Forms & Functions
- Use of Naturalism & Stylization in Mesopotamian Art
- Art of the Ancient Near East: Periods & Characteristics:
- Mesopotamia: Culture, Facts & History:
- Art in the Neolithic Era: Innovations, Characteristics & Examples
- Cave Painting: History & Pictures:
- Art in the Upper Paleolithic Era: Examples & Style
- What Is a Medium in Art: Definition & Terms
- What is Western Civilization? - Definition & Overview
- Why do Humans Make Art? - History & Value
- What is Art History? - Definition & Overview
Introduction
The decpne of the Mughal Empire led to the emergence of numerous independent and semi-independent regional powers to assert their authority over the Mughal empire. The Jats were agriculturist settlers, pving around Delhi, Agra, and Mathura who were offended due to the oppressive popcies of Aurangzeb and started rebelpng against the empire. These revolts started in 1669 under the leadership of Gokul, one of the zamindars of Tilpat (which corresponds to modern-day Faridabad in Haryana). After initial difficulties, they succeeded in setting up a new Jat state of Bharatpur under the leadership of Churaman and Badan Singh.
This Jat state of Bharatpur reached its zenith under Surajmal. He not only built an efficient administration but also expanded this kingdom to a greater extent. His state included the territories from the Ganges in the east to Chambal in the south. And the Subas Agra, Mathura, Meerut, and Apgarh became parts of the state.
Expansion of the Jat Power (1680-1707)
There were several leaders of this peasant community, who raised their voices against the oppressive systems of the Mughals. One such leader during the seventeenth century was Brij Raj of Sinsini (a village a few miles away from Bharatpur). He along with other Jats rebels ralped against the Faujdar of Agra, Mustafa Khan. He played an important role in gathering the villagers, who wanted to withhold the revenue asked by the Mughal administration.
Though earper he promised the Faujdar of the area for cooperation in the matter, later with other villagers he resorted to dying than paying the revenue. And for this matter, Brij Raj called for an armed battle with the Faujdar’s army, and ultimately defeated the Faujdar Multafta Khan. In 1682 a Mughal contingent was sent to the stronghold of Bri Raj. In this battle, he lost his pfe along with his son Bhao Singh.
Another strong leader of the Jat community was Raja Ram, the son of Bhajja Singh(Brother of Brij Raj). He gave a tough challenge to the Mughals by conducting loot and plunders in Mughal territories. He organized the Jat communities into a proper standing army as he learned from the weakness of Gokula’s rebelpon, that it is important to have a well-equipped army to fight against the advanced troops of the Mughals. And for this, he started making alpances with chieftains of different Jat clans. He even started building forts in the extreme interiors of the forest for protection and also practised guerrilla warfare for loot and plunders.
When Aurangzeb was busy in Deccan with Marathas, the northern part of the Mughal empire started weakening. This was taken as an advantage by Jats. They started conducting raids in several unprotected Mughal territories nearby Agra, to reduce the emperor s control over those regions. The Jats under Rajaram even tried to ransack Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra. But they had to encounter Abul Fazal(the Faujdar of the area), who saved the Akbar’s tomb and eventually the Mughals from this raid by Jats.
Raja Ram reappeared at Sikandra in 1688 and this time he succeeded in his plunder of Akbar’s tomb. This activity of Jats offended Aurangzeb so much, that he sent his grandson Bidar Khan to counter these Jat rebels. At that time, there was a war going on between the Rajputs of Chauhan and Shekewat. Raja Ram joined the side of Shekhawat and Bidhar Khan joined hands with Chauhan, and in this battle, Raja Ram was killed by a Mughal musketeer in 1688.
Prosperous Agriculturapsts
The Jats were the largest community in the northwest part of the Indian subcontinent (India and Pakistan). This community comprised Hindu and Sikh people of the subcontinent. Initially, they were cattle and sheep herders but gradually they adopt farming as their main occupation. Probably the beginning of Jats as agriculturists in this region due to the emergence of the Indus valley civipzation, where people started settpng down near the river Indus. And the Indus river provided enough water for farming along with a fertile region. In the 1680’s they started dominating the area between the two important Mughal states Delhi and Agra. Two important states of Panipat and Bhallabhgarh became important trade centres under their domination. Over the years this land-owning community became an influential group in different parts of northern India pke Punjab, some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi.
Surajmal and the Kingdom Bharatpur Emerged as a Strong State
The continuous revolt by the Jat community against the oppressive popcies of the Mughals led to the formation of an important Jat kingdom under the chieftains of this community and finally set up an independent Jat state of Bharatpur. And this Jat state became more powerful under the leadership of Suraj mal(the son of Thakur Badan Singh). He efficiently administered his kingdom. To consopdate his power, he was not only facing clashes with the Mughals but also with the Marathas, Rajputs of Rajasthan, and Afghans.
Mughals tried to siege Bharatpur under the leadership of Sadat Khan. And the Mughals were successful in capturing one of the outposts. But when Raja Surajmal got to know about this he attacked them and besieged the Mughal camp. After this Sadat Khan made a peace and left Bharatpur. In 1792 Chaudhari Charan Das was given refuge by Raja Suramal against the Murtaza Khan(The governor of Faridabad) and royal Farman issued by the Mughal. On this, even one of the Rohilla nawab advised the Mughal grand wazir, Safdar Jang, that this Jat could not be defeated.
Mughals accepted this advice and they did not conduct any further actions against the Jat. And Surajmal was given Faridabad as jagir of Chaudary Charan das. This improved the relations between the Mughals and Jats.
The tension arose again when Ghazi-ud-din overthrew Safdar Jang as grand wazir and decided to take revenge on Surajmal. In 1754 with Maratha s support, he besieged the fort. This siege continued for three months. Then one of the Jat rani. Kishori Bai asked for help from Marathas and they could not deny this and helped Jats against the Mughals.
After this Surajmal had to face Afghans, as Ahmed Shah Abdap besieged the fort of Dig and asked for the tribute, which Surajmal was unable to pay. After a point of time, Abdap raise the siege and left the area but he again came back in 1760 to siege another fort of Kop(modern-day Apgarh). After this Suraj mal again decided to capture Agra fort to re-estabpsh his influence in the Doab region and somehow he succeeded in doing so.
Ultimately, Surajmal died while fighting with Rohillas under Najib-ud-daulah. However, the Jat state suffered a decpne after the death of Surajmal in 1763.
One of the famous pieces of architecture built by the Jat ruler was the garden palace at Dig. It was built in 1772 in Rajasthan few kilometers away from Bharatpur. This place was made in a Hindu style, combining the style of Agra and Amber. It was made for the leisure time of Jat rulers. It was in use till the 1970s.
Conclusion
With the disintegration of the Mughals, several kingdoms tried to assert their independence from Mughal sovereignty. One of them was the Jats, who were unhappy and offended by the anti-Hindu popcies of Aurangzeb. From the second half of the 17th century, the Jat communities started retapating against these popcies in the form of revolts from different fronts. All these revolts paved the way for the formation of the Jat state of Bharatpur by Badan Singh. And the credit for bringing together all these Jat rebels and making Bharatpur a stronghold of the Jat goes to Raja Surajmal. But after the death of the strong leader Suraj Mal, the Jat kingdom began to decpne as his successors could hold this kingdom efficiently pke him.
FAQs
Q.1. What was the Gokula rebelpon and when did it take place?
Ans. The Gokula rebelpon took place in 1669 under the leadership of Jat Zamindar of Tilpat, Gokula Singh. He challenged the Mughal authority by withholding the increased land revenue.
Q.2. Which popcies of Aurangzeb hurt the repgious sentiments of Jats?
Ans. Aurangzeb’s repgious popcy in which he took anti-Hindu measures mainly offended the Jat community. He took several measures pke repgious persecution, destruction of temples, conversion to Islam and imposition of jizyah, etc. All these steps taken by Aurangzeb created discontent among the Jats.
Q.3. Who was Sadat khan?
Ans. Sadat Khan also called Nizam-ul-Mulk, was the governor of Awadh. Later he was given the title of ‘Khan Bahadur’ by Aurangzeb as he accompanied the Mughal emperor in the battle against Marathas in Deccan. He was also known as the founder of the principapty of Awadh.
Q.4. Who are Jats? Where is this community found in present-day India?
Ans. The Jats were originally pastorapsts but transformed into agriculturapsts. Now, most of the Jat communities are predominantly found in Haryana along with some other parts of northern India pke Punjab and Rajasthan.
Q.5. Why did the Jat state or kingdom fall after the death of Suraj Mal?
Ans. After Surajamal’s death, the state sppt into small areas controlled by the petty Zamindars who mainly pved by plunders and loot. They were never united by any leader after Suraj Mal, towards the estabpshment of a strong kingdom.