Chahar (clan)
Encyclopedia
Chahar also known by variations like Chahad, Char and Chaharag, is a gotra
or clan of Jats in India
. People belonging to this clan are found in the states of Rajasthan
, Madhya Pradesh
, Haryana
and Uttar Pradesh
. Chahars are said to have originated from the Chola Rajput
dynasty of south India
.
fort in Gwalior region at the end of 13th century. It is said that the name of the Chahar Jat clan comes from this king. Coins of Chahar Dev are found in the region with "Asawar Sri Samant Dev" marked on one side and the figure of a king riding a horse on the other side.
Later Chahar Dev was defeated and killed by Muslim invaders. After this, his descendents moved to Brij Bhumi (i.e. Agra-Mathura) region of Uttar Pradesh. Many of the Chahar jats are still found in this region, see below. After some more years, one group of his descendents moved to Matsya
region of Rajasthan and another group moved to Jangladesh
region, also of Rajasthan. Till today this is the geographic configuration and distribution of the Chahar Jat population.
In all these areas (that is Agra/Mathura, Matsya and Jangladesh) the Chahar Jats became important among the peasant communities and were Choudharies or village headmen. They often served as the important assistants, darbaris and officers of the big Rajput rulers and the Muslim and British overlords. There are many stories of the loyalty and courage of the Chahar village headmen. The Muslim rulers of north India would award the office of Faujdar
to people who had responsibility of protecting some territory. Chahar Jats have served as Faujdars in the past, just like some other clans including Sinsinwar
, Sogarwar
and Kuntal.
Maldev, father of Somadevi
, is an important figure and all Chahars are proud of him. Sometime in the 15th century, Maldev was the Chaudhary (village headman) of Sidhmukh
village in Jangladesh
(the area around Bikaner). He was a vassal of the Bhati
Rajput
ruler of Jaisalmer
. He gave a tough fight to a Muslim army which was returning to Delhi after plundering Jaisalmer. The chief of the Muslim army wanted to take away Maldeo's daughter, Somadevi
, as a booty of war. Maldeo refused to surrender his daughter to the Muslim invader. He gave tough fight but was killed and Somadevi was forcibly taken away. Remaining members of Maldeo's family migrated to the Jhunjhawati
region.
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
or clan of Jats in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. People belonging to this clan are found in the states of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
and Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. Chahars are said to have originated from the Chola Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
dynasty of south India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
.
History
Raja Chahar Dev was the ruler of NarwarNarwar
Narwar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Shivpuri district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Narwar is a historic town and the Narwar Fort is just east of the Kali Sindh River and is situated at a distance of 42 km from Shivpuri. Narwar was known as Narwar District during the times of...
fort in Gwalior region at the end of 13th century. It is said that the name of the Chahar Jat clan comes from this king. Coins of Chahar Dev are found in the region with "Asawar Sri Samant Dev" marked on one side and the figure of a king riding a horse on the other side.
Later Chahar Dev was defeated and killed by Muslim invaders. After this, his descendents moved to Brij Bhumi (i.e. Agra-Mathura) region of Uttar Pradesh. Many of the Chahar jats are still found in this region, see below. After some more years, one group of his descendents moved to Matsya
Matsya
Matsya was the first Avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. The great flood finds mention in Hindu mythology texts like the Satapatha Brahmana, where in the Matsya Avatar takes place to save the pious and the first man, Manu and advices him to build a giant boat.-The Legend:According to the Matsya...
region of Rajasthan and another group moved to Jangladesh
Jangladesh
Jangladesh also known as Jangal Pradesh was a historical region in north, north-western and north-eastern Rajasthan state in northern India. It included the present-day districts of Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh....
region, also of Rajasthan. Till today this is the geographic configuration and distribution of the Chahar Jat population.
In all these areas (that is Agra/Mathura, Matsya and Jangladesh) the Chahar Jats became important among the peasant communities and were Choudharies or village headmen. They often served as the important assistants, darbaris and officers of the big Rajput rulers and the Muslim and British overlords. There are many stories of the loyalty and courage of the Chahar village headmen. The Muslim rulers of north India would award the office of Faujdar
Faujdar
Faujdar/Fouzder/Fouzdar/Foujdar was a title awarded by Muslim rulers to people who had responsibility of protecting some territory.In pre-Mughal times, the term referred to a military officer but did not refer to a specific rank. With the administrative reforms performed by Mughal emperor Akbar,...
to people who had responsibility of protecting some territory. Chahar Jats have served as Faujdars in the past, just like some other clans including Sinsinwar
Sinsinwar
Sinsinwar is a gotra of Jats found in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, India. The Bharatpur rulers of the Sinsinwar gotra have originated from Sini/Shini in the ancestry of Krishna; which itself is derived from Krishna's own gotra, Vrishni. They are Chandravanshi kshatriyas...
, Sogarwar
Sogarwar
Sogarwar , Sogaria or Sogarwal are gotras of Jats primarily found in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan....
and Kuntal.
Maldev, father of Somadevi
Somadevi
Somadevi was daughter of Raja Maldeo, Chahar Jat, who ruled at Sidhmukh in Jangladesh in 13th century. Ghulam Badsah ruled Delhi at that time...
, is an important figure and all Chahars are proud of him. Sometime in the 15th century, Maldev was the Chaudhary (village headman) of Sidhmukh
Sidhmukh
Sidhmukh is a town of historical importance located in Churu district of Rajasthan, India. It was the capital of Kaswan Jat rulers of Jangladesh....
village in Jangladesh
Jangladesh
Jangladesh also known as Jangal Pradesh was a historical region in north, north-western and north-eastern Rajasthan state in northern India. It included the present-day districts of Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh....
(the area around Bikaner). He was a vassal of the Bhati
Bhati
Bhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner...
Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
ruler of Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
. He gave a tough fight to a Muslim army which was returning to Delhi after plundering Jaisalmer. The chief of the Muslim army wanted to take away Maldeo's daughter, Somadevi
Somadevi
Somadevi was daughter of Raja Maldeo, Chahar Jat, who ruled at Sidhmukh in Jangladesh in 13th century. Ghulam Badsah ruled Delhi at that time...
, as a booty of war. Maldeo refused to surrender his daughter to the Muslim invader. He gave tough fight but was killed and Somadevi was forcibly taken away. Remaining members of Maldeo's family migrated to the Jhunjhawati
Jhunjhunu
Jhunjhunu is a town in the state of Rajasthan in India, and the administrative headquarters of Jhunjhunu District. It is located a 180 km from Jaipur and 245 km from Delhi. The town is famous for the frescos on its grand Havelis, a special artistic feature of this region.- Etymology...
region.
Distribution in Rajasthan
Rajasthan is the main area where Chahar Jats are found. They are mainly concentrated in the districts of Jaipur and Sikar.- Jaipur city and surrounding district: Localities/villages of Ambabari, Brahmpuri, Galta Road, Gandhi Nagar, Ganesh Colony (Khatipura), Harijethi ka Chowk, Jawahar Nagar, Kartarpura, Murlipura Scheme, Sanganer, Tonk Road and Yagyashala ki Bawri.
- Sikar district: SikarSikarSikar is a city located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan state in India. It is the administrative headquarter of Sikar District. Sikar is a historical city and contains many old Havelis which are a huge tourist attraction. The best way to reach the city is to use road transport from Jaipur...
city, SutotSutotSutot is a village in tehsil Laxmangarh of Sikar district in Rajasthan, India. It is situated at a distance of 24 km west of Sikar on the Sikar-Salasar road. This is an old historical village founded 700 years back. This is a well-connected village...
, Bujianau, Sewa ki Dhani, Vijaypura (Rulyanimali), Panana, Gordhanpura, Fatehpura, Dhahar ka Bas, Kerpura, Kashi ka Bas, Dhani Motipura, Dholasari, Srimadhopur, Vijaypura (Fagalwa), Bodala (Kotari Luharwas), Vijaypura (Sihot Badi). - Churu district: ThathawataThathawataThathawata is a village located in Churu District of Rajasthan state in India. As of the 2001 census, the village had a total population of 2500....
, Bagsara, Dhani Chhoti Chahara Wali, Charwas, Chhoti Tirpali, Paharsar. - Hanumangarh district: SangariaSangaria, IndiaSangaria or Sangariya is a city and municipality in the Hanumangarh district of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated near the northern border of Rajasthan adjoining Haryana and Punjab states. It is located at latitude 29.48°N and longitude 74.27°E.-Demographics:At the time of the India...
, Dabadi, Bolanwali, Ganeshgarh, Mallarkhera, Ratanpura, Saliwala. - Jodhpur district: Basni
- Bharatpur district: Bharatpur city, Nagla chahar, Bhara Rekh Pura.
- Chittorgarh district: Chanderia
- Jalore district: Jalor city
- Jhunjhunu district: Pabana, Chaharon ka Baas, Charawas, Goth, Kuhadu ka Baas (Mandawa), Lutoo, Bakra, Bhurasar ka Bas, Rijani, Samaspur
- Sawai Madhopur district: Gangapur CityGangapur CityGangapur City is a city and a municipality in Sawai Madhopur district in the state of Rajasthan, India.-Geography:Gangapur City is located in eastern part of Rajasthan. It is situated on the Delhi-Mumbai railway route...
, KherdaKherdaKherda is a village in Buldhana district, Maharashtra, India.* 7 km away from Jalgaon .* 40 km away from Shegaon.* Comes under the area of Buldhana District of Maharastra.* Village was known for its landlord Mukutrao Deshmukh.... - Dholpur district: DholpurDholpurDholpur is a city in eastern-most parts of the Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dholpur District and was formerly seat of the Dholpur princely state, before Independence....
city.
Distribution in Uttar Pradesh
Within Uttar Pradesh, Chahar jats are found mainly in Agra district. A few villages in Mathura and Bareilly districts also have some population of Chahars.- Agra district: Villages of Jarua Katra, Kuthaoli, Bhandai, Baad, Beri Chahar, Bishehara, Gaharra, Gharhi Jaitu (Murkiya), KagarolKagarolKagarol is a village in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. It is situated at a distance of about 25 kilometers to the south-west of Agra city. This village finds mention in some of the earliest Archaeological Survey of India reports compiled by Alexander Cunningham and his...
, Khallauwa, Rithori, Mankenda and Tikari.- Chahar Pal region: One of the most prominent concentrations of people belonging to the Chahar clan lies in Agra districtAgra DistrictAgra District is one of the 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and the historical city of Agra is the district headquarters. Agra district is a part of Agra division.-Geography:...
of Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
state. This area is known as Chahar Pal region or Chaharwati. It comprises 242 villages, which are spread across the tehsils of AgraAgraAgra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, FatehabadFatehabadFatehabad may refer to:* Fatehabad, Afghanistan* Fatehabad, Haryana a town in Haryana, India* Fatehabad district, a district in Haryana, India* Fatehabad, Madhya Pradesh, a city in Madhya Pradesh, India* Fatehabad, Agra, a village in Uttar Pradesh, India...
and KheragarhKheragarhKheragarh is a town and a nagar panchayat in Agra district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The distance of the town from Agra is 40 kilometers.-Demographics:...
, all within Agra district. The main villages are Akola Agra, Veri, Jengora, Ramnagar Agra, Kakua, Kuthaoli, LauriaLauriaLauria is a city and comune of Basilicata, Italy, in the province of Potenza, situated near the borders of Calabria.It is a walled town on the steep side of a hill with another portion in the plain below.-History:...
, Vaiman,Sarsa,Arhera,Jindpura,Ghadi Nandu,Akhabai,Shital Kund,Chekora,Heeraman Ngar,Rojhauli,Malikpur,Jegara,Salembad,Teekri,Jajau, Chahar Basairi and Bhandai. This is a very large KhapKhapThe Khap and Sarv Khap was a system of social administration and organization in the republics of Northwestern Indian states such as Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh since ancient times. Khap is a term for a social - political grouping and used in a geographical sense...
and it has produced many great leaders.
- Chahar Pal region: One of the most prominent concentrations of people belonging to the Chahar clan lies in Agra district
- Bareilly district: Chahar Nagla village
- Mathura district: Dhana Teja village
Distribution in Madhya Pradesh
- Bhopal district
- SehoreSehoreSehore is a city and a municipality in Sehore district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the district headquarters of Sehore District and is located on the Bhopal-Indore highway, 37 km away from Bhopal.-Sehore's name:...
district - ShivpuriShivpuriShivpuri is a city and a municipality in Shivpuri district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is in the Gwalior Division of northwest Madhya Pradesh and is the administrative headquarters of Shivpuri District. It is situated at an altitude of above sea level.-History:Shivpuri is an ancient...
district - HardaHardaHarda is a town and a municipality in Harda district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Harda is the administrative headquarters of Harda District.During the 'Mughal' rule a prosperous village Handiya was situated west of Harda....
district - Nimach district
- Gwalior district: Birlanagar
- Ratlam district: RatlamRatlamRatlam , known historically as Ratnapuri, is a city in the Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. The town of Ratlam lies 480 m above sea level. It is the administrative headquarters of Ratlam District....
city, BerchhaBerchhaBerchha jagir is a village in Nagda, Ujjain District, Madhya Pradesh province of India. This village is around away from Nagda railway station. It was Jagirdari which was ruled by the Pawar clan of Rajputs under Ex-Gwalior State. Pawar Family is still residingin Berchha....
, Mundari, NamliNamliNamli is a town and a nagar panchayat in Ratlam district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.-Geography:Namli is located at . It has an average elevation of 490 metres ....
, Bilpank, Chikliya, Delanpur, Kalori Khurd, Kanser, Narayangarh Sailana.
Distribution in Haryana
- Bhiwani District: GhasolaGhasolaGhasola is a village in Bhiwani District, Haryana, India. It is situated at a distance of about 30 km from the district town Bhiwani and 2 km from Charkhi Dadri in south direction. It was founded by Chaudhary Ghasiram Chahar in vikram samvat 1150 . It is the birth place of Jat...
, Samaspur, bharvi. - Sirsa District: Jhittikhera
- Jhajjar district: Silani
- Hissar District: BanbhoriBanbhoriBanbhori is a village in Hisar district of Haryana province of northwestern India. The place is known for its local deity , which is worshipped by people who originally hail from around that area...
, Sandlana, Chhana - Sirsa District: Kaluana, Sahuwala
- jind District: Bagru Khurd, RamGarh
Distribution in Punjab
- Hoshiarpur district: Chahar village in Garhshankar tehsil
- Nawanshahr district: Chahar Mazara village in NawanshahrNawanshahrNawanshahr is a city and it became district in 1995. now it is a municipal council in Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar district in the Indian state of Punjab. It is the headquarters of Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar District....
tehsil - Sangrur district: Chhahar village in SunamSunamSunam is a city and a municipality in Sangrur district in the Indian state of Punjab. Sunam means the name with a good reputation. This is the birth place of the famous patriot, Shahid Udham Singh who took the revenge of massacre of innocent Indians by the British on April 13 in 1919 in JAHLLIAN...
tehsil. - Rupnagar district: Two villages both having the same name, which is Chahar Majra. One village of this name is in Anandpur SahibAnandpur SahibAnandpur Sahib is a city in Rupnagar district in the state of Punjab, India. Known as "the holy City of Bliss," it is a holy city of the Sikhs and is one of their most important sacred places, closely linked with their religious traditions and history...
tehsil and the second village of the same name is in KhararKhararKharar is a city and a municipal council in Mohali district in the state of Punjab.It is at a distance of about 10-15 kilometres from Chandigarh and about 4 kilometres from Mohali....
tehsil. Both tehsils are within RupnagarRupnagarRupnagar is a city and a municipal council in Rupnagar district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was formerly known as Ropar. The town of Rupnagar is said to have been founded by a Raja called Rokeshar, who ruled during the 11th century and named it after his son Rup Sen. It is also the site of...
district.
Notable persons of the clan
- Captain Bhagwan Singh, IAS and Indian High Commissioner to FijiFijiFiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. He hailed from village Jengora. - Ajay SinghAjay SinghAjay Singh is the present High Commissioner of India to Fiji, having been appointed to this position on 16 December 2004, succeeding Professor I.S. Chauhan.- Family's link to Fiji :...
, former High Commissioner of India to Fiji and TuvaluTuvaluTuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
. - "Sumit Chahar", a 12th class student from,village Silani, Jhajjar, Haryana has cleared NDA ssb and also have been selected for computer science program in one of worlds best Universities(University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign ranked no. 4 all over world for computer science).
- DEVRAJ SINGH ex-directeral general of indian army
Further reading
- Thakur DeshrajThakur DeshrajThakur Deshraj was a social worker, journalist, nationalist, freedom fighter and author of many books. He was from Rajasthan state in India. He was revenue minister in the princely state of Bharatpur....
, Jat Itihas (Hindi). Published by Maharaja Suraj MalMaharaja Suraj MalMaharaja Suraj Mal was ruler of Bharatpur in Rajasthan in India. He has been described by a contemporary historian as "the Plato of the Jat people" and by a modern writer as the "Jat Ulysses", because of his political sagacity, steady intellect and clear vision.-Early life:Surajmal was born on...
Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934. - Newsletter of the Jat Samaj, Agra. Issues of January 2000, February 2000 and November 1999.