Bargujar

Bargujar بارگئجار बड़गूजर
Vansh	Claim Suryavansha
Descended from:	GujjarsRajput
Ruled in	Mathura, Kosi, Mainpuri, Delhi, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Hariyana, Rajasthan, Gujarat[citation needed]
Princely states, Jagir:	Rajputana, Samthar, Barauli Rao, Chhatari, Pahasu, Talib Nagar, Dharampur, Danpur, Sadabad
Population Location:	India, Nepal and Pakistan
Subdivisions:	Hindustani, Maharashtrian and Himachali
Languages:	Hindi, Haryanvi, Marathi, Gujari, Gujarati, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Bhojpuri, Braj Bhasa & Awadhi

The Bargujar or Badgujars is one of the Brahman, Meo, Rajput and Gurjar clans of India, who claims descent from Suryavanshi Kshatriyas.

Origin

Bargujars were originally Gujjars. As per A.H. Bingley, the name of this clan is derived from Hindi bara ("great") and 'Gujar', forming "great Gujjar". He further mentions that Bargujars being of Solar race i.e. Suryavanshi and like Gehlots worship lord Rama and claim descent from Lava, elder son of Rama. Historian R. V. Russell also stated that Bargujars have been simply a section of the Gujjars. Most of them now use the surname Raghav.

History

James Tod's 1829 listing of the 36 royal races mentions Bargujar (Birgoojur) as one of the ancient royal races of India

Among Marathas, one of the major clans is called "Bargujar". Prataprao was the third royal Sarnaubat (Commander-in-chief) of Maratha ruler Shivaji's army. Sidhoji Bargujar was a notable admiral in Shivaji's navy. The Khandesh region in Maharashtra has a sizable Gujar population, the major sub-castes being Dode Gujar, Leva Gujar, Bargujar.

They built numerous monuments, including the fort and Nilkanth Mahadev Temple at Kalinjar; the famous Nilkanth temple complex near Tehla now in the Sariska Tiger Reserve; many other palaces and forts at Alwar, Machari, Sawai Madhopur and in Dausa.^{[citation needed]} Neelkanth near Tehla was the old capital of the Bargujar tribe, its old name is Rajor or Rajor Garh. Its founder was possibly Raja Bagh Singh Bargujar, in Vikrami Samvat (VS) 202 which corresponds to 145 AD, the difference being 57 years.^{[citation needed]} The place was also referred to as 'Baghola'. This place was also possibly influenced by Gurjara Pratiharas. Most carvings probably date to 9th - 10th century. Remains of more than 300 temples are there, some of them are Jain shines. One Shiva temple is still in use.^{[citation needed]}

Flowchart showing Bargujar as descendant of Lava, son of Rama.

One of their famous kings was Raja Pratap Singh Bargujar, who was Prithviraj Chauhan's nephew and assisted in his fight against the Muslim invaders, who were led by Muhammad of Ghor in 1191. They also fought on the side of Rana Pratap of Mewar and Maharana Hammir as their generals.The Badgujars appear to held have the entire pargana Barauli and two blocks in northern part of pargana Atrauli in c,1600. In his generation Famous Badgujar king Rao Raghuraj Singh of Barauli State.^{[citation needed]}

During the Medieval period, one emperor demanded in marriage the daughter of Ishwar Das (Raja of Alwar), and on his refusal many Bargujars were slaughtered. Others fled, with one faction arriving at Fatehpur Sikri, where they obtained asylum by agreeing to change their clan name to Sikarwar. The Sikarwar are a branch of Bargujar Rajputs. Another colony found refuge in present day Anupshahr, which was founded by Raja Anup Rai "Anup Singh Bargujar", the eldest son of Raja Pratap Singh Bargujar. One of them, Raja Nune Shah Bargujar of the Samthar state (founded in the 18th century) fought with the British and pushed back their forces many times but later signed a peace treaty with the British in 1817. Ranjit Singh Judeo is the present ruler of Samthar. In 1901, the Bargujar population was numbered at 25,732.

Muslim Bargujar

According to A. H. Bingley Bargujar were expelled by Kachwahas from Rajputana. After their expulsion from Jaipur by the Kachwahas, the Bargujars settled in Anupshahr in the Bulandshahr district, where they intermarried with Dors, and expelled Mewatis and Bhars. Bargujars were mostly converted to Islam in the time of Ala-ud-din Khilji, but they still retain many of their Hindu customs^{[citation needed]}. The Bargujar population of Rajputana are found in Jaipur, Alwar and in Gurgaon and Hisar districts of Haryana.

In Uttar Pradesh they are settled in Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Etah, Badaun, and Moradabad districts.A branch of the Badgujar family converted to Islam by Sabit Khan, the erstwhile Governor of Koil (now a region of Uttar Pradesh) in early 13th century. Muslim Badgujar Rajputs of Lalkhani lineage and their dynasties of Koil now Aligarh, Bulandshahar, Hathrasare. They held large estates or jagirs in Chhatari, Dharampur, Pahasu, Pindrawal, Danpur, Sadabad and Talib Nagar.

See also

• Meos
• Raja Pratap Singh
• Muhammad Ahmad Said Khan Chhatari
• Lalkhani

Sources

• Beck, Dr. Sanderson (2004), India & Southeast Asia to 1875., World Peace Communications, ISBN 0-9762210-0-4 .
• Bhatnagar, Professor V.S., Essays on Bardic literature .
• Choudhury, Bani Roy (2nd Ed. 1977), Folk tales of Rajasthan., Sterling Publishers, ASIN B0007ANEHY .
• Hunter, W.W. (1886), The Indian Empire, Its People, History and Products., London: Trubner & Co, Ludgate Hill, 1886, ISBN 81-206-1581-6 .
• Khan, Rana Muhammad Sarwar (2005), The Rajputs: History, Clans, Culture and Nobility, Eastern Book Corporation .
• Mathur, Professor G.L. (2004), Folklore of Rajasthan., Publisher Rajasthani Granthagar, Sojati Gate, Jodhpur .
• Thakur, Upendra (1974), Some aspects of Ancient India History and culture .

Further reading

• Harlan, Lindsey (1992), Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives., University of California Press, ISBN 0-520-07339-8  [2].
• Kasturi, Malavika, Embattled Identities Rajput Lineages, Oxford University Press (2002) ISBN 0-19-565787-X
• Dasharatha Sharma Rajasthan through the Ages a comprehensive and authentic history of Rajasthan, prepared under the orders of the Government of Rajasthan. First published 1966 by Rajasthan Archives.
• Vishnu Purana P-348