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Ahir/Yadav/Ahire/Gawli
ClassificationChandravanshi Kshatriyas
ReligionsHinduism and Islam to a minor extent
LanguagesHindi, Haryanvi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri
Populated statesIndia, Nepal and Pakistan
SubdivisionsRao, Yadav, Dhangars, Gawli
Asia in 1200 AD, showing the Yadava Dynasty and its neighbors.
Central Asia c. 500 AD, showing possible homelands of the Avars
Map of "Bharatvarsha" (Kingdom of India) during the time of Mahabharata and Ramayana. (Title and location names are in English.)

The Ahirs, also referred to as Abhira[1] or Abhir, are one of the ancient martial tribes of India,[2][3] who ruled over different parts of India and Nepal[4] since ancient times. The word A-bhira means "fearless". There are around 40 million Ahirs in India.[5] Historians such as James Todd and K.C. Yadav claim the Ahir to be descendants of the Yadavs of the Chandravanshi Kshatriya ethnic group of Pururavas. They believe their original habitat was the region between the Sutlej and the Yamuna, from where they migrated beyond Mathura in the East and beyond Gujarat and Maharashtra in the South. The name of the State of Haryana may have been derived from Abhirayana, its ancient inhabitants being Ahirs.

Similarly, according to some inscriptions in Gujarat, the portion of the Central Indian Plateau between Bhilsa (Vidisha) and Jhansi was known for a long time as Ahirwada (land of Ahirs). Hindu writers have described the Ahirs as living in the north and west, the quarter varying according to the locality of the writer.[6][7][8][9]

Classification of Ahirs

Ahirs tradition

Ahirs are traditionally cow herders and farmers. Formerly the Ahirs had the exclusive right to milk cows. Their role with the sacred cows gave them special status.[10] They are found not only in the Kaatch (Kutch) area of western Gujarat, but also in Eastern Rajasthan, Southern Haryana, Northern Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Central Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and also in Nepal and Pakistan. The Ahir community are present in large numbers in Terai, the plains that lie in the southern part of Nepal.[4].

Ahir Gotras

The Ahirs share most gotras with Jats and have the same physical appearance as them. This led to the theory they were of the same ethnic stock. The Ahirs have a special relation to the Hindu religion, owing to their association with the sacred cow, revered as a goddess. Among the special deities of the Ahirs is Kharsk Deo, who is always located at the place of assembly of the cattle.

Festivals

A favorite saint is Haridas Baba. The main festivals are the Diwali and Janmashtami.[10] The Gawali (Milkmen) group is territorially divided into Nandavanshi, Yadavs, Lingayat Gawali and Ahirs, a sub-caste of Dhangar in Maharashtra territory.[11]

Ancient Martial Race

The British Rulers of India classified the Ahirs amongst the "martial races" or ethnic groups. The Ahirs may be seen to have continued their warrior tradition by their extensive participation in the Indian Army and police forces.[12]From the times of the Shakyas, the Kushans and the Scythians (6000 BC)[citation needed], Ahirs have been warriors. Some were agriculturists and farmers. The people of the Ahir tribe are traditionally cow herders and shepherds. They are a subcaste of Dhangar and are not only found in the Kaatch (Kutch) area of western Gujarat, but also in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Nepal [4]. Ahirs comprise a subgroup of the Dhangar caste system of India.

Sanskritization of Ahirs

Some of the major groups have names derived from their principal occupations: for example,the Cow-breeding group is named Gawli, derived from a Sanskrit word for cow.In 20th century, the Ahir community adopted 'Yadav' as a general name as part of Sanskritization and also because of their close historic relations with Yadu king lord Krishna.Records from colonial era indicate that the original name of the community was Ahirs and in Bihar and West Bengal as 'Gopas' but since 1924 they changed their caste name to Yadava and started laying claim to Yadava kshatriya origin.[13]

Scythian origin

Avar warrior with captive, c. 800 CE.[14]

The origin of the Ahir is controversial, with various scholars claiming different origin. Some historians hold that they were a powerful ethnic group of nomad cowherds from eastern or central Asia[10] who entered India via the Punjab region in large hordes about the same time as the Sakas and the Yuezhi, in the first or second century BC. They were believed to have gradually spread over large parts of Northern, Eastern and Central India.

Other views are that they came from Syria or Asia Minor about the beginning of the Christian Era (CE) and lived in India long before the Aryan invasion. The earliest Scythians who entered the northern regions of South Asia were from this group.

Historians derive "Jat" fom "Gatae", "Ahir" from "Avar" (Eurasian Avars), "Saka" from "Scythii", "Gujjar and Khatri" from "Khazar", "Thakur and Tarkhan (Punjab)" from "Tukharian", "Saurashtra" from "Saura Matii" or "Sarmatians", "Sisodia" (a Rajput clan)from "Sassanian"[15][16][17][18]

Mentioning in Mahabharata

The Sabha-parva and Bhisma-parva sections of the Mahabharata mention the province of Abhira, situated near what once was the Sarasvati River in ancient Sind. Suras and Abhira were together been referred to as Surabhiras in scriptures. Later works did not discriminate between the two. Many scholars have sought a link between the Indian Abhira and Surabhir with the Biblical references to Ophir and Sofir.

Ptolemy wrote there was a country called Abhira at the mouth of the river Indus. Sreemad Bhagwatam gave a similar account and matched the location of Sind. Christian Lassen (1800-1876), author of Indische Alterthumskunde, vol I, thought “Ophir” was a seaport on the southwest coast of India. Mrs. Manning said it was situated on the western coast of India. Gesenius, Sir Emerson Tennent, and Max Muller appeared to agree with Christian Lassen. Because of this relative consensus, some scholars believe Abhira is the equivalent of Ophir, mentioned in the Bible. In the Coptic language, Sofir, the name of India, refers to surabhir.

According to the Markandeya Purana, all the Haiheya aggressors (warrior caste) were killed in a massacre led by Parshuram. In that time, the Ahirs were either a sub-clan of the Hayheya or sided with the Hayheya. Only the Abhiras survived by escaping into the craters between mountains. The sage Markandeya remarked that "all Haiheya have been killed but Abhira have survived; they will surely rule the earth in Kaliyuga." The Ahirs also attacked Arjun as he entered the Ahirvati and launched attacks against the Yadus.[19] Vātsyāyana also mentions the Abhira kingdoms in the Kama Sutra[4]. References of Abhira being residents of the kingdom ruled by Yudhisthira are found in Bhagwatam.[20]

Shreemad Bhagwatam, which gives a detailed account of dynasties ruling after great war of Mahabharata, describes Abhira rulers in detail:

Krishna with Gopis (Ahirs), ca. 1790-1800

::Then will follow seven kings of the Abhira race from the city of Avabhrti, and then ten Gardabhis. After them, sixteen kings of the Kankas will rule and will be known for their excessive greed. Eight Yavanas will then take power, followed by fourteen Turuskas, ten Gurundas and eleven kings of the Maula dynasty. These Abhiras, Gardabhis and Kankas will enjoy the earth for 1,099 years.

The Gupta Dynasty's account corresponds to the Abhira Kings mentioned in the Bhagwatam. Many scholars believe both Guptas[4] and Mauryas were Abhir[21].

The Ahirs were one of the more militant Hindu groups, including in the modern era. For example, in 1930, about 200 Ahirs marched towards the shrine of Trilochan and performed puja in response to Islamic tanzeem processions.[22]

The original cult of Lord Krishna, especially the aspect dealing with Krishna's boyhood in Vrindavan and his dalliances with the Gopis, has been attributed to the Ahir or Abhir tribe. The merging of this Lord Krishna with the hero of the Mahabharat did not occur until about 4th century C.E.[23][24]

See also: chandravanshi

Sura and Abhira were mentioned as two kingdoms where the river Saraswati existed only as a dried up river bed during the time of Kurukshetra War. They were sometimes referred to as Surabhira also, combining both Sura and Abhira kingdoms. After the fall of the Dwaraka federation, when Arjuna was taking the Yadav women of Dwaraka to Indraprastha, the Abhira tribes attacked him and took away the women and all the wealth.

Map of "Bharatvarsha" (Kingdom of India) during the time of Mahabharata and Ramayana. (Title and location names are in English.)

Nakula's military campaigning to the west

  • MBh 2.31

Nakula, lead his campaign from Indraprastha to the western regions, to collect tribute for Yudhisthira's Rajasuya sacrifice.

Nakula, the Pandava general, brought under subjection the mighty Gramaniya that dwelt on the shore of the sea, and the Sudras and the Abhiras that dwelt on the banks of the Saraswati, and all those tribes that lived upon fisheries, and those also that dwelt on the mountains, and the whole of the country called after the five rivers, and the mountains called Amara, and the country called Uttarayotisha and the city of Divyakutta and the tribe called Dwarapala.

Markandeya's prediction of powerful tribes in the future

  • MBh 3.187

Sage Markandeya explains to Yudhisthira about the rise of western tribes, and their influence on Bharata Varsha or Ancient India

The Andhhas, the Sakas, the Pulindas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas, the Valhikas and the Abhiras, then become (in Kali Yuga, which is future for Yudhisthira), possessed of bravery and the sovereignty of the earth.

Abhiras in the List of Kingdoms of Bharata Varsha

  • MBh 6.9

In Bhishama Parava, while narrating to Dhritarashtra the names of the Mountains, Rivers, Provinces etc of Bharata Varsha, Sanjaya includes the Abhiras in the list of its provinces and seems to locate them somewhere between the Mallas, Valhikas and the Aprantas (6,9).

i.e. ....the Valhikas , the Vatadhanas, the Abhiras, the Kalajoshakas; the Aparantas, the Parantas, the Pahnabhas, the Charmamandalas; the Atavisikharas, the Mahabhutas.....

In the same Parava, there is also reference to the Sudra-Abhiras who are listed among the tribes of north such as the Yavanas, the Chinas, the Kambojas, the Darunas, and many Mleccha tribes, the Sukritvahas, the Kulatthas (Kulutas), the Hunas, and the Parasikas, the Ramanas, and the Dasamalikas, the Daradas, the Kasmiras, the Khasiras, the Bharadvajas, and the diverse tribes of Kiratas, the Tomaras, the Hansamargas, and the Karamanjakas etc (6.9).

Participation in the Kurukshetra War

  • MBh 7.20

Bhutasarman, and Kshemasarman, and the valiant Karakaksha, and the Kalingas, the Singhalas, the Easterners, the Sudras, the Abhiras, the Daserakas, the Sakas, the Yavanas, the Kambojas, the Hangsapadas, the Surasenas, the Daradas, the Madras, and the Kalikeyas, with hundreds and thousands of elephants, steeds, cars, and foot-soldiers were stationed at its neck of the military formation formed by the Kaurava general Drona in Kurukshetra War.

Impact of Bhargava Rama on Abhira tribe

  • MBh 14.29

Dravidas and Abhiras and Pundras, together with the Savaras, became fallen to low status, though those men who had Kshatriya duties assigned to them in consequence of their birth, falling away from those duties due to fear of Bhargava Rama.

Attack of Abhiras on Arjuna and the people of Dwaraka

  • MBh 16.7

Arjuna rescued the women and children and a few soldiers from Dwaraka Island as it sank into the sea. They were heading from Dwaraka to Indraprastha, along a road parallel to the course of Saraswati River. Then the Abhiras attacked them.

Then those men, with hearts overwhelmed by cupidity, those Abhiras of ill omen, assembled together and held a consultation. They said, Here there is only one bowman, Arjuna. The cavalcade consists of children and the old. He escorts them, transgressing us. The warriors (of the Vrishnis) are without energy. Then those robbers, numbering by thousands, and armed with clubs, rushed towards the procession of the Vrishnis (the Yadava clan of Dwaraka), desirous of plunder.

  • MBh 16.8

In Arjuna's very sight thousands of Vrishni ladies were carried away by the Abhiras of the country of the five waters.

Balarama's pilgrimage along Saraswati River

  • MBh 9.37

Then Balarama proceeded to Vinasana where the Sarasvati River hath become invisible in consequence of her contempt for the Sudras, the Abhiras. And since the Sarasvati, in consequence of such contempt, is lost at that spot, the Rishis, for that reason, always name the place as Vinasana. Having bathed in that tirtha of the Sarasvati, the mighty Bala Rama then proceeded to Subhumika, situated on the excellent bank of the same river.

Ahir as an ethnic category

Ceramic goblet from Navdatoli, Malwa, 1300 BCE.

According to M.S.A. Rao (an eminent sociologist), Yadava is an ethnic category consisting of several allied castes, which together constitute about one-tenth of the total population of India. These castes are found in different parts of India, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka and are known as the "Ahir" in the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan; the "Goalas" and "Sadgopa" or Gauda in Bengal and Orissa; Dhangar in Maharashtra; Yadava and Kurubas in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Idayan and Konar in Tamil Nadu. There are also several sub-regional names such as Thetwar and Rawat in Madhya Pradesh, and Mahakul (Great Family) in Bihar.[citation needed]

Two things are common to these cognate castes. First, they claim to be descendants of the Yadu Dynasty (Yadava) to which Lord Krishna belonged. Secondly, many castes in this category have occupations relating to cattle. The Krishna mythology lends a kind of legitimacy to the pastoral occupations relating to cattle, and as the castes following these occupations are to be found in almost all parts of India, the Yadava category encompasses a range of related castes.[citation needed]

Besides this mythical origin of the Yadavas, semi-historical and historical evidence exists for equating the Ahirs with the Yadavas. It is argued that the term Ahir comes from Abhira (Behandarkar, 1911;16), who where once found in different parts of India, and who in several places wielded political power. The Abhiras are equated with Ahirs, Gopas and Gollas, and all of them are considered Yadavas.Vātsyāyana also mentions the Abhira kingdoms in the Kama Sutra.[25][26][27] Ahir’s also ruled beyond the geographical borders of present day India, as king of the hilly terrain of Nepal. Eight kings of the first Ahir dynasty ruled Nepal, the first being Bhuktaman and the last Yaksha Gupta. Owing to pastoral disputes, this dynasty was then replaced by another Ahir dynasty. This second Ahir dynasty had a succession of three kings, they were Badasimha, Jaymati Simha and Bhuban Simha and their rule ended when the Kirati invaders defeated Bhuban Simha, the last Ahir king of Nepal.[28]

M.S.A Rao further states that the Allahabad iron pillar inscription of Samudragupta (fourth century A.D) mentions the Abhiras as one of the tribal states of west and south west India, who paid homage to the emperor (churn, 1943:81). A fourth century (A.D) inscription found in Nashik speaks of an Abhira king, and there is proof that in the middle of the fourth century the Abhiras were settled in eastern Rajputana and Malwa. Similarly, when the Kathis arrived in Gujarat in the eighth century, they found the greater part of the country in the possession of the Ahirs. The Mirzapur district of the United Provinces has a tract known as Ahraura, named after the Ahir, and near Jhansi, another piece of country was called Ahirwar. The Ahirs were also kings of Nepal at the beginning of the Christian era. Khandesh and the Tapti valley were other regions where they were kings.

This indicates that the Abhiras, who rose to political prominence in the second century B.C., had a chequered political career until the fourteenth century A.D when their importance was over-shadowed by the Mughals, but even during the Mughal period the Ahir and Golla rajahs were a power to be reckoned with. The Gawlis rose to political power in Deogarh, on the Chhindwara Plateau in the central provinces. The Saugar traditions trace the Gawli supremacy to a much later date, as the tracts of Etawa and Khurai are held to have been governed by chieftains till the close of the seventeenth century (Russell, 1916:II, 20).

History of Ahir Kingdoms

Temple of Radha and Krishna in Barsana, Mathura. Yadavs/Ahirs go there for blessings.

Ahir kings ruled territory of the present-day India and beyond. At the beginning of the Christian era (CE), the invading Scythians and Kushans forced most of the Ahirs to lower Rajasthan in the Arbuda (Aravali region). In Marubhumi (Marwar), Saurashtra and Maharashtra areas, they served the local rulers and established their own rule. Ahirs laid the foundation of Ahir Batak town, which was called Ahrora and was located in Central provinces, and Ahirwar in Jhansi district in 108 CE. Rudramurti Ahir became the chief of the army and later on the King. Madhuriputra, Ishwarsen and Shivdutta were well-known kings of this lineage. Ishwarsena, a great Ahir general, became master of Western Deccan in place of the famous Satavahanas. He took the title of Rajan and an era was named after him. His descendants continued to rule for nine generations.

In a cave inscription at Nashik, references were made to an Ahir prince named Ishwersena, son of Shivdutta. Another inscription, found at Gunda and dated 181 CE, in the reign of the Kshatrapa Rudrasinha, described his general Rudrabhuti, who was called Ahir. When the kathis arrived in Gujarat, they found the greater part of the country controlled by Ahirs. The old fort Asirgarah, in Khandesh, retains the name of its founder Asa Ahir. For centuries the Ahirs were eclipsed as a political power in Haryana until the time of the Pratihara dynasty. Ahirs ruled the whole of Haryana under the Mogul rule and later were declared as independent kings. Vātsyāyana also noted the Abhira kingdoms in the Kama Sutra.
Ahirs also ruled beyond the geographical borders of present-day India, as kings of the hilly terrain of Nepal. Eight kings of the first Ahir dynasty ruled Nepal, the first being Bhuktaman and the last Yaksha Gupta. Owing to pastoral disputes, this dynasty was replaced by another Ahir dynasty. The second Ahir dynasty had a succession of three kings: Badasimha, Jaymati Simha, and Bhuban Simha. Their rule ended when the Kirati invaders defeated Bhuban Simha.

Ahir Kings

  • Rudramurti Ahir [28]
  • Madhuriputra (mingled with rajputs) [29]
  • Samudragupta [30][31]
  • Ishwarsen (Western Deccan)
  • Shivdutta [31]
  • Bhuktaman (Nepal)[32]
  • Yaksha Gupta (Nepal)[32]
  • Badasimha
  • Jaymati Simha
  • Virsen (Jalgaon)[33][34]
  • Bhuban Simha [28]

Ahir Raj in Rewari

A majority of Ahirs occupy the Rewari Thesil of Gurgaon district. When Shershah Suri fought against the Mughal chief Humayun, the Ahir ‘Khap’ helped Humayun under the leadership of Rao Rura Singh. When Humayun occupied the throne of Delhi again, he made Rao Rura Singh the Chief of a Pargana. The Head Quarters of the Pargana was named Rewari. During the reign of Mughals, the Ahir State continued as an ally, and Rao Tej Singh made a name with them. In 1803 Lord Lake reduced the power and position of the Mughals and captured the Ahir State, then ruled by Puran Singh. Rao Tula Ram was born in 1825. He took over at age 13 after Rao Puran Singh died. Rao Tula Ram was ambitious, increasing his power and territory. Raja Mahar Singh of Balabgarh was the administrator and defender of Delhi during the mutiny of 1857. Rao Raja Tula Ram was active in the areas of Rewari and Narnaul, where he roundly defeated the British.

When the forces of Jaipur, Patiala, Jind and Kapurthala arrived to help the British, Rao Tula Ram had to leave Rewari, Kanund, and Narnaul. He made an alliance with Scindia and Tatiya Tope to continue fighting. A conference of the revolutionaries was called and Rao Raja Tula Ram was appointed to seek help from foreign countries. Rao Tula Ram reached the shore in disguise. He went to Basra by sea, where he met with the Russian envoy and Khedive, and went on to Iran. Although the government gave him a royal reception, they did not commit forces to his aid. After that, Rao Tula Ram wen to Kabul and struggled for six years. He raised a united army of Pathans and Indian revolutionaries. He died before returning to India. The Emir of Kabul sent his ashes to Rewari with two Sardars.[35]

See also: Rao Tula Ram

In 1150, Vighararaja IV, a Chauhan from Rajasthan, forced the people to become his feudal vassals. In 1181 they were defeated by Prithviraj Chauhan, but only after they had put up a tough resistance.

Some scholars seek ethnic connections between the Yadav and Jews. According to Stephen Knapp, the Greeks referred to the Jews as Judeos, or Jah deos or Yadavas, meaning people of Ya or descendants of Yadu, one of the sons of Yayati.[36][2] In his book The Holy Kabbalah, Arthur Edward Waite linked the mystical work with the Vedas. That Yadavas were possessors of great mystical knowledge was described in the Bhagvad Gita. It said the same knowledge was given to Manu (first man on earth), Surya and Ikshavaku (ancestor of Lord Rama) in ancient times. The Abhira were believed to be a link between eastern and western religions. There are compelling proofs of both Mauryan and Guptas being Abhirs.[37][38]

The Kshatriya religion was propounded by Krishna,[39][40][41] and no reference was found before him.[42] We only find Rajnya as the term alternatively used for it (Bhagwad Gita is a reduced form of hidden knowledge— Gope —which has its root in Shiva). Later on, many Kshatriyas were founded on the philosophy of yadavanshis, as revealed in the Bhagavad Gita.[41] [43]

Ahirs of Haryana

For centuries the Ahirs were eclipsed as a political power in Haryana until the time of the Pratihara dynasty. In time they became independent rulers of Southwest Haryana. Although the Ahirs and Yadavas form one group, the former are an important community of Haryana, but numerically they constitute less than 10% of the total population. Most of them live in the region around Rewari, Narnaul, Mahendragarh and Gurgaon which is therefore known as Ahirwal or the abode of Ahirs.Ahirs synonyms are Yadav and Rao Sahab. Rao Sahab is only used in Ahirwal region consisting of territories of few villages of Delhi, Southern Haryana & Behrod area of Alwar district (Rajasthan). Ahir's of this region are mainly in armed forces.

Ahirs of Gujarat

Kachchh (Kutch) District, State of Gujarat

There is a great concentration of Ahirs in Kutch.[44]. There are four main castes of Ahirs in Kutch: Prantharia, Mochhaya, Baureecha and Sorathia. About three lakhs Ahirs of the 18 million populations of Ahirs in India live in Kutch. These Communities are mainly of farmers who once sold milk and ghee but who now have changed their business to transport or salt because of the irregularity of rain. Their mother tongue is Gujrati.[45]

Prantharia Ahirs lived in eastern Kutch and they founded a village named ‘Vrajvani'. Mochhaya and Baureecha Ahirs lived in Chorad area (Satalpur). Prantharia Ahirs live in Chobari, Ranavav, Amaraper, Ratenper, Khengarper, Lodai, Dhrang, Dhori, Sumerasar, Vang, Dador, Kuneria, Nokhania, Lakhaper and Sataper. Machhaya Ahirs live in Padhar, Vagura, Tapper, Padana and Bhuvad. Sorathia Ahirs live in Anjar, Nagor and Syinai. Baureecha Ahirs live in Anjar, Meghper, Bourichi, Mithirohar, Bharapar Veera, Modsar, Khokhara, Kaniyabe, Jomkha, Kera and Baladia.[46][47]

Vagadiya Ahir in menly Bhavanagar District in Gujarat, Vagadiya Ahir Originally Parathriya Ahir in Kutch District.

Ahir/Jhadhavs of Maharashtra

Daulatabad Fort -- Devagiri (Deogiri).

The Seuna, Sevuna or Yadava dynasty (850 - 1334) was an Indian dynasty, which at its peak ruled a kingdom stretching from the Tungabhadra to the Narmada rivers, including present-day Maharashtra, north Karnataka and parts of Madhya Pradesh, from its capital at Devagiri (present-day Daulatabad in Maharashtra).

Pune under Yadav Dynasty

With the downfall of the Rashtrakutas which ruled Pune from the 8th century AD to the middle of the 10th century.It went under the control of the Yadavs.The Yadavs ruled Maharashtra from 10th century AD to the end of the 13th century. Singhania, the Yadav ruler was a lover of literature and art. Sant Dnyaneshwar, a Bhakti saint lived during this period. The Yadav rule came to an end with the coming of Ala-ud-din Khilji.

See also: devagiri

Society and regions

See also: Kshatriya
Khatushyamji in Sikar Rajastan yadavs of north India visit this temple.

Ahir community is known to produce best of the military jawans, wrestlers and agriculturists. The Ahir’s preserve their associations with the country lying between the Sutlej and the Yamuna. In many districts like Badaun, Etah, Mainpuri, Southern Haryana, northern Madhya Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan, the Ahir’s are still in a majority. Ahir’s also form a majority in various districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, including Azamgarh and Madhepura. In medieval times the Ahir’s gave up their arms and took to agriculture. In early British settlement reports they are spoken of highly as farmers. They stand on an equal footing with the Rajput and Jats in the caste hierarchy, but though they eat with them, they do not intermarry. In appearance, they proclaim their Aryan descent. They are tall and wiry, have dark eyes, long noses, black hair and their complexion varies from wheatish to dark brown. Though mostly agriculturists, they also make good soldiers. Ahir’s have been serving the Indian military right from the British period and won the highest of gallantry awards like Victoria Cross and the Param Veer Chakra. In the annals of Indian military history there is sufficient proof of Ahir bravery that is immortalized in the ballads of Alah and Udal of Bundelkhand.

As Jhansi was known for a long time as Ahirwada (land of Ahir’s). People from Ahirwada also known as Ahirwar/Aharwar, Ahirwar are living in different regions of India from Jhansi to Mathura, Delhi, Ahmedabada, Agra region.

Some of the major groups derived from the principal professions they follow or the crafts they practice, for example, the cattle-breeding group takes the significant name of Gawli, derived from a Sanskrit word for cow. The names of the shepherd castes seem to be derived from words meaning sheep. Such is at least the case with Gadaria from 'gadar', on old Hindi word for sheep. Many others of these major groups called castes bear merely tribal or ethic names. Such are for example: Arora, Gujjar, Lohana, Bhatia, Meena, Bhil, Dom, Oraon,Munda, Santal, Koch, Ahir, Mahar, Nayar, Maratha,Gond, Khond, etc.[48] The computed genetic distance matrix shows diversity of Ahirs with the Gujars.This shows that Gujars are different from other communities such as Yadavs(Ahirs).[49]

Appearances

Ahirs are usually tall ,slim have broad shoulders and have big round eyes,however their complexion and physical built varies from place to place ahirs of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan are fair to wheatish in complexion are tall and are well built as this area is rich and fertile. However appearances in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar varies from place to place as some parts of Uttar pradesh and most parts of Bihar are poor hence less fertile land leads to malnutrition. Ahirs of Bihar and Uttar pradesh are either tall or short in height their complexion varies from wheatish to dark brown however they too have big eyes and broad shoulders. Ahirs of Madhya pradesh and Maharastara and Gujarat are medium in height and their complexion is again wheatish.

Dialects

Although the Abhiras constituted a distinct ethnic group, they spoke diverse regional dialects. The language of the Ahirs was known as Ahirani in Khandesh, resembling Marathi. While the Ahirs of Kathiawad and Kachh have a dialect which resembles Gujarathi (Bhandarkar, 1911:17). Abhira bhasha is in fact considered to be Apabhransha. In the ninth century B.C., it had become the language of the people, and was spoken from Saurashtra, and Shastri (1967) proves that poetry was composed in the language around the sixth century B.C. Suryavamsi (1962:14-15) mentions the following two dialects in addition to the ones above--Gaddi, which is currently the dialect spoken in Gadderan, on the outskirts of the Chamba and Kangra hills, and Gandi, spoken in some parts of Madhya Pradesh. Abhiri as a dialect has been recorded by Sanskrit poets such as Bharata and Dandin. Yadav (1916:15), notes that the dialect the people of Ahirwal in Haryana speak, has a resemblance to Rajasthani, and Grierson (1916:9) considers Ahirwati a branch of eastern Rajasthani and western Hindi.

Political influence

Through numerous political parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (Republic), Janata Dal the Yadavs have considerable political influence, especially in the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.[50] Laloo Yadav became the chief minister of Bihar and Mulayam Singh in UP and in Madhya Pradesh Subhash Yadav became the Deputy chief minister for two terms. Arun Subhash Yadav became the Centre Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. Siddaramaiah became the Deputy chief minister for two terms.

Ahir martyrs

File:Victoria Cross Medal Ribbon & Bar.jpg
The prestigious Victoria Cross, awarded for exceptional valour "in the face of the enemy".

The Ahir/Yadav community has served the Indian armed and defense forces and laid down their lives to safeguard India. Some prominent battles fought by Ahir soldiers are the Indo-China war, the kargil war, [51][52] Akshardham[53][54], and Parliament attacks.[55]

During the Burma Campaign of the Second World war, Havaldar Umrao Singh,[56][57] a gunner, won the Victoria Cross; which is a world–wide symbol of the recognition of the highest form of bravery in the face of the enemy; in hand to hand combat with the Japanese infantry, when its do or die squads raided his gun position, in the Kaladan Valley. He killed ten of them with his bare hands armed only with the gun bearer (a heavy metallic tool) they found him exhausted and bleeding in the morning but still alive amidst a pile of Japanese corpses littered around the gun, which, remarkably, was found to be still fit for immediate firing.

In the Indo-China War of 1962, the Ahirs (almost all of them from the Ahirwal region of Southern Haryana) of 13 Kumaon Regiment set an unparallel example in the military history of Aryavart by defending their position at Rezang La in Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir. The battle of Rezang La, a ridge overlooking the strategic Chushul plains in Ladakh, to defend the highest air strip in the world located at 16,000 feet — just across the Chinese claim line — is a chapter in the history of the Indian army which has been compared by some Indian military historians with the famed Battle of Thermopylae [citation needed]. In the final phase of the Indo-China War of 1962, where Indian units typically offered little resistance while being routed by attacking PLA forces, the Ahir Charlie Company from 13 Kumaon Regiment, set a rare example of raw courage, bravery and dedication by literally fighting to the last man. Of the 120 defenders, only four survived, all seriously wounded. The dead bodies of those who died were discovered after the winter, frozen, mostly holding their weapons but with no ammunition. According to some accounts, several jawans, having run out of ammunition, came out of the pickets and charged the enemy with bare hands. Lance Naik Ram Singh killed several Chinese soldiers after lifting and hitting them against the rocks. It is also believed that these jawans inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers. Of the 120 soldiers, 114 were Yadavas from Ahirwal region of Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.

On this horrific battle, Major-General Ian Cardozo, in his book Param Vir, Our Heroes In Battle writes, “When Rezang La was later revisited dead jawans were found in the trenches still holding on to their weapons... every single man of this company was found dead in his trench with several bullet or splinter wounds. The 2-inch mortar man died with a bomb still in his hand. The medical orderly had a syringe and bandage in his hands when the Chinese bullet hit him... Of the thousand mortar bombs with the defenders all but seven had been fired and the rest were ready to be fired when the (mortar) section was overrun.”

General T.N. Raina said, "You rarely come across such example in the annals of world military history when braving such heavy odds, the men fought till the last bullet and the last man. Certainly the Battle of Rezang La is such a shining example."

General K S Thimayya remarked, "I had said many years ago that the Army must have a Ahir Regiment. The supreme sacrifice of the Charlie Company has fulfilled my expectations. I hope a suitable memorial will be built in Ahirwal in their memory so that the generations to come may seek inspiration from the immense courage and valour of their forefathers."

The heroes who were awarded the Vir Chakra in 1962 defending Rezang La were Jamadar Surja, Jamadar Hari Ram, Naik Hukum Chand (posthumous), Naik Gulab Singh Yadav, Lance-Naik Singh Ram (posthumous), Subedar Ram Kumar and Subedar Ram Chander. All were from the Ahirwal region. [56][43][58]

A small memorial for the dead soldiers in Rezang La reads:

How can a man die better,
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And temples of his gods.
To the sacred memory of the Heroes of Rezang La,
114 Martyrs of 13 Kumaon who fought to the Last Man,
Last Round, Against Hordes of Chinese on 18 November 1962.
Built by All Ranks 13th Battalion, The Kumaon Regiment.

Muslim Aheers of Pakistan

The Aheer in Punjab speak Jhangochi and Seraiki, while those in Sindh speak Sindhi. Found principally in Khushab, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Jhang, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Khanewal,Rahim Yar Khan Districts of Punjab, Pakistan.

Their main villages in Chiniot District are Chak 142J.B (Aheeran), Chak 235JB (Haiboana), Langrana and Mouza Lodhran. In Jhang District the main village is Chak 410 JB (Aheeranwala). In Sargodha district Aheer are found mainly near Sahiwal, where there are several villages. In Mianwali District there are many villages of Aheers, most notable: Aheeranwala, Aba Khel, Ahheranwala, Jandanwala and Wandhi Aheeranwali near Pai-Khel. In Khanewal District they are found in Kabirwala and near Qadirpur Raan. Also found in Khushab District. In Khusab they are in large numbers along with Tiwanas and Awans and are quite active in the politics, and found mainly in Mohallah Aheeranwla in main Khushab city and in satellite town Jouharabad. The most influential are the aheers of the Khusab district. Their main villages in Khushab are Aheerpur and Rakh Baghoor.

The tribe is also found in Larkana District and Qambar Shahdadkot district of Sindh province of Pakistan. In Mandi-bha-ud-din district Tehsil Malakwal there is a famous village of Aheer family Chak 7 (Aheeranwala).

Variations in Caste status

File:Mandal3b.jpg
B. P. Mandal statue in Patna, Bihar [3]

In 300 BC ahirs refused to accept brahmanism they were diplomaticlly given the second place among kshatriyas and so brahmans favored those aryan kshatriyas who accepted their hegemony and allowed them to play a role in the politics to rule the kingdoms i.e. brahmanical system in society. Ahirs were later renounced as shudras by brahmans, shudras varna was developed by brahmins to punish tyrannical kshatriyas.[59][60] Around 320 BC after the invasion and retreat of Alexander of Greek empire in the north west plains of India from failure of his army to fight the various small kingdoms of India. Chandragupta Maurya of Maurya tribe (a branch of yadus) with the help of brahman (chankya) who had defeated the Magadha brahmans against bulk army of chandravanshi aryans and destroyed the currupt Brahmanical system flourishing in the maghad also defeated generals of Alexander settled in gandhara (Kamboja kingdom of aryan mahajanpad) which is called as Afghanistan now. Chandragupta later adopted the Buddhist way of life.[61]

All groups included in the Ahir category belonged to the “clean castes”, though their actual status varied from area to area. The Ahirs of Delhi, Punjab and parts of UP had a status equal to that of Rajput and Jats with whom, according to Rao, they shared commensual relations. In places where the Ahirs were owner-cultivators they ranked immediately after Brahmins but where they were small owner-cultivators or tenants (and Thakurs, the main landowning group), they moved lower down the caste hierarchy.

To improve their status, Ahirs at the turn of the century not only began to claim Kshatriya status but also to adopt Arya Samaj practices in a big way. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar witnessed widespread jenevo movements in the first two decades of the 20th century as Ahirs began to don the sacred thread in accordance with Arya Samaj practices. These years also saw the sprouting of Arya mandirs, pracharaks, priests and schools in many parts of India.

This was accompanied by major changes in the life-style of the Ahirs. They began to follow Vedic life cycle ceremonies conducted by Arya priests. There was renewed emphasis on their Kshatriya identity and their links with Lord Krishna. Yadavs/Ahirs emerged as major protectors of cattle and the celebration of Janmashtmi (Krishna’s birthday) became a major event in their social and religious life.

Ahirs all over the country were quick to respond to the forces of change unleashed by British rule. At the opening of the century itself their regional associations concerned themselves with establishing educational institutions and seeking modern employment opportunities for their castemen. In Punjab, western UP, and Madhya Pradesh,Ahirs turned mainly to the army for employment. In Punjab they even petitioned the government in the 1880’s for recruitment of Ahirs into the army.

All-India Yadav (Ahir) Mahasabha

The emergence of an English-educated elite among the Yadavs led to the formation of the All-India Yadava Mahasabha in 1923 in Allahabad. The AIYM immediately engaged itself in two issues. It appealed to its castemen in all regions to add “Yadav” to their names and at the same time launched on a major programme of social reform. In fact as early as 1911, regional caste groups had been petitioning the Census Commissioner to change their caste name from Golla, Ahir etc., to Yadav. The regional organisation of the Gollas of Hyderabad, the Hyderabad Rashtra Yadav Mahajana Samajam, for example, appealed to the Census Commission that their caste names of Golla, Gowli, Gollawar and Ahir be changed to Yadava.[62]

All India Yadav Mahasabha is also pressing Indian government for the formation of Yadav regiment in Indian Army after they showed their bravery in the 1965 Indo-China war. In 1966 the AIYM held its annual conference in Etawa, with Mulayam Singh Yadav as chairman of the reception committee and Rao Birender Singh the scion of the Rewari dynasty as president.[63] [64] [65] After Independence, the Yadavs have emerged as the leaders of the other backward classes. Prof. Rao’s study of the Yadava elite in the various states (based on the members and supporters of the All India Yadav Sabha and not on those of the rival All India Yadav Mahasabha) reveals the growth of varied business and professional groups within the caste category. Heading the list are businessmen who comprise roughly 21 per cent of the elite. They include dairy owners, contractors, tobacco and timber merchants, wholesale grass dealers, owners of engineering firms and other industries as well as restaurant owners. They are followed by the large farmers who comprise around 21 per cent of the Yadav elite. Politicians (MPs, MLAs, ministers, municipal councillors, district board members, office-bearers of political parties) constitute 17 percent of the elite and school and college teachers, doctors, lawyers and engineers together another 20 percent.[66]

Ahir Gotras

The number of Ahir gotras is small because most of them prefer to be known as Yadav rather than by their gotras which thus got gradually forgotten.[35]

A

  • Afaria
  • Atri

B

  • Balwan
  • Bhabria
  • Barad
  • Bharaga
  • Bchhiklni
  • Badm
  • Bachick
  • Bachuwal
  • Bhakulaish
  • Bathuthia
  • Binmoria
  • Badun
  • Bhagroilia
  • Balaudhia
  • Bodkdal
  • Banjir
  • Bichwalia
  • Billon
  • Bange
  • Bahange
  • Bedde
  • Barke
  • Binawade
  • Bondare
  • Barganje
  • Bidariya
  • Bakia
  • Bagoria
  • Bhasil
  • Bharial
  • Bikkad
  • Bahama

C

  • chudasama
  • chhaiya
  • Chhiralwal
  • Churia
  • Chitaria
  • Chhoria
  • Chitosia
  • Chhiralwal
  • GomasheChakhrate
  • Chabookswar
  • Chavada

D

  • Dharam
  • Deva
  • dagar
  • Dharntarta
  • Dhaliwal
  • Dahiya
  • Damale
  • Dukare
  • Dilchar
  • Dhamiwal
  • Dumarwal
  • Dhahdla
  • Deswal
  • Datarta
  • Dhamdolia
  • Dhole (Dhohle)
  • Darade
  • Dehran
  • Dabar
  • Dangar

G

  • Gogar
  • Ghummi
  • Gangania
  • Gounwal
  • Gandas
  • Gavate
  • Gandile
  • Gabopalkar
  • Gambwal
  • Gangania
  • Gothwal

H

  • Hange
  • Harivel
  • Harlla
  • Hudinwal
  • Harbhala

I

  • Ilberia
  • Ilberia

J

  • Jotava
  • Jhagrolia
  • Jare
  • Jhawat

K

  • Kandoriya
  • Kharolia
  • Kirwal
  • Khaiao
  • Kaniawal
  • Karewia
  • Kharwaria
  • Kingas
  • Kharania
  • Khormba
  • Kothwal
  • Karoti
  • Kasoran
  • Khartania
  • Kurar
  • Kharwalia
  • Koslia
  • Kakria
  • Kathet
  • Khola
  • Kousaliya
  • Khosya
  • Kakkas
  • Khaliav
  • Khor
  • Kashyap
  • Khatodiya
  • Kadainyaa
  • Kavle
  • Kharmate
  • Khillare
  • Korale
  • Kukde
  • Kundekh
  • Kaltope
  • Katale
  • Kalhore
  • Kandhla
  • Khoia
  • Kulhad
  • Kalaliya
  • Khadoia
  • Khar
  • Kherwal
  • Khatiyal
  • Khamal
  • Kuvadiya

L

  • Latiwaal
  • Loachas
  • Lahotia
  • Laade
  • Lendkhere
  • Laman
  • Laruk-Saruke
  • Landage
  • Lokhil

M

  • Mata
  • Mehta
  • Mundad
  • Maniwala
  • Matahia
  • Madhgtri
  • Mohakhan
  • Maiwal
  • Madh Rama
  • Motan
  • Mahalay
  • Mahakhariya
  • Mahalka
  • Mariya

N

  • Nandaniya
  • Nirban
  • Nirwan
  • Nainwal
  • Nanu
  • Nakhnia
  • Nuniyal
  • Niani
  • Noniwal
  • Narwaria
  • Nainan
  • Naikwade
  • Nagare
  • Nagargoge
  • Nakade
  • Neharkar
  • Nakumb
  • Nigania
  • Ninania
  • Naghera Govindbhai Hajabhai

P

  • Pirt wa
  • Pisan
  • Punbwar
  • Pawalia
  • Pachwania
  • Pacheria
  • Phathak
  • Panwalia
  • Pote
  • Phatkalu
  • Palwe
  • Pakhrekh
  • Phade

R

  • RAM
  • Ravaliya
  • Rhola
  • Roswalia
  • Rabad
  • Raralia
  • Rasgor

S

  • Shovalia
  • Sisoviya
  • Sisara
  • Silgi
  • Sabakwal
  • Sanwalia
  • Sisodhia
  • Sampla
  • Sigarhia
  • Sounaria
  • Soundaliya
  • Shelke
  • Shekde
  • Sangale
  • Sunaria
  • Sharia
  • Shelangiya
  • Sisothia
  • Santoria
  • Sultania
  • Sunaria

T

  • Terakiya
  • Thukran
  • Tondak
  • Tambde
  • Tadge
  • Tatla
  • Turk

V

  • Vare
  • Vidharia

Notable Ahirs

See also

References

  1. ^ http://airavat.googlepages.com/abhira
  2. ^ http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva
  3. ^ http://horsesandswords.blogspot.com/2007/10/indian-warrior-clans.html
  4. ^ a b c d http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=272865&rel_no=1 Nepal Before Unification
  5. ^ http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_16.html
  6. ^ Earthquakes in ancient India
  7. ^ c. South India. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History
  8. ^ Genealogies
  9. ^ The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - "Art and Soul"
  10. ^ a b c http://www.everyculture.com/South-Asia/Ahir.html
  11. ^ K. S. Singh, B. V. Bhanu, B. R. Bhatnagar, "Maharashtra", in Anthropological Survey of India, D. K. Bose. pg 1526
  12. ^ http://www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/dcd/page.php?title=&record=389 Eyre and Spottiswoode, Report on the Census of British India taken on the 17th February 1881, London, p. 326
  13. ^ The tribes and castes of West Bengal , page 35, Asok Mitra, Alipore, West Bengal : West Bengal Government Press, 1953
  14. ^ The image is based on a reconstruction by Norman J. Finkelshteyn of an image from an 8th-century ewer found at Nagyszentmiklos in Transylvania (original at [1][dead link]). Some scholars regard the image as that of a Khazar warrior.
  15. ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/tribescastesofce03russ/tribescastesofce03russ_djvu.txt
  16. ^ http://www.wahlah.org/
  17. ^ http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=gujjar+khazar+thakur+ahir+as+avars&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=
  18. ^ "Scythians - Sakas". Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ The Birth of Yaduvansh Sunita Singh
  20. ^ Srimad Bhagavatam, "Canto 2", Chapter 4, Verse 18
  21. ^ (33) "Two more attempts of Jones to destroy the Divinity of Sanskrit language and to mutilate Bhartiya history", Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduism
  22. ^ Nandini Gooptu, The Politics of the Urban Poor in Early Twentieth-Century India, p. 307
  23. ^ Thakur Harendra Dayal, The Vishnu Purana: Social Economic and Religious Aspects, 1983, p. 207, 208
  24. ^ "A Gap in Puranic History Bridged" http://www.boloji.com/history/027.htm
  25. ^ http://www.scribd.com/doc/7340738/Vatsyayana-The-Kama-Sutra
  26. ^ http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Kama_Sutra
  27. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=0wmIy2aOQfsC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=V%C4%81tsy%C4%81yana+also+mentions+the+Abhira+kingdoms+in+the+Kama+Sutra&source=bl&ots=mMu8FCQ3iy&sig=1rmO41-nvVbPQuX1ZpstZpL8eUg&hl=en&ei=1VnoScOCLNfMjAeWocSeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4
  28. ^ a b c http://yadav.lastguru.com/
  29. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=iKsqzB4P1ioC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=ahir+king&source=bl&ots=JO0aEiyza6&sig=9_yt8cOPkCz-n8crpDrz8XtaYcI&hl=en&ei=FI5VSoyiD43a6gOKkKzUDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6
  30. ^ The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions By Siraj Ul Hassan Syed, Syed Siraj ul Hassan
  31. ^ a b http://books.google.co.in/books?id=lYSd-3yL9h0C&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=ahir+kings&source=bl&ots=aCmlBfZ4LU&sig=d7OZCGFoJPQ5lGIHkF0KUsgDrCM&hl=en&ei=hI5VSu7kFIL06AOs35zSDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8
  32. ^ a b http://www.infoclub.com.np/nepal/history/history_ancient.htm
  33. ^ http://wikimapia.org/187869/Jalgaon-City
  34. ^ http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Khandesh/histroy.html
  35. ^ a b http://www.jatland.com/home/History_of_the_Jats/Chapter_VI
  36. ^ http://tripatlas.com/Yadav
  37. ^ http://www.experiencefestival.com/yadavas
  38. ^ http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/P_0328.htm
  39. ^ http://www.ambimama.com/2006/07/03/hinduism-the-worlds-oldest-religion/
  40. ^ http://www.jaishrikrishna.org/print/vallabhac1.htm
  41. ^ a b http://www.ganesh.us/hindu-scriptures/four-yugas-in-ancient-scriptures.html
  42. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshatriya
  43. ^ a b http://www.xomba.com/the_history_of_the_abhirs_and_yadavas_of_ancient_bharat_varse_4
  44. ^ http://www.agrocel.co.in/kutch/people.htm
  45. ^ http://panjokachchh.net/Travel/ahirs.htm
  46. ^ http://te-in.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=186343350385&topic=8079
  47. ^ http://www.kutchimaadu.com/general/kutch-info/
  48. ^ Caste And Race In India by G.S. Ghurye (an eminent sociologist) Popular Prakashan 2004 reprint page: 31,32,33.
  49. ^ http://lawandotherthings.blogspot.com/2007/06/gujjars-fury-part-ii-merits-of-their.html
  50. ^ http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jan162006/editpage1617482006115.asp
  51. ^ http://ikashmir.net/kargilheroes/blood.html
  52. ^ http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=141931
  53. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahir
  54. ^ http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03jan27/national.htm
  55. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/21/stories/2007072154050400.ht
  56. ^ a b http://www.creativeuttarakhand.com/cu/hottopics/rewari-motor.html
  57. ^ http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbumraos.htm
  58. ^ http://www.haryana-online.com/WarHeroes/ahirs_in_1962_war.htm
  59. ^ http://abhijato.com/news_detail.php?news_id=18&news_catid=80
  60. ^ http://whatis.pantoday.com/page/16154-what-is-a-shudra
  61. ^ http://www.sainistar.com/saini-info/demography/origin_of_sainis.htm
  62. ^ http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/audience.nsf/(docid)/0879F8EFAD3A0BE3652569410032A35C
  63. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=bgpEIb4tNjgC&pg=PT15&lpg=PT15&dq=yadav+regiment&source=bl&ots=k0G33Om2lM&sig=H7A19J5gPGFjNwwCsYtP3LmgsZk&hl=en&ei=TpLpSfe8B4XK-AbL_piQAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10
  64. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=nJMs-r0FY50C&pg=PA450&lpg=PA450&dq=yadav+regiment&source=bl&ots=i3p0QaaSxf&sig=wDaQDhs--LfWY8B3mAfv0C89P3w&hl=en&ei=TpLpSfe8B4XK-AbL_piQAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#PPA450,M1
  65. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=nJ7BbRExrhkC&pg=PA235&lpg=PA235&dq=yadav+regiment&source=bl&ots=-AYlHn5w0W&sig=MFt5j839Fsp6BQX-RvzrAKTe1U0&hl=en&ei=TpLpSfe8B4XK-AbL_piQAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#PPA235,M1
  66. ^ [2]
  67. ^ http://i69.in/celebrity/ekta-chowdhry-miss-india-2009.php
  68. ^ http://topinews.com/Latest-Buzz/ekta-chowdhry-ndash-miss-india-2009/
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