Jat Sikh
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Jatt Sikh (also Jat Sikh)Punjabi: ਜੱਟ ਸਿੱਖ refers to a sub group of the Sikh ethnoreligious group from the Indian subcontinent. There are nearly 11 million Jatt Sikhs in South Asia[citation needed], mostly in India's Punjab state, where they comprise 42.5% of the population.[citation needed]
History
Jatt-Sikhs are descended from mostly Hindu, and Muslim [1][2] Jatts who converted to Sikhism.
Jatts started to follow the teachings of Guru Nanak in small numbers and this grew after[3][4] the formation of the Khalsa. They converted en masse to Sikhism from the time of Banda Singh Bahadur, and formed the vanguard of Sikh resistance against the Mughal Empire from the 18th century onwards.
At least 7 of the 12 Sikh Misls (Sikh confederacies) were led by Jatt-Sikhs.
Influence of Sikhism on Jatts
Jat Sikhs (as well as Sikhs in general [5]) appeared to possess more of a martial streak than their non-Sikh brethren. The reason for this was summed up by Major A.E. Barstow as being due to the influence of Sikhism.
"As has already been explained the virtues of the Jats are identical with those of the Sikhs, but the latter posses in a higher degree the ardent military spirit which had its origin in the warlike precepts of Govind Singh." [5]
Dr. Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus, Aligarh Muslim University, argues that Sikhism did a lot to uplift[6] the status of Jatts in general.The late Professor Kishan Singh[7] states
“A serious contradiction afflicts the Jat farmer of the Punjab. He has unflinching faith in Guru Gobind Singh, yet at the same time he is inbued with traits typical of a Jat. There are two sides to the Jat’s known traits. One has a positive effect in the sense that it saves him from feeling inferior; and the other side is negative. It makes him overbearing and arrogant which is a disease. A jat’s negative traits can be suppressed only through the true spirit of Sikhism.”
Jats Sikhs in The British Army
Jatt Sikhs according to Major AE Barstow."[8] were very good soldiers, and due to the influence of Sikhism,[9] possessed more of a martial quality than their other non-Sikh Jat brethren. Barstow further comments, that due to their diet, fondness for wrestling (something encouraged and taught by Guru Angad[10][11] to the Sikh people) and weightlifting, they possessed good physical attributes for soldiery. Jatt Sikhs (alongside other Sikhs) were seen a good source for recruitment[12] according to R W Falcon. According to Captain A H Bingley they were particularly loyal soldiers[13] .
Notable Jat-Sikhs
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh - the Jat-Sikh (possibly Sansi Caste[14] caste[15][16][17][18][19][20])[21][22] Emperor of the Sikh empire.
- Nirmaljeet Singh Sekhon - a Sekhon Jat-Sikh, the only Indian Air Force member to receive the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration.[23]
- Nawab Kapur Singh - the Jat-Sikh leader of Singhpur Misl.
- Kartar Singh- First Sikh freedom fighter
- KPS Gill - a Jat Sikh Police Officer nicknamed 'Supercop' for eradicating terrorism from Punjabal though he used extrajudicial methods for this.[24]
- Bhagat Singh - a Jat Indian freedom fighter of Sikh origin. Claimed by Bhai Randhir Singh to be a Sikh [25]. Other documentation records him as an atheist[26][27] .
- Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon - a Jat-Sikh Indian freedom fighter.
- Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (Brar Jat) - leader of the Khalistan movement.[citation needed]
- Dharmendra Singh Deol - a Deol Jat-Sikh and award-winning Indian Bollywood film star who has appeared in more than 200 Bollywood films.
- Chef Manjit Gill - With over three decades of delectable culinary experience behind him, Manjit S. Gill is a reputed professional in the Hospitality Industry held in highest regard by its top gastronomic echelons.He received the “Life Time Achievement” National Award from the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.
See also
References
- ^ The transformation of Sikh society - Page 92 by Ethne K. Marenco - The gazetteer also describes the relation of the Jat Sikhs to the Jat Hindus ...to 2019 in 1911 is attributed to the conversion of Jat Hindus to Sikhism. ...
- ^ Social philosophy and social transformation of Sikhs by R. N. Singh (Ph. D.) Page 130 - The decrease of Jat Hindus from 16843 in 1881 to 2019 in 1911 is attributed to the conversion of Jat Hindus to Sikhism. ...
- ^ The Sikh Revolution By Jagjit Singh ISBN 8188306002 page 205 onwards
- ^ Perspectives on Sikh Studies and The Development of Sikh Militarisation by Jagjit Singh Page 92 onwards courtesy http://www.globalsikhstudies.net/pdf/per-sikh-studies.pdf
- ^ a b Barstow, A.E., (Major, 2/11th Sikh Regiment-Late 15th Ludhiana Sikhs), The Sikhs: An Ethnology (revised at the request of the Government of India), reprinted by B.R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi, India, 1985, p. 155, first published in 1928.
- ^ "Sikhism uplifted the social status of Jat community of Punjab says Irfan Habib". Punjabheritage.org. 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "WSN-Op-Ed-The Malaise of Jat Consciousness". Worldsikhnews.com. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ Barstow, A.E., (Major, 2/11th Sikh Regiment-Late 15th Ludhiana Sikhs), The Sikhs: An Ethnology (revised at the request of the Government of India), reprinted by B.R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi, India, 1985, pp. 62–63, first published in 1928.
- ^ Barstow, A.E., (Major, 2/11th Sikh Regiment-Late 15th Ludhiana Sikhs), The Sikhs: An Ethnology (revised at the request of the Government of India), reprinted by B.R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi, India, 1985, pp. 155, first published in 1928.
- ^ "Guru Angad Dev". Panjabilok.net. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Guru Angad Dev - Profile of Angad Dev - Second Sikh Guru". Sikhism.about.com. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ Falcon, R.W. (Captain, 4th Sikh Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force), Handbook on Sikhs: for the use of Regimental Officers, Printed at the Pioneer Press, Allahabad, India, 1896, pp. 64–65.
- ^ Bingley, A.H. (Captain, 7th-Duke of Connaught's own Bengal Infantry, Handbook for the Indian Army: Sikhs, Compiled under the orders of the Government of India, Printed at the Government Central Printing Office, Simla, India, 1899, pp. 90–91, 11, 92.
- ^ Sir Lepel Griffin, Punjab Chiefs, Vol. 1, p 219"...and from Sansi the Sindhanwalias and the Sansis have a common descent. The Sansis were the theivish and degraded tribe [sic] and the house of Sindhanwalia naturally feeling ashamed of its Sansi name invented a romantic story to account for it. But the relationship between the nobles and the beggars, does not seem the less certain and if history of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is attentively considered it will appear that much his policy and many of his actions had the true Sansi complexion"
- ^ The Sansis of Punjab; a Gypsy and De-notified Tribe of Rajput Origin, Maharaja Ranjit Singh- The Most Glorious Sansi, pp 13, By Sher Singh, 1926-, Published by , 1965, Original from the University of Michigan
- ^ Tribalism in India, pp 160, By Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya, Edition: illustrated, Published by Vikas, 1978, Original from the University of Michigan
- ^ Sociological Bulletin,pp 97, By Indian Sociological Society, Published by Indian Sociological Society., 1952
- ^ Indian Librarian edited by Sant Ram Bhatia,pp 220, Published by , 1964Item notes: v.19-21 1964-67, Original from the University of Michigan
- ^ The Sikhs in History, pp 92, By Sangat Singh, Edition: 2, Published by S. Singh, 1995, Original from the University of Michigan
- ^ Some Aspects of State and Society Under Ranjit Singh, pp 5 By Fauja Singh, Published by Master Publishers, 1981, Original from the University of Michigan
- ^ Preminder Singh Sandhawalia (1999). Noblemen and Kinsmen History of a Sikh Family: History of a Sikh Family. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN 8121509149
- ^ Jean-Marie Lafont, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Lord of the Five Rivers. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002).
- ^ "Pakistan Military Consortium". www.PakDef.info. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ Avdhesh Mehta. "Sanjay Dutt to play supercop KPS Gill? : Titbits". Santabanta.com. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ Singh, Sangat (1995). The Sikhs in History. S. Singh. ISBN 0964755505. "Bhagat Singh's last wish, that he be administered amrit, Sikh baptism, by a group of five including Bhai Randhir Singh was not fulfilled by the British"
- ^ Bhagat Singh. "Why I am an Atheist". Marxists.org. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ Tapinder Pal Singh Aujla (1931-02-02). "Shaheed Bhagat Singh great martyrs of punjab(India).Shaheed Bhagat Singh was the hero of freedom struggle in india, great freedom fighter of Punjab, great freedom fighter of India, true freedom fighter of Punjab,true freedom fighter of india". Shahidbhagatsingh.org. Retrieved 2009-08-10.