Critically examine the origin of rajputs
Answers
Answer:
‘Rajput’ is derivative of a Sanskrit word raj-Putra which means “son of a king”. Rajput was recognized for their bravery, faithfulness and royalty. They were the warriors who fought in the battles and took care of the governing functions. The Rajputs originated from western, eastern, northern India and from some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs enjoyed their eminence during the 6th to 12th centuries. Until 20th century Rajputs ruled in trounce majority in the princely states of Rajasthan and
Explanation:
ORIGIN:
Recent research suggests that the Rajputs came from a variety of ethnic and geographical backgrounds. The root word "rajaputra" (literally "son of a king") first appears as a designation for royal officials in the 11th century Sanskrit inscriptions. According to some scholars, it was reserved for the immediate relatives of a king; others believe that it was used by a larger group of high-ranking men. Over time, the derivative term "Rajput" came to denote a hereditary political status, which was not necessarily very high: the term could denote a wide range of rank-holders, from an actual son of a king to the lowest-ranked landholder. Before the 15th century, the term "Rajput" was also associated with people of mixed-caste origin, who were considered inferior in rank to "Kshatriya".
Gradually, the term Rajput came to denote a social class, which was formed when the various tribal and nomadic groups became landed aristocrats, and transformed into the ruling class. These groups assumed the title "Rajput" as part of their claim to higher social positions and ranks. The early medieval literature suggests that this newly formed Rajput class comprised people from multiple castes. Thus, the Rajput identity is not the result of a shared ancestry. Rather, it emerged when different social groups of medieval India sought to legitimize their newly acquired political power by claiming Kshatriya status. These groups started identifying as Rajput at different times, in different ways.
The origin of the Rajputs has been a much-debated topic among the historians. Colonial-era writers characterised them as descendants of the foreign invaders such as the Scythians or the Hunas, and believed that the Agnikula myth was invented to conceal their foreign origin. According to this theory, the Rajputs originated when these invaders were assimilated into the Kshatriya category during the 6th or 7th century, following the collapse of the Gupta Empire. While many of these colonial writers propagated this foreign-origin theory in order to legitimise the colonial rule, the theory was also supported by some Indian scholars. The Indian nationalist historians, believed the Rajputs to be descendants of the ancient Vedic Aryan Kshatriyas. The third group of historians, which includes Jai Narayan Asopa, theorized that the Rajputs were Brahmins who became rulers.
Rajput kingdoms:
The Rajput kingdoms were disparate: loyalty to a clan was more important than allegiance to the wider Rajput social grouping, meaning that one clan would fight another. This and the internecine jostling for position that took place when a clan leader (raja) died meant that Rajput politics were fluid and prevented the formation of a coherent Rajput empire.
The first major Rajput kingdom was the Sisodia-ruled kingdom of Mewar. However, the term "Rajput" has also been used as an anachronistic designation for leading martial lineages of 11th and 12th centuries that confronted the Ghaznavid and Ghurid invaders such as the Pratiharas, the Chahamanas (of Shakambhari, Nadol and Jalor), the Tomaras, the Chaulukyas, the Paramaras, the Gahadavalas, and the Chandelas. Although the Rajput identity did not exist at this time, these lineages were classified as aristocratic Rajput clans in the later times.
Chittor Fort, built by a dynasty of Sisodia Rajputs, is one of the largest forts in India.
In the 15th century, the Muslim sultans of Malwa and Gujarat put a joint effort to overcome the Mewar ruler Rana Kumbha but both the sultans were defeated. Subsequently, in 1518 the Rajput Mewar Kingdom under Rana Sanga achieved a major victory over Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi of Delhi Sultanate and afterwards Rana's influence extended up to the striking distance of Pilia Khar in Agra. Accordingly, Rana Sanga came to be the most distinguished indigenous contender for supremacy but was defeated by the Mughal invader Babur at Battle of Khanwa in 1527.
From as early as the 16th century, Purbiya Rajput soldiers from the eastern regions of Bihar and Awadh, were recruited as mercenaries for Rajputs in the west, particularly in the Malwa region.
The origin of Rajputs -
- The Rajputs' origin appears to date from an extraordinary separation of Indian culture in the northern and northwestern Indian subcontinent under the effect of the Hephthalites and related clans from the mid-fifth century CE forward.
- Following the separation of the Gupta realm, attacking gatherings were most likely coordinated inside the current society, with the current example of northwestern Indian culture being the outcome.
- The Rajputs arose into political significance as soon as the seventh century. From around 800, Rajput administrations ruled northern India, and the numerous frivolous Rajput realms there were among the fundamental impediments to the total Muslim mastery of Hindu India.
- In the mid-1020s, the Rajput rulers at Gwalior and Kalinjar had the option to hold off attacks by Maḥmūd of Ghazna (present-day Ghazni, Afghanistan), albeit the two urban areas offered him recognition.
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