MEDIEVAL HISTORY
13.Polity: Major political developments in Northern
India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs
Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs
Medieval India- Origin of Rajputs… 758 kB
,
, Origin of the Rajputs
The historians hold different views regarding the origin of the Rajputs; one thing is however certain, that they were of
mixed origin. The Rajput clans usually claimed their descent from the Kshatriyas; in some cases, their claim was valid; the
Kshatriyas of ancient times could not have disappeared from the Indian political and social scene all at once or even
gradually. Some of them were, however, foreign immigrants, admitted into the fold of Hindu society through formal
conversion and purification, as for example, the four clans of `Agnikula' Rajputs— Parmars, Pratihars, Chauhans and
Chalukyas.
Rajput Society
The Rajput society was feudal in its organizational set up. It was split up into various clans, each under one or
more hereditary ruling houses. They showed great loyalty, and implicit obedience to their chieftains.
All land was supposed to belong to the ruling chief who parceled it out among his lieutenants. The latter paid a
fixed revenue or tribute and rendered military service to the king in return for the lands granted to them. The main
profession of the Rajputs was fighting in defence of his clan and its chief.
The village communities in Rajput societies were governed by their panchayats and enjoyed considerable
autonomy in their internal affairs. There was no written law of the land; the Rajput states were run on local customs
and traditions. The feudal administrative set up was usually not very elaborate; in most cases, it was not efficient or
stable either.
The Rajputs were known for their undaunted courage and chivalry. They were honest, generous and hospitable and
kept their word. They were simple, outspoken and straight forward people who rejected outright the Machiavellian
principles of deceit and treachery in war. They were sometimes generous to a fault in their treatment of the
vanquished foe. The Rajputs were freedom-loving people with a keen sense of honor and self-respect. They
constituted, in fact, the 'sword-arm of Hindustan'. They were great warriors who took to fighting as a sport and
smilingly laid down their lives for the honor of their family, clan or the regional leader.
The Rajput women enjoyed considerable freedom and respect in the society. They were known for their chastity and
devotion to their husbands. There was no purdah system among them. They had some freedom in the selection of
their husbands too; swayamvar was in vogue among the princesses for this purpose. Rigid caste system, sati, child
marriage and ban of widow remarriage were very common among the Rajputs. The custom of sati was prevalent
though not insisted upon. Some of the Rajput ladies were educated and took active part in public life. They did not
lag behind their men folk in bravery and heroism. Many of them participated in warfare and fought the enemy,
shoulder to shoulder with their men folk. In time of danger, they displayed courage and fortitude which stands
unparalleled in the history of the world. When their warriors were defeated or killed, the Rajput ladies sacrificed
their lives by burning themselves alive or committing suicides en- mass, in manifold ways, in order to safeguard
their honor and self-respect; it was called the rite of jauhar.
The excessively martial character of the Rajputs had its dark side as well. Their love for personal freedom, vanity
and inflated ego did not permit them to subordinate their interests or pay obedience to their more capable leaders.
They lacked political foresight and displayed absence of an overall national consciousness. Terms like
'patriotism', 'motherland' and the 'state' had assumed narrow, parochial or regional connotations with them. As a
13.Polity: Major political developments in Northern
India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs
Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs
Medieval India- Origin of Rajputs… 758 kB
,
, Origin of the Rajputs
The historians hold different views regarding the origin of the Rajputs; one thing is however certain, that they were of
mixed origin. The Rajput clans usually claimed their descent from the Kshatriyas; in some cases, their claim was valid; the
Kshatriyas of ancient times could not have disappeared from the Indian political and social scene all at once or even
gradually. Some of them were, however, foreign immigrants, admitted into the fold of Hindu society through formal
conversion and purification, as for example, the four clans of `Agnikula' Rajputs— Parmars, Pratihars, Chauhans and
Chalukyas.
Rajput Society
The Rajput society was feudal in its organizational set up. It was split up into various clans, each under one or
more hereditary ruling houses. They showed great loyalty, and implicit obedience to their chieftains.
All land was supposed to belong to the ruling chief who parceled it out among his lieutenants. The latter paid a
fixed revenue or tribute and rendered military service to the king in return for the lands granted to them. The main
profession of the Rajputs was fighting in defence of his clan and its chief.
The village communities in Rajput societies were governed by their panchayats and enjoyed considerable
autonomy in their internal affairs. There was no written law of the land; the Rajput states were run on local customs
and traditions. The feudal administrative set up was usually not very elaborate; in most cases, it was not efficient or
stable either.
The Rajputs were known for their undaunted courage and chivalry. They were honest, generous and hospitable and
kept their word. They were simple, outspoken and straight forward people who rejected outright the Machiavellian
principles of deceit and treachery in war. They were sometimes generous to a fault in their treatment of the
vanquished foe. The Rajputs were freedom-loving people with a keen sense of honor and self-respect. They
constituted, in fact, the 'sword-arm of Hindustan'. They were great warriors who took to fighting as a sport and
smilingly laid down their lives for the honor of their family, clan or the regional leader.
The Rajput women enjoyed considerable freedom and respect in the society. They were known for their chastity and
devotion to their husbands. There was no purdah system among them. They had some freedom in the selection of
their husbands too; swayamvar was in vogue among the princesses for this purpose. Rigid caste system, sati, child
marriage and ban of widow remarriage were very common among the Rajputs. The custom of sati was prevalent
though not insisted upon. Some of the Rajput ladies were educated and took active part in public life. They did not
lag behind their men folk in bravery and heroism. Many of them participated in warfare and fought the enemy,
shoulder to shoulder with their men folk. In time of danger, they displayed courage and fortitude which stands
unparalleled in the history of the world. When their warriors were defeated or killed, the Rajput ladies sacrificed
their lives by burning themselves alive or committing suicides en- mass, in manifold ways, in order to safeguard
their honor and self-respect; it was called the rite of jauhar.
The excessively martial character of the Rajputs had its dark side as well. Their love for personal freedom, vanity
and inflated ego did not permit them to subordinate their interests or pay obedience to their more capable leaders.
They lacked political foresight and displayed absence of an overall national consciousness. Terms like
'patriotism', 'motherland' and the 'state' had assumed narrow, parochial or regional connotations with them. As a
