Rawe (Rajput clan)

The Rawe (or Rave) Rajputs are the members of a sub-group of Rajput clans and are categorised as upper caste Rajputs. They claim descendancy from eminent rulers of aristocratic Rajput clans and are natives of the Indian states of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.[1][2] The variations of the name include Raya Rajput, Rava Rajput, Rawa Rajput and Rawad Rajput.[3]

Origin

For 457 years (736 to 1193 AD), Delhi was ruled by the Tomar (or Tanwar) clan of Rajputs.[4] The Rajputs occasionally united against foreign invaders – once under Bappa Rawal, then under Jaipal Tomar of Delhi and Shakti Kumar of Mewar.[5]

In 1009, Jaipal Tomar (1005 - 1021) formed the Tritya Rajput Sangh with the help of other Rajput clans and Kshatriya kingdoms. The purpose of this army was nation-protection and organizing of all the Rajputs at the time of invasions by muslim invaders like Mahmud Ghaznavi. The army was further strengthened and supported by his son Kumarpal Tomar (1021-1051) during his own respective reign. This army was named Rajput Wahini Dal and the Rajputs who constituted this army came to be known as Rawa Rajputs.

Etymology

The word Rawad is said to be an abbreviation of the words Rajput Wahini Dal (or battalion of Rajputs).[6] This Rawad became Rawa in due course, which is an adjective of these Rajputs.

Rajput Wahini Dal  --> RaWaD --> RaWa  --> RaYa [7]

Subdivisions

Rawa Rajputs are associated with only 6 of the 36 Rajput clans. The Vansh, Rishi Gotra, Ancestor and Shakhas of these clans are as follows : -

Suryavanshi

1. Gehlot/Sisodia (Vaishampayan gotra) : Descendants of Lav (Son of Lord Ram)

Shakhas - gahalot, ahaad/ahaadiyaan, baaliyaan and dhaakiyaan

2. Kushwaha (Manu/Maanav gotra) : Descendants of Kush (Son of Lord Ram)

Shakhas - kushavaaha, deshavaal, kaushik and karakachh

Chandravanshi

3. Tanwar (Vyas gotra) : Descendants of Abhimanyu (Son of Pandav Arjun)

Shakhas - tanvar, sumaal, gandharv, moghaa, paatharaan, paandoo, chaudharaan, thakuraan, soorayaan, bharbhaaniyaa, sansaariyaa/chandsaariyaa, maalhayaan, bahue, rojhe, roliyaan, chaubiyaan, khose, chhanakate, katoch, beebe, jhab‍be, jhapaal, kapaasiyaa, dairwaar, jinwaar, kaaakteey, laakiyaan, laakhe and tibbal

4. Yaduvanshi (Atri gotra) : Descendants of Yadu (Ancestor of Lord Krishna)

Shakhas - yadu, paatalaan, khaariyaa, in‍doriyaa, chhokar/chochar and maahiyaan

Agnivanshi

5. Chauhan (Vats/Vakchhas gotra) :

Shakhas - chauhaan, khaaree/khair, chanchal, kataaria, boodhiyaan, baadiyaan/baadhiyaan, gurood/gared, kanhaidaa/kaanhad, dhaariyaa, daahiwaal, gaangiyaan, sahcharaan/sachchraan and maakal/maakad/baakad/bhaakad

6. Panwar (Vashishth gotra) :

Shakhas - panvaar, tondak, vaashish‍thaan, ojalaan, daahariya, udiyaan, kiranapaal and bhatede[8][9]

Knowingly or unknowingly, people have started using these branches of the clans as gotra. This increases the chances of marriage within the same gotra which is otherwise prohibited.

History

The Rawa Rajput clans have had many eminent rulers like Maharana Pratap, Prithviraj Chauhan, Vikramaditya, Anangpal Tomar, Rana Sanga, Ramshah Tomar, Raja Bhoj Parmara, Man Singh Tomar, Sawai Jai Singh and Chahadpal Tomar[10]

In 1043, Kumarpal Tomar began a campaign against Muslim invader Mawdud, grandson of Mahmud of Gazni. He conquered not only Hansi and Thanesar (Sthaneswar) but Kangra (Nagarkot) and whole of Punjab till they reached Lahore. He reinstalled statues of Hindu deities in every fort he won and kept a small army with one of his brother to take care. The army even besieged the forts of Lahore and Takishah (Takeshwar) and all the area between Lahore and Gwalior became Tomar territory.[11]

Rawa Rajputs are said to have settled in Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.[12]

It is believed that the presence of Rawa Rajputs in parts of western UP and Delhi along with military in Meerut Cantt may have boosted the 1857 freedom struggle in siege of Delhi.[13]

Present culture

Rawa Rajputs are Hindu and never converted to other religions like many Rajputs did.[13] Their main deities are Devtas (spirits of the departed ancestors) whom they worship through the Thaan (a miniature hut like structure made on an elevated base). The Devtas are believed to be residing in the Thaan and hence the name "Devtao ka Thaan". They also worship their Gram Devtas (village deities).[14]

Most of them use the titles Singh and Verma as their surname. Some also add the name of their Clan/Subclan to their name.[15] They speak Khari boli as well as standard Hindi.[16]

Rawa Rajputs still have Bhatt (charan) system in which the Bhatts keep the genealogical details of Rawa Rajputs. The Bhatts sing those records to Rawa Rajputs in their traditional style once a few years and also add names of the next generation in their Pothi (diary).[13]

Rawa Rajputs are very liberal in accepting any good change in comparison to ordinary Rajputs. They started widow remarriage among Rajputs, most of them are vegetarian and alcohol consumption is considered bad. Their literacy rate is also high as they built many of their own schools by contribution.[13]

The community has a caste council, known as the Rawa Sammelan, to deal with the problems within the community at the village and inter-village levels. This includes resolving disputes within the community. The caste council is headed by a Chaudhary.[17] With time, settled agriculture became their primary occupation, along with animal husbandry. They live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their own distinct quarters.[18]

Rawa Rajputs are concentrated in the western districts of Uttar Pradesh -

4 villages (Chougama) around Budhana in Muzaffarnagar District

7 villages (Satgama) around Baghpat and Badot in Meerut District

27 villages (Saitwada) around Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar District

85 villages/towns in Bijnor District and a few more nearby villages in these districts.

Other concentrations occur in Western parts of Delhi that were once independent villages - Nangal Raya, Naraina, Basai Darapur, Khampur, Titarpur and Wazirpur.[13]


References
  1. People of India Uttar Pardesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 1215 to 1219
  2. The Last Hindu Emperor: Prithviraj Cauhan and the Indian Past, 1200–2000. Cambridge University Press. 2015. ISBN 9781107118560. |first= missing |last= (help)
  3. People of India Uttar Pardesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das. pp. 1215–1219.
  4. History of Tomars, Part1 - Tomars of Delhi by Harihar niwas Dwivedi. Vidyamandir publications. pp. 188, 267.
  5. "Muslim conquest and the Rajputs" The Medieval History of India. John Merci, Kim Smith; James Leuck. 1922. pp. 67–115.
  6. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII edited by A Hasan & J C Das. pp. 1214–1232.
  7. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII edited by A Hasan & J C Das. pp. 1214–1232.
  8. Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han, Or, The Central and Western Rajpoot States of India by James Todd.
  9. Mogha, Shiv Anand. "History Details". Rawa Rajput Online Portal. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  10. Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan by James Tod.
  11. History of Tomars, Part1 - Tomars of Delhi by Harihar niwas Dwivedi. Vidyamandir publications.
  12. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII edited by A Hasan & J C Das. pp. 1214–1232.
  13. "About Us". bijnorravarajput.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  14. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII edited by A Hasan & J C Das. p. 1218.
  15. "Personal Identity in a Globalized World: Cultural Roots of Hindu Personal Names and Surnames". Journal of Popular Culture. 38: 485–486.
  16. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII edited by A Hasan & J C Das. pp. 1214–1232.
  17. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII edited by A Hasan & J C Das. pp. 1217–1218.
  18. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII edited by A Hasan & J C Das. p. 1217.
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