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RESEARCH Sociology
Reasi District in 1904 A.D., after independence, Rajouri Became part of the newly constituted Poonch-Rajouri District. On 1st. January 1968, Rajouri was declared as new district in the map of Jammu and Kashmir State. Social Structure of Muslim Rajputs: Presently Rajouri town is the administrative headquarter of the District It lies at both the banks of the river and is a meeting place of different roots leading to Kashmir, Poonch, Lahore, and Jammu etc., it is at the elevation of 3094 ft. from the sea level. According to Census 2001, 6 Tehsils 7 Blocks and 77 Panchayats covering 381 villages constitute Rajouri District. Nearly 45% of the geographical area of the District is covered with forest. Administratively whole District of Rajouri has been divided into seven tehsils, these are Rajouri, Kalakote, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Thannamandi, and in addition to that Dharal Malkan is the 7th tehsil declared in 2007.All the tehsils of the district have their own socio cultural and economic importance. The whole District is populated with different religious and caste communities with deeply rooted customs and traditional system. The whole population of the area is comprised of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. The total population of the district Rajouri is 4, 83000 out of which Hindus constitute 39%, Muslims constitute 58%, Sikh and others constitute 03% of the total Population. Total Muslim population of the District Rajouri is 2, 80,140 and Muslim Rajputs estimated population is about 1, 45,672 which constitute 51.99% of the total Muslim population. Muslims of Rajouri District have been classified into four categories, such as Rajputs, Gujjars, Kashmiries and 'others' The Gujars and Kashmiries are the linguistic divisions of
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the area, where as, the whole Muslim population of the district is stratified into various caste groups. RAJPUTS: The term Rajput is derived from Sanskrit word “Rajputra” found in the Vedas, the Ramayana, and Mahabharata. It has been used by the warriors and the Rulers, with passage of time there were many kshatriyas. The primogeniture allowed only the oldest male offspring of a king to succeed him, the rest were known as Rajputras.The word Rajput is claimed to be a changed term of Rajputra. Gradually it became a caste. Rajputs regard themselves as being descended from the vedic warrior class known as the Kshatriyas. To differentiate them from ordinary Kshatriyas the word Rajput was used, which literally means "son of a King." Rajputs are divided in to 36 major clan belong to one of the three great patrilineages, which are: The Suryavanshi lineage claiming descent from Surya, the Hindu Sun god, in English it is called Solar Dynasty, it is one of the oldest dynasty of the kshatriyas. The chandravanshi lineage, claiming descent from “Som” which literally means "Moon." In English called This Lunar Dynasty, it is also old but younger than the Sun Dynasty. Som was the first king of this dynasty. The Agnivanshi .lineage, this lineage claming descent from Agni, the Hindu God of fire. Only four Rajput clans are expected to be belonged to this lineage, they are Chauhans, Parmara, Solanki and Partiharas. Some scholars also include Nagvanshi and Rishivanshi a separate lineage. Literally, Muslim Rajputs are the Rajputs that converted to Islam The Raj-Puts (Sons of King) were ruling royal warrior clans of South Asia from ancient times has a long and well documented history of warrior kings and a strong
Vol. 3, Issue 11
martial reputation. They are in Pakistan and northern India, In Pakistan Muslim Rajputs generally took part in government services and in politics, Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, Governors of Provincial states, Ministers, such as Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah the father of Pakistan his ancestors belongd to Bhatia clan of Rajput from Paneli village in Kathiawar, Gujrat. Many Pakistani politicians belong to Rajput clans who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan. First elected Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was Bhutta Rajput of Larkana, Sindh Momammad Khan Junejo the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan was Junejo Rajput of Sindh. In politics of Pak occupied Kashmir, Muslim Rajputs played a significant roles the leading politician in POK, Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan belong to Muslim Rajput clan. Muslim Rajputs have been recognized in history as the warrior aristocracy, and were designated by the British Empire as a Martial Race and recruited into the Imperial Army. Muslim Rajputs have been engaged in the Pakistani military in large numbers, reaching ranks of Generals and the highest grade, as 7th Chief of Army Staff General TikkaKhan and the 10th Chief of Army Satff General Asif Niwaz Khan Janjua. Conversion of Muslim Rajputs: Various Rajput clans had converted to Islam during the early 12th century and since conversion have remained loyal to their faith. They were converted to Islam by the Muslim Sufi missionaries of the famed Chistiya, Qadriya orders and many others reasons. Some conversions also took place for political reasons. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Dynasty encouraged the martial clans to convert to Islam. Conversions to Islam continued into the 19th century even during the period of the British Raj.
Epilogue, November 2009