Khap Panchayat

Few of media comments on Khap Panchayat
1. Medivial Justice 50 Kms from Delhi
2. Khap Panchayat’s are Taliban
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-> Are these statements really justifying the image and role of Khap Panchayats?
-> Do metro residents, so called intellectual person & so called human right activist etc really know anything about Khap Panchayats? If not than why they made hard comments?
-> I vouch on this that most of these guys heard this tern “Khap Panchayat” first time by media itself.

Who are Jats?
1. Mahabharata: In the Mahabharata Jats are mentioned ‘Jartas’ in ‘Karna Parva’
2. Rig Veda: Over sixty clans are named in the Rig Veda.
3. The famous Sanskrit scholar Panini (traditionally dated 520-460 BCE, with estimates ranging from the 7th to 4th centuries BCE) has mentioned in his Sanskrit grammar known as [Astadhyayi] in the form of shloka.
4. Hun was defeated by Jats under leadership of Yashodharman
5. Famous British historian (who established Mathura museum) has wrote book about Jats. ‘Jats of India’ by F S Growse.
6. Other foreign archeologist & historian who wrote about Jats.
o Sir John Marshall
o J F Hewitt
o S M Latif
o Sir Alexander Cunningham
o Sir H M Elliot
o ….. very long list

Jats is just not a caste, but this word represents a kind of people who lived from Malwa to Pakistan. Hindu Jats, Sikh Jats etc. Jats have origin Indo-Aryan and Indo-Scythian.

Where are Jats?
Jats lived in very long geographically area from Malwa to Pakistan. Hindu Jats which have social administration systems (Khap) live in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

What is Khap?
Jats caste systems socially divided in Gotra, Vansh etc. Similarly it is divided demographically. It is social distribution of Jat caste. It has Khap and Sarv Khap. In literal mean Panchayat system for one demographic area for Jat people. Khap has very ancient history and this word suppose to be origin from Saka word Satrapy / Khatrapy [an area inhabited by particular clan].

Khap was defined as group of 84 villages. This unit of measure is found as far back as the Saka migrations / invasions circa 500 BC. The concept of Khap is mentioned in Rig Veda also [circa 2500 BC].

The Sarv Khap Panchayat is superior of all Khaps.The individual Khaps would elect leaders who would send delegates, who would represent the Khaps at the Sarv Khap level. It was a political organization, composed of all the clans, communities, and castes in the region.

Functioning of Khaps
The ancient Kshatriya have always organized themselves into clans or under Panchayat system; both typically Aryan. A clan was based on one large gotra or a number of closely related gotras under one elected leader whose word was law. Mutual quarrels of any intensity could be settled under his orders. In time of danger, the whole clan rallied under the banner of the leader.

The Panchayat system is territorial and highly democratic. Every village has its own Panchayat. Whenever there is a problem or dispute in the village, a gathering of the Panchayat is called for every member of the village has a right to attend, express his views and vote for or against a proposal. The maximum available people normally attend. There are no elected or nominated Panchayat officials. Nevertheless, some persons, by virtue of their wisdom and eloquence, are automatically accepted as Panches, (one of the five) and their views are heard and respected. While elders discuss a problem it is customary for younger people not to speak but sit and listen. All decisions are taken after open-hearing, full and voluntary expression of views and consensus vote. Even if one of the contending parties considers the Panchayat decision unfair it is accepted and complied with without question.

A number of villages grouped themselves into a Gohand (corresponding to the present Thana area); a number of Gohands formed a ‘Khap’ (covering an area equal to from a Tehsil to a District and a number of Khaps formed a 'Sarva Khap' embracing a full province or state.

The right of attendance and expression was open to every one, whatever the level of the Panchayat. Generally, however, selected - representatives of the villages attended Panchayats of the 'Gohand' and higher level. Leaders were elected and appointed at 'Khap' and 'Sarva Khap' level that maintained records of decisions and had the authority to call an assembly.
Sarv Khaps played political role is that kingdom. Few of well know occasions are following when armies and funds were marshaled under aegis of Sarv Khap.
-> Battle of Multan against Huns (507 AD),
-> Battle of Taraori against Muhammad Ghori in 12th Century AD
-> The battle at the confluence of Hindan and Kali river against Ala ud din Khilji in the 13th Century AD
-> The Battle against attack of Timur in 1398 AD

Current Scenario & Role of Khap / Sarv Khap
-> As citizen of Democratic Republic of India, everyone ought to follow Indian rules & regulations.
-> Panchayats, Khap, and any social body ought to follow Indian constitution
-> Panchayat, Khap, and other social body can act and practice to resolve social issue for society betterment within Indian constitution limit.

To Government:
. Panchayats, Khap, Sarv Khap and other social system bodies are representing mass of people. And every citizen has right to convey its voice to government. Indian government of the people, by the people, for the people. So government bodies suppose to consider voice of people.
. If khap (and any other social body) is raising some issue in favour of mass of people than why it is not considered?
. Does government remember about Mr. M K Gandhi’s Panchayat raj?

To Media:
. Without knowledge no one has right to comment on anyone. Please read more about khap, khap history, khap system and history.
Few suggestions to media and so called intellectual
. Jats of India by F M Growse
. History of Saka
. History of Kushan
. Many Indian and foreign authors has written about Jats and Khap. (mentioned earlier)
. For genetics and birth defect please Refer: Journal of Genetic Counseling