What Ails the Jatt Community?

Col. ( retd) SR Choudhary
I have always been naive to the strength and claim of Jatt (Choudhary) community’s leadership as is obtaining in Jammu and Kashmir. I have tried to fathom as to who could be the person(s), both suited and importantly acceptable to the community for leading it. I randomly sought views across Jatt community about an acceptable leader, but the answer still eludes me. Three questions struck me: (A) Is the Jatt leadership missing; (B) Is the community divided and not ready to be led by anyone due to internal squabbling; (C) what is the alternative. A thought crosses my mind if the answer lies in smooth give and take between old and the emerging leadership or maintaining status quo. Thus, I went back to the varying facts in the Jatt history which gives a plethora of facts about the origin, movements, occupation, social status, fighting capability and leadership that has sure bearing on the current impasse.
In fact, the origin and prowess of this community is traced to Sun Worshippers, which existed on the bank of river Saraswati and connected with Vedic Civilization (4500 BC-2500  BC), lived and moved through Denmark, Germany, Iran, Sweden, Turkey, Ukrain, Egypt, Afghanistan before the Muslims, invaded China with the Mongol army and proved a big threat to Tamar Lane in Persia and Uzbekistan. History also says that Jatt take their name from the matted locks (Jata) of Lord Shiva and believed to be descendents of Lord Shiva. Some ethnologists also suggest that the ancestors of the Jatt were one of the two races in India. There surely existed a strong connection between Iran and the lands settled by the Iranic people that traces Punjab as the primary home of the Jatt, also known as Hapta-Hindawa or Sapta-Sindhu.
Some western scholars and modern factual evidence, suggest that Jatt actually descended from a race of super-powerful, warlike demi-gods, who destroyed anything that crossed their path without even breaking a sweat, and who could travel through time and divide by zero, and who created the universe itself. As per the Varna (Caste) system, the Jatt are Kshatriyas or the warrior class. Many were part of the British army during World War I after serving as fighters in the Persian army.
Whatever may be the origin of Jatt, they have a history and well known for military prowess, agrarian background and divergent political alignment that gave them a distinct identity in the diverse lands. Interestingly, 101 Jatt figure in the Mahabharata and the author of Mahabharata, Maharishi Vyasa, was also a jatt. It has given brave officers to the Indian army.
Today, the Jatt occupied pre-eminent position in Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir with sprinkling in almost all other states. Jatt settlements have been in Jammu region since centuries but a substantial number of them moved to India from Mirpur/Bhimber(POK) during partition. Majority of Jatt in Jammu are Hindus and the remaining Sikhs.
The old adage goes; anyone who doesn’t respect the Jatt and his family, will automatically be his enemy. It has been said that no Jatt wants to be ruled. Rather, Jatt desires to have power over a group, if not over an area. I think here lies the answer. Broadly, four issues are ailing this community at present: (A) Lack of widely acceptable selfless community leadership and its willingness for sacrifice, (B) Lack of roadmap for the community development (C) state of oblivion, more applicable to the leaders than the led, and (D) failure to unify and sense inherent community strengths.
Going by the current social, education and economic status of the Jatt, there seems to be no reasons for any lack of direction. It is also not lack of certain leadership which always existed. The leaders in the past too have done their bit without losing sight of personal goal. Numerous present dispensations too suffer from such ailment. Leaders, elected or otherwise, can have personal goals riding along the community wave, but certainly not at cost of community. There are leaders who are trying to devote their time, money and energy to lead the Jatt Community while there are other political leaders, who too are doing their duties towards the state and the subject. What will be the community ambience if they all decide to transcend party lines, bury ego, forget social affiliations, and decide to come under single Jatt umbrella, while still maintaining political lines?
With dual purpose in mind, Man Mohan Choudhary, as President AIJMS (Jammu & Kashmir)  made an effort to organize Lohri Milan on  Jan 17, 2016. It was a show but surely the gathering was multi community and multipurpose by design itself. Let us accept that someone did it. Now the question arises, if both the community and the organizer benefit in their objective and galvanization.
The critical analysis must be restricted within parameters of objectivity and fairness. The underlying factor remains that no criticism should be done for the sake of cheap popularity or hoggin limelight. Also there cannot be any bigger disservice to the community than criticizing a good effort undertaken by someone for variety of causes.
While the core group may draw satisfaction over the size of the gathering but there is need for soul searching, if something better and far more beneficial could have been achieved with the same efforts. It is understandable that election result cannot be won by single community voters, but looks, there was lack of clarity whether the targeted group was purely Jatt community or mixed community. If it was Jatt community, the plot was lost in the invitees itself. The congregation also sent an impression if the prominence or presence of non community selective people was overemphasised by design or default over the dedicated community cadre. There was prolonged spell of entertainment at the cost of interactive engagement. In fact the extra focus on non community people sent confusing signals which resulted into prematurely thinning of crowd. Inter alia, a mismatch and confusion between the announcement and the finished product was evident. The contour of the crowd also defined the region wise divide. The unfriendly weather further added to the dismay.
The occasion failed to attract the intelligence and experience abundantly available within the community. Dividends would have been richer if the invitees clearly spelt out, duration of the event restricted, audience defined and focus laid on pure celebration followed by someone from amongst own cadre  defining the road map for future and words of thanks by the organizer . Surely all was not lost in the melee. There were big gains as the event sent very positive signals of Jatt presence, organizing skills, unavoidable need for a reality check and introspection.
Hard facts are that Jatt community continues to suffer from lack of awareness, self imposed confinement, age old mindset, sheer lack or plenty of leadership and failure to learn even from sub  community within. Jatt must follow a defined path for what they need to do in the changing social, political, economical and educational landscape. They need to be woken up to see beyond the pre-set mental, physical and preconceived boundaries. The road map must spell out clearly and explicitly, the shrinking government jobs and other opportunities within state, receding opportunity for OBC status, ills of enmass attendance and extravaganza during social functions, curse of inner division, changing aspirations of children who now look towards major metropolitan areas for career options.  Community needs to repose their faith in some leader who is willing, volunteer and available to do any good unless opposing factions and leaders come in open either to challenge or contribute while still maintaining their personal ambitions. Yes, anyone who underestimates other and lives in self oblivion, does so at a heavy price.
(Feedback- shivchoudhary2@gmail.com).

Follow our WhatsApp channel