Mewat

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For other uses, see Mewat district, Mewat State, and Mewat (disambiguation).

Mewat
मेवात
Historical region
Country India
Historical capitalAlwar
DemonymMewati
Mewat Region
 • Haryana tehsilsNuh, Punahana, Ferozepur Jhirka, Hathin
 • Rajasthan: Alwar tehsilsRamgarh, Laxmangarh, Kathumar, Umren, Kherli
 • Rajasthan: Bharatpur tehsilsPahari, Nagar, Kaman. Deeg, Nadbai, Bhusawar, Weir
 • Uttar Pradesh tehsilsChhata tehsil in Mathura district
Languages
 • OfficialEnglish, Hindi, Urdu
 • SpokenMewati
Urdu

Mewat is a historical and cultural region which encompasses parts of the modern-day states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in north-western India.

Geography[edit]

The loose boundaries of the Mewat region generally include parts of the following districts:

The region is located at the intersection of three states: Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. In between the major cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. The historical capital of the region is Alwar in modern day Rajasthan.[1][2]

The region roughly corresponds to the ancient kingdom of Matsya, founded in the 5th century BCE.

History[edit]

Classical era[edit]

The earliest records of this region and its surroundings can be found in the Mahabharata. The Bhadanakas are clearly related to the ancient Bhadras mentioned in the Sanskrit epic as a republic or oligarchy that Karna conquered during his expeditions. These Bhadanakas are located in the Rewari-Bhiwani area, and Bhadavasa, a present-day village located nearby confirms their historic presence.[3]

Medieval era[edit]

After the fall of Maurya Empire, this place has seen foreign invaders like Bactrians, Greeks, Parthians, Scythians and Kushanas. Samudragupta and Yashovarman had also ruled the area. The Mewat region was also part of the Harsha Empire during the first half of the century 7th century, then Gurjara-Pratiharas. The Tomaras, who were once the Pratiharas' feudatories but eventually gained independence, established the foundation of Delhi, then known as Dhillika, in A.D. 736. The Gurgaon-Mewat region was ruled by the Tomaras until Visaladeva (Chahamana) captured Delhi around the year 1156.[3]

One of the most dominant Meo chiefs in the region was Sambhar Pal, popularly known as Bahadur Nahar during the rule of Firuz Shah Tughlaq whose tomb still stands at Alwar.[4] Bahadur Nahar had helped Abu Bakr Shah, grandson of the late Emperor Firuz Shah Tughlaq, in expelling from Delhi Abu Bakr's uncle Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq and in establishing the former on the throne.

Ghias-ud-din Balban, who was once the prime minister of Nasir-ud-din Mahmud is known to have punished people of Mewat to an extent where around two thousand Meos were killed. The local population is believed to have gone through bad times due to the oppression during the early Muslim invasion of 13th century.[4]

Wali-e-Mewat era[edit]

Main article: Mewat State

The title of Wali-e-Mewat was used by the Khanzada Mewati rulers of Mewat State from 1372 till 1527, who ruled Mewat as an independent state. In 1372, Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq granted Raja Nahar Khan Mewati of Kotla Fort, the Lordship of Mewat. He established a hereditary polity in Mewat and proclaimed the title of Wali-e-Mewat. Later his descendants affirmed their own sovereignty in Mewat and ruled there till 1527.

British Era[edit]

During the British Raj, they became under the Alwar state, Bharatpur state and the Gurgaon district of the Punjab Province. After the Indian Rebellion of 1857 the area passed to the direct control of British rule.

Furthermore, during the colonial era, religious syncretism was seen throughout the region.

"The Meos (Muhammadans) of the eastern Punjab still participate in the observance of the Holi and Diwali festivals. On the latter occasion they paint the horns, hoofs, etc., of their bullocks and join in the general rejoicings".[5]: 174 

— Excerpt from the Census of India (Punjab Province), 1911 AD

In the 1920s the grassroots Islamic movement Tablighi Jamaat arose from this region under Muhammad Ilyas as a reformist movement.[6] This Muslim region was heavily inflicted by partition violence of 1947, which in turn naturally altered the syncretic life style of people in the region.[7] During partition some Meo Muslim villages were attacked; when the Meos retaliated they were attacked by the Hindu princely state maharajas. The violence has been remembered by the Meo Muslims and lead them to embrace a more Islamic identity.[8] The Meos' Islamic identity has also been enhanced due to better education, communication and transportation. As secular schools have increase in the area, so have the religious madrassas. Many Meos have traveled to Delhi to attend religious gatherings, or visited their relatives in Pakistan.[8]

Post-Indian Independence era[edit]

During Indian independence, there was a surge in Communal tension when Jinnah demanded for a separate nation as a result of which Partition of India was proposed by the British rulers. A branch of the All India Muslim League was established in the area, which had proposed a separate province for Meos and a significant number of Meos became members of the organization.[3]: 12 

During 1947, thousands of Meo were displaced from Alwar district and Bharatpur district. Many thousands were killed. They shifted to Gurgaon and many went to Pakistan. Bacchu Singh, the prince of Bharatpur, played a main role in this act of ethnic cleansing. Earlier Kathumar, Nadbai, Kumher, Kherli, Bhusawar, Weir and till Mahwa was heavily populated with the Meo population.The population of Meos drastically decreased in Alwar and Bharatpur however many old mosques are still present there.

Mahatma Gandhi later visited the village of Ghasera in the Nuh district and requested Meos not to leave India. Chaudhary Mohammad Yasin Khan, a prominent social reformer in the region, was responsible for bringing Gandhi to Ghasera.[9] Because of Mahatama Gandhi, some Meos were resettled in Laxmangarh, Nagar, Kaman, Deeg of Alwar district and Bharatpur district. Due to this, the people of Ghasera still celebrate Mewat Day.

Yasin Khan's political leadership created three infamous political dynasties in the region, the Tayyab Husain clan, Rahim Khan clan and the Ahmed clan. Yasin Khan put forward two political leaders during his lifetime, his own son, Tayyab Husain and Khurshid Ahmed. Later on, Rahim Khan also emerged as political leader in rebellion to these two in the region. These political dynasties have gained notoriety and continue to have significant influence in the politics and culture of the Mewat region till this day.[10] Chaudhary Rahim Khan is said to be the individual who united the ethnic Meos that were scattered across India.[11]

Culture[edit]

See also: Meo (ethnic group) § Cultural connections

The Hindu inhabitants of in the region of Mewat, although belonging to the same Kshatriya castes to which the Meos belonged before conversion to Islam, are not called Meo, which is the ethnic group originating from the region. Thus the word Meo is both region-specific and religion-specific.[12] The Meo community in Mewat adheres to Islam, yet their ethnic framework finds its origins in the hierarchical structure of Hindu caste society. Cultural aspects are largely shared between the Meos and their Hindu counterparts in neighboring regions of Haryana and Rajasthan. Additionally, the neighboring Hindu Jats, Meenas Ahirs and Rajputs also share the same cultural customs.

Language[edit]

Main article: Mewati language

Mewati, an Indo-Aryan language is spoken in rural areas of the region. With approximately three million speakers, Mewati serves as a significant linguistic identifier within the Meo culture. While other ethnic groups in the area also use the Mewati language, it remains a distinctive feature integral to Meo heritage and identity. Ahirwati, a dialect of Mewati, is spoken in the Ahirwal region as well.

Economic and infrastructure developments[edit]

The main occupation in district is agriculture along with allied and agro-based activities. The Meo Rajputs are the predominant population group and are all agriculturists.[13] Agriculture is mostly rain fed except in small pockets where canal irrigation is available. Agriculture production measured in terms of crop yield per hectare is low in comparison to the other districts of the State. Animal husbandry, particularly dairy, is the secondary source of income for the people and those who live closer to the hilly ranges of Aravali also keep sheep and goats. Milk yields are not so low, however, due to heavy indebtedness most of the farmers are forced to sell the milk to the lenders at lower than normal price, which drastically reduces their income from the milk. Towns like Punhana, Pinangwan, Ferozepur Jhirka, Taoru and Nuh are major hub of retail shops and acts as backbone of day-to-day life in area. The district also has a MMTC–PAMP factory located in the Rojka–Meo industrial estate.

The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway is an under construction expressway which pass through Mewat. Gurugram-Sohna–Nuh–Alwar road has been upgraded to National Highway and is known as NH 248A. Western Peripheral Expressway passing through Mewat also provides high speed connectivity to NH-8. The planned Rewari–Bhiwadi–Palwal railway line and Delhi–Sohna–Nuh–Ferozepur Jhirka–Alwar railway will pass through Mewat near district headquarter, Nuh.

Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College at Nalhar is operational near Nuh. Haryana Waqf Board has set up its first engineering college in Mewat in Palla Village near Nuh.

Mewat is one of the most underdeveloped area of the nation, Up to 60% of men here find employment as truck drivers and only few schools go beyond 8th class schooling.[14]

Demographics[edit]

The population of Mewat district.

Title Details
Population 10,89,406
Population (male) 5,71,480 (52.45%)
Population (female) 5,17,926 (47.54%)
Source:[15]

Media[edit]

Mewat has two community radio stations: Radio Mewat and Alfaz-e-Mewat. Radio Mewat, launched in 2010, endeavors to give voice to the voiceless in backward communities. Alfaz-e-Mewat, launched in 2012, provides rural communities in and around the Mewat district with information and participatory dialogue about agriculture, water and soil health, and governance issues.

Mewat has its own monthly magazine named Mewat Kal AAj Kal. This magazine runs by Mewati students who studied in different esteemed and prestigious educational institutions across the country. Presently Mohd Juber Khan is the editor & publisher of this RNI registered magazine. Mr. Khan did Journalism (Honours) from University Of Delhi and accomplished Master's in Mass Communication from Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi. He is acquired TV journalist and professional media practitioner in mainstream Indian media.

Mewati gharana is a distinctive style of Indian classical music.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mewat The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 17, p. 313.
  2. ^ Meet the muslims who consider themselves descendants of arjuna, Scroll.in, 30 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Brief History of the District". Census of India 2011 - Haryana - Series 07 - Part XII A - District Census Handbook, Mewat (PDF) (2011 ed.). Mewat: Directorate of Census Operations, Haryana. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Brief History of the District". Census of India 2011 - Haryana - Series 07 - Part XII A - District Census Handbook, Mewat (PDF) (2011 ed.). Mewat: Directorate of Census Operations, Haryana. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Census of India, 1911 Volume XIV Punjab" (PDF). Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  6. ^ Yadav, Jyoti (17 April 2020). "How Tablighi Jamaat was born from Mewat's 'drinking Muslims who couldn't even read namaz'". ThePrint. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  7. ^ Bordia, Radhika. "Why the Meo Muslims in Mewat remember Mahatma Gandhi in December every year". Scroll.in. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b Partap C Aggarwal. "Islamic Revival in Modern India: The Case of the Meos". 4 (42). Economic and Political Weekly: 1677–1681. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "With Mewat in Flames, Remembering Gandhiji's Visit to the Region in 1947". The Wire. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  10. ^ Manav, Sushil (7 August 2023). "Meo dynasts have always dominated politics in Mewat — a look at region's leaders, past & present". ThePrint. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Shri Rahim Khan MP biodata Faridabad | ENTRANCE INDIA". 26 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  12. ^ Prasad, Jitendra (2003). "Plural ethnic group characteristics: The nature of identity formation in Haryana". Guru Nanak Journal of Sociology. 24 (2): 1–21. ISSN 0970-0242. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  13. ^ توصیف الحسن میواتی الہندی (23 August 2020). تاریخِ میو اور داستانِ میوات.
  14. ^ Haryana elections: Turncoats and dynasts lead BJP battle for first victory in Mewat, Times of India, 18 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Demography | District Administration, Nuh | India". Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  1. https://nuh.gov.in/demography/

External links[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Mewat.

Mewat people's also called as "Mewati"

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