Hi Fellow Rajputs,
I found an interesting article about a clan of UP Rajput (Gautams) who converted into Islam, yet maintain their historical affiliations.
I have reproduced the article from Times of India and give credit to its author Mr Atul Sethi
Read it below, and please share your comments:
Dusk is slowly enveloping the small village of Missi in the Bidinki sub-division of Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Hasan Ahmed, a Muslim, is getting ready to attend a Hindu marriage ceremony, which he says, won't start without his arrival.
The occasion is the marriage ceremony of the son of one of the members of his biradari — the Gautamanas
The Gautamanas are a unique community, consisting of both Hindus and Muslims, whose common ancestry binds them together. Descendants of Raja Bahrawat Singh, a Rajput king, who converted to Islam, the Gautamanas are fiercely proud of their lineage, with both Hindus and Muslims of the community preferring to call themselves Gautam Thakurs, to highlight their Rajput ancestry.
Hasan Ahmed, for instance, says that he considers himself a Gautam Thakur first and a Muslim later. "It's not that I don't value my religion. It's just that my ties with my community are deeper," he says matter-of-factly.
In an area where caste and religion hold sway, the Gautam Thakurs epitomize communal tolerance. "Whenever any youngster from our community — either Hindu or Muslim meets me, he makes it a point to touch my feet," proudly proclaims Pratap Bhan Singh of Naraicha village, another Gautam Thakur stronghold. Communal tension within the community has never happened, says Ahmed.
"In fact, such has been the bhai-chara between us that during the communal riots in 1947 after Partition, not even a single Muslim from our community was harmed, since our Hindu brothers took up arms to protect us," he says.
The Muslims too have responded by being staunchly loyal to the Hindus in the community. "If in an election, a Gautam Hindu is pitted against an outside Muslim, we will vote for the Hindu," says Rasool, Ahmed's cousin.
There has, however, been a price to pay for this solidarity. Muslims outside the community treat the Gautam Muslims, with suspicion. "They feel that we have compromised our religion. However, we know in our hearts, that this is not the case. So, we don't care what they say," says Ahmed with a shrug.
The Gautam Muslims themselves make up over one lakh of the population in the district. The combined strength of the Gautamanas is much more, which makes them an important vote bank in Fatehpur. Since the community votes enmasse for a particular candidate, their vote is a crucial one, that can make or mar political fortunes.
This is a fact realised by successive politicians, who have contested from here, including two- time Fatehpur MP — former Prime Minister VP Singh. "He got the vote of the Gautamanas, because he was a fellow Thakur", says Ahmed. This quest for a Rajput identity amongst the Gautam Muslims may seem paradoxical, but it has now become a way of life for them.
In their marriages too, Rajput customs are followed, like bursting of fire crackers and sending specially made laddoos to community members, which form part of marriage celebrations. "Why shouldn't we be proud of our Thakur lineage?" reiterates Ahmed.
"After all, our ancestors' warrior blood still runs in our veins," he says. To prove his point, he cites the example of his grandson, Major Salman Khan, who died while fighting insurgents during the Kargil war in 1999. "Woh sachhe Rajput ki tarah shaheed hua" (He died like a true Rajput), says the proud grandfather.
In fact, the Gautam Thakurs have always been known for their patriotism, says Anang Pal Singh of Naraicha village. In 1857, fifty-two Gautam Thakurs were hanged by the British for their role in the uprising. The tamarind tree from which they were hanged, says Singh, stopped growing after the hanging.
This tree, known as the Bawani Imli, still exists near Missi village and is somewhat of a local tourist spot.
Although the Government has built a park around it and is maintaining it, the Gautam Thakurs want a memorial to Raja Bahrawat Singh also built nearby.
Along with it, they are petitioning for a degree college built in the memory of their ancestor. Although there are a few other communities like the Bais and the Dikhits, who converted to Islam, and which include both Hindus and Muslims, the Gautamanas are the biggest such community in the region — a fact which they want to highlight, in order to make their presence felt.
It's a feeling that is now growing within the community, as many of its members are now in well placed jobs in cities. Anang Pal Singh, for instance, recounts how the District Magistrate from the nearby district, who was a Gautam Thakur, came to their village, to trace his roots.
"We now want to showcase our unique lineage," says Ahmed. "For long, we have been used by politicians for their own gains. Now, we want to better our lot."
Perhaps, for the Gautamanas, their unique past may just hold the key to an improved future.
atul.sethi@timesgroup.com
I found an interesting article about a clan of UP Rajput (Gautams) who converted into Islam, yet maintain their historical affiliations.
I have reproduced the article from Times of India and give credit to its author Mr Atul Sethi
Read it below, and please share your comments:
Dusk is slowly enveloping the small village of Missi in the Bidinki sub-division of Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Hasan Ahmed, a Muslim, is getting ready to attend a Hindu marriage ceremony, which he says, won't start without his arrival.
The occasion is the marriage ceremony of the son of one of the members of his biradari — the Gautamanas
The Gautamanas are a unique community, consisting of both Hindus and Muslims, whose common ancestry binds them together. Descendants of Raja Bahrawat Singh, a Rajput king, who converted to Islam, the Gautamanas are fiercely proud of their lineage, with both Hindus and Muslims of the community preferring to call themselves Gautam Thakurs, to highlight their Rajput ancestry.
Hasan Ahmed, for instance, says that he considers himself a Gautam Thakur first and a Muslim later. "It's not that I don't value my religion. It's just that my ties with my community are deeper," he says matter-of-factly.
In an area where caste and religion hold sway, the Gautam Thakurs epitomize communal tolerance. "Whenever any youngster from our community — either Hindu or Muslim meets me, he makes it a point to touch my feet," proudly proclaims Pratap Bhan Singh of Naraicha village, another Gautam Thakur stronghold. Communal tension within the community has never happened, says Ahmed.
"In fact, such has been the bhai-chara between us that during the communal riots in 1947 after Partition, not even a single Muslim from our community was harmed, since our Hindu brothers took up arms to protect us," he says.
The Muslims too have responded by being staunchly loyal to the Hindus in the community. "If in an election, a Gautam Hindu is pitted against an outside Muslim, we will vote for the Hindu," says Rasool, Ahmed's cousin.
There has, however, been a price to pay for this solidarity. Muslims outside the community treat the Gautam Muslims, with suspicion. "They feel that we have compromised our religion. However, we know in our hearts, that this is not the case. So, we don't care what they say," says Ahmed with a shrug.
The Gautam Muslims themselves make up over one lakh of the population in the district. The combined strength of the Gautamanas is much more, which makes them an important vote bank in Fatehpur. Since the community votes enmasse for a particular candidate, their vote is a crucial one, that can make or mar political fortunes.
This is a fact realised by successive politicians, who have contested from here, including two- time Fatehpur MP — former Prime Minister VP Singh. "He got the vote of the Gautamanas, because he was a fellow Thakur", says Ahmed. This quest for a Rajput identity amongst the Gautam Muslims may seem paradoxical, but it has now become a way of life for them.
In their marriages too, Rajput customs are followed, like bursting of fire crackers and sending specially made laddoos to community members, which form part of marriage celebrations. "Why shouldn't we be proud of our Thakur lineage?" reiterates Ahmed.
"After all, our ancestors' warrior blood still runs in our veins," he says. To prove his point, he cites the example of his grandson, Major Salman Khan, who died while fighting insurgents during the Kargil war in 1999. "Woh sachhe Rajput ki tarah shaheed hua" (He died like a true Rajput), says the proud grandfather.
In fact, the Gautam Thakurs have always been known for their patriotism, says Anang Pal Singh of Naraicha village. In 1857, fifty-two Gautam Thakurs were hanged by the British for their role in the uprising. The tamarind tree from which they were hanged, says Singh, stopped growing after the hanging.
This tree, known as the Bawani Imli, still exists near Missi village and is somewhat of a local tourist spot.
Although the Government has built a park around it and is maintaining it, the Gautam Thakurs want a memorial to Raja Bahrawat Singh also built nearby.
Along with it, they are petitioning for a degree college built in the memory of their ancestor. Although there are a few other communities like the Bais and the Dikhits, who converted to Islam, and which include both Hindus and Muslims, the Gautamanas are the biggest such community in the region — a fact which they want to highlight, in order to make their presence felt.
It's a feeling that is now growing within the community, as many of its members are now in well placed jobs in cities. Anang Pal Singh, for instance, recounts how the District Magistrate from the nearby district, who was a Gautam Thakur, came to their village, to trace his roots.
"We now want to showcase our unique lineage," says Ahmed. "For long, we have been used by politicians for their own gains. Now, we want to better our lot."
Perhaps, for the Gautamanas, their unique past may just hold the key to an improved future.
atul.sethi@timesgroup.com
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