Phatak

Ahir
Languages
Hindi, Brajbhasha
Religion
• Hindu
[1]

Phatak or Phaatak is a sub-caste of the Indian Ahir-Yadav community.

Origin

Locally in Braj region, Which includes Mathura, Shikohabad, Jalesar, Agra, Hathras, Aligarh, Etah, Mainpuri and Farrukhabad districts of Uttar Pradesh,[2] Phataks are Yadav(Ahir).[3] The Phatak clan claim to be descended from Digpal, Raja of Mahaban, an Ahir.[4][need quotation to verify]

The legend goes as: "Once the Raja of Chittor was invaded by the emperor of Delhi. One out of the 12 gates (Phataks) of the city resisted. To commemorate the signal of bravery of the guard Khatera Ahir of the 12 gate, the king issued a decree that they and their descendants should forever be known after the name of Phatak.[3]

History

The Phatak prince Bijay Singh took possession of Samohan Chaurasi area, dispossessing the Mewatis owners of the land in 1106 (samvat era). After the capture of Samohan Chaurasi area, the Phataks proceeded towards Yamuna river, displacing aborigines they established themselves in the whole Shikohabad Pargana.[5]

The evidences show that female infanticide was practiced commonly among Chauhan Rajputs and Phatak Yadavs.[6][7] In 1865, Mr. Colvin observed census of the Chauhan and Phatak villages in Mainpuri and found six villages without a single female infant.[8]

1857 Mutiny

In the district Mainpuri, no active participation was noticed as a national attempt at the subversion of government authority. British Officials later took the view that "there was no mass rising of the agricultural communities in Mainpuri but rather a struggle for the mastery between two land owning castes, the Chauhans and the Ahirs."[9][10][11]

The Ahirs of Bharaul successfully repulsed Tez Singh while their Ahir caste brethren, Ram Ratan and Bhagwan Singh of Rampur Village kept the whole Mustafabad in a state of rebellion and fought against British rule.[12][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Lucia Michelutti (2008). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste, and Religion in India Volume 1 of Exploring the political in South Asia. Routledge, Original from the University of California. p. 101. ISBN 9780415467322.
  2. ^ Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 46. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 152. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. ^ Cintāmaṇi Śukla (1977). Mainapurī janapada kā rājanaitika itihāsa: svantantratā saṅgrāmoṃ kī amara gāthā. Śuklā Prakāśana Original from the University of Michigan.
  5. ^ Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 152. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  6. ^ Raj Kumar (2004). Essays on Social Reform Movements. Discovery Publishing House. p. 213. ISBN 9788171417926.
  7. ^ Farooqui Salma Ahmed (2011). A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century. Pearson Education India. p. 396. ISBN 9788131732021.
  8. ^ Subodh Kapoor (2002). The Indian Encyclopaedia: Mahi-Mewat. Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd. p. 4506. ISBN 9788177552720.
  9. ^ Biswamoy Pati (2007). The 1857 Rebellion. Oxford University Press. p. 200. ISBN 9780195690767.
  10. ^ Edmund Leach; S.N. Mukherjee (1970). elites in south asia. CUP Archive. p. 30.
  11. ^ a b Pati, Biswamoy, ed. (2007). The 1857 rebellion (2. impr. ed.). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 200. ISBN 9780195690767.
  12. ^ Edmund Leach; S.N. Mukherjee (1970). elites in south asia. CUP Archive. p. 31.