Ravana Rajput is an Indian upper caste[1].Ravana Rajputs,a sub-set of Rajput clan[2] and they are culturally similar to Rajput but have historically faced caste descrimination.[3] They are among the castes known as Darogas.[4][5] It is the only caste to protect the princely states of the warrior race, which is known as Ravana Rajput. This name came to existence in 1912 in the Jodhpur city progeny under the patronage of Sir Pratap Singh Rai Bahadur, the regent of the Marwar state.[6][7][8]

Origins

The Ravana Rajputs are descendants of Rajput men and non-Rajput women, and were not originally accepted by the Rajput community as Rajputs.[9] They were regarded as the children of the Rajputana princes[10][11][12] and were household slaves.[10][13] They served the royal Rajputana families as guards, soldiers and household servants.[14]

Jai Singh Baghel states that during princely period,the Rav(Rao) was also official Royal title like Raja,Rana etc. Many caste like Rawal, Rawat, Ravana were formed from the title Rav. By adding suffix 'Na' to the word Rao, the word Ravana (Raona) was formed. The meaning of the word 'Ravana' is used to denote the caste of Rao Rajput (Kshatriya) group and if 'Naa' is considered to be a sentimental word then it means Rajputi person, if it is a verb then it means Raavokt verb and if it is considered a caste word then it means Rajput caste. Therefore, if we pay attention to the above structures, the word Ravana proves to be a synonym of the word Rajput[15][16]

In order to raise their status, these people organized themselves into a caste[17] They claim Kshatriya status.

Ravana Rajputs are pure Kshatriya Rajput

Letter of Maharaja of Jodhpur
Rajput or Ravana Rajput are all Kshatriya Rajputs


In this lettet the Kingdom of Marwar Maharaja Gaj Singh state that:

Before the invasion and occupation of the Mughals, Kshatriyas ruled the entire India. In that period, 'Raj-putra' indicated Kshatriya princes or dynasties. The word Rajput or Rajput is a corruption of the Sanskrit word Rajputra. Which is authentic. Those who had kingdom and land started being called by names like Maharaja, Raja Rajvi, Umrao and Samant etc. Those who had land only for their own cultivation were called Rajput, Ada Rajput, Halkhand Rajput. After the peaceful period of the British, many Rajputs retired from military services and due to weak economic condition and lack of land, they started working in the administrative services of kings and emperors. According to the country, region and language difference, these jagir-less Rajputs, who worked on the same posts from generation to generation, started being addressed by the names of their posts and the word Ravana Rajput started being used for this class. There is no caste named Ravana Rajput in history. The whole-hearted support and ancient services given by this class to the royal family (in the state, in domestic affairs, in diplomacy and in trust works) cannot be forgotten. Due to the crookedness of the times, some vested interests and illiterate people do not like to see the progress of this section of the Rajput society. They are engaged in differentiating and separating the state families and chieftains from this class. Even this section of Rajput society has been addressed by different names as undesirable and indecent, creating an atmosphere of confusion. Such efforts are not helpful in creating a pure social environment. In the royal family, people of this Rajput class have been respected and addressed by the names of mother, grandmother, brother-in-law, uncle, maternal uncle etc. It would be a big mistake to forget the sacred relationship of brotherhood between the royal family and the Ravana Rajput community at any cost. Due to economic backwardness, Rajput society cannot be divided by spreading an atmosphere of confusion and calling them by different names. The relationship of this Rajput class with the royal family has always been and will always be one of brotherhood. People of this class have worked in the state services very efficiently, with devotion, patriotism and sacrifice, bravery and patience on senior military and civilian posts. Women have also not lagged behind in patriotic works. An effort to eliminate the above classified discrimination was made by Sir Pratap Singh Ji Musahibala in Jodhpur[18] and after this by Late Maharaj Shri Ummed Singh Ji Saheb, which had a very good impact on the Rajput society[19] Is. I have come to know that today in independent India, some selfish and ignorant people, in order to create rift and division among the Rajputs, say inappropriate things about these jagir-less Rajputs and Ravana Rajputs, which is their foundation and is an indicator of ignorance. Actually Rajput, Ravana Rajput is not a different caste from Rajputs. Rather, it is a section of the Rajput caste. I hope that the Rajput people will unite and take the lead in serving the country and public service, this is my believe.

— Maharaja Gaj Singh, Rajput or Ravana Rajput are all Kshatriya Rajputs, Date-15-11-1970

[20][21]

Notable people

Present status

Historically, the Ravana Rajputs have led the armies.[25][12] The Ravana Rajputs are the highest in the rural caste hierarchy.[11]

According to a 2013 Business Standard report, the Ravana Rajputs form around 7% of the Rajasthan state's population.[26] They have been granted the Other Backward Class status for affirmative action.[27]

In July 2017, the Ravana Rajput community were among those who protested against the alleged fake encounter killing of Anandpal Singh, who belonged to their community and was considered a hero by many in his village.[28] Aside from being a gangster, Singh was known for having escalated the rivalry between Rajputs and Jat people.[29] and the agitation following his death united the local Rajput community.[30]

References

  1. ↑ Sinha, Archana (8 December 2010). Gender Dynamics in water security. Vol. 1. Indian social Institute. p. 172. ISBN 9788187218937. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. ↑ BHARTIA, AASHTI (18 October 2012). Vote of Confidence. Roli Books. ISBN 9789351940418. Retrieved 17 November 2023. as aslo the Ravana Rajputs,a sub-set of Rajput Clan
  3. ↑ "Two Insults, Two Encounters: Why Rajputs are Angry with Vasundhara Raje and the BJP". The Wire. Retrieved 19 November 2023. Gangster Anand Pal Singh, who was killed in an encounter with the police in June 2017, was not a Rajput. The Ravana Rajputs, Singh's community, are culturally similar to the Rajputs but have historically faced caste discrimination
  4. ↑ Varsha Joshi (1995). Polygamy and Purdah: Women and Society Among Rajputs. Rawat. p. 199. ISBN 978-8-170-33275-6.
  5. ↑ Srivasta, Vinay Kumar (July 1994). "The Rathore Rajput Hero of Rajasthan". Modern Asian Studies. 28 (3): 589–614.
  6. ↑ Sharma, Sanjay (26 September 2017). "Rawna Rajput History and Kuldevi". Mission Kuldevi - Indian Castes and their Gods. Retrieved 15 December 2023. अर्थात योद्धा जाति यानी की राजाओं व सामंतों के शासन की सुरक्षा करने वाली एकमात्र जाति जिसे रावणा राजपूत नाम से जाना जाए। इस नाम की शुरुआत तत्कालीन मारवाड़ की रियासत के रीजेंट सर प्रताप सिंह राय बहादुर के संरक्षण में जोधपुर नगर के पुरबियों के बॉस में सन १९१२ में हुई है। जिस समय इस जाति के अनेकानेक लोग मारवाड़ रियासत के रीजेंट के शासन और प्रशासन में अपनी महत्वपूर्ण भागीदारी निभा रहे थे।"
  7. ↑ Rawna, Vs (7 September 2018). "What is Rawna (Ravana)". Virendra Rawna. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Chawla, Pradeep. "दरोगा जाति का इतिहास(Ravana Rajput History)". www.gkexams.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Lindsey Harlan (1992). Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives. University of California Press. pp. 145, 167. ISBN 978-0-520-07339-5.
  10. 1 2 D. D. Gaur (1978). Constitutional Development of Eastern Rajputana States. Usha. p. 49. OCLC 641457000. These slave communities were known by various names, such as Darogas, Chakars, Hazuris, Ravana- Rajputs, Chelas, Golas and Khawas.
  11. 1 2 Vinay Kumar Srivastava (1997). Religious renunciation of a pastoral people. Oxford University Press. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-19-564121-9.
  12. 1 2 Salik Ahmed (13 July 2017). "Why Rajputs in Rajasthan have erupted in anger over gangster Anandpal's encounter killing". Hindustan Times.
  13. ↑ P. S. Choudhry (1968). Rajasthan between the two world wars, 1919-1939. Sri Ram Mehra. p. 97. According to the census report of 1921, there were 1,60,755 slaves in Rajputana, including 10,844 born domestic slaves in Bikaner and 43,100 in Jodhpur. They mostly belonged to the Chakars and Daroga classes, and were divided into many groups such as Hazurias, Ravana Rajputs, Chellas and Gollas.
  14. ↑ Bindu Manchanda (2001). Jaisalmer: The City of Golden Sands and Strange Spirits. HarperCollins Publishers India. p. 92. ISBN 978-81-7223-434-8.
  15. ↑ Baghel, Jai Singh (2015). रावणा राजपूत मीमांसा- Ravana Rajput Mimamsa (in Hindi). Rājasthānī Granthāgāra. p. 2. ISBN 9789384168810. Retrieved 19 November 2023. रियासतकाल में राजा, राणा आदि शासकीय उपाधियों की तरह राव भी राजवर्गीय उपाधि थी। राव उपाधि से रावत, रावल, रावणा आदि कई जातियाँ बनीं राव शब्द के साथ 'णा' प्रत्यय जुड़ने से रावणा ( रावणा ) शब्द बना। 'रावणा' शब्द का अर्थ राव राजपूत (क्षत्रियत्व बोधक) समूह के वर्ण बोधकार्थ लगाया जाता है और 'णा' का अर्थ भाववाचक मानें तो राजपूती भाव वाला, क्रियावाचक मानें तो रावोक्त क्रिया वाला और जातिवाचक मानें तो राजपूत जाति वाला होता है। अतः उपरोक्त बनावटों पर ध्यान दें तो रावणा शब्द राजपूत शब्द का पर्यायवाची ही सिद्ध होता है ।
  16. ↑ Singh, Virendra. "Ravana Rajput History". rawnarajput. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  17. ↑ Narendra Kumar Singhi; Rajendra Joshi (1995). Folk, Faith & Feudalism: Rajasthan Studies. Rawat Publications. p. 119. ISBN 978-81-7033-273-2.
  18. ↑ Barkawi, Tarak (2006). "Between Two Worlds: A Rajput Officer in the Indian Army, 1905-21: Based on the Diary of Amar Singh of Jaipur (review)". The Journal of Military History. 70 (3): 851–853. doi:10.1353/jmh.2006.0151. ISSN 1543-7795. Sir Pratap Singh's efforts to elevate his favorite, Hari Singh or "Hurjee," to Rajput status. Hari Singh was from the Daroga caste(Ravana Rajput)
  19. ↑ Status, Rajput. "जानिये कोन हे Rawana (रावणा) राजपूत ?". Business | LifeStyle | Thakur Status | Rajput Image | Best apps. Retrieved 13 December 2023. रावणा राजपूत कहे जाने वाली इस जाती व अन्य पिछड़ी jaatiyon को दास प्रथा से मुक्त कराने में मारवाड़ के महाराजाधिराज श्री सर जसवंत सिंह जी साहब ने विक्रम संवत 1940 (सन 1887 ई.) के क़रीब मारवाड़ का क़ानून बनवाकर 'वशी प्रथा' व 'दास प्रथा' दोनों का अंत किया जिसके बाद सामंतवादी क्षत्रियों ने वापस समय पाकर इन प्रथाओं को दुसरे रूप में सन 1916 ई. में हरा-भरा करने का प्रयास किया. जिसे वापस हमारे श्री सर उम्मैद सिंह जी साहब बहादुर ने सन 1921 ई. में नोटिफिकेशन नं. 11 9 3 9 तारीख 21-4-1926 के द्धारा समूल रद्द कर अपनी दीं प्रजा को सामंतवादी जमीदारों से मुक्त किया(in english= In order to free this caste called Ravana Rajput and other backward castes from the slavery system, the Maharajadhiraj of Marwar Shri Sir Jaswant Singh Ji Saheb made a law of Marwar around Vikram Samvat 1940 (1887 AD) which banned 'Vashi Pratha' and 'slavery'. Both 'customs' were put to an end, after which the feudal Kshatriyas regained their time and tried to revive these practices in another form in 1916 AD. Which was brought back by our Shri Sir Umed Singh Ji Saheb Bahadur in the year 1921 AD through Notification No. 119 39 dated 21-4-1926, freed his subjects from the feudal landlords by canceling the Samul)
  20. ↑ Baghel, Jai Singh (2015). रावणा राजपूत मीमांसा- Ravana Rajput Mimamsa (in Hindi). Rajasthani Granthagar,Jodhpur: Rajasthani Granthagara. p. 114. ISBN 9789384168810.
  21. ↑ Guṇārthī, Rameśacandra (1965). Rājasthānī jātiyoṃ kī khoja (in Hindi). reference was in hindi language: रावणा राजपूत(Ravana Rajput) ' ( दरोगा क्षत्रिय ) प्रत्येक रियासत और ठिकाने के हर कार्यों में दखल देने का अद्यावधि अधिकार रखते हैं. Ārya Bradarsa.
  22. ↑ Barkawi, Tarak (2006). "Between Two Worlds: A Rajput Officer in the Indian Army, 1905-21: Based on the Diary of Amar Singh of Jaipur (review)". The Journal of Military History. 70 (3): 851–853. doi:10.1353/jmh.2006.0151. ISSN 1543-7795. Sir Pratap Singh's efforts to elevate his favorite, Hari Singh or "Hurjee," to Rajput status. Hari Singh was from the Daroga caste(Ravana Rajput)
  23. ↑ Barkawi, Tarak (2006). "Between Two Worlds: A Rajput Officer in the Indian Army, 1905-21: Based on the Diary of Amar Singh of Jaipur (review)". The Journal of Military History. 70 (3): 851–853. doi:10.1353/jmh.2006.0151. ISSN 1543-7795.
  24. ↑ "Haifa Day: 104 years ago, gallant Indian cavalrymen liberated this city in Israel from Ottoman rule". The Free Press Journal. 22 September 2022.
  25. ↑ Mahim Pratap Singh (30 June 2017). "Anand Pal Singh, gangster Rajasthan can't forget". The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  26. ↑ "Ravana Rajput Samaj warns BJP, Cong of using NOTA in Raj polls". Business Standard. 10 November 2013.
  27. ↑ "The Man without a smile". Tehelka Magazine, Vol 9, Issue 13. 31 March 2012.
  28. ↑ "Anandpal's family seeks CBI probe; native village protests killing". Hindustan Times. 25 June 2017.
  29. ↑ "Gangster Anand Pal Singh: A man who is making news even after his death". Financial Express. 30 June 2017.
  30. ↑ Prakash Bhandari (19 July 2017). "DNA ANALYSIS: Raje again demonstrates political acumen in politically sorting out Anandpal case". DNA.
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