Jat Mahasabha

According to Nonica Datta, Jat Mahasabha was Arya Samaj's offshoot, which was founded in 1905 in Muzaffarnagar.[1] But Brij Kishore Sharma states that the claims of Datta are incorrect. According to him, it was founded in 1907, and that there are two claims regarding its place of formation. He notes that some sources support the Muzaffarnagar claim, but the Chhatri Jat journal states that it was founded at a fair in Garhmukteshwar, Uttar Pradesh.[2]

The Mahasabha, a supra-provincial organization, was perceived in southeast Punjab as a symbol of unity in Jat society and as the main catalyst of reform and change. The Jat Mahasabha is a nonpolitical organization in nature. It is a social organisation. It is organised by a community for its uplift, for social reconstruction. The Jat Mahasabha has been functioning from 1993 for social causes. But it is not a registered body, not even as an NGO or social organisation.[3]

Sir Chhotu Ram explained its objectives as under: "slowly the Jat Kshatriya Sabha in Jamna-par Western Uttar Pradesh came into existence which had its impact in Haryana. This was followed by the formation of panchayats. It breathed a new spirit into the Jat community. In this period, only the Arya Samaj propagated its rules in Haryana and the Jats were greatly influenced by it. This movement was consolidated through its leaders. It led to an awakening among the Jats. The Jat school was opened, the Jat Mahasabha was created and the Jat Gazette was started. Earlier the Jats were all fragmented, but now they were brought together. They began to perceive all their institutions as exclusively Jat. The Jats became conscious of their sense of unity."

The Jat Mahasabha was initially founded as All India Jat Kshatriya Mahasabha. The founder members were Chaudhary Mamraj Singh Shamli (Muzaffarnagar), Kunwar Kalyan Singh Varkatpur (Bulandshahr), Thakur Tej Singh Vahpur (Bulandshahr), Chaudhary Hari Singh Kurmali (Muzaffarnagar), Shri Ram Lal Hala Raghunathpur (Badayun), Shri Nathu Singh Pardeshi,{Sapanch} Sardar Ghulam Sarwar Rongha[(Haryana)],Kunwar Hukum Singh (Mathura), Shri Lal Singh and Shri Vahal Singh (Saidpur), Chaudhary Gulab Singh Yadnagar, Chaudhary Nanu Singh Delhi, Shri Shadi Ram editor 'Kshatriya' and Sir Chhotu Ram (Rohtak). Kunwar Hukum Singh (Mathura) took pains to bring all the elite people of the society such as Jagirdars, Thikanedars, Raos, Rais, Rai Bahadurs at one platform.

Later large number of common people from society joined it. Branches were started at Baghpat, Agra, Aligarh, Bijnor, Muradabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Mathura etc. in Uttar Pradesh and Sikar, Ajmer, Multan,Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur etc. places in Rajasthan. Kunwar Hukum Singh Angai (Mathura) expanded its scope from Brij area to All India in character. The first Executive Committee of All India Jat Mahasabha was constituted on 14 March 1907 in Meerut on the occasion of Nauchandi Mela.Leaders of Rongha Jutt students also participated on this occasion.Ahmed Ali Rongha Jat of Multan was an active leader of student federation .

The All India Jat Mahasabha held its annual adhiveshan (Conference) at Delhi in 1908, Meerut in 1909, Garhmukteshwar in 1910, Delhi in 1911, Gwalior in 1912, Rohtak in 1913, Bharatpur in 1914, Pushkar in 1915, Meerut in 1916, Dhaulpur in 1917, Gwalior in 1918. Rana Udaybhanu Singh, the rule Maharaj r of Dholpur, was the Chairman of the 1918 adhiveshan. Earlier Sir Chhotu Ram had started a newspaper named Jat Gazette in 1916 which became very popular among the farmers of northern India. Sir Chhotu Ram was awarded the title of 'Rao Bahadur' and he founded 'Zamindar Association' to protect the interests of farmers.

From 1918 to 1924, the annual adhiveshans were held at various places. Decisions were taken regarding social uplift, avoiding extravaganza, and opening new schools and hostels to spread education amongst masses. Sir Chhotu Ram was appointed Agricultural Minister in Punjab Government in 1924. He had also started the freedom movement against British Rule in India.

The Pushkar adhiveshan in November 1925, organized by All India Jat Mahasabha, was presided over by Maharaja Kishan Singh of Bharatpur and proved to be a turning point in mobilization of Jats in India. Sir Chhotu Ram, Madan Mohan Malviya, Chhajju Ram, etc. farmer leaders attended. This function was organized with the initiative of Master Bhajan Lal Bijarnia of Ajmer-Merwara. The farmers from all parts of Shekhawati had come namely, Chaudhary Govind Ram, Kunwar Panne Singh Deorod, am Singh Bakhtawarpura, Chetram Bhadarwasi, Bhuda Ram Sangasi, and Moti Ram Kotri. 24-year-old Har Lal Singh also attended it. The Shekhawati farmers took two oaths in Pushkar namely,

1. They would work for the development of the society through elimination of social evils and spreading of education.
2. ‘Do or Die’ in the matters of exploitation of farmers by the Jagirdars.
3. Resolution was passed to remove the British rule from India.

Governor Malcolm Hailey addressed the Jat Mahasabha in 1930.[4] The 1930 adhiveshan was the 20th. Held at Tishazari ground in Delhi, it was attended by people from various religions.

In 1934, to spread the principles of Arya Samaj and create awakening in Shekhawati, it was decided to hold the Prajapati Yajna (Prayer ceremony for the Lord of Universe). The Jat Prajapati Maha-Yajna took place at Sikar 20–29 January 1934. Kunwar Hukam Singh Rahees Angai (Mathura) was made Yajnapati (chairman) of the Yajna. Chaudhary Kaluram of village Kudan was the Yajnaman. Acharya Shri Jagdev Sidhanthi received an invitation for this Yajna at his Gurukul at Kirttal. In that invitation he was requested to attend the Yajna and bring 20 Bhramcharis and disciples with him. Volunteers went to all the households in all the villages in the region and collected material that would be needed. They collected ghee, flour, and gur and invited all the householders to participate. Hundreds of cans of ghee and hundreds of sacks of flour were collected.

During the Yajna 3,000 men and women adopted the Yogyopavit, which was a symbol of "Kisan sangathan" (farmers' organization). Sheetal Kumari daughter of Kunwar Netram Singh adopted yagyopavit. Chaudhary Chimana Ram of Sangasi brought his wife wearing salwar-kurta. The unity of Jat farmers in this Yajna had terrified the Jagirdars of Sikar. The role played by Sardar Har Lal Singh and Thakur Deshraj was unparallel which made this Yajna a grand success.

In December 1934, ‘All India Jat Students Federation Conference’ was organized at Pilani; the coordinator of it was Master Ratan Singh. Sir Chhotu Ram, Kunwar Netram Singh, Chaudhary Ram Singh, Thakur Jhumman Singh, Thakur Deshraj and Sardar Har Lal Singh, along with large number of farmers from various states, attended it. This conference gave a great strength to the Jat youth.

The All-India Jat Mahasabha held a convention at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi on 9 March 2007 under the chairmanship of its president, Dara Singh. One of the main issues taken up at the convention, which was attended by several Central and State Ministers and MPs, was reservation for the Jats in State and Central Government jobs. The convention also discussed social evils like female foeticide, dowry and drug abuse. 2007 was celebrated as the organisation's centenary year.[5][6]

In 2013 Ch.Ajay Singh former Union Minister and former High Commissioner elected as President of All India Jat Mahasabha.

After the death of Dara Singh on 12 July 2012, the community elected Ajay Singh (diplomat), a former Union Minister and High Commissioner, as president.

A general meeting of senior members of the All India Jat Mahasabha, was held on 18 July 2012 at the Deputy Speaker's Hall, Constitutional Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi to mourn the passing away of its president, late Ch Dara Singh, the veteran wrestler-turned-movie star and former Member of Parliament. At the meeting, speakers recalled his yeoman's contribution to the Mahasabha in various capacities and termed his death as a great loss for the community as well as the nation. Ch Dara Singh breathed his last at Mumbai on 12 July 2012 after a brief illness. After paying rich tributes to the departed soul, the meeting unanimously nominated Shri Ajay Singh as convener to convene a Jat Mahasabha Mahapanchayat to elect its next president.

This task was entrusted to Ch Ajay Singh as the lone as well as senior most surviving Patron of the Akhil Bhartiya Jat Mahasabha. Those present recalled how he had performed a similar task when he convened the Jat mahapanchayat on 14 September 1998 at the lawns of the Vitthal Bhai Patel House at Rafi Marg, New Delhi in which Ch Dara Singh was unanimously elected the President.

In 1998 Shri Ajay Singh played an important role by leading a delegation to Mumbai to bring Ch Dara Singh to the Mahapanchayat. Shri Baldev Sihag (Former OSD to Ch Devilal), Shri Dharampal Sirohi (Eminent Journalist), Shri Dharamraj Panwar and Ch Amarpal Singh (Political/Social activists) and Shri Yadunath Singh(Former Deputy Speaker, Rajasthan) were part of the delegation led by Shri Ajay Singh to Mumbai on this occasion. Late Dara Singh agreed to attend the mahapanchayat where he was unanimously elected the president of Mahasabha. Lt Gen K.K. Singh (senior most Jat military officer), Ch Ajay Singh (Former Union Minister) and Shri Chhetilal Verma (Founder Chairman Continental Construction Limited) were nominated as Patrons in Mahasabha. Past mahasabha president Shri Vishvendra Singh, Shri Kamlesh Bharti (Vrindavan) were also later included as Patrons.

The next historic Akhil Bhartiya Jat mahapanchayat was held on 30 March 2013 at the Mavalankar Hall in Vitthalbhai Patel House at Rafi Marg New Delhi. This was adjacent to the lawns where earlier historic Akhil Bharatiya Jat Maha Sammelan held in 1998.

The mahapanchayat was presided over by Shri Balram Jakhar former Speaker of the Lok Sabha. During the mahapanchayat a number of prominent leaders spoke about the need for unity amongst the Jat Community.

After extensive deliberations Shri Balram Jakhar presiding over the Mahasabha proposed Ch Ajay Singh's name for president recalling Shri Ajay Singh's late father, Captain Bhagwan Singh's work as the president (1979 to 1991) of the mahasabha in reviving the organisation which had been defunct since the death of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh in 1979. Dr Aryaveer addressing the Mahasabha He recalled how Captain Bhagwan Singh had toured the country spreading the Mahasabha from Jammu to Andhra Pradesh to bring Jats from all over country into the mahasabha folds. While seconding the proposals of Shri Ajay Singh's name Shri K Natwar Singh recalled great literary work done by the mahasabha under Capt Bhagwan Singh, particularly in historical research on Jats. He hoped Shri Ajay Singh as a veteran journalist and eminent editor would carry forward this legacy. Then Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others also seconded the proposal. Professor Zile Singh Rana who conducted the program asked for the vote and Ajay Singh was unanimously elected as the President of All India Jat Maha Sabha with the raising of hands, beating of Nagada, slogans and showers of flowers and garlands.

From left to right sit on the Dias - Shri Vijay Punia, Shri Harinder Malik, Smt Chandrawati, Shri Manpreet Badal, Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Shri Balram Jakhar, K Natwar Singh, Shri Raghu Thakur, Col (Retd) Sonaram Jat, Smt Kiran Chaudhary raising hands on the name of Ch Ajay Singh during the election of President of Jat Mahasabha. Shri Balram Jakhar with the help of Shri Vijay Punia (Former General Secretary, Youth Wing of Jat Mahasabha ) tied the Turban on his head.

Dr Balaram Jakher along with all the leaders present on the dais blessed Ajay Singh as president and wished him well. Dr Jakhar said that he had placed this turban on behalf of the community and hoped that Singh will follow his late father's footsteps in the service to the community. He also added that since Ajay's late father had been close friend “like a brother” and added, “if Ajay Singh fails to perform his duties towards the community, have right to correct him!”

Ch Ajay Singh seeking blessings from Shri Balram Jakhar after being elected as the president of mahasabha The convention was addressed by Shri K Natwar Singh (former External Affair Minister), Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Manpreet Singh Badal (Former Finance Minister, Punjab State and President of People's Party of Punjab), Smt Kiran Chaudhary (Former Minister Haryana), Smt Chandrawati (Former President Akhil Bhartiya Mahila Jat Mahasabha and former Lt. Governor, Pondicherry), Vijay Punia, Raghu Thakur(senior and Socialist Leader and President of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party), Harendra Malik former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Col (Rtd) Sonaram Jat, (former Member of Parliament) and Kushal Singh (former Chief Secretary of Rajasthan).

• Jat Mahasabha Website