Maulaheri Jats

Claiming their descent from Raja Bhoj, the Maulaheri Jats came into prominence during the Third battle of Panipat. One of the ancestors of the Maulaheri Jats had risen to become a General in the Maratha Army and was in charge of the outpost of the Marathas at Shukartal, on the river Ganges. When the Marathas lost the Third battle of Panipat, Ahmed Shah Abdali rewarded all his allies including Najib-ul-Daula with gold and precious stones, among other things. Najib-ul-Daula was returning victorious from Panipat when he was ambushed at Shukartal by the Maratha outpost and relieved of all his precious belongings by the Maulaheri General. As a consequence, Najib-ul-Daula also had to surrender the Doab. The Jat General from Maulaheri became famous for this act, and was given a jagir in Maulaheri, giving rise to the name.

The Maulaheri Jats grew in prominence over the years and became the most distinguished and respected family among the Jats in western Uttar Pradesh. At one point, the family owned over 36,000 acres of land, in over 20 villages. The family also built two beautiful palaces in Maulaheri, which are in ruins now.

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  Entrance to the Maulaheri haveli
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  Ruins of the entrance to the Maulaheri haveli
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  Diwan Khana (court house), Maulaheri haveli
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  One of the havelis in the Maulaheri palace
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  Arches inside one of the havelis

Chaudhri Ghasiram Singh of the Maulaheri family, who was the chief landholder in Muzaffarnagar district, built a fort across the Kaali river and established Ghasipura in present day Uttar Pradesh. It is said that Chaudhri Ghasiram Singh was to be awarded the title of raja, however, due to his untimely demise, the announcement could not be formalized.

The Maulaheri family also had close links with the family of Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, and fellow aristocrat, whose land holdings lay next to the Maulaheri Jats in the United Provinces of pre-independent India.

Between 1800 and 1890 the amount of transfers was about sixteen thousand acres. The chief losers were the Saiyids and Gujars, who between them lost more than half the total area transferred. Over 8599 acres passed out of the hands of Government to other proprietors, and this area should properly be excluded from the rest. The Jats lost nearly 7800 acres, and the Rajputs both hindu and muslims nearly 3,000 acres. Besides these the Baluchis who parted with nearly 7,500 arces, alone deserve mention, as they lost over one-third of their small property. The losses of the smaller proprietors are more considerable then would appear from the figures, as Jats of Maulaheri largely extended their possessions. The chief gainers were Banias who increased their estates by over 38,000 acres. Next to them come Sheikhs, Khattris, Brahmans, the Karnal families and Bohras. It thus appears that nearly three-fourth of the land transferred passed into the hands of money lenders.

A famous book by Eric Stocks "The Peasant and the Raj: Studies in Agrarian Society and Peasant Rebellion in Colonial India" which was published by Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge in 1978, chapter 7 "Rural revolt in the Great Rebellion of 1857 in India" explains:

"On the eastern side of Muzaffarnagar district, not merely were the Jats generally a prospering caste, for whom the opening of the majestic Ganges Canal in April 1854 offered splendid prospects, but in the wealthy Jat family of Maulaheri in Muzaffarnagar pargana a new magnate element is evident. By Cadelli’s time the family were substantial landholders in Muzaffarnagar and Khatauli, owning altogether some 6000 acre in the Ganges Canal Tract."[3]

The family took active part in 1857 mutiny and the same has been established form government website. An extract explains:

"Ghasi Ram, the leading jat zamindars of the place, was chiefly instrumental in stopping Colonel Burn’s supplies and otherwise annoying his forces. His son, Mohar Singh, following in the paternal footsteps, was consequently hanged on account of similar achievements during the year 1857. The British commander permitted his troops to burn the town as a punitive measure."[4][5]

"Receiving practically no support from the local inhabitants, the British force was exposed to Maratha onslaughts. Ghasi Ram, the Jat zamindar of Shamli, played an important role as an ally of the Marathas, impeding supplies to the British force."[6]

• Chaudhri Mahabir Singh: Former Honorary Magistrate of Muzaffarnagar District[7]
• Chaudhri Lal Singh: Former Honorary Magistrate of Muzaffarnagar District[8]