Nehra
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Nehra (Hindi: नेहरा) is surname found in Jats in India. It is based on gotra (clan) Nehra. Nehra gotra Jats are found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in India. The origin of Nehra is derived from Nehra mount in Sindh where they were the rulers. Nehras are descendant of Narishyanta[1] (Narhari), son of Vaivasvata Manu and belong to solar race of Kshatriyas. [2] They are said to be a branch of the Sindhu gotra. [3]
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[edit] History
After Sindh Nehras have been mentioned by James Tod to be living in Jangladesh area of Rajasthan when the Rathores annexed it. [4]
Nehra jats ruled in Rajasthan over an area of 200 square miles. The Nehra hills of Rajasthan were their territory. To the west of Jhunjhunu town is a Hill 1684 feet above see-level and visible from miles around. [1]. This hill near Jhunjhunu town is still known as Nehra Hill in their memory. [5] Another hill was known as Maura which was famous in memory of Mauryas. Nehra in Jaipur was the first capital in olden times. In the fifteenth century Nehras ruled at Narhar, where they had a fort. At Naharpur, 16 miles down below the Nehra Hill, there another group ruled. [5]The present Shekhawati at that time was known as Nehrawati. [2]
At the end of 16th century and beginning of 17th century there was a war between Nehras and Muslim rulers. When Nehras were defeated by nawabs, they used to offer gifts to the Nawabs on special occasions, due to this they were also called 'Shahi bhentwal'. [5]
In the history of Nehras, Jujhar Singh Nehra or Jhunjha (1664 – 1730) played an important role in fighting with the Nawabs. His father was a faujdar of Nawabs. Jujhar Singh when became young was made the general of the army of Nawabs. He had a dream to establish Jat rule in India. He was planning to have a joint rebellion against the Muslim rule in India. He had heard the stories of rebellion by Jats of Bharatpur such as Gokula and Raja Ram. Meanwhile he came in contact with one Rajput Shardul Singh, who was an employee of the Nawabs. The Jats through Jujhar Singh and Rajputs through Sardul Singh agreed upon a proposal to fight united against Muslim rulers and if the Nawab were defeated Jujhar Singh would be appointed the Chieftain. [5]
Jujhar Singh one day found the right opportunity and attacked Nawabs at Jhunjhunu and Narhar. He defeated the army of Nawab Sadulla Khan on Saturday, aghan sudi 8 samvat 1787 (1730 AD). The Nehra chieftain Jhunjha or Jujhar Singh won the war and captured Jhunjhunu town. [5]This is clear from the following poetry in Rajasthani language -
Satrahso Satashiye, Agahan Mass Udaar,
Sadu linhe jhunjhunu, Sudi Athen Sanivaar.
Prior to this, Jhunjhunu was controlled by the Muslim Nawab Rohella Khan. The Muslim Nawab 'Sadulla Khan', in charge of Jhunjhunu, was defeated jointly by Shardul Singh and Jujhar Singh Nehra. But, as per Kunwar Panne Singh's book 'Rankeshari Jujhar Singh', Later at the time of victory ceremony Jujhar Singh was deceived and killed by Shekhawats after he was appointed the chieftain. [6] It is clear from the poetry in Rajasthani language -
Sade, linho Jhunjhunu, Lino amar patai,
Bete pote padaute pidhi sat latai.
Jhunjhunu town in Rajasthan was established in the memory of Jujhar Singh Nehra the above Jat chieftain. [5]There are 1760 villages of Nehras in Rajasthan.
[edit] Nehra in Rigveda
Nehra is a Rigvedic clan according to the historian Bhim Singh Dahiya. In rigveda it is mentioned as Narya (RV VIJI/24/29). A king of this tribe is mentioned as a great donor, son of Nara (1/112/9) 1/54/6. They are to be identified with Nara clan of the Jats, the Nairi of West Asia.[2]. Assyrian inscriptions of Shalmaneser I (ca. 1270 BC) first mention a loose confederation called the Urartu or Nairi in North-East Anatolia, in the region around Lake Van. [7]
[edit] Nehra by Megasthenes
There is mention of Nehra people by Greek writer Megasthenes (350BC- 290BC) in his book Indica [8] as Narae, the people who were enclosed by the loftiest of Indian mountains, Capitalia.
[edit] Nehra in Sindh
Nehras were rulers of Nehrun state in Sindh at the time of attack on Sindh by Muhammad bin Qasim in 710. Present Hyderabad city was settled on the land of Nehrun. The Hyderabad city was then named Nehrun Kot and was called the heart of the Mehran. [9]
[edit] Nehra in Jangladesh
James Tod in "Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan" has mentioned that Bika - the sixth son of Joda was spreading his rule in Jangladesh. He decided to build capital of his state on land belonging to Nehra jats. Nehras agreed to give the land for capital on the condition that their clan name will be included in the name of capital. So the name of caital of the state of Bika was : Bika + Nehra = Bikaner. The city of Bikaner was founded in 1488. [4]
[edit] Notable persons of Nehra clan
- sandeep nehra-chief operating officer east africa for one of the largest outdoor advertising company
- Ashish Nehra - Famous Indian cricketer.
- Jujhar Singh Nehra - Jat chieftain who gave name to Jhunjhunu town in Rajasthan, India
- Jagdish Nehra - Former Education Minister Haryana, India
- Ankush Nehra - legend
- Peter J. Nehra - Enigma
[edit] *Anuuuuj Neera - Fatman scoop
[edit] See also
Narender Singh Nehra
[edit] References
- ^ Genealogy of Narishyanta
- ^ a b Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar, Adhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998
- ^ Ram Swarup Joon, History of the Jats, Rohtak, India (1938, 1967
- ^ a b James Tod, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan
- ^ a b c d e f Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihasa (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 614-615.
- ^ Kunwar Panne Singh, Rankeshari Jujhar Singh
- ^ Bhim Singh Dahiya, Aryan Tribes and the Rig Veda, ( 1991) , Dahinam Publishers, 16 B Sujan Singh Park, Sonepat, Haryana, India
- ^ Megasthenes-Indika
- ^ Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 701.
Narender Singh Nehra Mitsui Kinzoku Components India pvt Ltd Bawal