Babbar (clan)

Babbar is an Mair Rajput/Khatri surname originating in the Ajmer-Merwara region in Rajasthan of the Indian subcontinent. It is part of the broad Kshatriya varna (caste). They are traditionally members of the military or ran in an administrative capacity. The Kshatriya were assigned to protecting the Hindu dharma. Over the course of time, Babbars migrated to places across Punjab from their original homeland in Ajmer-Merwara and Rajputana.

Babbars came to be known as Mair Rajputs from within amongst the Punjabi Hindu Rajputs and originate from the Rajput clans of Rajasthan in Ajmer and migrated to the Punjab later in their history.^[2] Many Babbars became land holders and took up agriculture and hence became closely associated with Jats.

Today, Babbars live in numerous regions within India, but are mostly concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh. Babbars are usually Hindu Rajputs but some are also Sikh Rajputs, as the religions are generally very close in the Punjab region.^[3][4][5]

Mair Rajput Gotra

Babbar is a Hindu "Mair Rajput of Punjab" Gotra; Rose in 1914 wrote: "Babbar: This name is also the name of a Jat tribe of Dera Ghazi Khan. In Bahawalpur, this Jat tribe gave the following genealogy: Raja Karan had a son named Kamdo who had a son named Pargo who had a son named Janjuhan who had a son named Khakh. Khakh had four sons: Babbar, Gabbar, Rabbar, and Jhaggar (Rose 31). Many Rajputs who took to agriculture eventually came to call themselves Jats. Because both Jats and Rajputs controlled much of the land, it is difficult to draw a definitive line between the two. This is why the Jat connection is significant. The Babbar who are Mair Rajputs in 1901 claimed a Rajput heritage, saying that "babbar" means "lion" (Rose 440)".,^[6][7]

Babbars like most Rajputs originate from Rajputana.

See also

• Ajmer-Merwara
• Khatri
• Rajput Mers (also known as the Maher, Mihir, Mair or Mehr)
• Rajput Clans
• Bhati (Rajasthan) / Bhatti (Punjab)
• Martial Race
• Sikh Rajputs
• Hinduism and Sikh Panth

References cited

1. ^ Mair Rajput Gotras
2. ^ History of the Mair Rajputs
3. ^ Temple, R.C. "The Legends of The Panjab", 1884. Many reprints 1977, 2002 (ISBN 81-7167-636-7, 0405101287)
4. ^ Imperial Rule in the Punjab: The Conquest and Administration of Multan, 1818-1881 by J[ames] Royal Roseberry, III. Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 110, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1990), p. 176
5. ^ Griffin, Lepel Henry. The Panjab chiefs, historical and biographical notices, 1865
6. ^ Page 440; Rose, H.A. A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province. Lahore: Civil and Military Gazette Press, 1914
7. ^ Notable Mair Rajput Gothras (Families);Some noted sikh Mair Rajput in Punjab are Rana Ranbir Singh Babbar. "The Mair Rajputs of Punjab" by Mr. Rajesh K Verma.

References

• "The Mair Rajputs of Punjab" by Mr. Rajesh K Verma
• The Mair Rajputs Today
• Gothras of the Mair Rajputs
• Notable Mair Rajput Gothras (Families)

Further reading

• Blunt, E.A.H. The Caste System of Northern India. Delhi: S. Chand & Co., 1969.
• Chattopadhyaya, Brajadulal. The Making of Early Medieval India. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1994.
• Ibbetson, Sir Denzil. Panjab Castes. Lahore: Superintendent, Gov't. Printing, Reprint 1916 (from 1883 original of 1881 census).
• Jain, Kailash Chand. Ancient Cities and Towns of Rajasthan. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1972.
• Rose, H.A. A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province. Lahore: Civil and Military Gazette Press, 1914.
• Saggar, Balraj. Who's Who in the History of Punjab: 1800-1849. New Delhi: National Book Organisation, 1993.
• Singh, K.S. National Series Volume VIII: Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames, & Titles. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1996.
• Srivastava, Ashirbadi Lal. The History of India: 1000 A.D.-1707 A.D. Jaipur, Shiva Lal Agarwala & Co., 1964.
• Tod, Lt. Colonel James. Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, Vol. 1 (1829), Vol. 2 (1832).
• "The Mair Rajputs of Punjab" by Mr. Rajesh K Verma

Please Note: Please add any other credible published sources that can be referred to here in this list for additional information for readers.

External links

• The Mair Rajputs of Punjab
• Rajput Encyclopædia Britannica; 1911
• British Association of Rajputs
• Rajput Association of America
• Rajasthan and the Rajputs
• Information on clan system
• "Sikh Rajputs" in Punjab and Haryana

Notable people

• Raj Babbar