Raviji,
I appreciate the sentiment. But I'd be turning a blind eye if I don't ask you whether these parameters come into picture only when a certain kind of view is raised- basically opposition to Khaps, customs, etc. This has nothing to do with the view point itself, as you can very well see from my own opposition to it. The problem is that such sentiments are never raised when much much worse venom is spewed by self-professed real and blue-blooded Jats. Anyone taking a view contrary to them is bull-dozed (note, it is not criticism) with rhetoric. Asking them to provide evidence is blasphemous.
Probably it is too difficult to take on those who have unilaterally usurped the right to carry the Jat flag. But I dare say that Satyendra's criticism is a minor amusement compared to the "real stuff". If we can tolerate that, we should be able to tolerate anything.
Dear Kapil
Thanks .
Sentiments are first and foremost, and that is what I am looking for.
Is the sentiment in a positive direction or not.
If it is, we will move forward, f not we will wallow in the doldrums.
With the proper sentiment, we can and will, look at, study, analyze, criticize and deal with the issues that face our community today.
There is no rational basis for being part of a group called Jats. We were born into Jat families. Only some ladies who married into the Jats became Jats.
One cannot acquire ‘jat’ status, today. .
It is then an emotional and has a lot to do with sentiment.
Then one should be aware of and concerned as to what the sentiment one has for the community – positive or negative.
As I mentioned earlier, we should not be so arrogant and to think that this is the first in the history of our community that we have faced such issues, and I suggest it will not be the last
Satyendra, has inadvertently, become a bit a of lightning rod here, to focus the discussion, and I thank him for his forbearance.
For the record, I have spoken with him, a few weeks ago, and I am quite satisfied with his antecedents. He is from Sikar area. He is not Mr Siwach.
He has a genuine concern, and people with genuine concerns are and should be welcome.
They do not have to agree with my/our views.
People who bring critical thinking are what we need and want. People like Satyendra fall into that category.
We want, and should want more and more young people to come forward and post their views. Right or wrong does not matter.
If they do, then their views too will be open to critical analysis. That is the point I am making.
I will suggest they should not take the criticism amiss, but to build upon and from it.
On issues:
It is not unexpected that an issue like marriage customs will generate so much heat and fire.
The Khap issue is basically a by product.
Until some 10 years ago, I had no idea what a Khap was. It was only as part of my readings of our Jat historians that I came to discover this great institution.
I plan to make no apologies for it. My constant refrain has been to all, go and study your history, it is not contained in the school books, and if you do not study it and retain it, you will be the net loser. Eventually you will disappear as a people.
Of course there will be many more issues that are of prime importance- Female foeticide, lack of education, child marriage, honour killings, domestic violence; decline is standard of living, lack of health care etc etc.
The Jats, as far as I know, do not have proprietary rights or patents on these issues. Yet Jats are being portrayed in the media, as if f this was the case.
This is something we should all be concerned about; for it affects us it affects our children. It affects the image they carry in society.
History books have been quite unkind to Jats, depicting them as robbers and bandits.
To day the Jats and Jat land are being portrayed as uncouth, bloodthirsty animals worse than Islamic fundamentalist terrorists.
This affects the self image of a child who has to read, study, and believe this to be true. The child becomes the butt of jokes- ‘16 duni 8 ‘, , Jat, tere seir phe Khat’ etc is a cruel reality for them..
I have come across many Jats, well placed, who try their best to hide their identity.
The time may well come, and sooner rather than later, when being a Jat may disqualify you from an interview or a promotion.
I for one and I make no bones about it, object to such portrayal, and intend to do what I can to stop this and also to help re build the self esteem of the Jats.
What I find as quite tragic, though not entirely unexpected, is that a number of own community take more than a few pains to discredit their community, for their own selfish ends.
Today we have a segment of the media laying every misdemeanor at the door of the Jats.
At most we are dealing with 50-60 journalists.
When confronted at a recent seminar in Delhi, they all backed down, as they could not provide any evidence for their claims.
What we are now seeing is a spin by some of them on an earlier, hearsay story. The facts are damned.
An old adage” A lie oft repeated becomes the truth”
50-60 journalists are handleable.
It is these people I would like us to take on.
For those who wonder what a Khap is- Jatland is also a Khap, with over 15,000 well educated members.
This is a vibrant discussion platform, what is happening here is a Khap meeting.
The members will reach a decision. There will always be a minority, who will not go along, but their voices will have been heard, and taken into account.
That is direct democracy, in the best traditions of the Jats.
We must now move forward
Ravi Chaudhary
