The Jat are a prominent caste/jati settled in and occupying a prominent position in Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and eastern Rajasthan in India. They are the largest group in North West India belonging to various clans and more than 300 gotras. Though usually the common definition refers to only the Hindu Jats, they are not a homogeneous ethnic group living in a particular area and speaking a single language or following a single religion. A significant number of Jats are Sikhs and Muslims. They are primarily located in northwestern India and southern Pakistan. In Kashmir the Jats are Muslim and speak the Pothohari/Mirpuri language. In Pakistan, they are Muslim and speak Urdu and Punjabi, and in India they are Hindus and Sikhs and speak Punjabi, Hindi and Haryanvi. The Jat regions in India are among the most prosperous on a per-capita basis.
The origin of Jats is shrouded in mystery and several theories ranging from their sudden appearance from Shiva’s locks to being the predecessors of Gypsies are competing for acceptance. Most believe them to be an Indo-Aryan tribe, connected to the Vedic civilization (4500 BC - 2500 BC) that existed along the Saraswati river. The current settlement of the Jats certainly points to that. Some point to their Indo-Scythian origins. Both Sir Alexander Cunningham and Col Tod agreed in considering the Jats to be of Indo-Scythian stock. Cunningham identified them with the Zanthi of Strabo and the Jatti of Pliny and Ptolemy ; and held that they probably entered the Punjab from their home on the Oxus very shortly after the Meds or Mands , who also were Indo-Scythians, and who moved into the Punjab about a century before Christ. The Jats seem to have first occupied the Indus valley as far down as Sindh.
By 10th century the Jats had already spread into the Punjab, where there were firmly established in the begining of the eleventh century. By the time of Babar, the Jats of the salt range had been in constant conflict with the Gakkhars, Awans and Janjuas. Tod classed the Jats as one of the great Rajput tribes with Cunningham claiming the Rajputs to belong to the original Aryan stock, and the Jats to a late wave of immigrants from the north west, probably of Scythian race.
In 'Punjab Castes', Sir Denzil Ibbetson wrote: " .... the original Rajput and the original Jat entered India at different in its history. But if they do originally represent to seperate waves of immigration, it is atleast exceedingly probable, both from there almost identical physique and facial character and from the close communion which has always existed between them, that they belong to one and the same ethnic stock; and it is almost certain that the joint Jat Rajput stock contains not a few tribes of aboriginal descent, though it is probably in the main Aryo-Scythian, if Scythian be not Aryan. Many of the Jat customs .... apparently point to non-Aryan origin."
Whatever their origin, in the eighteenth century, with decline of Mughal empire empire, the Jats became a force that could not be ignored. Jats of Mathura rose in opposition to Aurangzeb's rule in 1669, under the leadership of Gokul, zamindar of Tilpat and killed the Imperial Faujdar Abdun-Nabi. It took more than one year for the powerful Mogul forces to subdue the Jats. Gokul was killed and his family forcibly converted to Islam. However, Jats once again rose in rebellion in 1685 under the leadership of Raja Ram. Akbar's tomb in Sikandra was plundered by them in 1688. Finally the Jats were defeated and Raja Ram slain in 1691. Jats again got organized under the leadership of Churaman and revolted continuing a strong armed resistance against the Mughals after Aurangzeb's death. Badan Singh, the son of Churaman's brother, established his authority over almost of Agra and Mathura and thus started the Kingdom of Bharatpur.
Badan Singh’s adopted son and successor was Suraj Mal. Suraj Mal, described as 'Plato of Jat tribes' and 'Jat Ulysses' extended his kingdom to Agra, Mathura, Dholpur, Mainpuri, Hathras, Aligarh, Etawah, Meerut, Rohtak, Farrukhnagar, Mewat, Rewari and Gurgaon. He was described as the greatest warrior and the ablest statesman that the Jats have produced. Suraj Mal died on 25th December, 1763. Such was the might of the Jats that Bharatpur came to be known as the impregnable city. The beautiful palace and gardens at Deeg and the Bharatpur fort, both built by Suraj Mal , symbolized the coming of age of the Jat state.
Jats are a brave, hardworking and fiercely independent minded people. It has been said that no Jat wants to be ruled. Primarily agriculturists, the Jats have led a fairly autonomous political life and the rule of the state has always been very limited. With the exception of Bharatpur, no Jat kingdoms were founded.
As per the Varna (caste) system, the status of Jats has always been controversial. Possesing a very good self image, the Jats have generally not bothered about the caste hierarchy and have always considered themselves to be Kshatriya or the warrior class. However, they have been outside the rigorous brahmanical social order and because of their non-orthodox religious beliefs and many non-Brahmanical practices like widow remarriage they have sometimes been classed as Shudras despite being the dominant caste in the whole of north west India. A large number came under the influence of Swami Dayananda and the Arya Samaj in the early part of the 20th century. The Arya Samaj’s attack on Brahminical rituals, orthodoxy, superstitions and caste rigidity had a natural appeal for the Jats its influence played a significant role in shaping the socio-religious identity of Jats.
Known for their military prowess, Jats have always been part of imperial armies. They served as fighters in the Persian army. The Jats were classified as a Martial Race by the British and were recruited in large numbers in the British army. A large number of Jats serve in the Indian Armed Forces today and form one of the largest ethnic groups in the army.