The Khap (Hindi:खाप, IAST: khāpa) and Sarv Khap (सर्व खाप) is a system of social administration. History The Indian social fabric was organized around the village unit, as civilization shifted from nomadic to settled agricultural practices. Throughout the last few millennia, the society of the Indian subcontinent was organized in various forms, such as tribal, village, monarchical or republican. The mode of governance was that of a council of five, which was called a Panchayat. We find that the republican form of society existed from the most ancient times known to us. In various times the society coalesced around monarchical forms, but the republican societies did not die out. References to the republican sources can be found in ancient literature, some of the most ancient as being the Rig Veda (circa 2500 BCE). The forms of governing society are that of the `Sabha’ (Hindi: सभा) or `samiti’ (Hindi: समिति), which mean gathering and assembly, respectively. The Sabhapati, the president of the Sabha was an elected official. · The term `Rajan, Rajanaya has been taken to denote a monarchical system. This term was also used at that time for the head of the household, who would participate in the `Sabha’ (assembly). In later times this took on a monarchical connotation. In the texts of Pāṇini and later Buddhist texts, references to 16 republics or Great Republics Janapadascan be found, with these references dating back to around 600 BCE (conventional dating). References to names of republics such as Mall, Licchavi, Sakya, Yaudheya, Agreya, and so on are made. Indian and Western sources referring to these republics e.g. in the invasion of Alexander (circa 325 BCE) where Alexander comes wars with the Malloi or Malli, Kshudrak, Paur, Puru, and Kathi republics, can also be found. The republics referred to as the Yaudheyas, Malls etc. are documented as dominating the Northern Indian landscape in what is now Punjab, Sindh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The Sarv Khap (or all Khap) Panchayat (council) represented all the Khaps. The individual Khaps would elect leaders who would send delegates, who would represent the Khaps at the Sarv Khap level. It was a political organization, composed of all the clans, communities, and castes in the region. The republics of the Yaudheyas who dominated this region from 600BCE to 400 CE preceded it. They had there a similar system of governance, and their coins and seals are found in this whole region, Rohtak Haryana was one of the capitals and a major coin mint. After the fall of Kushan Empire northwest India was divided in to small republics. These small republics could not defend against invaders. So there were formed federations of republics known as Ganasanghas. One such Ganasangha was on the banks of Sutlej River. Another Gansangha of Arjunayana was in the region between Agra and Bharatpur. Dr Budh Prakash says that the Yaudheyas are related with present Dahiya clan and Arjunayana Ganasanghas were the present Joon clans. Functioning The ancient kshatriyas have always organized themselves into clans or under Panchayat system; both typically Aryan. A clan was based on one large gotra (clan) or a number of closely related gotras under one elected leader whose word was law. Mutual quarrels of any intensity could be settled under his orders. In time of danger, the whole clan rallied under the banner of the leader. A number of villages grouped themselves into a Guhaand. A number of Guhaands formed a ‘Khap’ (covering an area equal to from a Tehsil to a District) and a number of Khaps formed a Sarva Khap embracing a full province or state. For example, there was a Sarva Khap each for Haryana and Malwa. At what level a Panchayat should gather depended upon the magnitude of the problem and the territory it involved. Divisions One of the terms used to denote the republic was the `Khap. Others were Pal, Janapada, and Ganasangha etc. The Khap consisted a unit of 84 villages. The individual villages were governed by an elected Council, which was known as the Panchayat. A unit of seven villages was called a Thamba and 12 Thambas would form the unit of 84 Villages. We also find Khaps of 12 and 24 villages. Their elected leaders would determine which units would be represented at the Khap level. These Khaps are found to be spread all the way from Northwest India down to Madhya Pradesh, Malwa, Rajasthan, Sindh, Multan, Punjab, Haryana, and modern Uttar Pradesh. Sarv Khap of Haryana This region from Western Uttar Pradesh through Agra, Mathura, to the Sutlej River in the Punjab was known as Haryana, dominated by Jats and Gurjars and it is of this region that we speak, when refer to the Sarv Khap of Haryana. The influence of the Sarv Khap extended to the Malwa province in Central India, Rajasthan and Sindh. With the ebb and flow of history, the boundaries also expanded and receded. Criticism Under the backdrop of political rumblings over the sanctity of the Institution of Sarva Khap Panchayat, the institution has been critiqued as one in dire need of reinterpretation & adaptation, to the extent its integrity and basic structure remains totally uncompromised. In recent times, the Khap system has attracted criticism from groups, citing the stark prejudice that such groups allegedly hold against others. Womens Organisation AIDWA has made allegations, in some cases where the Khaps are alleged to have initiated threats of murder and violence to couples who marry outside of the circle. The Supreme Court has declared illegal ‘khap panchayats which often decree or encourage honour killings or other institutionalised atrocities against boys and girls of different castes and religions who wish to get married or have married. “This is wholly illegal and has to be ruthlessly stamped out. There is nothing honourable in honour killing or other atrocities and, in fact, it is nothing but barbaric and shameful murder. Other atrocities in respect of the personal lives of people committed by brutal, feudal-minded persons deserve harsh punishment. Only this way can we stamp out such acts of barbarism and feudal mentality. Moreover, these acts take the law into their own hands, and amount to kangaroo courts, which are wholly illegal,” said a Bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra. In his report to the Supreme Court Raju Ramachandaran, Senior Advocate appointed by the Court to assist it in PILs against Khap Panchayats has called for arrest of self styled decision makers and proactive action by the police to protect the fundamental rights of the people. It also asked for the recommendations being converted as directions to all States and the Union, till a law is enacted by the Parliament. Personalities Choudhary Gajendra Singh Ahlawat (President of Ahlawat Khap), 554 villages in meerut, muzaffarnagar.bijnor, muradabad, bagpat (uttar pardesh) Choudhary Rampal Singh Chauhan ( President of Kalsiyan Chauhan Khap 84 villages Muzzafarnagar Late Choudhary Mahendra Singh Tikait (President of Baliyan khap 84 villages) Muzaffarnagar Some famous Khaps Ahlawat Khap ( 112 Villages in harayana ),(554 villages in uttar pardesh)- Jaat Rathi Khap ( 84 Villages in Rohtak(Jaat), Panipat(jat) , 12 villages in saharanpur( Gurjar) Balyan Khap ( 84 villages in Muzaffarnagar )- jaat Ponia/Poniya Khap(360 villages in rajasthan.(Jaat),37 villages in (U.P.),104 villages in harayana.(Jaat)) Latiyan KHAP (54 villages in (U.P.),62 villages in harayana(Jaat) Gurenia Khap (20 villages in (U.P.),269 villages in dehli and harayana (Jaat) Hudda Khap (59 village in harayana, 81 villages in Delhi(Jaat) Bhati Khap ( 360 Villages in GautamBudh nagar, Bulandsahar )-Gurjar Nagar khap{84-villages in Meerut, 84 villages in Faridabad, 48 villages in bulandshar, Gautambudh nagar...-Gurjar) Chechi khap (250-vill in Hr,Raj,U.P).-Gurjar Bainsla khap (84-villages in sawai madhopur, 26-villages in Faridabad, 40-villages in Loni and Meerut.)..Gurjar. Bhadana khap(12-villages in Faridabad, 10 villages in Meerut.)..Gurjar Rawal khap(51-villages in Panipat)...Gurjar. Basist khap(126-villages in Rajisthan)...Gurjar Chauhan khap(84-villages in Hissar)..Gurjar. Kasana khap(24-villages in Loni[Gaziabad], 84 villages in Chambal region( Dholpur, Morena)..Gurjar Awana khap(12-villages in Noida)..Gurjar. Devdhar khap(12-villages i. Yamunanagar)..Gurjar Daape khap(12-villages in Roorkee)..Gurjar Bhagri khap(26-villages in Dausa)..Gurjar Karhana Khap ( 24 villages in Jhajjar, 12 villages in Meerut) ..Gurjar Khubbad Panwar Khap ( 84 villages in Saharanpur) .. Gurjar Kalsian Chauhan Khap ( 84 villages in Shamli / Muzaffarnagar (UP)) ..Gurjar
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 10:26:43 +0000
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