This is a regional micro history of the Jat taluqdars, locally called ‘rajas’, of the Ganga-Jamuna Upper Doab. It encompasses the periods of two great empires, the Mughal and the British, and focuses on the peasant and his problems, both in regard to the land he tilled and the persons higher up the ladder, with whom he, perforce, came into contact with. It also focuses on the basic change that the later imperial administration sought to bring about in the social and administrative fabric of the country. The Jat Rajas of Mursan and Hathras were tiny principalities, but behind them and at their call, was a very large fraternity of well knit clan zamindars who dominated the rural village scene in that part of the country. Their interaction with other communities, or the kin of their own communities, demonstrated a unity of purpose and unique qualities of leadership. It was these qualities that enabled them to take on the might of the likes of Aurangzeb and the Rajas of Amer. That they thought much ahead of their times is seen in their policies, like for example, that of Raja Mahendra Pratap of Hathras, who strode onto the national scene and espoused the cause of the poor and the untouchables, long before our most highly respected national leaders could even think of doing so. This book makes interesting reading for students of history in particular and for all those in general interested in the social order and culture of a civilised nation that spans a period of 6,000 years.
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