Jaats

Jaats, also spelled Jat or Jats, are a large agrarian community in the northern Indian subcontinent. In India, they are concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh, with sizable populations in Delhi and other parts of northern India. In Pakistan, Jats are mainly found in Punjab and form a visible social group within local kinship networks; their religious affiliations are predominantly Muslim in Pakistan, while Indian Jats are largely Hindu, with significant Sikh communities in Punjab.

Origins and identity: The term Jat refers to a broad set of rural lineages. The precise origins of the Jat groups are debated, but the community solidified in the Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh during the late medieval to early modern periods, including under Mughal and Sikh rule. Jats are typically organized into clans (gotras), and exogamous marriage is commonly observed across gotras.

Society and economy: Traditionally agrarian, Jats have long been associated with landholding and farming. In recent decades they have diversified into other sectors, including business, public service, and urban professions. Language and culture reflect regional diversity: Punjabi and Haryanvi in Indian heartlands; Marwari in parts of Rajasthan; Urdu in Pakistan; Hindi in other areas. Cultural practices vary by region but often reflect Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim religious affiliations and local folk traditions.

Modern status: Jats have had significant political influence in several Indian states, especially Haryana and Punjab, where they constitute an important rural electorate and have organized around social and educational interests, including movements related to educational and job reservations. The community remains an important element of regional demography and cultural life in the subcontinent.