Jats

The Jats are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic community native to the northern Indian subcontinent. Traditionally agrarian and pastoral, they have long formed a broad social grouping comprising multiple clans and lineages that span several states and provinces. In contemporary usage, the term Jat refers to a category of people who share regional and cultural ties, rather than a single homogeneous caste.

Geographically, Jats are concentrated in India’s Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh, with sizable populations in Delhi and surrounding areas. In Pakistan, they form a major peasant community primarily in Punjab and Sindh. The group speaks a range of languages, including Punjabi, Haryanvi, Rajasthani, and Urdu, and follows Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, and other religious traditions, reflecting regional diversity.

Historically, Jats have played prominent roles in the political and military life of the region. They established or supported regional polities in the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the Bharatpur state under Maharaja Suraj Mal. Their social organization often centers on clans or gotras, with customary practices shaping marriage and lineage. The Jat identity has been linked to agrarian leadership, landholding, and community networks.

In the modern era, Jats have been active in agrarian reform, regional politics, and social organization across northern India and Pakistan. They remain a significant rural community with influence in agriculture, local governance, and political life, and are represented in diaspora communities around the world.