Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
Medieval History › Regional Kingdoms · Topic 3.6
The Jats of the Agra-Delhi region were peasant cultivators who rose against Mughal revenue demands in 1669 under Gokla, in 1685 under Rajaram and later under Churaman. In the confusion after Aurangzeb, Churaman and Badan Singh built the Jat state of Bharatpur, which reached its peak under Suraj Mal and declined after 1763.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Regional Kingdoms
At a Glance
- First revolt 1669, under Gokla near Mathura
- Second revolt 1685, under Rajaram
- State builders Churaman, Badan Singh, Suraj Mal
- Peak Under Suraj Mal
- Decline After 1763
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Regional Kingdoms
Where Does It Fit?
This is the sixth topic of the category on regional kingdoms. The previous topic covered the Rajput states, whose Rajput zamindars clashed with the Jats, and this topic covers the peasants who built a state. The next topic covers the Nizams of Hyderabad. Previous topic: Rajput States of Medieval India. See also Independent Kingdoms: Mysore, Kerala and the Rajputs, Jats and Rohillas.
Who Were the Jats and Why Did They Rebel?
In short: the Jat kingdom grew out of a peasant revolt in the Agra-Delhi region against Mughal revenue demands and became a state when central power weakened.
The Jats of the Agra-Delhi region on both sides of the Yamuna were mostly peasant cultivators with only a few zamindars. They had a strong sense of brotherhood and justice, and they often rebelled, helped by difficult terrain. There was conflict over the collection of land revenue under Jahangir and Shah Jahan. The imperial road to the Deccan and the western seaports passed through the Jat area, so the Mughals took rebellions seriously. The clash with the Jats had a peasant-agrarian background, unlike the Rajput case, which was basically one of succession.
How Did the Jat Revolts Unfold?
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1669 | Rebellion near Mathura under the local zamindar Gokla; the Jat levies swelled to 20,000; Aurangzeb marched in person; Gokla was captured and executed |
| 1672 | A separate clash at Narnaul with the Satnamis, mostly peasants, artisans and low castes who ignored caste and Hindu-Muslim distinctions; Aurangzeb marched in person again; local Rajput zamindars sided with the Mughals |
| 1685 | Second Jat uprising under Rajaram, with guerrilla warfare and plunder; Aurangzeb used Raja Bishan Singh Kachhwaha as faujdar of Mathura |
| 1691 | Rajaram and then Churaman compelled to submit; unrest continued and the Delhi-Agra road stayed unsafe |
The conflict between Jats and Rajputs over zamindari rights complicated the issue. Most primary zamindars, who were cultivating owners, were Jats, and the intermediary zamindars who collected revenue were Rajputs. Some claim these revolts were a Hindu reaction to Aurangzeb’s religious policy, but economic, social and regional factors were stronger, and religion was only one part.
How Did the Jat State Arise?
In the eighteenth century, taking advantage of the Mughal civil wars and the weakness of the central government, Churaman carved out a separate Jat principality in the area and ousted the Rajput zamindars. What began as a peasants’ uprising thus ended in a state where Jat chiefs were the ruling class. Churaman and Badan Singh set up the Jat state of Bharatpur.
Jat power reached its peak under Suraj Mal. He introduced an efficient system of administration and greatly enlarged the territory. His state stretched from the Ganga in the east to the Chambal in the south and covered the subas of Agra, Mathura, Meerut and Aligarh. After Suraj Mal’s death in 1763, the state declined and broke into small areas controlled by petty zamindars who lived mostly by plunder.
What Is the Timeline of the Jat Kingdom?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Under Jahangir and Shah Jahan | Conflicts over land revenue in the Jat area |
| 1669 | Gokla’s revolt near Mathura |
| 1685 to 1691 | Rajaram’s revolt and Churaman’s submission |
| Early 18th century | Churaman builds a principality during the Mughal civil wars |
| Under Suraj Mal | The state reaches from the Ganga to the Chambal |
| 1763 | Death of Suraj Mal; decline into petty zamindaris |
What Is the Importance of the Jat State?
As an analytical point, the Jat state shows how agrarian discontent, caste and zamindari rights, and the loss of central control combined to create a regional kingdom. It also shows the difference between a peasant revolt and a state: the Jat leaders needed to take over revenue rights from the Rajput intermediaries before they could rule. For the wider eighteenth-century picture, see Independent Kingdoms: Mysore, Kerala and the Rajputs, Jats and Rohillas.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Peasant movement A rare example of a peasant revolt ending in a state
- Aurangzeb One of the revolts that strained the empire
- Facts Gokla, Rajaram, Churaman and Suraj Mal are standard names
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Nizams of Hyderabad, another successor state of the Mughal Empire. Next topic: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah Decisive battle Shakr-Kheda, 1724 Title Asaf Jah, taken in 1725 Alliance with the…">Hyderabad State (Asaf Jahi/Nizam Dynasty).
Key People and Terms
- Gokla Jat leader of the 1669 revolt
- Rajaram Leader of the 1685 uprising
- Churaman Founder of the Jat principality
- Badan Singh Early Jat ruler of Bharatpur
- Suraj Mal Greatest Jat ruler
- Satnamis Peasant sect that rebelled at Narnaul in 1672
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Gokla: 1669; Rajaram: 1685.
- Satnami revolt at Narnaul in 1672.
- Churaman founded the Jat principality.
- Suraj Mal died in 1763.
- State covered Agra, Mathura, Meerut and Aligarh.
Do Not Confuse With
- Jats and Satnamis Peasant caste movement versus a religious peasant sect
- Gokla and Churaman First rebel leader versus the state-builder
- Jat revolt and Rajput trouble Agrarian problem versus a succession problem
Memory Hook
Gokla falls, Rajaram raids, Churaman carves, Suraj Mal rules, 1763 ends it.
Mains Angle
Questions on the Jats ask about the nature of the revolts. These points add depth.
- Nature Peasant-agrarian with a caste and zamindar angle
- Stage Revolt to principality to kingdom
- Limit Dependent on one strong ruler
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the nature of the Jat revolts against Aurangzeb and how they led to the Jat state.”
How to Answer
- Causes Revenue demands and zamindari conflict.
- Revolts 1669 and 1685.
- State Churaman and Suraj Mal.
- Decline After 1763.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who led the Jat revolt of 1669?
Gokla, a local zamindar of the Mathura region, led the Jat revolt of 1669. The rebellion spread among peasants, and Aurangzeb marched in person against the 20,000 Jat levies, who were defeated, and Gokla was captured and executed.
What was the Satnami revolt?
The Satnamis were a religious body of peasants, artisans and low-caste people who ignored distinctions of caste and between Hindus and Muslims. A clash with an official at Narnaul in 1672 became an open rebellion that Aurangzeb crushed personally.
Who founded the Jat state of Bharatpur?
Churaman, with Badan Singh, carved the Jat principality out of Mughal territory in the eighteenth century by using the civil wars and weak central government. They ousted the Rajput intermediary zamindars and made Jat chiefs the ruling class.
Who was Suraj Mal?
Suraj Mal was the greatest Jat ruler of Bharatpur. He gave an efficient administration and greatly enlarged his state from the Ganga to the Chambal, including the subas of Agra, Mathura, Meerut and Aligarh, and his death in 1763 began the decline.
Was the Jat revolt a Hindu reaction to Aurangzeb?
Some argue so, but economic, social and regional factors were stronger. The Jat clash had a peasant-agrarian background, and local Rajput zamindars sided with the Mughals, so religion was only one part of a larger social and political movement.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Jat revolt of 1669 near Mathura was led by Gokla.
He was captured and executed.
2 Churaman founded the Jat principality in the eighteenth century.
He ousted Rajput zamindars.
3 The Satnami revolt of 1672 took place at Narnaul.
Aurangzeb marched in person.
4 The Jat state reached its peak under Badan Singh.
It reached its peak under Suraj Mal.
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