Gurjar's History

The Gujjar or Gurjar are an Social group in India and Pakistan. Alternative spellings include, Gurjars, Gurjara, Gujar and Goojar, Gujjar.
The Gujjars follow Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam. The Hindu Gurjars belong to the traditional Kshatriya varna in Hinduism, while the Muslim Gujjars are considered to be a Potwari tribe in India and Pakistan.

Many historians claimed that Gurjars originated in Central Asia, came into India via Afghanistan and established a kingdom in Rajasthan until defeated by the Muhammadans. They then settled in Gujarat.Most of the “Gurjars” belong to the superior ‘Suryavanshi’* Branch of Kshatriyas and are not ‘Agnivanshi’ as told by Colonel James Todd.

Gujjars are mainly concentrated in the Indo-Gangetic plains, the Himalayan region, and eastern parts of Afghanistan, although the Gujjar diaspora is found in other places as well. A majority of Gujjars follow Hinduism and Islam, though small Gujjar communities following other religions exist.

Gujari (or Gojri), classified under Rajasthani, has traditionally been the primary language of the Gujjars. But, Gujjars living in different areas speak several other languages including Hindi, Marathi, Urdu, Punjabi, Pothohari, Pahari languages (such as Dogri and Kangri), Pashto language, Dardic languages (such as Kashmiri and Khowar), and Balti.

“Gurjar” was never a sub caste under Rajputs, as said by many history textbooks. Rajput was not a caste when it was formed; it was an association or ‘Sangh’ of various kings ‘Raja-Putra’ against the Mohammedan invaders. In fact 70% of the “Rajputs Sangh” was formed by the “Gurjars” in the end of 12th century that made the saying famous:-

“Asli Rajput woh Jisne ‘Gujari’ ka doodh piya ho”


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