Nice lines for Mewatis about their patriotic credentials . by D R Chaudhry !! Meos – History as a community Meos are a Muslim community with its distinct traits radically different from other community groups. They are found in and around Mewat that includes Mewat district of Haryana and parts of adjoining Alwar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan. They are scattered in small numbers in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh also. Largely converts from Rajput Hindus to Islam, the religion they profess is a blend of Islam and Hinduism. Meos subscribe to Islam but their caste structure is deeply influenced by their Hindu background. They share many gotras (sub caste) with Hindus. According to Col Toad, Meos share 300 gotras with the Rajputs and 25 gotras with the Jats. Meos follow the system of gotra in matrimonial alliances like Hindus. The Jats have the institution of khap panchayat while Meos have a similar organisation called pal. Till some time ago Meos used to celebrate Hindu festivals like Dussehra, Diwali and Holi. Some in the older generation still sing songs associated with Hindu festivals. There is no sight of burqa clad Meo women in Mewat. Meos have a liberal ethos on account of their typical background. They are easy going and are a freedom loving community. History provides enough evidence for this. Babur tried his level best to detach Hassan Khan Mewati from Rana Sanga but failed. Babur became the ruler of India after defeating Abraham Lodi in the Second Battle of Panipat but he found his victory incomplete without vanquishing Rana Sanga. Hassan Khan Mewati, the commander of Rana Sanga, laid down his life while fighting against Babur. In the 1857 revolt against the British rule Meos played a glorious role. Raisina, a village in Mewat was the centre of rebels. Many Meos here laid down their lives fighting against the British. Land of Meos in Raisina and adjoining villages was confiscated. Several villages in Mewat were set on fire. 52 Meo chaudhris (headmen) were hanged from a tree in Nuh. Villages in Pinguwa were blasted with cannon balls. Many more such instances can be given to establish the patriotic credentials of Meos.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:02:09 +0000
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