E-Paper
The pendulum swings: The Thakurs are back!
THE CYCLE has come a full circle. The oldest and the mighty, the Gujjar community, is no longer dominating the badlands of Yamuna and Chambal. The Thakurs, thrown out by them just six years ago, are back controlling affairs, and with a bang.
THE CYCLE has come a full circle. The oldest and the mighty, the Gujjar community, is no longer dominating the badlands of Yamuna and Chambal. The Thakurs, thrown out by them just six years ago, are back controlling affairs, and with a bang.
The Thakur resurgence though, is provisional, given the pressure being piled up by the police. The community in Etawah, Jalaun, Kanpur Dehat is closing its ranks to protect the only leading light, Jagjivan Parihar.
The Thakur chieftain, at present, is tucked away in the jungles of Rajasthan to escape police pressure.
But the Gujjars’, for whom the ravines mean economy, are pinning all their hope on Vakila Gujjar, operating in Morena and Bhind of Madhya Pradesh.
Vakila lying low for some time has been spotted on this side of border regularly. But since he hasn’t created any trouble for the UP police, he is venturing with ease.
The Gujjars and Thakurs are perhaps the oldest communities and their history in the ravines predates the 1857 war of independence. For centuries, armies retreated, where the terrain provided the ideal cover for guerilla warfare.
The Thakur dominance in ravines started with Prithviraj Chauhan when he lost Delhi and came down to Chambal. His men used to loot and took pride in making their living at the edge of the sword.
Records show dacoity was a flourishing tradition in Mughal era with gangs led by men of the Tomar caste. By this time, the Jats and Gujjar communities had emerged a force to reckon with in the ravines. The cycle started at this point of time and continues till today.
“At times, you will have the Thakurs on top and at times, the Gujjars. This cycle goes on and the only change visible is in the faces,” said DIG (range) Daljit Chowdhary. If initial 20th century was dominated by the Gujjars — the 1930s to 1960s saw Thakurs such Paan Singh, Man Singh, Amritlal, Lakhan Singh, Gabbara, Kallan Singh reaching the mythical heights..
Gujjars bounced back with Babu Gujjar, Chidda Gujjar Kachi Gujjar, Bharat Gujjar etc and the reign lasted for a year. Again 70s and 80s affirmed the Thakur hegemony with Mohur Singh, Tilak Singh, Man Singh, Lakhna, Shriram-Lalram coming on the scene. With them came to power were Roopa, Ram Asrey Phakkar, the Kacwahs. Bare Thakur gangs.
The cycle got an addition with the rise of Mullahs who had taken up guns as a source of earning livelihood. In Raj era, the mullahs were solely dependent on ferrying people but construction of bridges on Yamuna hit them hard. On the other hand, Thakurs who had settled along the banks to escape Mughal persecution, gradually turned opressors.
Vikram Mullah led an uprising against Thakurs in the Yamuna ravines. Though he got killed, he had shown his community a way to establish their own rule. Bhiku Mallah, Rajendra Mullah, Jaiveer Mullah waged battles with the Thakur gangs. By the year 2000, the only Thakur gang that of Lalaram was eliminated and the power returned to the Gujjars — Nirbhay, Salim, Rajjan.
