Dulla Bhatti (दुल्ला भट्टी)—the iconic rebel of Punjab who fought against the Mughals—is widely accepted in historical and folk traditions as a Jat, and not a Rajput. Let’s explore the historical, textual, and folk evidence to support this claim and also examine why Rajputs try to claim him.
1. Evidence from Ain-i-Akbari (by Abul Fazl)
Primary Persian Source: Ain-i-Akbari, written by Akbar’s court historian Abul Fazl, makes references to Dulla’s father Farid Bhatti (or Farid Bhati) and refers to the Bhatti clan as Jats in the Punjab region.
In Ain-i-Akbari's Zat (clan) listings, many Jat clans are mentioned including Bhatti as a Jat tribe in Punjab. It does not classify Bhattis as Rajputs in that region.
In fact, Dulla’s rebellion was against Akbar’s revenue system (zabt), which hurt the Jat peasantry of Punjab. His actions were typical of Jat resistance, not feudal Rajput loyalty to Mughals.
2. The Bhatti Clan: Jat or Rajput?
The Bhatti clan is originally Jat, and like many others (Chauhans, Panwars, Solankis), a branch of Bhattis Rajputized later—especially after settling in Jaisalmer (Rajasthan). This is where some Bhattis adopted Rajput identity to gain political advantage under the Delhi Sultanate and Mughals.
But in Punjab, especially Sandal Bar (Lyallpur/Faisalabad, Lahore, etc.), the Bhatti clan retained its Jat identity.
> Rajputs often claim Bhatti warriors like Dulla after their popularity to build caste pride, but historical and social records show Dulla Bhatti was a Jat of Punjab.
3. Folk Evidence and Ballads (Punjab Lok-Kahani)
Dulla Bhatti is remembered in Punjabi folklore as a rebel Jat hero, not a Rajput.
Songs during Lohri festival like:
> “Sundriye Mundriye hoye, Dulla Bhatti wala hoye...”
These ballads describe Dulla as a peasant leader, who saved Punjabi girls from being taken by Mughal officers, married them off like a guardian, and fought taxation. This resonates with Jat traditions of honor and rebellion, not Rajput courtly behavior.
Folk Lineages in Punjab (Oral Tradition):
Villages in Punjab trace Dulla’s ancestry as Jat Bhatti, and not Rajput.
His family was rural, agricultural, not princely or aristocratic.
4. Why Rajputs Try to Claim Him
Rajputs often appropriate popular figures for caste pride—especially warlike rebels. Since Dulla Bhatti is a heroic figure, Rajput communities tried to assimilate him into their fold.
However, unlike Rajput Rajas who allied with Mughals, Dulla fought the Mughal emperor Akbar, which is not a trait associated with Rajput conduct of that time.
5. Scholarly Views & Historians
Khushwant Singh, Irfan Habib, and Prof. Ganda Singh (Punjabi historians) all treat Dulla Bhatti as a Jat, and connect his rebellion with Jat uprisings of Punjab against imperial authority.
Historian G.N. Sharma in “Social Life in Medieval India” lists Bhattis as prominent Jat clans in Punjab.
Summary Table:
Category Evidence
Clan Name
Bhatti (aka Bhati)
Historical Identity
Listed as Jat clan in Ain-i-Akbari
Geography Sandal Bar,
Punjab – Jat-dominated region
Role Rebel,
folk-hero,
peasant leader – typical of Jats
Rajput Claim? Retrospective appropriation due to his popularity
Folk Evidence Lohri songs,
ballads — call him Dulla Bhatti Jat
Conclusion:
Dulla Bhatti was a Jat, not a Rajput.
His lineage (Bhatti clan), the Persian text Ain-i-Akbari, his rebellion against Mughals, agrarian roots, and Punjabi folklore all confirm his Jat identity.
Rajput claims are later caste-based appropriations with no historical basis in Mughal records or folk traditions.
By: Sanjay Maan
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