Discovering the History and Culture of Rajpur Khurd, the Jat Village in South Delhi, India

Rajpur Khurd is a historic Jat village located in South Delhi, India. The village is situated in the Hauz Khas assembly constituency and falls under the postal code 110030. It has a rich history dating back several centuries, with verifiable facts and references that shed light on its past.

According to the Delhi government's revenue department, Rajpur Khurd was originally a part of Mehrauli Tehsil, one of the oldest administrative divisions of Delhi. In the early 20th century, it was transferred to the newly created Tughlakabad Tehsil, which is now part of the South Delhi district.

One of the earliest mentions of Rajpur Khurd comes from the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document that records the administrative structure and economic conditions of the Mughal Empire. According to the Ain-i-Akbari, Rajpur Khurd was a prosperous village located in the Delhi Subah (province) and paid an annual revenue of 1,160 dams (a Mughal currency) to the imperial treasury.

During the British colonial period, Rajpur Khurd came under the jurisdiction of the Delhi District, which was part of the North-Western Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) until 1912, when it became part of the newly formed Punjab Province. According to the 1901 Census of India, Rajpur Khurd had a population of 610, with the majority of the residents belonging to the Jat community.

In the early 20th century, Rajpur Khurd became a center of the Jat Mahasabha, a political organization that sought to advance the interests of the Jat community. The Jat Mahasabha played an important role in the Indian independence movement and had a significant presence in the village.

After India gained independence in 1947, Rajpur Khurd became part of the newly formed state of Delhi. In the following decades, the village saw significant development, with the construction of new housing projects, schools, and hospitals. However, despite these changes, Rajpur Khurd has managed to preserve much of its traditional character and continues to be a vibrant Jat community to this day.

Today, Rajpur Khurd is a thriving village with a population of over 10,000 people, the majority of whom are Jats. The village is known for its rich cultural heritage, traditional architecture, and vibrant community life. It is also home to several important institutions, including the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

References:

1. Delhi Government Revenue Department website: https://revenue.delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_revenue/revenue/home/tehsils

2. Ain-i-Akbari translated by Abu'l-Fazl Allami, Volume 1, page 166-167.

3. Census of India 1901, Volume XVI, Part II, page 102.

4. Jat Mahasabha website: http://www.jatmahasabha.com/