Rajput

Rājput or Rajputra (from Sanskrit rājāputrā meaning: ‘son of a king’) also called Thakur is an Indo-Aryan community belonging to the Indian subcontinent. The Rajputs claim to be descendants or members of the Kshatriya (warrior and ruling) class.   According to historians like Vaidya, R.B. Singh, G.K. Ojha and several others, the Rajputs originated from the Vedic Aryan Kshatriyas of the epics- Ramayana and Mahabharata, and have been referred to as the most valiant and fearless warriors of Indian subcontinent. During 6th to 12th century, the Rajputs were at the pinnacle of their power, many parts of Northern India were ruled and dominated by various Rajput dynasties.     

Origin
They claim descent from various Kshatriya dynasties such as Agnivanshi, Chandravanshi and Suryavanshi. 

Their origins are also traced back to ancient tribes, with some theories suggesting their origins from the Indo-Aryans or from the Scythians.

 Demographics 
They are found in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand and some parts of Pakistan.

 Present scenario 
At present the real Rajputs, in all the states of India, are considered a General caste (forward caste). This means that they have no access to reservations in India’s positive discrimination of castes. 

The Rajputs were regarded as a martial race by the Britishers due to their bravery, courage and rich historical background. This led to the formation of regiments such as the Rajput regiment and the Rajputana Rifles regiment.

They were high in number in the armed services of India and at present too this community gives a large number of soldiers to the Indian defence forces.(Army, Navy, Airforce).

 Related pages 
Rajput clans
Rajputana Rifles
Maharana Pratap
Thakur

References

 Other websites 
RajputPedia.com, A Rajput Encyclopedia documenting everything Rajput and Kshatriya related.
Rajputcommunity.in a site with hundreds of different post of Rajputs and their clans
Origin of Rajputs 
 Rajput Vansh and Clans 
 Rajputs  Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition; 2005 
 Rajput  Encyclopedia Britannica; 1911
 Rajputs in Rajoa, Dadyal 
 Ek Tha Raja 

Category:Rajputs
Category:Ethnic groups in India
Category:Ethnic groups in Pakistan