Khap Panchayats Their Origin Sociocultural Significance and Relevance in Contemporary Period

Abstract

In recent times, the Khaps have been a subject matter of many controversies and research work newlineon this theme, in a historical perspective is lacking. This thesis is an attempt to fill the void with newlinea systematic study of the Khap Panchayats with the objective of studying their origin, the newlinetransformation in terms of the spheres of their activities and their significance in the sociocultural newlinearena. The Khaps have been involved in diverse activities in their areas; they have not newlineonly actively participated in social arena but also taken up issues of political and economic newlineimportance as well. The Khap Panchayats underwent three different phases since colonial period. newlineInitially they were a council of elders who wielded moral authority over their clansmen without newlinemuch official patronage. Subsequently in British rule, got based identities were assimilated in newlinethe administrative system further increasing their power and prestige. The relationship newlinebetween the two was one of mutual benefit. Clan/got leaders were given duties ranging from newlinecollection of revenue, cooperation with the government in famine relief, census operations, newlinerecruitment for war etc. This indirectly led to the increase in prestige and power of the local newlineelites in return for state patronage. Khap leaders took active part in spreading Arya Samaj newlinedoctrines among their clan members. This subsequently led to the Khap leader s initiative to newlineeradicate many of the obsolete rites and rituals like funeral feasts and reducing marriage newlineexpenditures etc. After independence, since the Zaildari system was abolished, the Khap newlineleadership ceased to be a part of administration. At its initial stage peasant unionism in western newlineUttar Pradesh drew its most vital support from the Khap Panchayats. The Baliyan Khap, Desh newlineKhap and Gathwada Khap played important role in leading various farmer agitations during newline1980 s. The Khaps have undergone tremendous changes from what they initially were, from newlinebeing almost politically dormant in British period; they started participating in t