Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s1.6

c48.s1.6

From what has been said above it may be inferred that the functional scope of the Rājput is but narrow. Traditionally, he rules, fights, owns land and indulges in field-sports. In practice, he carries out this scheme of life as far as circumstances allow, but the rank and file of his order are cultivators, and not among the most efficient of their class. The Rājput has the same objection as the Brāhman to handling the plough, and the strict seclusion in which the women of the caste are kept deprives him of an aid in the minor agricultural operations which in the lower castes is often most valuable. In the Gangetic regions the Rājput still enlists in considerable numbers in the "Hindustānī" regiments of the British army. He often, too, dons the official belt as a constable or messenger, in upper India and Gujarāt. On the whole, however, the general disinclination of the caste to avail itself of the facilities for instruction now within its reach is placing it at a disadvantage as compared with the middle classes, in the modern conditions of Indian life. Only the subordinate grades of official and professional employment are open to them, and in the army, also, promotion beyond a certain rank depends now-a days upon education, and the Rājput is losing by the competition of Sikh, Paṭhān and Gurkhā in the profession of his choice, and is far outdistanced in civil avocations by those whom his caste prevents him from acknowledging to be even rivals.