The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c31.s9.28

c31.s9.28

The main points to remember are that the Kshatriya or Rājpūt group of castes is essentially an occupational group, composed of all clans following the Hindu ritual who actually undertook the work of government¹; that, consequently, people of most diverse races were and are lumped together as Rājpūts; and that most of the great clans now in existence are descended either from foreign immigrants of the fifth or sixth century of the Christian era, or from indigenous races such as the Gonds and Bhars. This finding will, I fear, be displeasing to many families of Indian gentry, who naturally prefer to believe in orthodox Brahman-made pedigrees going back to the sun, moon, or fire-pit; but I am convinced that it is substantially true, although the evidence is of a kind difficult to grasp, and incapable of brief presentation. The references in the note will enable the curious reader to pursue the subject further.²