Mahton

Mahton is a caste in India. According to W. H. McLeod, they are small in number and found mostly in the Doaba region, where some have converted to Sikhism.People of Mahton caste now like to identify themselves as Sikh Rajputs. Many of their subcastes are undoubtedly of Rajput origin but this caste was controversially downgraded by British officials in colonial era because not just their caste name but a large number of their sub clan names are also common with Mahtams, a low caste of scavangers, gypsies (or "Gadarias" and "Bahrupias") and rope-makers (or "Rassiwats"). Barstow also comments on their possible link with Labanas. They were enlisted as "Rajput Mahta Sikh" by the British in 1892. In spite of the occurrence of several similar got names in this and in Mahtam castes, the two castes are distinct.

In Kapurthala Mahton tradition is that of the Mahton's Raja Jai Singh Sawai had two sons, of whom one, Raja Jagna having quarrelled with his father came to Punjab and founded Banga in Jalandhar and Bajaura in Hoshiarpur, Panchhat in Kapurthala being subsequently founded by five of his descendants, while Mahia his eldest son founded Mayopati in these parts.[citation needed] The shrine of Mahton ancestor in Banga was built by rocks from Dharanagri.

Mahtons of Eastern Punjab are purely a farming caste of fair standing despite having a large overlap with low caste Mahtams of West Punjab. It could be that both Mahtons and Mahtams are of identical origin but the latter fell on harder times due to some reason and their social standing deteriorated further lower than their bretheren of Eastern Punjab who managed to remain a landowning farming caste . Mahton Sikhs attribute their caste name to the term "Mahta" which roughly means "Chief", and regard that they originated from Jamwal Rajputs who settled in Doaba region of Punjab as farmers.

The tradition says that two brothers Ratiji and Matiji came from Ayodhya to Jammu where the Brahmins invoked their aid against the Muslims. The latter were defeated in a desperate encounter near Jalandhar.[citation needed] Matiji was slain but Ratiji founded five villages.

Similarly from Jammu came Mian Mota, who first settled in Jaswan-Kopti near Chamba and then in Rajpur near Hoshiarpur, whence he founded Narur in Kapurthala, naming it after the elder of his two sons Nar Chand and Zahir Chand .

On the other Thakarwal (also called Randhirgarh) in Hoshiarpur was founded by a Mahton from Jaipur or Jodhpur, and thence a village of a samename was founded in Phagwara tahsil of Kapurthala . At one period Mahtons also appear to have been settled in the Bit Manaswal plateau in Hoshiarpur Shiwaliks .

H.A.Rose after writing about Mahtams said - At the same time I should note that the MAHTON of Hoshiarpur and the neighborhood appear to hold a much higher social position than the MAHTAMS of Sutlej, and it may be that the two are really distinct. The Mahton of Hoshiarpur are of good Rajput blood, though they have lost their caste by taking to ploughing and practicing widow remarriage but their social standing is not much below the Rajputs. The name is derived from Mahta, which is a title of honour among the Rajputs of hills. The late Mr. A.Anderson also gave the Hoshiarpur Mahtons high social standing.

The Janeo

As rule Mahtons do not appear to wear the janeo, but their usages vary in respect. Thus in Kapurthala it is said to be put on at weddings, but taken off afterwards by initiated Sikhs and only retained by those who are not strict Sikhs.

Religion

Originally Hindus, many Matons have adopted Sikhism, in one form or another, and a certain number have accepted Islam.

Mahton Sikh Surnames

Ajuha,Ajnoha,Akon,Ikwan,Badhi,Bhadiar,Chandla,Chauhan,Dangi,Ding,Gadera,Gheda,Hans,Jaswal,Janjua,Jharial,Kachauri,Karaundh,Karnawal,Khore,Khuttan,Luni,Mahid,Manhas,Manj,Marhaj,Marhatta,Pajota,Phengi,Pok(Buk, Bok),Punwar,Saroi,Sarwari,Sona,Sukral,Tayaich or Tiach,Thandal,Tuni,Tanwar,War,Wila Sara

Further reading

•Guru Nanak journal of sociology. Other Creators Guru Nanak Dev University, Sociology Dept., Published Amritsar, India : Sociology Dept., Guru Nanak Dev University, 1980-

•The making of Little Punjab in Canada : patterns of immigration, Author: Archana B Verma Publisher: Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage Publications, 2002

•Punjabis in Canada : a study of formation of an ethnic community, Author: Paramjit S Judge, Publisher: Delhi Chanakya Publ. 1994

•The Sikhs, an Ethnology: An Ethnology, A. E. Barstow Published by B.R. Pub. Corp., 1985 Final Report of Revised Settlement, Hoshiarpur District, J. A. L. Montgomery

•A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West ..., Volume 3 By H.A. Rose, IBBETSON, Maclagan