u/Ultra-Power-2896

Let me get the disclaimers out of the way first:

• I'm a "Toor" Jat myself, I ask this in good-faith and hope for an honest discussion; if I offend anyone in asking these questions, I hope you'll forgive me
• No, I don't think Jats fall cleanly into the occupational-based Brahmanic hierarchy
• Yes, these critiques I'm about to levy can be applied to other tribal and caste groups
• Yes, I know ethnogenesis is complicated... IF you're driven to complete the process

Now for my actual question: why?

We don't have a common language, common culture, common ethos, or even common founding myth that one might find in other, better-defined ethnicities. That's not uncommon for Indian groups, sure, but usually the people who insist "Jat is an ethnicity" are doing so to differentiate themselves from other Indo-Pakistanis. But what makes Jats different?

Is it our genetics? I guess this is the best argument, because it's the most undeniable one. But there are two major issues with this. One, we aren't homogeneous (even if you ignore Jutts, and only focus on Jaats and Jatts). Two, we won't remain homogeneous as our identity is subsumed by the larger national identities and Jats intermix with non-Jat citizens. Even if we adopt the "paternal lineage is all that matters" approach, our TFR is plummeting.

Is it our ethos? I don't think so. Jats aren't the only ones who hold Khap Panchayats. We aren't the only ones who upheld the jajmani system with the out-group, and the bhaichara system with the in-group (in fact, we don't even have a unique word for a member of the out-group, nothing equivalent to the Greek barbaros or the Arabic ajami at least). And being an agriculturalist is obviously not unique to us, especially as some of us are still pastoralists.

Is it our language? That can't be, since there is no unique "Jat language". We speak the regional varieties that all other Indian groups do. The closest thing to a "Jat language" might be "Jatki", which is a (actively dying) Punjabi dialect concentrated in the Pakistani Punjab.

Is it our culture? That can't be either, as there is no unique "Jat culture". Just like language, we observe the regional cultural practices, and are hardly any different from others.

Is it our common origin? Probably not this either. The educated ones among us have now discarded the stories of being descended from mythical kings or demi-gods. There seems to be a general consensus (amongst admittedly non-academics) that Jats spread out from around the Bagar tract, with a few smaller groups being absorbed. Our clans claim descent from a common ancestor, but it's known beyond doubt now that there isn't a clan on the face of the Earth which only has one Y-haplogroup. Anyway, until we discard the Rajput surnames and actively piece together our heritage, this remains a relative question mark. I for one will definitely take a Y-DNA test soon to see if I'm a Khosa, Kandhola, Seerhe, or Garcha.

Feel free to disagree and state your own points. I've been somewhat lurking this thread long enough to know that a few users like u/EasyRider_Suraj and u/SultanOfWessex usually have interesting things to say, so I hope they'll chime in.