Ancient Origins of the Jatars

After doing genetic testing it has been revealed that all Jatars belong to the R1a haplogroup and this haplogroup has originated in Eurasia north of Black and the Caspian seas. 3000 years ago our ancestors were from the Kurgan culture. These people are believed to be the first speakers of the Indo-European language group. Descendants of these people are found in Slavic populations in Europe, India, and Central and Western Asia.

This is the migratory map of the haplogroups taken from familytreedna.com:

The Jatars are an offshoot of the R1a haplogroup which is basically east european or central asian in origin.

Sure, if we go back far enough we are all from Africa but the Jatars are the offspring of those who went northwards, settled in Central Asia or thereabouts and then travelled down into India. Because the presence of this haplogroup is found more commonly in the ydna (passed on through the male line) it is believed that these people did not enter India as a migratory group but were invaders. They have a mention in the Rig Veda which was written thousands of years ago and are called “Aryans” if you believe that theory. There is no evidence of these people being in India beyond the last one thousand or so years.

What is clear is that they lived on the Indo Gangetic plains about 15,000 years ago, and were Indo-Scynthians. A significant number of people from the western side of the Indian sub-continent, ie Sindhis, Gujaratis and Punjabis also share some of this Halplogroup. This  haplogroup is more common amongst the Brahmins of India, even found to some extent amongst South Indian Brahmins.

The last known Jatar ancestor

Krishnarao Jatar is the last known ancestor of the Jatar family and probably lived (or was born) around 1700 in Kanhe, Maharashtra. As was the practice in those days only the male members of the family are represented here.

This is an image of the family tree drawn by hand by Bapurao in 1935. This is a photograph of the original document provided to me by Brig. R.V. Jatar.
This tree is not the complete one (I will be posting the full tree by and by) but it gives a good picture of the ancestors of the Jatar family to about three generations above Bapurao. Please click on the document to see it better.

Written summary of the family tree:  Krishnarao Jatar had five sons: Ramchandra, Keshav, Mahadaji, Narayan and Anant.  We do not know happened to the descendents of the different brothers but we do know about Mahadaji Jatar as he is our direct ancestor.

Mahadaji Jatar had two sons, around the year 1740: Balwant and Vishnu. Although Balwant is not our direct ancestor (Vishnu is) we do know that Balwant had two sons: Gangadhar and Rajaram. Gangadhar had one son, but his name is not clear from the chart. Then came Vishnu Jatar who had three sons: Bapudada, Bjikaji (our direct ancestor) and Jassukaka.

Bapudada (not our direct ancestor) had two sons: Appakaka and Pandurangbaba and Pandurangbaba had a son called Shridhar.  Not much else is known about this branch of the family. Jassukaka had three sons: Narayan, Raghunath and Chintu and nothing more is known about them.

Bhikaji (our direct ancestor) had six sons: Sadashiv, Ramakrishna and Shambhu from his first wife and Shriram (our direct ancestor) from his second wife. We do know something about Bhikaji. He left his ancestral village of Kanhe for better prospects and started to work in a place called Wai, another village in Maharashtra. It is believed that he went to work for Sardar Vinchurkar.

Shriram Bhikaji Jatar (whose photograph is on the header of this blog) left Wai and came to study in Pune where he got a job. If you click on the link of his name you will get more information about him. It was Shriram’s eldest son Bapurao who penned down this tree. If you notice he has penned down the names of the Jatar women as well like Autai, Goputai, Ambutai who were his sisters. His brothers were: Ranganath, Nilkanth, and Vishnu.

(Written by Nita Jatar Kulkarni)

Interesting anecdote about Bapurao

In a book called “The Course of My Life ” by  CD Deshmukh ( who was a distinguished member of the Indian Civil Service) there is a mention of Kashinath Shriram Jatar (Bapurao), my grand-uncle (grandfather’s brother).  This was probably the first time C. D. Deshmukh met Bapurao who later became a great friend of the Jatar family.

CD Deshmukh later became Finance Minister of India and resigned on the issue of Bombay in Maharashtra because Nehru was not agreeing to it. CD Deshmukh also served with Bapurao’s younger brother Bhausaheb also in erstwhile CP & Berar. There are photographs of CD Deshmukh in our family album.

This post is about how CD Deshmukh met Bapurao and the pleasant experience he had because Bapurao was most helpful to him. The excerpt from the book can be found here  and this is what he says about Bapurao:

Bapurao was a very helpful person, who also did social service. He was on the board of Seva Sadan Society.

(Contributed by Nita Jatar Kulkarni)

An old photograph of Bhausaheb’s progeny

Here is a photograph of Indira Bhajekar (known as Indutai), her husband Bhalchandrao Bhajekar and Indutai’s younger sister Sheila Bhagwat when they were very young, probably in their twenties. On the extreme right of the picture the boy with his one leg folded over the other is Sudhir Jatar. The three women from left to right are Indutai, Ushatai and Sheilatai. Behind Indutai is her husband Bhalchandrao and the boy sitting next to Indutai is Ashok Bhajekar. I am not sure about the identity of the boy on the extreme left of the picture.

 

This photograph is of the three daughters of Bhausaheb, the son of Shriram Jatar.

A place called Jatar in Spain

It was intriguing to find that a small place by the name of Jatar exists in the country of spain. It is called Játar, and it’s location is in Granada, Andalucia, Spain and its coordinates are 36° 56′ 0″ North, 3° 54′ 0″ West. The Google Map visual can be found here. Another map pin-pointing its location can be found here.

There is a photograph of this village called Játar, which I got from this site.

It looks the place is very small and those who live there are called Jatareños in Spanish. They also seem to be simple village folk. It seems that most of them were not familiar with computers.

Smt. Indirabai Bhajekar

(Photo of Bhagirathibai Jatar)

My maternal grandmother, Indirabai Bhajekar, was the firstborn of Sir Nilkanth Jatar (Bhausaheb,  son of Shriram Bhikaji Jatar, ) and his wife Bhagirathi (nee Durga Moghe). She was born on July 21, 1910 at Sion, Mumbai. She grew up in Nagpur, where her father was posted as Inspector -General of Prisons, CP & Berar. She excelled in mathematics at school and matriculated from St.Ursula’s .

She was married at 16 to Shri Bhalchandra Balkrishna Bhajekar, a college student at the time. His family was well respected and known for their progressive views and social reform work, notably in widow rehabilitation and widow remarriage. Not surprisingly, they fully supported Indirabai’s strong desire to continue her education after marriage- although not the custom in those days. She studied at Fergusson College, Pune, obtaining her BA from the University of Bombay in 1931. She was also a noted beauty of the time.

Indirabai soon became active in the field of social service for women and children, in which her husband, Advocate Bhajekar, encouraged and actively supported her. Their residence- (a traditional waada) in Vetal Peth (present day Guruwar Peth), Pune, was always made available for her manifold causes.

In 1934, she started the Mahila Samaj – a women’s organization dedicated to expanding their horizons beyond domestic responsibilities. Women took part in sports, writing, art , music, wrote articles and discussed current events.
Indirabai ran a center for the Arogya Mandal, at her residence for 17 years. This supplied basic medical equipment to the poor (of all castes and creeds) at no cost.
In 1947, she started a milk distribution center in her home as well, for impoverished neighbourhood children. UNICEF provided the milk powder and she saw to it that the children drank the prepared milk in the center and did not take it home (to prevent its
diversion elsewhere).

She started the Vetal Peth Balak Mandir (pre-primary school) in 1956, for children of poor illiterates, in one of the rooms at her waada. At first, she had to personally convince people to send their children. Children were given a freshly made, wholesome meal as well. The visible improvement in their health helped uneducated parents realize the dietary importance of fruits, raw vegetables, and sprouted lentils. Cooking and serving the meal also provided employment to local women.

The school, which began with 2 students, grew to 170 and was later affiliated to the
Pune Mahila Mandal. It continues to this day.

In 1965, she started a “Sanskar Varga” (cultural education class) at home for children of poor, illiterate parents. The children learned Sanskrit shlokas (verses), did homework and
were told educational stories.

Indirabai took the lead in many a relief effort , effectively recruiting women for these causes. Among others, these included foodgrain distribution during famine, knitting sweaters for soldiers during the ’62 Chinese invasion, helping out during the Panshet flood and providing essential health information during epidemics .

A founding member of the Pune Mahila Mandal (the Pune branch of the All India Women’s Conference or AIWC ) , she played a major role in setting up a new building for the Mandal and its Family Planning Center. Over the years, she successfully discharged the duties of treasurer, secretary, and other posts culminating in her election as President of the AIWC, (Western zone). She was also elected the Vice President of the AIWC, at the national level.

She served as president of the Pune unit of Annapoorna – a meal service for office workers, that provided employment to many women. She also worked at innumerable local women’s welfare organizations.

Indirabai also worked, since 1948, for the David Sassoon Anath Pangu Griha or Niwara – a home for the poor and destitute elderly. She worked tirelessly until the age of 88, as an executive committee member and for many years as president. Even in her nineties, she would visit the residents of the home whenever her health permitted.

In recognition of her work (all of it voluntary), she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the AIWC in January 2003, presented by Najma Heptullah (granddaughter of Maulana Azad) at Fergusson College, Pune.

Indirabai had two children, Ashok, who became a surgeon specializing in urology and Neelima, who became a professor of French and an author.

She was much loved and respected by all her siblings. Her sister Leela, was only 3 when their mother died and though Indira was herself a child, she did her best to look after her.
Bhausaheb later remarried and she remained close throughout her life to all her brothers and sisters, who called her Indutai. Always known for being a warm and caring person, she not only maintained but strengthened ties between friends and family members, both on her parents’ side and on her in- laws’ side. The Jatar Bhishi Mandal (women relatives who meet regularly as a group) started by her, continues to this day in Pune.

Indirabai’s optimistic outlook and zest for life were remarkable. With characteristic modesty, she always maintained that she had merely done her duty to society and nothing more. She passed away at the age of 95 but her memory remains an inspiration to us all.

-Dr. Rama Kulkarni, February 2008.
(Based on my recollections and the writings of my parents.)

This is a photograph of Indirabai Bhajekar with her mother:

 

Hand-writing sample of Shriram Bhikaji Jatar

This is a letter written by Shriram Bhikaji Jatar more than a hundred years ago, from Akola. He was a grandfather to those of Jatar origin who are in their seventies and eighties today and a great-grandfather to those who are of the next generation.  You can perhaps read something of his personality from his hand-writing. It’s not entirely decipherable though!

(Photocopy of letter provided by Gen. S.C.N Jatar (Sudhir)

Dr. Prafulla Talwalkar and family

I, Prafulla Talwalkar, son of Leela Talwalkar and Dr. Arvind Talwalkar (daughter and son-in-law of  Bhausaheb, son of Shriram Jatar), passed my MBBS in 1966 and did residency at the KEM Hospital. At that time my mother asked me if I was interested in getting engaged or married as there were apparantly several people were inquiring about me. I remember a picture of Vishwamitra in Bhausaheb’s house in Neel-Sadan showing Vishwamitra saying no no no to all the women I said same no not till I get settled in my life. And my mom left it at that. However each weekend me and my colleauges used to discuss re plans for the weekend and many said they are going out to eat pohe or khichdi translation going to see a girl. I used to envey them as I missed eating pohe or khichadi.

Then one week my mother told me I was going to see a girl at the Wellington club on a saturday when I was not on call. She said Ushamoushi and Suman Dixit have proposed it from Kirloskar family so we have no choice you have to see her if you do not like her we will say patrika does not match nobody is forcing you to marry ok. Well I had learned from exprience I cannot win an argument with mom so go with the flow. So we went to the club but no pohe no khichadi had coffee and cucumber sandwitches and so on. But the girl Suniti was very pretty. Ingragit mhantat sonyala gold sunitila pahun me zalo clean bold. So this Vishwamitra said yes yes yes and after going out with Suniti for several months we got engaged and finally married and that was 41 years ago. Secret of the success of our marriage is when Suniti asks me to jump I ask how far?

I am a family physician practicing in Mississauga 20 miles from Toronto. I have been in practice for 30 years and now have 5 generations of patients coming to see me. My wife, Suniti is daughter of Mr R.L. Kirloskar and Mrs Indutai Kirloskar. She works as an assistant manager with the Royal Bank where she has been working for 30 years

About the rest of us
So finally did it help that my Dad married a girl from Jatar family, a family of tall people. I am 5feet 11 inches tall in shoes I stand 6 feet. Dhruva is 5 feet 11, Nitin is 6 feet 2 inches, Arjun is 5 feet 9 inches I guess we are taller than average Talwalkar. So take my advice marry a Tallwalkar your next generation will be tall.
My youngest son is Arjun‘s wife is Monika Pundalik, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pundalik from Delaware USA. They have two sons, Milind and Devan.

Our first son is Dhruva. He is married to Anisha Bhandari.

My second son Nitin is married to Tomoko Myint whose father Tom is chinese and mom Yasuko is Japanese.  They have three beautiful daughters Mayako, Emiko and Aiko.

(Contributed by Dr. Prafulla Talwalkar from Toronto, Canada)

Dr. Arvind Talwalkar

My father, Dr. Arvind Talwalkar, son-in-law of Lt Col Sir Nilkanth Shriram Jatar (son of Shriram Jatar) went to Grant Medical College and passed his MBBS with medals in most of subjects. He did his residency with Dr Parmar and then went to England and passed his FRCS at first shot, which was very rare for an Indian doctor.  He returned to India and practiced General Surgery at KEM Hospital. There he met Dr Katrak, an orthopaedic surgeon and with his encouragement he went back to Liverpool and did his MCH degree in Orthopaedics. He travelled to Mayo Clinic and also saw well known orthopedic surgeons’ work in Paris. It is fair to say that he was the first well trained Orthopaedic Surgeon in India. Little wonder that he got very very busy and had patients from all walks of life. Politicians, actors, actresses, businessmen and so on. He was humble, hard working and always cheerful. I think when a person gets to do what he enjoys his work becomes play and it no longer stressful. He travelled abroad several times to learn the latest techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery.

He married my mother Leela Talwalkar nee Jatar, after he came back from the UK after completing his FRCS.

I have met some of his patients in Canada and they were very grateful for the treatment they received. I have met some of his students and they are very grateful for his guidance. He started scholarships through Johnson and Johnson and Smith and Nephew to send Orthopaedic Surgeons to major centres in India and abroad, all expenses paid. No wonder they were very grateful as he went beyond the call of duty.

I was travelling from New Eelhi to Pune by Indian Airlines and next to me was the famous actor Dilip Kumar. We started talking, and he learned that I was in Canada practicing medicine. He asked me several questions about the medicines he was taking about keeping fit etc and when he learnt that I was AKT’s son he said oh I know your dad, he treated me for joint problems a few years back. I believe that was after my father had passed away and I was visiting my mother in Pune, probably in 1990 or so.

(Submitted by Dr. Prafulla Talwalkar, son of Leela Talwalkar )

Leela Talwalkar

My mother, Leela Talwalkar (nee Jatar), daughter of Lt Col Sir Nilkanth Shriram Jatar (nee Bhausaheb, son of Shriram Jatar) lost her own mother due to TB in infancy. She was looked after by her sister Indumaushi initially and later by her stepmother Gigi. My mother was tall, 5′4 inches acording to her atleast, and was slim and very pretty.  She was a beauty queen at the Ferguson College. My father, Dr. Arvind Talwalkar, saw her once while riding his bike in Pune and instanly fell in love and requsted Bhausaheb to allow him to marry her, but Bhausaheb said no, not so fast you are going to UK for FRCS, you go get your degree, and come back then we will see.

My father, Dr. Arvind Talwalkar, went to UK, passed his FRCS in no time and returned. I wonder if you would call it lagnachighai? Anyway they got married with Bhausaheb’s blessings. It was in 937.  Later my father told us he married my mother because all the Jatars he met were tall that was the only way to make the next generation tall.

In my practice I have come across a dad who is 5′ 2 incches tall, married to a woman who is 4′ 11 inches and their children come and want to check their heights as they are short. If you want to have tall kids marry a Tallwalkar, that is my answer and believe me many of these children have done so and have brought their spouse to see me.

Anyway my dad worked hard with his practice and my mother worked harder to bring us up. She was very kind but very tough and we all knew it. She not only made us study hard but made her say subhashitas, Shotras like Ramraksha and we knew all the arti’s by heart. She was a great cook, a simple bhaji (vegetables) amti (lentils) and rice and chapati (flat bread) was like a gourmet meal. We never needed chutney or koshimbir (salad) to make food test better. We had strict rules as to when to get back home.

Therefore when the other day one Indian couple came to me and said their daughter comes home at 2 or 3 in the morning and we cannot sleep because of worries, what should we do? I said you need to show tough love. Make it clear to your daughter that she has to come home before 9 or 10 or whatever time they the parents agree on and be firm as it is not negotiable. Coming home every day at 2 or 3 is unacceptable and do not feel bad about doing what is right for your children, be assertive.

I think my father was intelligent and hard working but he was more motivated and driven by my mother. He trusted her completely. Behind each succesful man there is a woman and it was true in their case. My mother was brave like Bhausaheb, Babamama, and Annamama. She was braver than all of them in my openion.

When Shrirang my younger brother was born in march of 1945 and had an infection in his hip joint, he needed penicillin. My father was in UK doing his MCH or Orthopedic trainning and penicillin was not available in India so my mother took Ranjan age 6, me age 4 and Shrirang less than 1 year old and went to the UK alone on a ship full of British soldiers 1n 1946 prior to our independence and treated Shrirang with penicillin and by prof Mcmurray the doctor who popularised Mcmurray Osteotomy. How many women could have done it? She saw to it that all of us graduated, got our degrees and led productive lives. A successful sansar (family) does not depend on how many crores you accumulate but what your children and grand children achieve.

(Submitted by Dr. Prafulla Talwalkar, son of Leela Talwalkar)