False Claim of Rajput Origin
The claim that the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty was of Rajput origin is a matter of scholarly debate, but many historians and scholars have rejected this notion as an erroneous or politically motivated assertion that gained prominence during the colonial period. The association of the Gurjara-Pratiharas with the Rajputs was primarily pushed forward by British historians and administrators, who sometimes conflated different social and ethnic groups in an effort to create simplistic and convenient narratives for the purposes of classification and governance. Historical Context of the Claim The notion that the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty was of Rajput origin is often attributed to the British colonial understanding of Indian social structures. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, British historians and ethnographers classified many martial groups under the broad term "Rajput" as part of their efforts to identify potential allies within the region. The British often romanticize