Gurjars and Rajputs stake claim over Mihir Bhoj

In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, especially western U.P., the issue may have political consequences

Over the past week, Samrat Mihir Bhoj emerged from the pages of history books to make headlines in the vernacular newspapers of western Uttar Pradesh as Gurjars and Rajputs staked their claim to the 9th Century ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty.

While Gurjars claim the king belonged to their caste, the Rajputs contend the word Gurjara referred to a place, not a caste and that Mihir Bhoj was a Rajput king.