Mewat (/ˈmeɪwɑːt/; Hindustani: [ˈmeːwaːt]) is a historical and cultural region which encompasses parts of the modern-day states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in northwestern India.

The Bhadanakas are clearly related to the ancient Bhadras mentioned in the Sanskrit epic as a republic or oligarchy that Karna conquered during his expeditions.

The aftermath of this campaign saw the establishment of police posts and forts to maintain control, with Balban implementing policies to clear the forests and settle loyal soldiers in the region.

[6] During the Wali-e-Mewat era, the Mewat region was ruled as a tributary to the Delhi Sultanate by the Khanzada Rajputs, a distinct ethnic identity separate from the Meos.

In 1398, during the time of the invasion of Timur and during the rule of Delhi Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq, one of the most dominant Jadaun Rajput chiefs in the region was Sonpar Pal, popularly known as Bahadur Nahar, whose tomb still stands at Alwar.

[4] In 1526, Hasan Khan Mewati, the last Khanzada Rajput ruler of Mewat, supported Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, in the first Battle of Panipat.

This battle was a pivotal conflict between the founder of the Mughal Empire, Babur, and the Sultanate of Delhi, led by Ibrahim Lodi.

Following the Battle of Panipat, Hasan Khan Mewati aligned himself with Rana Sanga to continue the fight against Babur and the Mughal Empire.

When Rana Sanga was struck by an arrow and fell from his elephant, the Mewati king took charge of the commander's flag and led the attack against Babur's forces.

[10] The consequences of the Battle of Khanwa affected the fortunes of a number of Indian chiefs, though in varying degrees, but the Khanzadas of Mewat were the worst hit.

According to Arzang-i-Tijara, the infamous Mughal emperor, Akbar, also married the daughter of Hasan Khan’s brother, although this event is not recorded in Persian chronicles.

[11] During the reign of Akbar, the Mewat region was integrated into the Mughal Empire, divided into four sarkars—Alwar, Tijara, Sahar, and Rewari—comprising 67 parganas within the subas of Agra and Delhi.

The region's strategic location was economically advantageous due to its suitability for cash crops like indigo, sugarcane, and cotton, and its proximity to Agra and Delhi facilitated grain transport, essential for feeding the Mughal army and urban populations.

Akbar employed many Meo boys as post carriers and palace guards, transforming them from notorious thieves to loyal servants.

This integration extended to social assimilation, with Meos starting to adopt Islamic customs and rituals due to their regular interaction with the Mughal court.

This process intensified post-Akbar, with the Meos' peasant households forming a significant part of Alwar state's population by the British era.

The rebellion mostly erupted due to the long resentment amongst the sepoys based on the introduction of new cartridge which was coated with the fat of pigs and cows.

[16] The villages of Pinangwan, Mahu, Rupraka, Raisina, Ghasera, Ferozepur Jhrika and Nuh were key players in the revolt.

The Meos sided with the Gurjars, Ahirs and other ethnic groups of the region and defeated William Ford, the Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon.

[15] After the British reconquered Gurgaon, many leaders of the rebellion were hanged to death, including Raja Nahar Singh of Ballabgarh.

After the rebellion was over, all of the Gurgaon district (modern-day Palwal, Faridabad, Nuh and Gurugram) passed to the direct control of British rule under the Punjab Province, whereas the other southern parts of the Mewat region remained with the kings of Alwar and Bharatpur.

Tablighi Jamaat heavily influenced the culture in the region leading the Meos to mostly re-adopt traditionalist Sunni Islam under the Deobandi Hanafi school of thought.

Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi was responsible for establishing the first Madrasah of Mewat in modern-day Nuh, Moin Ul Islam, which is still functional till this day.

[20] During Indian independence, there was a surge in communal tension when Jinnah demanded for the separate Muslim nation of Pakistan as a result of which Partition of India was proposed by the British rulers.

Although the Meos had previously had a good relationships with the Alwar and Bharatpur States, the communal tensions of the Partition and the British leaving India were significant factors for the violence.

An estimated 300,000 Meos including women and children were killed in riots that took place in the State of Bharatpur, Alwar and Jaipur and around four thousand mosques were destroyed.

[21] The violence, alongside the reformist movement of Tablighi Jamaat, lead the Meos to embrace a more Islamic identity in contrast to the Hindu nationalist ideology held by the kings, including Sawai Tej Singh Naruka.

On 19 December 1947, Mahatma Gandhi visited the village of Ghasera in the Punjab Province (present day Haryana) and requested Meos not to leave India.

[27] The legacy of Tayyab Husain, Khurshid Ahmed and Rahim Khan continue to have significant influence in the politics and culture of the Mewat region to present-day.

[30] The Meo community in Mewat adheres to Islam, yet their ethnic framework finds its origins in the hierarchical structure of Hindu caste society.