I'm a patel that wasn't born in India, my family moved to the western world in the late 70s/early 80s because (based on what I've been told) after the war with Pakistan a countless number Dalits and Muslims began adopting the surname in hopes of making themselves appear as a higher caste. The name Patel can't in itself be considered a "caste". I say that because there is to this day an active Muslim patel village/community. Neither India nor Pakistan themselves have been able to release any formal/ unbiased reliable records. The history found in British archives is also unclear and contradict most if not all articles found on the internet about the "gujjar/ maharasti" people especially the patidar.
I ask this just for the sake of knowing and nothing else.
Please don't reply to this post if you're not someone who actually knows the history or has the ability to hold an unbiased, reliable stance or even debate with legitimate references.