Sandhu
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Sandhu is a Jat ethnicity found in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir in India and also in Pakistan. Sandhu is known to be one of largest Jat clans along with other popular Jat clans like Grewal, Cheema, Gill, Sidhu, Brar, Dhillon, Aulakh Maan etc..
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Origin
Sir Lepel Griffin's opinion is that the Sandhus came into the Punjab region from northeastern Ottoman Empire (modern Georgia, Chechenya, Adjara, Abkhazia). H.A. Rose writes in his book that the Sandhus have eighty-four branches,some of them are in Pakistan occupied Kashmir ending with the words 'yal' or 'aal'. According to the Sialkot Gazette of 1883-84, there were five main branches of Sandhus.[1]
There are many theories about the origin of the Jats. Jats are sometimes considered to be of Scythian (Saka), Indo-Iranian or Indo-Aryan stock in view of the similar physical features and common practices with one or the other of these groups.[citation needed]
Sandhu Jatts from Indian Punjab and other district
Sandhus who have settled in modern era India follow Sikhism. Amrik Singh [Mikka], author of 'Punjab the Ithaas' mentions Bhatti Rajpoot Raja Jasle as the first Sandhu. Raja Jaisle or his son was the ruler of the vicinity of Jaslemair, Rajpootaana (presently, Rajisthan) at the time of destruction of the vicinity at the hand of Shhaabudeen Mahmood Gauri, also called Gjnvi, at the end of 12th century. Today Sandhus are found in twenty-two [1] villages are originated from Dadehar in the area of Block Chohla Sahib. They have seventeen villages in the area of Bhakna are originated from village Sarhali. Sandhus are settled on both sides of the Satluj river in the Trans-Sutlej and the Cis-Sutlej areas.
Some Sandhus went further to Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur in Doaba. Some of the Majhail Sandhus migrated to the Bathinda, Mansa areas after repeated disturbances created by Muslim invaders. The Sandhu clan also has many villages around Moga and Barnala mukatsar khuranj located in the Malwa (Punjab) region of Punjab.[citation needed] Two villages of Sandhu clan are ideally situated near Bathinda and are known as Sandhu Kalan and Sandhu Khurd (Sandhuaan).[citation needed] Faridkot is also a prominent migration area where many of the sandhus have inhabited after 1947. Many prominent Sandhu families can be found in areas of muktsar like madahar kalan . A town named Banjeeta near Amritsar is inhabited predominantly by Sandhus, many of them migrated to Amritsar and Gurdaspur. The Sandhus migrated from Valtoha settled in Shankerpur Gurdaspur) (one of the oldest village of Sandhu Jatts near Batala, an other village kot yograj near Batala , in Gurdaspur) Other villages in Amritsar and Gurdaspur area are Argan Manga (near mehta chowk), Bal Purian, DuniaSandhu, Mehta Pind, Sandhuaana, Misharpura.[citation needed] In Jalandhar the prominent Sandhu town is Rurka Kalan.[citation needed] Also in Ludhiana Village of Manuke near Jagraon. Presently, the Sandhus are spread all over Punjab.
In Haryana, Sandhus are found in large numbers in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Yamunanagar, Pehowa.[citation needed] In Rajasthan, Sandhus are found in large numbers in Ganaganagar, Hanumangarh districts and in teh. Karanapur.[clarification needed]
Sandhus of Pakistani Punjab
They have played a significant role in social and political spectrum of Pakistan.[citation needed] Mostly renowned Sandhu families lives in Lahore District, which is also known as Majha.[citation needed] Their considerable presence is also in Sheikhupura District, Sialkot District, Gujranwala District, Gujrat District and Faisalabad District (although the Pakistani Sandhu Jatts are the descendants of Sandhus who migrated from Punjab and Haryana).[citation needed] A village of the Sandhus can be found in Gujrat, in the Jassoki region called Sandhu Dera.[citation needed]
Sandhu is one of the most well known Jat clans originating from Punjab in India and Pakistan.[citation needed] It is considered to be one of the oldest Jat tribes.[citation needed] In the 1881 Census, Sandhus numbered at 135732 and today it is the third largest Jat tribe in the world.[citation needed]
Notable people
References
- ^ Sialkot District Gazetteer 1883-1884 Civil & Military Gazette press
