Gakhars: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Lookfine29 (talk | contribs) |
||
| (8 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
The '''Gakhars''' (also '''Gakkhar''' or '''Ghakhar''' or '''Ghakkar''') are an ancient warrior [[clan]] who have predominantly resided in what is present day northern Punjab and South-Western Kashmir, Pakistan. In particular in the cities of [[Attock City]], [[Rawalpindi]], [[Jhelum District|Jhelum]] and regions of [[Gilgit Valley|Gilgit]], [[Baltistan]], [[Chitral]], [[Khanpur (NWFP)|Khanpur]] and [[Mirpur, Pakistan|Mirpur]], [[Pakistan]]. They gradually developed into a feudal system over time oppressing and raiding their neighbors. |
The '''Gakhars''' (also '''Gakkhar''' or '''Ghakhar''' or '''Ghakkar''') are an ancient warrior [[clan]] who have predominantly resided in what is present day northern Punjab and South-Western Kashmir, Pakistan. In particular in the cities of [[Attock City]], [[Rawalpindi]], [[Jhelum District|Jhelum]] and regions of [[Gilgit Valley|Gilgit]], [[Baltistan]], [[Chitral]], [[Khanpur (NWFP)|Khanpur]] and [[Mirpur, Pakistan|Mirpur]], [[Pakistan]]. They gradually developed into a feudal system over time oppressing and raiding their neighbors. |
||
Agriculturists by profession, Gakkhars are considered socially high and stand apart from the local tribes of Rajput descent who resent their arrogance and racial pride. Many of the religious and social ceremonies observed by them reflect Hindu influences. They do not permit remarriage of widows and observe very strict pardah. |
|||
The claim of the Gakkhars that they entered India with the invading hordes of Ghazna (998-1030) and that they once ruled Tibet as vassals of the Chinese, is evidently fictitious. <ref>Bazmee Ansari, A. S. "Gakkhaŕ." The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New ed. Vol. 2. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1991. 972-974.</ref> |
|||
== Gakhars and Mahmud of Ghazna == |
|||
:According to Firishta (Lucknow ed., 26), it was the Gakkhars (and not the orthographically similar Khokhars) who joined the confederacy of the local Hindu rajas against Mahmud of Ghazna in 1008. |
|||
: No less than 30,000 Gakkhars “with their heads and feet bare, and armed with various weapons” stormed the camp of the Sultan at Peshawar but had to suffer badly for their audacity as did the Meds and the Jats of Sind who had harrassed and attacked Mahmud’s rear on his return from Somnath in 1026. |
|||
==Medieval Gakhars and Babur== |
==Medieval Gakhars and Babur== |
||
| Line 30: | Line 37: | ||
{{quote|The history of this region (the Salt Range) from the thirteenth century onward had been a sickening record of wars between the Janjuhas and the Gakkhars for political ascendancy.<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=LRg5NSW1BisC&pg=PA142&dq=janjuhas+gakkhars Advanced History of Medieval India by S. R. (Shiri Ram) Bakshi, Anmol Publ. 1995, p142]</ref>}} |
{{quote|The history of this region (the Salt Range) from the thirteenth century onward had been a sickening record of wars between the Janjuhas and the Gakkhars for political ascendancy.<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=LRg5NSW1BisC&pg=PA142&dq=janjuhas+gakkhars Advanced History of Medieval India by S. R. (Shiri Ram) Bakshi, Anmol Publ. 1995, p142]</ref>}} |
||
Gakkhaŕs continued to harry the Delhi Sulṭāns and in 1247 even a peace-loving prince like Nāṣir al-Dīn Maḥmūd had to take measures against them. He appointed Balban, who reduced their country, took revenge on them for their continued incursions, chastised them for having allowed passage to the Mongols through their territory and made thousands of them captives. <ref>Bazmee Ansari, A. S. "Gakkhaŕ." The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New ed. Vol. 2. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1991. 972-974.</ref> |
|||
Abbas Sarwani writes that Sher Shah Suri was determined to crush the Gakkhars and for this purpose he built a fort at Rohtas which was situated in the Gakkhar territory. He also marched with his forces to meet Sarang Khan, a Gakkhar chief, who was defeated and killed". After the death of Sarang Khan, his brother Adam Khan assumed the leadership of the Gakkhars and came out to face the forces of Salim Shah,successor of Sher Shah Suri.<ref> http://books.google.com/books?id=p6Wyim9sn98C&pg=PA179 The Frontier Policy of the Delhi Sultans |
|||
By Agha Hussain Hamadani,p 179 </ref> |
|||
Hati Khan died by poison in 1525; and his cousin and murderer Sultan Sarang submitted to Babar, who conferred on him the Potwar country. Thenceforth the Gakhar chieftains remained firm allies of the Mughal dynasty.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=ZQS2AAAAIAAJ&q=gakkhar+hati+khan+babar&dq=gakkhar+hati+khan+babar&hl=en&sa=X&ei=AsbPUcLpBsnTrQeLmIGoAQ&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBDgK</ref> |
|||
The Muslim invaders experienced much trouble from the turbulent Gakkhar tribes of Rawalpindi area who are still the most important tribe socially in the district.<ref>Davies, C. Collin, and C. E. Bosworth. "Rāwalpindi." The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New ed. Vol. 8. Leiden,</ref> |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[Gakhars (Hindu)]] |
*[[Gakhars (Hindu)]] |
||
Revision as of 06:23, 30 June 2013
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
No issues specified. Please specify issues, or remove this template. |
| Languages | |
|---|---|
| Pothohari, Hindko, Punjabi, and Urdu | |
| Religion | |
| Islam |
The Gakhars (also Gakkhar or Ghakhar or Ghakkar) are an ancient warrior clan who have predominantly resided in what is present day northern Punjab and South-Western Kashmir, Pakistan. In particular in the cities of Attock City, Rawalpindi, Jhelum and regions of Gilgit, Baltistan, Chitral, Khanpur and Mirpur, Pakistan. They gradually developed into a feudal system over time oppressing and raiding their neighbors.
Agriculturists by profession, Gakkhars are considered socially high and stand apart from the local tribes of Rajput descent who resent their arrogance and racial pride. Many of the religious and social ceremonies observed by them reflect Hindu influences. They do not permit remarriage of widows and observe very strict pardah. The claim of the Gakkhars that they entered India with the invading hordes of Ghazna (998-1030) and that they once ruled Tibet as vassals of the Chinese, is evidently fictitious. [1]
Gakhars and Mahmud of Ghazna
- According to Firishta (Lucknow ed., 26), it was the Gakkhars (and not the orthographically similar Khokhars) who joined the confederacy of the local Hindu rajas against Mahmud of Ghazna in 1008.
- No less than 30,000 Gakkhars “with their heads and feet bare, and armed with various weapons” stormed the camp of the Sultan at Peshawar but had to suffer badly for their audacity as did the Meds and the Jats of Sind who had harrassed and attacked Mahmud’s rear on his return from Somnath in 1026.
Medieval Gakhars and Babur
The Gakhars and Janjua Rajputs had engaged in an endless battle for sovereignty over the Salt Range.
The history of this region (the Salt Range) from the thirteenth century onward had been a sickening record of wars between the Janjuhas and the Gakkhars for political ascendancy.[2]
Gakkhaŕs continued to harry the Delhi Sulṭāns and in 1247 even a peace-loving prince like Nāṣir al-Dīn Maḥmūd had to take measures against them. He appointed Balban, who reduced their country, took revenge on them for their continued incursions, chastised them for having allowed passage to the Mongols through their territory and made thousands of them captives. [3]
Abbas Sarwani writes that Sher Shah Suri was determined to crush the Gakkhars and for this purpose he built a fort at Rohtas which was situated in the Gakkhar territory. He also marched with his forces to meet Sarang Khan, a Gakkhar chief, who was defeated and killed". After the death of Sarang Khan, his brother Adam Khan assumed the leadership of the Gakkhars and came out to face the forces of Salim Shah,successor of Sher Shah Suri.[4]
Hati Khan died by poison in 1525; and his cousin and murderer Sultan Sarang submitted to Babar, who conferred on him the Potwar country. Thenceforth the Gakhar chieftains remained firm allies of the Mughal dynasty.[5]
The Muslim invaders experienced much trouble from the turbulent Gakkhar tribes of Rawalpindi area who are still the most important tribe socially in the district.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Bazmee Ansari, A. S. "Gakkhaŕ." The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New ed. Vol. 2. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1991. 972-974.
- ^ Advanced History of Medieval India by S. R. (Shiri Ram) Bakshi, Anmol Publ. 1995, p142
- ^ Bazmee Ansari, A. S. "Gakkhaŕ." The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New ed. Vol. 2. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1991. 972-974.
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=p6Wyim9sn98C&pg=PA179 The Frontier Policy of the Delhi Sultans By Agha Hussain Hamadani,p 179
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=ZQS2AAAAIAAJ&q=gakkhar+hati+khan+babar&dq=gakkhar+hati+khan+babar&hl=en&sa=X&ei=AsbPUcLpBsnTrQeLmIGoAQ&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBDgK
- ^ Davies, C. Collin, and C. E. Bosworth. "Rāwalpindi." The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New ed. Vol. 8. Leiden,
Further reading
- Gakkhar, A. S Bazmee Ansari, in Encyclopedia of Islam, 2nd ed.,Edited by J.H.Kramers et al., E.J Brill, Leiden, pp. 972–74.