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Khatri

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Khatris
ClassificationKshatriya
ReligionsHinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Islam
LanguagesPunjabi, Hindi and Urdu
Populated statesPunjab (India), Haryana, Delhi, Punjab (Pakistan) and Sindh
SubdivisionsAathghar, Barahghar,Bawanghar, Charghar, Dhaighar, Kukhran, Sareen and others

Khatri is the Punjabi adaptation of Sanskrit word Kshatriya (Hindi: क्षत्रिय, kṣatriya from Sanskrit: क्षत्र, kṣatra). The Kshatriya are one of the four varnas of Hinduism, the other three being Brahmins, Vaishyas and Shudras, with Dalits being the name of those who are not included in the system of varnas. They are traditionally members of the Hindu military order. As administrators and rulers, Kshatriya were assigned with protecting the Hindu Dharma, and serving humanity. In course of time, however, as a result of economic and political exigencies, the Khatri also expanded into mercantile occupations. The Khatris, along with the Aroras, Lohanas, Soods and Bhatias, are the Kshatriya communities of Punjab.

The Khatris are a north Indian community that originated in the Potohar Plateau of Punjab. This region is historically connected with the composition of the Vedas and classics like the Mahabharata and Ashtadhyayi.

When Pakistan and India gained independence, most of the Khatris in what became Pakistan migrated to India. Today Khatris live in all regions of India, but are concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. While most Khatris are Hindu, a great many are also Sikh and the minority are Muslim. A smaller minority are Jain. Khatris of all these faiths collectively form one community.

Khatri Family Names

Main article: List of Khatri surnames

The Arora (see List of Arora surnames), Sood, Kukhran, Bhatia and Lohana castes are distinct communities of the Punjab and Sindh. Although they are not Khatri, they share a similar cultural background, all five communities being Kshatriya in origin. Examples of Arora names include Bajaj, Dang/Dung, and Chhabra. Examples of Kukhran names include Sethi, Anand, and Kohli/Kolhi.

Aroras and Khatris in particular share a close heritage. One interesting difference between Aroras and Khatris is the colour of the bangle (Churah), which brides wear during the marriage ceremony. Arora women wear white bangles (Chitta Churah) and Khatri women wear red ones (Laal Churah), along with their bridal wear.[citation needed] But in many areas of Punjab, Arora women women red bangles as well and vice versa.[citation needed]

History of the Khatri Community

Historical Background

See also: Hinduism in Punjab and Indian caste system

Theories of Origin

The origin of the Khatris is a matter of debate. While some suggest that they were originally part of a horde of nomadic invaders who had overrun the Indus Valley Civilization, others (proponents of the Out of India theory) suggest Khatris were present in the subcontinent during the period of the Indus Valley Civilization. Based on this theory, some Kshatriya groups did expand into Central Asia and Europe, creating the similarities in Indo-European languages per assimilation.

For the most part, Khatris have been in the civil, government, and military administrators roles for centuries.[1] Khatris have sometimes expanded into trade and mercantile businesses, including architecture. The Hindu temples of Kabul built by the Khatris still exist.

The Potohar Plateau: the Khatris' place of origin

Main article: Potohar

Many parts of Potohar (Rawalpindi, Jhelum etc.) before the Partition of 1947, were dominated by Sikh Khatri landowners. These families included clans such as Bindra, Bedi and Gujral (inter alia). According to historical records, many Khatri clans of Rawalpindi received jagirs from the British and/or Sher E Punjab, Ranjit Singh, for contributions to civil-service i.e. Treasury, Administration and Military.

Prominent historical Khatris

Many prominent historical figures have emerged from the Khatri. All ten Sikh Gurus were Khatri, belonging to the Bedi, Trehan, Bhalla and Sodhi subcastes. Raja Todar Mal was a Tandon Khatri who codified the revenue collection system as Revenue Minister for Akbar. Haqiqat Rai was a Puri Khatri whose martyrdom was celebrated on Basant Panchami in Lahore until independence. Hari Singh Nalwa, an Uppal[citation needed] Khatri, was a prominent general under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The father and son pair of the Diwans Sawan Mal and Mul Raj Chopra were successive governors of Multan under Ranjit Singh. The former instituted vast improvement in agriculture, while the latter was instrumental in leading the revolt against the British to prevent the annexation of the Sikh Empire into the East India Company territory. Sadhu Singh Gulla fought against the British Empire in 19th century. Later on he died in prison or battle.

One of the most important character of famous Punjabi legend Raja Rasalu is minister Mahita Chopra.[citation needed] Most scholars agree that Raja Rasalu ruled from Sialkot and lived sometime between 400 to 500 AD.[citation needed] If it is true then Chopra family name, a Baraghar Khatri, developed by that time.

Historical Mentions

Khatri gots are divided into three major groups; Baraghar, Bawanji, and Sarin. These divisions were reported by Emperor Akbar's close adviser Abu'l Fazal in his book Ain-i-Akbari(compiled in 1590 AD). These grouping is said to be happened at the time of Ala-uddin Khilji (1296-1316 AD).

Bhai Gurdas (b. AD 1551) in his "Varan Bhai Gurdas Ji", Vaar 8 - Pauri 10 (Khatri jatan) mentions: barahi, bavanjahi, Pavadhe, pachadhia, phalian, khokharainu, chaurotari and serin sections.

The family name mentioned above existed for long time. The four gots of Sikh gurus existed at least since 15th century AD.:

  • Guru Nanak: Bedi
  • Guru Angad: Trehan
  • Guru Amardas: Bhalla
  • All seven others: Sodhi

Khatris and Sun Worship

Raja Vanvihari Kapoor has written that major Khatri clans are named after Lord Sun. The Sarasvat Brahmin clan of which some of these these were yajamanas are also mentioned below.

  • Mitra Mehra Priests: Jetali
  • Kripakar Kapoor Priests: Pambu
  • Shankan Khanna Priests: Jhingana
  • Martanada Tandan Priests: Jhingana
  • Shreshtha Seth
  • Dhavan Dhavan
  • Mahendra Mahindru
  • Bahukar Bahora (Vohra)
  • Chakravali Chaupada (Chopra)
  • Karalagni Kakkar Priests: Kumadiye
  • Surya Suri
  • Sahasrakar Sahgal Priests: Mohile
  • Raja Fateh Chand Maini: Is chieftien of bihar during childhood of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and being a childless he adopted Bal Gobind Rai as his son.

According to Bhavishya Purana, Punjab indeed was an ancient center of Sun worship.

Religion

Hindu Khatris

A majority of Khatris are Hindus.[citation needed] As noted in the introduction, the Khatri community have been positioned in roles of administration, rule and warfare within Punjab. The Khatris were the patrons ('yajamansas' or in Punjabi 'jajmani') of the Saraswat Brahmins. Together the two communities represent the heritage of the Indo-Aryan center of NW India.

Sikh Khatris

A minority of the Khatris are Sikh. The Sikh panth is not caste based, still the Khatris played a major role in development of Sikhism as a gentle and inclusive faith. All the Ten Sikh Gurus were Khatri. During the lifetime of the Gurus, most of their major supporters and Sikhs were Khatris. Khatris were the main leaders in Sikhism until the early 20th century when the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee objected to abuses by the Masand Khatris. After the formation of the Khalsa (1699), and especially during the reign of Ranjit Singh, Hindu Khatri families raised at least one son (usually the oldest) as an Amritdhari Sikh, this trend somewhat lessened after the Khalistan movement.

Among the Khatri-like castes include the Khukrains or Kukhrans. They were one of the foremost followers of the Sikh Gurus and traditionally brought up one son as a Keshdhari Sikh. This is evident from the large number of Kukhran surnames among Khatri-like Sikhs.

See also: Hinduism and Sikh Panth

Jain and Muslim Khatris

The number of Khatris who are Jain is very small. With the advent of Islam into Sindh and the southern Punjab region with the invasion of the Arab general, Muhammad bin Qasim in 711 CE and subsequent invasions by Turkic tribes from Afghanistan and the North West Frontier Province from the 11th century onwards, there were conversions of Hindus to the faith from among various Punjabi communities, including Khatris . While the conversions took place at different times, often when entire communities converted they retained their tribal, clan or caste affiliations as has been the norm in the Indian Subcontinent. Some reasons for this were the fact that many of the conversions were forced conversions of entire villages and towns in order to maintain survival.[2] Similarly, the Khatris who converted to Islam, continue to retain a strong social identity and are known as Punjabi Shaikhs. They came to become incorporated within the Muslim caste system, they are therefore not strictly Khatris in modern caste differentiation, but are Khatri in heritage.

Khatris and Indian Culture

The Khatris were adversely affected by the partition of India, as it resulted in the loss of their traditional home regions. Some Khatris are now modernizing along with the rest of India.

Khatris Organizations

The sessions of Akhil Bhartiya Khatri Mahasabha were held in Lucknow in 1916, 1936, 1952 and 1980. Lucknow Khatri Sabha was established in 1927 and publication Khatri Hitashi was started in 1936.

Divisions among the Khatris

There are several subdivisions within the Khatri clans . There are the Dhai Ghar (i.e. 2 1/2 houses -the number 3 being considered unlucky) grouping comprising of Khanna, Kapur/Kapoor and Mehra/Malhotra. Along with the Seth clan these four subdivisions form the Char Ghar (4 houses) grouping.

With the Chopra, Dhavan, Mahendra, Sahgal, Talwar, Tandon, Vohra and Wadhawan sub castes, all 12 form the barah-jati grouping. Another group is called Bavanjai (52). Other regional clan groupings include the Sarin and the Kukhrain.

Regionally Churamani, Nanda, Khullar, Jerath, Chopra and Vig were particularly connected with Ludhiana; Bahl, Kapoor, Mehra, Seth, Beri, Sencher and Dhir with Jagraon; Batte, Sondhi and Karir with Machhiwara and Bahlolpur[citation needed]; Sehgal and Thapar with Raikot; and Had and Cham with Khanna.

The origin of many clans and surnames is not exactly clear. It is possible that some of the clans among the Khatris, Rajputs and Jats, along with other similar subgroups, are related.

Kukhran

File:Manmohan singh with bush.jpg
Dr. Manmohan Singh with President of the United States George W. Bush

Kukhran (also spelt Kukhrain) are a Khatri-like regional grouping of ten subcastes of Punjab, originally from the town of Bhera in the Jech doab (Jhelum - Chenab interfluve) region of Sargodha district of Pakistani Punjab. In keeping with Khatri-like traditions, Bhera was an important trading outpost on the road to Kabul, and a 'taksal' (mint) during the reign of Ranjit Singh. Kukhrans are Aryan and Vedic peoples and have originally followed Hinduism, however a significant number adapted Sikhism during the 18th and 19th centuries.

This, and also because many Hindu Kukhran families, as well as other Khatri and Khatri-like clans (Aroras), raised at least one Sikh son after the formation of the Khalsa in 1699, resulted in Kukhran family names, as well as other Khatri-like clan names, being present in both Hindu and Sikh communities worldwide. Common Kukhran names are Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, Chandok,Gadhok, Gadok, Kohli, Sabharwal, Sahni/Sawhney, and Sethi; many of whom had migrated from present Pakistan to India during partition. The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh is a Kukhran of the Kohli subcaste.

See also: Kukhran

See Also

Distinguished Khatris and Kukhrans

References

  1. ^ As Kshatriyas
  2. ^ See Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Jwalaprasad Mishra, Jati Bhaskar, 1914.
  • M.A. Sherring, Hindu Castes and Tribes as represented in Banares, 1872.
  • Raja Vanvihari Kapur, The History of Khatris
  • The Khatris, a socio-historical study, Baij Nath Puri, M.N. Publishers, 1988.
  • Bhai Gurdas Ji, Varan Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 8 - Pauri 10.
  • The Indian Diaspora in Central Asia and Its Trade, 1550-1900 by Scott Cameron Levi.
  • Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose "A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province", 1911 AD, Page 501-526, Vol II,
  • Ibid, Page 537-538, Vol II.
  • Temple, R.C. "The Legends of The Panjab", 1884, Reprinted by Institute of Folk Heritage, Islamabd, 1981.
  • Khatris are Kshatri http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gaz_ldh8.htm
  • Mahan Kosh by Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha
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