Jump to content

Gurjar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by AsadGujjar (talk | contribs) at 04:17, 18 April 2007 (→‎Gujjars in Military). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Gujjar
ClassificationKshatriya.
ReligionsMainly Hinduism & Islam, but Sikhism as well
LanguagesGojri, Hindi and its dialects, Punjabi and its dialects, Rajasthani and its dialects, Gujarati, Dogri, Marathi, Urdu and its dialects and English.
Populated statesNorthern India, Western India, Central India and Pakistan

Gujjars (also Gujar, Gurjar, or Gurjara), are members of one of the many groups, or castes, of the subcontinent, mainly inhabiting Punjab (Pakistan), Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab (India), Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Western Uttar Pradesh, Northern Madhya Pradesh and Delhi Regions. Gurjars belong to the Kshatriya castes.


History

The presence of the Gujjars in India, as according to most historians, is first attested to after the 5th century invasion of India by the Hunas (Huns), with their bearing the brunt of the migration as sovereigns of much of the northwestern subcontinent at the time. Dadda, the founder of the most famous GurjarGurjara-Pratihara dynasty, established a kingdom at Nandipur (Nandol) in the 7th century. The Gurjars kept ruling all over north India till 12th century under various Gurjar clans like Pratihars, Chauhans, Chandels, Tomars and Bhadanas etc.

With the decline of Buddhism in the 8th-10th centuries in parts of northwest India, and the rise of Hinduism, the established Gujjars were mainly assimilated into the Kshatriya or Brahmin castes. The majority of Gujjars are classified as Kshatriya, attested to by their clan/caste/family names such as Chauhan. There are others, however, who are classified as very high Brahmins. With Arab Muslim conquests in the 8th century and the rise of Sufism in the 11th century, many Gujjars came under the influence of Islam. However, as with the majority of Indian Muslims, they retained their clan name as a form of tribal identity.

Names such as Gujranwala, Gujar Kot, Gujar Khan, Gojra and Gujrat in Pakistan and the state of Gujarat in India are a testament to enduring Gujjar influence in their heartland.


Maratha Gujjars

A community using Gurjar as their surname resides in the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, inhabiting Pangre, Hasol, and other villages in Ratnagiri District. Originally bearing the name GurjarPadhye, many now prefer to call themselves Gurjar. The community may have been living in the Konkan region for at least three centuries, although this estimate may be inaccurate. This community belongs to the Brahmin caste and these people call themselves Karhade Brahmins. They speak the Marathi language. This community might be a part of the bigger Gujjar community. However it is difficult to explain why and how they settled down in the Konkan region of Maharashtra and are Brahmins rather than Kshatriyas. Local pandits claim that the Gurjars are essentially a priestly community and that it is only the subcastes that assumed Kshatriya status in order to earn a livelihood in other more practical professions.

Demography

The majority of Gujjars are found in India, numbering around 30 million [citation needed], with Pakistan holding 13 million [citation needed]. As much as any of the castes and tribes of the subcontinent, they form part of the global diaspora.

Language

The mother tongue of the Gujjars is Gujari/Gojri, which is very similar to Marwari/ Rajasthani and Gujarati. The Gujjars of South Asia, regardless of their religion or region may speak this language. However, they also speak the languages of the various regions they inhabit including Hindi and its dialects, Punjabi and its dialects, Urdu, Pothohari, Kashmiri, Dogri, Gujarati and Marathi. Urbanized Gujars in Pakistan may not speak Gojri at all and likely identify the local language as their mother tongue.

Religion

A majority of Gujjars are Hindu, Muslim and other small communities exist. A majority of Gurjar Hindu population lives in Gujrat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh as well as Delhi.

Majority of Muslim Gurjars live in Pakistan: NWFP,Gujranwala, Gujrat, ShakarGarh, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore etc.

There used to be a lot of Muslim Gujjars living in District Anbala in the Punjab before partition. But after partition they were forced to leave their home land. Many of them were killed and those who escaped, migrated to Pakistan. They settled at different places near Lahore. The majority are now living in the villages of Tehsil Pattoki (i.e. Khanke, Mod, Phulliani, Sarankee etc) . They struggled at early stages in Pakistan but they established themselves as time went. Many of the young people went to Karachi to earn their living. Some of them established their own milk and bakery shops. Some notable shops and bakeries owned by Gujjars are Rahat Bakers and sweets, Broadway Bakers, International Bakers, United Bakers etc.

There are currently about 1200 Gotra within the Gurjars[citation needed]. Many also possess titles such as Raja, Patel, Chaudhary, Thakur.


Famous Gujjars

Famous Pakistani Gujjars Politician

  • Chaudhry Rahmat Ali a Gujjar of Gorsi goth. Architect; coined the name of Pakistan.
  • Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry the Former President of Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Amir Hussain the current Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Abdul Rahim Ex( MLA United Punjab , MPA West Pakistan , MNA Pakistan, Member District Council Sialkot). Given the title of Khan Sahib by British Government(Village Maingri Tehsil ShakarGarh District Narowal Punjab Pakistan )
  • Chaudhry Iftikhar Taj Ex. Vice Chairman District Council Narowal (Village Maingri Tehsile ShakarGarh District Narowal Punjab Pakistan)
  • Chaudhry Idrees Taj Member-Majlas-Shura (Village Maingri Tehsile ShakarGarh District Narowal Punjab Pakistan)
  • Chaudhry Ishfaq Taj Ex (MNA) (Village Maingri Tehsile ShakarGarh District Narowal Punjab Pakistan)
  • Chaudhry Qamar Zaman Kaira (MNA), PPP Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal , Minister of health, Govt. of Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Qurban Ali Chauhan Ex-(MNA) from Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Sajjad Haider Karim first Member of the European Parliament of Pakistani origin.
  • Ch.Nadeem Asghar Kaira 'Tehsil Nazim Kharian', District Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Danial Aziz (MNA) current Chairman National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB), S/o Chaudhry Anwar Aziz & an American Lady. PML Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Anwar Aziz an Ex-(MNA) & Federal Minister of Pakistan.
  • Nawabzadeh gazanfar gul from gujrat Member of central executive committee PPP PAKISTAN
  • Chaudhry Qamar Zaman Kaira (MNA), PPP Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal , Minister of health, Govt. of Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Qurban Ali Chauhan Ex-(MNA) from Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Asghar Gujjar MPA(MMA) Laya

Famous Indian Gujjars Politician

Businessman Gujjars

Gujjars IT Professional

Gujjars in Military

  • Air Marshall Rahim Khan Commander-in-Chief Pakistan Air Force during Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
  • Major Tufail Muhammad (Shaheed): Recipient of Nishan-e-Haider, highest military award in Pakistan.
  • General Muhammad Sawar Khan the Ex-Vice Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Army. A Full 'Four Star General', during Zia-ul-haq's era.

Lawyer Gujjars

Famous Gujjars

  • Shoaib Akhtar , the World's Fastest Bowler ever. He made a World Record by Clocking 100Mph Twice.
  • Mohammad Asif , the best Fast Bowler of the Pakistan Cricket Team.
  • Mian Muhammad Baksh considered to be the second best Punjabi Poet ever. Author of Saif Ul-Maluk
  • Mata Gujri wife of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur and mother of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.
  • Vijay Singh Pathik: Indian Revolutionary, Satyagrahi and Hindi Poet
  • Dhan Singh Kotwal: Indian freedom fighter. The first sepoy to revolt against the British in Meerut in 1857.
  • Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri (Hero of longowal battle) .Border movie is made on his heroic battle in longowal and 'Sunny Deol' is casting as kuldeep singh chandpuri in movie.
  • Arjun Rampal , a Bollywood Actor.
  • Vishwajeet Pradhan , a Bollywood Actor - acted in more than 50 movies.
  • Chaudhry Abdul Rahim Ex( MLA United Punjab , MPA West Pakistan , MNA Pakistan, Member District Council Sialkot). Given the title of Khan Sahib by British Government(Village Maingri Tehsil ShakarGarh District Narowal Punjab Pakistan )
  • Sajjad Haider Karim first Member of the European Parliament of Pakistani origin.
  • Ghulam Muhammed: The Great Gama World famous Punjabi wrestler.
  • Late Chaudhrey Shamsher Akhtar of Doyian, highly respected Landlord and politician in Gujrat, Pakistan. Also Known as Chaudhrey Sher.
  • Justice(Retd) Ihsan ul Haq Chaudry. He was a judge of Lahore High Court, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Justice Muhammad Sayeed Akhtar.Judge of Lahore High Court,Lahore,Pakistan. Nephew of Major Tufail Muhammad (Shaheed)Nishan e Haider
  • Sardar Muhammad Chaudhry, Ex- Inspector General of Police, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Ahmad Naseem, Present Inspector General of Police, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Sabir Ali Chaudhry (goth Kasana). CEO of Macmod Textile Machinery Pvt(Ltd.), and reputed to be the second best Textile Engineer of Pakistan.
  • Colonel Ram Singh Bajad: EX-PTO & Sports Officer in Indian army,Ex-Chif Coach-Cum-Services Team Manager(Wrestling),SSCB Delhi.
  • Shri Shiv Narain Singh (1898-1945) - An altruist, philanthropic Tehsildar & later Freedom Fighter in Baghpat Tehsil, who was very popular and famous for his work towards upliftment of women. He revolted against British & refused to give away his Tehsildari also. He built a famous temple in Village Bhagout near Delhi.
  • Madhu Prakash Singh: BTech, MBA - Manager with Tata Group
  • Malik Fazal Din (Late)son of Malik Muhammad Suleman, famous businessman and zaminadar of Taxila, Pakistan. He has done extended work for gujjars especially the gujjars of Swat.
  • Chaudhary Shafiq Ur Rahman, (MBA,BE) a csp in Pakistan.
  • Chaudhry Hassan Afzal (1982-present) computer science student at UT Austin
  • M.S.Chaudhry, a PhD scholar, freelancer journalist, Lawyer and Human Rights Activist: Presently residing in Arlov, SWEDEN.
  • Chaudhry Gulzar (goth Meelu), ex-President Anjuman-e-Gujjaran of Pakistan; Chief Editor Gujjar Gazette; Chairman Board of Trustees - Chaudhry Rahmat Ali Trust.
  • Chaudhry Ahmed Din (goth Chachi), Founder President Anjumen-e-Gujran, All Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Ch.Muhammad Younas Advocate High Court, the First Lawyer who changed the Legal History by lodging a FIR against Police in Ibd.
  • Ch.Nisar Ahmed (barsa.Gujrat) Fakhr-e-Harsa, Kot Deema Gujjar.
  • Navid Abbas, (from Rajuwal,Gujrat) President of Model United Nations(MUN), MCC, Rochester, New York.
  • Shri Hoshiar Singh Bhadana. HCS retired. President, Gujjar Samaj Kalyan Parishad, Gujjar Bhavan, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.
  • Param Bir Singh, (IPS) Additional Comissioner of Police, Mumbai. (Son of Shri Hoshiar Singh Bhadana).
  • Chaudhry Devpal Awana the real warrior of Noida.
  • Archana Gurjar, IAS, Deputy Accountant General, Rajasthan, India.
  • Arun Kumar Gurjar, IRS, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi.
  • Bhairon Singh Gurjar D C P of Delhi State.
  • Ali Arman A Famous Young URDU poet of Pakistan.
  • Zaheer Abbas President Gujjar Movement
  • Ch. Awais Sarwar Famous business man in UK.

Further reading

For an explanation of ancient names of Central Asia (pre-Turko-Mongolian era.) see the 'Buddhist Records of the Western Countries,' written by Hsien-tsang (Xuanzang), circa 650 AD, taken from translations by Thomas Watters (1904) and Samuel Beal (1884), [1] Sahar Ladhianvi a famous poet is also gujjar

Note

Note the following ancient town names:

  • Gujar Khan, Tehsil of Distt Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  • Gujrat a District of Punjab Province, Pakistan
  • Gujaranwala, a District of Punjab Province, Pakistan
  • Gojra a District of Punjab, Pakistan

References


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gurjar&oldid=123726232"