Khambi, Gujrat
Khambi and Kaleechpur is a large village of Sarai Alamgir Tehsil district Gujrat, Pakistan. Mainly Thathal and Chib families live there.
Kambhi Kaleechpur or Kambhi Khanpur is bound on two sides by the river Jhelum and Upper Canal Jhelum and on the other two sides by small streams. The population are mainly cultivating landlords (Zameendar) and have a record of military service. Many villagers have migrated to Europe, USA, Dubai which has resulted in an expansion of the village over the years.
History
Khambi is named after the Khamb or Kamboj tribe. In the old settlement reports the name of the area was Khanpur Khamb. It is said this area was the jageer of an ancient Raja called Raja Bhenda Singh. The area today is mostly populated by the Thathal, Khaira, Chib, Marrar,Ratial, Sohlan, Chaurra, Kakke people.
The area now called Khambi actually consisted of four settlements. The side nearing the river Jhelum is called Tawela which means a horse stable where the horses of these settlements were kept.
The side nearing the canal is named Kaleechpur a name which is of Moghul origin. The word Kaleech means a 'Sword' in the Moghul/Turkish language and was given as an honorary title to warriors by the Moghul Kings to those who showed their courage and valor on the battlefield.
Kaleechpur existed nearer to the Pabbi range but during the severe famine in the 18th century the old village was abandoned and the people began to migrate. Some went towards Kashmir but many chose to remain in their ancestral land and moved closer to the banks of the river Jhelum where they still reside. The old village in the pabbi range is not recognizable but there still remains a graveyard called Shaheeda Da Qaberstan or the 'graveyard of martyrs' where the warrior ancestors of this village are buried.
Kaleechpur is named after a warrior leader of the Thathals named Murad Kaleech Khan. The people of Kaleechpur are very foreign looking many are very light in colour and have blonde hair and blue eyes showing their foreign origin. Local tradition state that these people are a Mughal tribe named Barlas.
The main road part is named after the Khamb/Kamboj tribe and gives its name to the village. Near the Kass stream is known as Jaleelpur named after Jaleel Khan who also was of foreign origin.
Old memories are really what survive of the history of Khambi. People relate that the ancestors of this place were very warlike and regularly practiced the arts of war like sword training and tent pegging and were much in demand by authorities.
The village adjoining Khambi is called Khanpur and is closely connected to Khambi. Khanpur is inhabited by the Marrar and Khamb people.
According to their traditions, the ancestors of the Khamb arrived from Kathiawar, in what is now the modern state of Gujarat in India.
The Khamb/Kamboj were settled in their present abode, by Hashmat Khan, a chief of the Thathal tribe, who are natives of the Pothohar region. This Hashmat Khan was appointed as a garrison commander of Khambhat in Kathiawar, by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. When Hashmat Khan returned to the Pothohar region, he was accompanied by members of the garrison at Khambait. These troops were of a mixed origin and included troopers of Mughal and Afghan origin from Badakshan. He ordered that a village be built and named it Khanpur, and these warriors were granted lands in and around the new town. The tribe is still mainly found in Khambi and are also known as the “Kakkay Billey” due to their blue eyes and blonde hair.
In 1525 Zaheeruddin Babur invaded Punjab. Thathal Sardar Safdar Murad under the influence of the Gakhars sided with Babur. Doulat Khan Lodhi was defeated and a faction of Thathals remained with the Gakhars but Murad Kaleech Khan took away a group of daredevils with him, selected a place along Kharian Pubbi and inaugurated a village Kaleechpur, still thriving with majority of Thathals. Some of the tribe converted to cultivators of land but never became good Zamindars, still fond of fighting.
When Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun, ill fate for Thathals commenced. Gakhars were defeated, Suri pathans captured the Salt Range and uprooted the Gakhars and Thathals. The Janjua and Gondal of adjoining areas also suffered. Rohtas Fort was established and bad luck of Thathals was still very much there. Kaleechpur was destroyed, people of area were butchered, some escaped and sheltered into the Pabbi Kharian for safety. Mansur Murad the chief of Thathals was killed, and might of Thathals almost vanished for the time being.
Return of Humayun in 1546 restored some of the honour and pride for the Thathal tribe. Mughals captured some area of Kashmir, Syed Yousaf Mashadi the governor called for Sardar Muhammad Azam Thathal. Azam was a dare devil, he attacked and captured Yadgar Mirza in Akbars time. Mirza was killed and mutiny was over, Azam was bestowed with the title of BAHADUR.
The Chibs of Khambi who are originally from Bhimber and Khari Karyala arrived much later after facing defeat during the sikh wars which resulted in them losing their areas.
Government Elementary School Khambi
There is a Government Elementary School located in Khambi.
AL Hijaz Secondary School Khambi
There is a AL Hijaz Secondary School located in Khambi. it was working since 1984.
32°53′N 73°43′E / 32.883°N 73.717°E