Khambi, Gujrat

Khambi is a large village of Sarai Alamgir Tehsil, district Gujrat, Pakistan. It is bounded on two sides by the river Jhelum and Upper Canal Jhelum and on the other two sides by small streams. There are three areas Khambi Kaleechpur, Khambi Khanpur and Khambi Merra.

Majority of the villagers are of the Thathal Jat caste. Other Jatt clans include Khaira, Marrar and Ratial Kanyal, Chib Rajputs and Chaurra. Also living here and associated closely with these people were the Miana pathans and Mohmand/Kaka Zai pathans with certain Moghuls. These foreign tribes intermarried with the existing tribes and gradually their foreign identity was lost. Some of the Maliars(weavers) that were associated with the Miana Pathans have begun to take on the name of Mian believeing Miana to mean Mian when this is not the case.

History

This village is named after the Khamb tribe by a Thathal Jat chief called Hashmat Khan. It is also named after the Thathal chiefs relative, Murad Kaleech Khan. During the Sikh rule of Punjab the Thathals gave them much opposition for which reason many migrated to Kashmir and surrounding areas. Gulab Singh of Jammu settled his tribesmen the Marrar or Mehr Minhas tribe into this area as Gulab Singh was from the same tribe as the Marrars who are originally from the Jamwal clan of Jammu and were initially located in the Chakwal area from where they were evicted by the Sikh governor.

The population are mainly cultivating landlords (Zamindar) and have a record of military service. Many villagers have migrated to Europe, United States, Dubai which has resulted in an expansion of the village over the years. Most migrants do return in later life.

Miriam Welfare Trust

Miriam Welfare Trust works for the welfare of the people of Khambi, Khanpur and villages near around it. It offers free medical camps and a 24-hour ambulance service for the people. It also runs a garbage project.

Education

There is a Government Elementary School located in Khambi and also an Government school.