Khukhrain

Khukhrain
Classification	Khatri
Religions	Hinduism and Sikhism
Languages	Doabi, Punjabi
Populated States	Punjab
Subdivisions	Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, Chandok (Chandhoke, Chandhok, Ghandhok), Chhachi (Chachi, Chhachhi): a sub section of the Kohli clan, Ghai, Kohli, Sabharwal, Sahani (Sawhney), Sethi, Suri.

See detailed article Khatri

The Khukhrain are an ancient group of eight specific clans of the Khatri caste ^[1] who originally hailed from the areas of the Salt Range and particularly the town of Bhera in Punjab. This area was the Sind Sagar Doab (Indus-Jhelum interfluve) and the Jech Doab (Jhelum-Chenab interfluve) region of Pakistan that comprised Khushab, Pindi Gheb, Talagang, Chakwal, Pind Dadan Khan, Peshawar and Nowshera. The name "Doab" literally translates to "land of two rivers" ("Do" two, "Ab" river; Punjabi). In former India, Sind Sagar Doab and Jech Doab were the main region where Khukrains were in large number. The language spoken in the region was majorly Doabi. The names of the eight clans are: Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, Kohli, Sabharwal, Sahani, Sethi and Suri. Later three new sub clans originated those were Chandok (Chandhoke, Chandhok, Ghandhok), Chhachi (Chachi, Chhachhi): a sub section of the Kohli clan, and Ghai.

Etymology

There has been much debate as to the origin of the title “Khukrain”. Some say it is derivative of Khokhar while others say it is due to Khukhri (a dagger) as Khukhrains used to carry such a dagger during turbulent times. However the issue remains unsettled.

Clan details

Gotra

As our surnames and family names represent our ancestors, GOTRA represents the name of rishi, who was the father of our ancestor. All the human beings and other creatures on earth are son or descendents of SAPTRISHI [seven sages]. Content copied from www.khukhrains.com

Regarding, the gotra, Khukhrain's original gotra is KASHYAP. Among eight clans Anands, Kohlis and Bhasins maintained their original Kashyap Gotra. While other five clans due to change of purohits (guru) of their times, started to accept different gotras of their own, by the 1st century AD.

Note: - In Hindu rituals (prarthana, havan, etc.) they say, “Kashyap gorta utpanah (born)” but for other five clans they use “dhaaran” (accepted). Because our gurus or purohits have given us our present gotra and our ancestors “adopted” them.

Gotras are subject to change only under very special circumstances such as stated about girls, when they marry they adopt their husband’s gotra. Thus Chadhas and Swahneys claim their gotra as VIRVANS (vats), SETHIs as PULAST, SURIs as BHARGAV and SABHARWALs as HANS.

Different castes/clans of different VARNA can be of same gotra as it depends on one’s family choice to select and to surrender for spiritual refinement.

Got	Vansh	Gotra	Purohit	Kuldevta
Anand	Suryavansh	Kashyap	Bijra	Durga Mata
Bhasin	Suryavansh	Kashyap	Bijra	Durga Mata
Chadha	Suryavansh	Virbhans or Vats	Vasudev	Bhadarkali
Kohli	Suryavansh	Bharadwaj (Kashyap)	Dutt	Satyavati
Sahani	Suryavansh	Virbhans or Vats	Vasudev	Bhadarkali
Sabharwal	Suryavansh	Hanslas	Madankhamb	Baba Medar
Suri	Suryavansh	Bhargav	Panda	Bhagwati (Durga Mata)
Sethi	Suryavansh	Palsth(Pulast)	Soodan	Vaishnoo Devi

^[2]

The main place of their ancestral geographic location was the town of Bhera, situated in the Jech Doab region (Jhelum-Chenab interfluve) of Punjab, which now lies in the Sargodha District of Pakistan. The history of the Khukhrain is inextricably intertwined with the ancient town of Bhera

Bhera is also the historical town to which Porus or Purushotthama of the Puru tribe belonged. Purushotthama (c.325 BC) was the king of Kekaya the land of the Puru tribe, one of the Janapadas (kingdoms). Its location was in what is now middle Punjab, the areas between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab and its extent varied from time to time. The word Purushotthama means "Supreme Being". Purushotthama was 7 feet 6 inches tall according to Arrian.

The palace of Sopeithes which the Greek historian Arrian mentions as the place on the Hydaspes is supposed to be at Bhera. The Greeks refer to the Jhelum river as the Hydaspes River where Alexander the Great fought Porus in Battle of the Hydaspes River in 326 BCE (also see sources below).

Meanings of Khukhrain Clans

^[3]

Anand: The word derived from Sanskrit word Paramanand also known as Anand (Joy), which means Feel of Heaven.

Kohli: The word is Kul Hari, based on the name of one of the goddess of North India (Kul Devi) and Lord Vishnu (Hari), the one who preserves "the Preserver". The word Hari came into existence in holy book Mahabharat in which it means "one who takes away". It is widely believed among Khukhrains that their continuance and survival up till the present day is owing to their preserving by the Kohli clan. Content copied from www.khukhrains.com

Suri  : The word is used in both Vedic and Classical Sanskrit. The word is used for `Sun' or 'Brightness of Sun'. It is also used in Vedic Sanskrit instead of "Shourya" and "Shoor Vir" (the most courageous). In Classical Sanskrit sometimes used in place of "Guru" or "Lord of Planets" that is, Sun.

Bhasin: Derived from the Sanskrit word "Bhuseen" means Power of Speech (bhu [tongue/speech] + seen [power]). In some places it has been used for "Sun".

Sahani: This word derived from Sainani and means the "chief commander" or "companion".

Chadha: The word is derived from the name of Chamunda, who was the slayer of evil lord Chanda & Munda. Chamunde means one who kills or punishes the evil.

Sethi: Derived from the Sanskrit word "Sresthi" which means Shreshth (the best among all).

Sabharwal: Derived from the Sanskrit word "Shubh Var" which means "the lucky one".

Rules of Marriage

Khukhrain are exogamous within the same clan but endogamous with respect to their group. This means that Khukhrains use to marry within Khukhrain but cannot marry within the same clan. The Khukhrain again avoid only the got of the father and mother because they have so few sections to marry into. Content copied from www.khukhrains.com

A person from "Kohli clan" can not marry in the Kohli clan but can only marry within the other clans of the Khukhrain biraadri.

Being the descendant of the same ancestor, they consider themselves as sibling. Thus, each Khukhrain consider every person born in their clan as their brother or sister and never get marry with their siblings.

In Earlier days, Khukhrain and Dhaiye Khatri used to marry among each other but preference was given to be married within their respective groups.

More over, Dhaiye, Baharaan and Bahujayee Khatri were exogamous within there respective group and clan. They use to marry within their group as well as within their clan.

Later, Bahujayee Khatri started marrying among Arora Community as many of them were living in the Multan region. Even Baharaan Khatri started marrying among the Bahujayee, Dhaiye started marrying among Baharaan, and Khukhrain with Dhaiye.

Rituals and traditional practices among Khukhrain

^[4]

• The Anands give no alms on a Sankrant, the first of a solar month. Their women tabu ghi for the hair. They worship the ak which must not be touched by the women of the section, or mentioned by them. They worship it once a year.
• The Chadhas hold the ak sacred, because they say their forefathers once fought with Babar near Eminabad and all fell, save one who hid under an ak bush. He re-founded the section and it still performs the Mundans at Eminabad and worships the ak.
• The Kohlis, whose original home was at Jamsher, a village in Jullundur, worship the kite at the Bhaddan rite. They eschew the use of dry cotton plants as fuel because a snake once got mixed up with them and was burnt to ashes.
• The Sabharwals perform the Bhaddan ceremony at their houses after 13 days of the birth of a child.

Mohyals, the Brahmins of Khukhrains

The Mohyal Brahmins were associated to the Khukhrains and have a long history of not following the priesthood occupation that was usually associated with Brahmins in the past.

The Mohyal of whom the Datt/Dutt are a sub clan were also purohits of the Khukhrain in earlier times however

“

The Mohyals having ceased to be Brahmins at all, no longer minister to the Khukhrain-Khatris and so a special group of Khukhrain-Brahmins has had to be formed.[5]

”

Languages of Khukhrain

India has different languages, but all of them are siblings of each other. The north-western part of India (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh) and even the Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, western region of Uttar Pradesh share a very close and common platform of Language, Culture, Tradition and Rituals. As an example most of people of these regions (like Lahore, Amritsar, Barsana, Bharatpur, etc) will use word Khatri instead of Kshatriya, Shikhya in place of Shiksha and many more. Content copied from www.khukhrains.com Punjabi language still has the influence of both Classical and Vedic Sanskrit not only in the language but also in their surnames/clans.

Most of the Khukrains who moved perforce to India following the Partition of India in 1947 descended from the Doab region of Pakistan that comprised Khushab, Pindi Gheb, Talagang, Camelpur (Campbellpur), Chakwal, Pind Dadan Khan, Peshawar and Nowshera. Their mother tongue is Punjabi. In former India Sind Sagar Doab and Jech Doab were the main region where Khukrains were in large number. The language spoken in the region was majorly Doabi. In India the special dialect of Doabi that was originally spoken by the Khukrains who migrated from Western Punjab (now Pakistan) is fast being replaced by the local Eastern Punjabi language, in their new Indian residence of Punjab. Doabi is the main dialect of the Doab (mainly Jech Doab) of Pakistan. Bhera, situated in the Jech Doab region (Jhelum-Chenab interfluves) of Punjab, which now lies in the Sargodha District of Pakistan, is vocalised by two main dialects of Doabi and Potwari. Today, in the modern world people not only Punjabi but Multani, Sindhi, Jhangi consider themselves as Punjabi and even speak the same language, what they call the Punjabi Language.

Khukhrain and Bhera

Inscription on the lead plaque by the Khukhrain community at the Bhera Enclave, New Delhi

The Imperial Gazetteer of India records the History of Bhera -

“

In 1519 Babur held it to ransom, and in 1540 Sher Shah Suri founded a new town, which later under Akhbar, became the head quarters of the sub division of the Subah of Lahore. In the reign of Muhammad Shah, Raja Salamat Rai, a Khatri of the Anand Tribe, administered Bhera and the surrounding country; while Khushab was managed by Nawab Ahmdyar Khan, and the south eastern tract along the Chenab formed part of the territories under the charge of Maharaja Kaura Mal, governor of Multan [6]

”

“

About the same time, by the death of Nawab Ahmdyar Khan, Khushab also passed into the hands of Raja Salamat Rai. Shortly afterwards Abbas Khan a Khattak who held Pind Daddan Khan, treacherously put the Raja to death, and seized Bhera. But Abbas Khan was himself thrown into prison as a revenue defaulter and, and Fateh Singh, nephew of Salamat Rai then recovered his uncles dominions.[7]

”

In the recent past centuries, Bhera was an important trading outpost on the road to Kabul, and had a taksal or (mint) during the rule of Ranjit Singh. Bhera declined in importance due to the gradual shifting of the course of the Jhelum River, due to which the town lost the advantage of being located on a river bank.

Khukhrain Mohallas in Bhera

Old Hindu Mohallas in Bhera

Most of Bhera’s mohallas (neighborhoods) are historically named after Hindu castes, Muslim surnames, or various trades (e.g., Sahanian da mohalla, Kohlian da Mohalla, Sethian da mohalla, Gandhian da mohallah, Pirachian da mohallah, Khawjian da mohallah, Mohallah Ansarian wala, Thathairan da mohallah, Mohallah Tarkhanan wala, Loharan di Mori, etc). The Punjabi names of Muslim mohallahs got a Persian touch after the partition, e.g., Pirachian da mohalla became Mohallah Pirachgahn, and Khowgian da mohalla turned into Mohalla Khowigahn. However, the names of almost all Hindu mohallahs were left unchanged and allowed to retain their caste names. It was a magnanimous gesture in view of the fact that hardly any Hindus had stayed back in Bhera after the partition. The eleven folders (buttons) on Bhera’s mohallahs seek to provide the names and locations of Bhera’s old, inner-town neighborhoods. These mohallahs are pictorially presented in their own individual folders or in group folders.

KohliaN Wala Mohalla in Bhera, Pakistan

Kohlian Wala Mohalla

Kohlian Wala Mohalla was once Bhera's largest neighborhood, having hundreds of houses and mansions (Maarris) many of which are now reduced with time as poor remains of their grand originals (khandar bataa rahe hain, imarat azim thi). This South Central Mohallas grouping of Mohallas includes Kohlian Wala Mohallah, Mohallah Hidayat Shah, Choorian Wala Mohallah, Mohallah Sadat and other mohallahs of Lalu wala, Alipurian, Peeran Wala, Frashan, Kassaban and Thatian wala.

Vadda SethiaN Wala Mohalla, Bhera, Pakistan

Sahanian Wala Mohalla

Sahanian da Mohalla is an old mohalla whose residents of the pre-partition period were mostly owners of agricultural lands, but many of them were also known for their achievements in politics, sciences, arts, and business. Dewan Chaman Lal Sahni served as a member of the Central Legislative Assembly of India in Delhi. Among the other luminaries from this mohalla were Justice Ram Lal Sahni of the undivided Punjab's High Court in Lahore; Professor Birbal Sahni, a renowned Palaeobotanist (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow - a national laboratory is named in recognition of his pioneer work), and the parents of the well-known actor, Balraj Sahni, and his brother Professor Bhisham Sahni, a renowned Hindi writer who also used to write short stories in Urdu until about 1950.

Sethian Wala Mohalla

Bhera has two Sethian de Mohallas: Vadda Sethia da Mohalla that starts from Jethu di Khuee and the other, Chhota Sethian da Mohalla, that takes off near Kacheri Bazaar and terminates near Circular Road close to the pre-partition-era Ram Leela Grounds. The houses in the main mohalla were famous for their carved doors.

Last Raja of Bhera

The last chief or Raja of Bhera was a Sethi Khukran, Diwan Bahadur Jawahir Mal.^[8] The Diwan Family originally came from Peshawar, and tradition ascribes the abolition of the Jizya in Peshawar to his influence.

Khukrains like other Khatri castes were traditionally and historically a warrior community (although they are now well represented in many fields other than the army) and hence they bore the brunt of invasions from the various central Asian tribes now converted to Islam who came from the northwest during the 12th-16th centuries. The Hindu populations in Afghanistan and Northwest India continued to recede after the 11th century even as predominant areas of Afghanistan were still under non Muslim rule till the 10th CE. (See also Shahi and Jayapala).

History

Origin

Amongst the eight clans of Anand, Sahani (Sahaney/Sawhney), Suri, Chadha, Sabarwal, Kohli, Bhasin and Sethi, the brotherhood flourished with aims to defend the Hindu faith, property, women and to aid each other in times of need.^[9] These were the Hindu people and spoke Punjabi Language. During the 16th century many of them adapted Sikhism to fight against Islamic (Mughal) invasion.

Present day clans:- Anand, Kohli, Suri, Bhasin, Sahani, Chadha, Sethi, Sabharwal

Khukhrain King Porus

A painting by Charles Le Brun depicting Alexander and Porus (Puru) during the Battle of the Hydaspes

The Sabharwal last name has many references during the time of King Porus who was a Sabharwal Khukhrain.^{[citation needed]} Porus was 7 feet 6 inches tall according to Arian (see picture).

Porus (left) and Alexander

In 326 BC, Alexander the Great, whose forces were then fighting against the army of King Porus, at the left bank of river Jhelum near Southern Salt Range, wrote in a letter to his mother and said, ‘I am involved in the land of leonine (lion-like) and brave people called 'Khukhrain’, where every foot of the ground is like a wall of steel, confronting my soldiers. You have brought only one son into the world, but every one in this land can be called an Alexander."^[10]

According to some Pakistani anthologist, it is believed that Khukhrain originated from Porus.

Mahmud of Ghazni and Khukhrains

The Khukhrains spread over Khushab, Pindi Gheb, Talagang, Chakwal, Pind Dadan Khan, Peshawar and Nowshera^[11] were a powerful tribe during the attacks of Ghazni and never submitted to the foreigners but always resisted them whenever the opportunity came to their hands.^[12] The clash of the Khukhrains with Mahmud of Ghazni ^[13] took place in his third invasion after the defeat of Jayapala, at the Battle of Bhera in 1004-5 which was a powerful stronghold of the Khukhrain,^[14]

Dr Ishwari Prasad also writes that the last invasion of Mohammad was against Bhadravati (Bhera) the capital of the Khukhrains.^[15] While returning from Somnath with a huge booty, which Mohammad plundered from the famous Shiva temple of Somnath, which certainly shook the religious sentiments of the Hindus, a certain tribe called Khukhrain attacked him and snatched away a large part of the booty from his army.^[16]

Finally when Bhera was sacked by Ghazni, Khukhrain King Biji Rai instead of submitting, committed suicide by ending his life with his own dagger.^[17] Jaipals son Anandpal received support of the Khukhrains against Mahmud Ghazni in 1008-9 at Wahind ^[18]

Khukhrain and Ala-ud-din Khilji

The book 'A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West provinces of India', records-

“

It is said to be that Ala-ud-din Khilji attempted to impose widow-marriage upon the Khatris. The western Khatris resolved to resist the innovation. The Khukhrain section is said to consist of the descendents of certain Khatris who joined the Khokhars in rebellion (against Ala-ud-din Khilji); and with whom the other Khatri families were afraid to intermarry, as they were formed as the bravest amongst the braves."[19]

”

Other scholarly references such as in the publications of the Britannica also point to the close relation between Khukhrain and Khokhar. About the Khukhrain mention is made stating

“

the Khukhrain sub group of the 8 clans, claim descent from a son of Manu and several clan names are traced to military.[20]

”

Khukhrain Punjab Chiefs

The Punjab Chiefs were various ruling families who held positions of authority in Punjab. Sir Robert Montgomery, Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab in the 1860s during British Rule, commissioned the histories of the Punjab Chiefs and notable families to be written and compiled. The intention of the work was to give a picture of the Punjab aristocracy as it existed at the time. It was first published in 1909.

“

but as a general rule, only the histories of those men have been written who possess, at the present time, rank wealth or local influence [21][22]

”

District	Name of the Chief	Clan/Caste/Tribe/Family	Other genealogical information
Gujranwala District	Sardar Mehr Singh Chhachi	Kohli Khukhrain Khatri
Jhelum District	Hira Singh of Chotala	Suri Khukhrain Khatri
Gujranwala District	Ganga Bishan of Eminabad	Chadha Khukhrain Khatri
Shahpur District	Diwan Bahadur Diwan Jawahir Mal of Bhera	Sethi Khukhrain Khatri
Rawalpindi District	Sardar Gurdit Singh Chhachi	Sahani Khukhrain Khatri

Hierarchy among Khatris

Among Punjabis, there are several distinct communities, among all the communities the Khatris reside at the top. Khatris are divided into several sub castes. The 1891 Punjab census listed 3086 sub castes of Khatris and the 1911 census listed 1559. Even the 1911 number seems too large and shows the unreliability of Census figures in these matters. One possible reason for the discrepancy could be the different treatment of the Arora sub castes in the two censuses. While Aroras consider themselves to be Khatris, Khatris consider them to be lower in the caste hierarchy.

In ancient times, the name Khatri was not in existence, rather they were known as the Kshatriya, during the reign of Maurya Dynasty they concentrated in the Potwar Plateau of Punjab.^[3]

There are four sub categories:-

1. Khukhrain Khatri (Eight Clan or Got)

2. Bari Khatri (Twelve Clan or Got)

3. Bahunjayee Khatri (Fifty Two Clan or Got)

4. Sarin Khatri (Three Hundred Clan or Got)

All the above four words were derived from Sanskrit and later spelt in Punjabi.

Earlier only Khukhrains and Dhaih-ye Khatris were present and were known as Anands (Suryavanshi) and Purus (Chandravanshis), later two more sub categories were derived.

Khukhrain Khatri:- It consisted of eight clans Anand, Kohli, Suri, Bhasin, Chadha, Sahani, Sethi and Sabharwal.

Dhai Ghar (Bari) Khatri (number three being inauspicious):- It consists of clans Malhotra/Mehra/Mehrotra, Khanna, Kapoor/Kapur/Kupur. They are Chandravanshi and direct descendants of King Krishan. Kakkar/Kakar and Seth extend along as Char Ghar Khatri

Bahraan Ghar (Bari) Khatri:- They are the Suryavanshi but does not consist descendants of Khukhrain. This category consist of several clans Tandon/Tandan/Tondon, Chopra, Bohra/Wohra, Wadhaun/Wadhwa, Talwar, Sahgal, Maindharu/Mahindru, Dhawan/Dhaun, Wahi/Wahie, Soni, Vig and Gandhoke/Gandhiok

Bahunjayee Khatri:- They are born in many castes, in different words this is the group of different sub-castes of Khatris (that is, Khukhrains, Dhaihye and Baharaan), who on the account of their indiscipline at any time, were out caste from their original higher castes. In Sanskrit, Bahujayee means "many birth" as , Bahu means Many and Jayee means Birth. They consists both the suryavanshi and chandravanshi. This category consists of many clans/castes.

Other than these, Khatri consist of Naagvanshi.

‘‘‘Naagvanshi’’’:- its clans are Nayyar, Nair and Naik. They consider themselves Kshatriya but separate from the Khatri community. These clans are also present in southern part of India and adapted different culture there.

More over, Arora community is separate from Khatris, but they always forcefully say that they are Khatri.

Sarin:- Bara Sarin and Chota Sarin (comprise of 300 clans)

Alphbatical Order

KHUKHRAIN: Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, Kohli, Sabharwal, Sawhney/Sahani, Sethi, Suri

DHAI GARHI (Extended Char Ghari): Malhotra/Mehra/Mehrotra, Khanna, Kapoor/Kapur/Kupur, Kakkar/Kakar, Seth

BAHARAAN GARHI: Bohra/Vohra, Chopra, Dhawan/Dhaun, Gandhok/Gandhiok, Maindharu/Mahindru, Sahgal/Seghal/Saigal, Soni, Talwar, Tandon/Tandan/Tondon, Vij, Wadhaun/Wadhwa, Wahi/Wahie

NAAGVANSHI: Nair, Naik, Nayyar/Nayer

BAHUNJAYEE: Adlakha, Awal, Badhwar/Budhwar, Bagga, Bahl, Bassi, Batta, Beri, Bhalla, Bhambri, Bhandari, Bindra, Dhir, Duggal, Dhupar, Gandotra, Gujral, Gulla, Handa, Jaggi, Jethi, Jagga, Katyal, Khosla, Khullar, Kiri, Kochar, Lamba, Madhok, Mahana/Mahna, Maini, Makan/Markan/Makin/Mawkin/Maken, Malik, Mankhand, Marwah, Modi (Awal), Monga, Mongia, Nehra, Nikhanj, Oberoi/Uberoi, Ohri, Parwanda, Puri, Pahwar, Pardal, Passi, Rai, Roshan, Sablok, Saggar/Sagar, Sahi/Shahi, Sarna, Sekri/Sekhri, Sibal, Sikand, Sikka, Thamman, Thakkar/Thukkar, Tuli, Thapar, Uppal, Vadehra, Vasudeva, Vinayak, Wadhera

‘‘‘SARIN’’’: Bara Sarin and Chota Sarin (comprise of 300 clans)

Khatri to Khukhrain Hierarchy

Within Khatris, too, there was a distinct hierarchy. On the top of the Bari Khatris pyramid sat Dhai-gharais (two and a half houses- three being an inauspicious number), consisting of three sub castes - Kapoor, Malhotra and Khanna. The reference to two and a half is because of the Khatri superstition of the number three. Below them were Baharaan-gharais (twelve houses) including such castes as Gujral, Marwaha, Tandon, Chopra and Wahi. Further lower in the order were Bawinja-gharais (fifty-two houses). Distinct from these "ghars" were the "Khukhrain biraadri" consisting of eight sub castes - Kohli, Sethi, Anand, Bhasin, Sahani, Suri, Sabharwal and Chadha. Content copied from www.khukhrains.com Khukhrains are very proud of their biraadri. Some claim that Porus was a Khukhrain. These sub castes were exogamous within the same sub caste but endogamous with respect to the same group. In other words, a Kohli could not marry another Kohli but could only marry within the eight sub castes included in the Khukhrain biraadri. These rules got relaxed over time with gradual broad banding to make all Khatris endogamous and then extending the circle of eligible matrimony to include Aroras as well. In modern India, these taboos have further broken down and Khatris now frequently marry Non-Khatris and even Non- Punjabis, but one still frequently finds matrimonial advertisements specifying ones Khukhrain or Khatri affiliation.

Post Partition of India 1947

Most of the Hindu or Sikh, Khukhrains moved perforce to India following the Partition of India in 1947. Khukrains are now settled not only in large concentrations in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana but also spread the world over. Their mother tongue is Punjabi.

Khukhrains in other religions

Sikh Khukhrain

Among the Khatri castes, the Khukhrain were one of the foremost followers of the Sikh Gurus and traditionally brought up one son as a Keshdhari Sikh^{[citation needed]}. This is evident from the large number of Khukhrain surnames among Khatri Sikhs.

A predominant section of the Hindu Khukrains, continue to follow dual religious traditions of both Sikh as well as Arya Samaj. This has been in spite of the religo-political competitive zeal of both the Arya Samaj and Tat Khalsa effort at creating purified identities.

Intermarriage between Khatri as well as Khukrain Sikhs and Hindus are common. The dual religious Hindu and Sikh identity and Khukhrain biraadri identity comfortably coexists.

Muslim Khukhrain

Most Khukhrains are Hindu or Sikh. Some are Muslim. Khukhrains of all these faiths collectively form one community. In Pakistan, there continues to be a large number of Muslim Khukhrains living in the eastern Punjab area. The Pakistani Journalist Najam Sethi is one such example. Some scholars such as Muhammad Ikrām Chutai believe that a number of Khukhrain were converted to Islam by the Sufi Baba Farid ^[23]

Places in Punjab and Afghanistan

Various contemporary and historical places in the Punjab and Afghanistan corresponding to traditional areas associated with Khukhrain or Khokhar bear the name or variants of Khokharain or Kokrana.

Afghanistan

• Khokharan in Afghanistan.

“

Eight or ten miles west of Qandhar lies the village of Khokharan. The Kabits of the bards record a Raja named Kokra of Garh Kokarana, now called Kadyana [24]

”

Pakistan

1. Kohlian da Mohallah (Mohallah Kolianwala), Bhera, Pakistan
2. Sethian da Mohallah (Mohallah Sethianwala), Bhera, Pakistan
3. Sahanian da Mohallah (Mohallah Sahanianwala), Bhera, Pakistan
4. Basti Khokharain, Mainwali, Punjab, Pakistan, also known as Shampur Khokharan
5. Pindi Khokharain, SIALKOT Punjab, Pakistan
6. Dhok Khokhran, Pakistan
7. Pipli Khokhran, Dipalpur, Pakistan
8. Bhagwala Khokharan (Gujar Khan)
9. Jhangh Khokharan (Gujar Khan)
10. Kathala Khokhran, Sahiwal, Pakistan
11. Thatta Khokhran, Pakistan
12. Mari Khokharain, Gujarat District
13. Mohalla Khukhrain, Khanpur, Dist. Rahim Yaar Khan,
14. Khokharain Wala, outside Dehli Gate Multan
15. Khokharain, Bahawalnager Qalandar Pufr. Punjab, Pakistan
16. Khokhar Agar Khan, Jhelum, Punjab. Pakistan
17. Rhang khokhran (Sialkot)

India

1. Kohlian, Dinanagar,Gurdaspur, Punjab
2. Kotli Khokhran (Gujrat) ^[25]
3. Shampur Khokharan (Gujrat)
4. Khokhrain in Hoshiarpur Punjab India
5. Khokharain in Kapurthala Punjab India
6. Rindheer Khokharain, Gujrat

Contemporary

Khukhrains Hindu or Sikhs are by and large an urbanised highly educated and economically well off community. Khukhrains in India and Pakistan have excelled in almost all spheres including business, politics, arts, military, and in the field of sciences as well as in the Judiciary and law.

Famous Khukhrain personalities include:

Dr. Manmohan Singh with Former President of the United States George W. Bush

• Dr Manmohan Singh (Kohli clan) -Prime Minister of India.
• Admiral S.N Kohli, ex Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy
• Dewam Ram Dayal Kohli, General of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army^[26]

Kedar Nath Sahani, Ex-Mayor of Delhi, Ex-CEC of Delhi, Ex- Governor of Sikkim & Goa.

• Yogesh Kumar Sabharwal, former Chief Justice of India
• Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, former Chief Justice of India
• Ruchi Ram Sahni, pioneer of science popularisation in Punjab
• Wg.Cdr. R. C. Kohli (retd) VrC, war hero and Vir Chakra gallantry awarded in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, of the 5-Squadron and former commander of Rajajhansi Airbase.
• Natasha Suri, Miss India World 2006
• Mulk Raj Anand, English writer, most famous for the novels "Untouchable" and "Coolie")
• Dev Anand, one of the most famous Bollywood actors of all time.
• Narinder Kohli, Hindi writer famous for "Abhigyan" and "Krish.Katha;"
• Bhisham Sahni, Hindi movie writer and recipient of the Sahitya Academy Award and the Padmashri. His works include "Amritsar Aa Gaya" and "Tamas." Brother of Balraj Sahni.
• Balraj Sahni, Stage and film actor, brother of Bhisham Sahni
• Gurinder Chadha, UK-based film-maker whose oeuvre includes "Bend it like Beckham" and "Bride and Prejudice"
• Dayaram Sahni, ASI's first Indian Director-General who discovered Harappa
• Dhanchand Kohli: Historical architect who rebuilt the eight Gates of the city of Bhera.
• Capt. Rondev Kohli, (Lifetime Achievement Award) earlier Master of the Company of Master Mariners of India, MD/Chairman of Mogul Lines Ltd., Managing Director of the Scindia Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., ED of Shipping Corporation of India and one of founding members of SCI, President of INSA (Indian National Shipowners Association 1985-87).
• Sohan Lal Suri (Maharaja Ranjit Singhs Court Historian), 'Umdat ut-Twarikh
• Gurbux Singh Kohli, Olympic gold medallist in field hockey 1964, Captain of Indian Hockey team
• Geet Sethi: He is a six-time winner of the professional-level and a three-time winner of the amateur World Championships, and holder of two world records, in English billiards.
• Madan Mohan (director): one of the most respected Hindi film composers belonged to Kohli clan, full name Madan mohan Kohli.
• Hardeep Singh Kohli is a writer, comedian and presenter in the United Kingdom.
• Raj Kumar Kohli: Hindi film producer
• Kunal Kohli: Hindi film maker and critic
• Smiley Suri, Indian Actress
• Mohit Suri, Indian Film Director
• Sanjay Suri, Actor
• Rosy Suri, Indian Fashion Designer
• Vishal Anand, Bollywood Actor
• Chetan Anand, Bollywood Actor
• P. G. "Biloo" Sethi,Golfer
• Najam Sethi, editor of the Friday Times, Lahore, Pakistan
• Lalit Suri (1947–2006), Indian politician and a member (1992,2002) of the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of India's Parliament).
• Manil Suri (b. 1959), Indian-American mathematician and writer
• Birbal Sahni, renowned botanist
• Parmeet Sethi,Indian actor
• Parikshit Sahni, Bollywood Actor
• Mulk Raj Chadha A Retired Principal, Awarded with National Award for teachers for spreading School Education in rural areas Dist Hazaribag of Bihar (Now Jharkhand)

See also

• Ref 1 from Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province By H.A. Rose
• Ref 2 from Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province by H.A. Rose
• Caste
• Forward Caste
• Hinduism in Punjab
• Khatri
• Jat
• Rajput

References

1. ^ M.A. Sherring, Hindu Castes and Tribes as represented in Banares, 1872.
2. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West provinces, compiled by H A Rose Page 509 Vol 11
3. ^ ^{a b} The Punjab Past and Present By Punjabi University Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies Published by Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University., 1981
4. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West provinces, compiled by H A Rose, vol II
5. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West provinces, compiled by H A Rose, vol II Page 123
6. ^ http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V22_219.gif Imperial Gazetteer of India v22 page 214
7. ^ http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V22_219.gif Imperial Gazetteer of India v22 page 214
8. ^ The Punjab Chiefs " by authors W.L.Conran and H.D Craik and published by Sang-E-Meel publications of Lahore Pakistan Page 197
9. ^ Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (1977). Ancient India, Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 81-208-0436-8
10. ^ The Shah-Namah of Fardusi translation by Alexander Rogers LPP Publication Page 370
11. ^ The Panjab Past and Present By Punjabi University Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies Published by Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University, 1981 Page 195]
12. ^ [(The Panjab Past and Present By Punjabi University Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies Published by Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University., 1981 PAGE 200)
13. ^ [The Panjab Past and Present By Punjabi University Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies Published by Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University., 1981 page 200
14. ^ The Punjab Past and Present By Punjabi University Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies Published by Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University, 1981 Page 200)
15. ^ The Punjab Past and Present By Punjabi University Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies Published by Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University., 1981 Page 205)
16. ^ History of the rise of the Mahmomedan Power in India by John Briggs, Translated from the original Persian of Mohomed Kasim Ferishta Vol Page 22
17. ^ The Panjab Past and Present By Punjabi University Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies Published by Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University., 1981 Page 195]
18. ^ The Panjab Past and Present By Punjabi University Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies Published by Dept. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University., 1981 page 201}
19. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West provinces, compiled by H A Rose, Vol II Page 513
20. ^ Britannica: A New Survey of Universal Knowledge by Walter Yust Published by Encyclopedia Britannica, 1952 Page 980
21. ^ The Punjab Chiefs W L Conran and H D Craik, Sang-e-Meel Preface to the Original Edition
22. ^ The Panjab chiefs : historical and biographical notices of the principal families in the Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions of the Panjab by Lepel Henry Griffin, Sir; Charles Francis Massy.
23. ^ Babaji: Life and Teachings of Farid-ud Din Ganj-i Shakar By Muhammad Ikrām Chutai Page 433 Published by Sang-e-Meel Publications, 2006
24. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West provinces, compiled by H A Rose, vol II Page 541
25. ^ "Kotli Khokhran Map | Pakistan Google Satellite Maps". Maplandia.com. http://www.maplandia.com/pakistan/punjab/gujarat/kotli-khokhran/. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 
26. ^ Miracles of Ardaas:Author-M.S.Kohli:Page-28