Mekan (tribe)

rajput Clan: Maken
Distribution	Punjab (Pakistan)
Descended from:	Parmarrajput
Branches:	None
Religion	Islam, Hindu, Sikh
Languages	Punjabi and Seraiki
Surnames:	Maken, Sardar, Chaudhary,Mehar

The Maken are a Rajput clan found in Punjab, Pakistan.

History and origin

The word Maken came from urdu word مے کن mean Bar Keeper (شراب فروش). They claim descent from the Parmara Rajputs, and spring from the same ancestor as the Dhudhi tribe. The tribe claims to have settled in the Thal, after the end of Arab rule in Sindh. The Hindu king of Kanauj, a Parmar Rajput took possession of the region, and settled his kinsmen, the Maken. They ruled Mankera for five hundred years. Their conversion to the faith is recorded during the time of Ghias-ud-din Balban, courtesy of Baba Farid Ganj Shakr. Towards the end of the fifteenth century, the Baloch from Makran flocked into the country in and around Mankera, and subsequently ruled this state for the next three hundred years. ^[1].

Nature

They are courageous and prudent. They have a history of bravery and most of the Maken's ancestors were warlords. In the present pakistan's history they have been appointed on important Public positions and some are very famous politicians. Maken's are political rivals of Qureshi family in Sargodha district of Pakistan.

Distribution and Villages

The Maken are found mainly in Sargodha, Khushab, Jhelum, Gujrat, Vehari, Jhang, Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalnagar and Mandi Bahauddin districts. Their main villages in Sargodha District are Jalpana, Shahpur, Behak Maken, Sutanpur, Kot Bhai Khan, Kot Pehlwan, Aqal Shah, Sangoraka, Sultanpur bangla, Lalwala, Mochiwal, Kot Ahmed Khan, Kot Kamboh, Wadhi and Kot Shada. Their main village in Jhelum District is Chautala, in Gujrat District their main village is Mekan in Kharian Tehsil. In Mandi Bahauddin District, their main village is Mekan. In Chakwal District there are many Maken villages such as Thanil Kamal, Dingi Zer, Dhoke Dhabri, Dhoke Maken near Thoa Bahdur.

See also

• Tribes and clans of the Pothohar Plateau

References

1. ^ A Glossary of the tribes & castes of Punjab by H. A Rose