Gandhar (clan)

Gandhar or Gandhara (Urdu: گندھار) is a "gotra" or tribe of Jats found in the states of Haryana and Punjab in India as well as the province of Punjab in Pakistan. During the Mahabharata period, the present-day Kandahar province of Afghanistan used to be known as Gandhar.Some Brahmins also use the surname.

Etymology

The clan takes its name from the ancient Gandhara kingdom of the Mahabharata (the modern-day province of Kandahar in Afghanistan).

The third note in the Indian Classical music system is also called as Gandhar.

Origin

During the Mahabharata period, the present-day "Kandahar" province of Afghanistan used to be known as "Gandhar". Gandhara, the son of Arh, founded the city of Gandhar (the modern-day city of Kandahar) and made it his capital. The princess of Gandhara, Gandhari was married to Dhritarashtra and was the mother of the Kauravas. The descendants of Gandhar rulers are known as Gandhars.

The ruins of the Gandhara kingdom can be found throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Nowshera in the North West Frontier Province in Pakistan, there is even a barren area called the "Gandhara Mound".

Related clans

Gaindhu, Gandhi, Gaindha, Gaindhal, Gaindhar and Gaindhrawal are gotras related to the Gandhara gotra.

Geographic distribution

Uttar Pradesh

The Gandhar Jats are found in the village of "Raghunathpur" in the "Bisauli" tehsil in the Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh.

The Punjab region

Jats belonging to gotras related to the Gandhar gotra are found in Punjab (India) as well as Punjab (Pakistan).

Religion

Most Gandhar Jats are Hindus.

The Gaindhu, Gaindha, Gaindhal and Gandhar gotras are also found amongst the Muslim Jats of Punjab (Pakistan). All of them trace their origin to Kandahar.

In the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, there are some Hindu Jats belonging to the Gaindhar gotra.

Among Sikh Jats, the major gotras are Gaindhrawal, Gandhi or Gaindhar.

References

*Ram Swaroop Joon: History of Jats, India
*Jat Samaj: Agra November 1999