Khetran

The Khetran (Urdu: کھیتران ) is a Baloch tribe in Balochistan, Pakistan of Rind (tribe) origin. There is a conflict whether they were a part of Marri tribe and then broke away into seprate existance because their ruling cast Mazrani shares the name with one of Marri subcasts. Their first language is the Khetrani language which remains limited only to their tribe. The have very good relations with the Bugtis and prefer their marriages with them. Sardar Mir Ba'az Khetran's aunt (Father's Brother's Wife) is sister of Nawab Akbar Bugti. Nawab Akbar Bugti's mother was herself Khetran and he himself was born in Barkhan the hometown of Khetrans.

They are concentrated in Barkhan District of Balochistan around Barkhan city and Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab and in Seraiki speaking areas around Vehowa city.

History

According to oral tradition among Khetrans they took a guest in from the east during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, later it transpired that their guest was a convicted man in the Mughal Court. The Mughals asked for the man (known as Ram Sunara, "Sunara" means goldsmith) to be returned but the Khetrans refused as he was their guest and they had to provide him with protection. As a result Akbar sent an army to Vehowa to deal with the Khetrans. Khetrans lost thousands of lives in the conflict. Some of them fled to present day Barkhan District where they still live. The remains of some castles and a place known as "Ram Sunara Da Thala" still exists 10 km from Vehowa in another village known as Litra. This is the place where Ram Sunara was provided sanctuary.

In 1879, the Musa Khel and other Pashtun tribes of other Kakar or Tareen origin to the number 5,000 made demonstration against Vehowa .The town was reinforced and they dispersed.

Girazo Khan Khetran was succeeded by his son Bakhtiar Khan Khetran who was further succeeded by his son Sardar Haji Khan Khetran. Sardar Haji Khan Khetran was a strong ruler and the Khetrans prospered under him. His rule is memorable among Khetrans for a defeat he inflicted upon the Zhob Kakars. He also took revenge from the Marris by destroying the fort at Mawand of Karam Khan Bijrani Marri.

Sardar Haji Khan died leaving three sons, Umar Khan, Nawab Khan and Balu Khan. Yet he was succeeded by his brother Sardar Sayed Khan who was elected by the Khetrans. Sardar Sayed Khan died also leaving three sons Dost Muhammad, Sorni Khan and Kadir Baksh. He also was succeeded by his brother Babul Khan. Babul Khan however was opposed by Nawab Khan and Kadir Baksh. Kadir Baksh went to the Marris and gave his stepmother in marriage to the Marri chief Gazan Khan Marri. Gazan Khan Marri then led an army against Babul Khan. The Khetrans lost a lot of lives during this conflict.

In 1880, the Khetrans submitted a petition to the British authorities at Dera Ghazi Khan, offering to pay revenue and to be taken under British protection. The Khetrans country remained under the political control of the British authorities of Dera Ghazi Khan from 1878 to 1883. In 1883, Sardar Baluch Khan met Mr. Bruce, the Political Agent of Thaal Chotiali, with a Jirga of his tribesmen and the dispute between the Khetrans, Luni (tribe) and Marris was settled.

In 1884, the Khetrans came under the authority of the Agent to the Governor General in Balochistan. The Leghari Barkhan circle, comprising two valleys Barkhan and Vitakari] , was transferred from Punjab to Balochistan in 1884. This district was brought under the direct administration of Balochistan in 1887, when work on the construction of D.G Khan - Pishin Road was started and a Tehsildar was posted at Barkhan. In 1889, Barkhan tehsil was transferred to the Zhob Agency with headquarters at Loralai. This tehsil however was transferred again to Thal Chotaili Agency in 1892. In October, 1903, the Thal Chotaili and Zhob Agencies were remodelled and three new agencies; Sibi, Loralai and Zhob were created and the Barkhan Tehsil was transferred to the Loralai Agency.

In 1887, Sardar Mehrab Khan (born about 1853) succeeded his father Sardar Baluch Khan as Chief of the Khetrans. Owing to grave misconduct he was suspended as Sardar for two years and in the meantime his brother Barkhtiar Khan acted as Sardar. He was however restored to his former position after the two years had passed. Mehrab Khan was succeeded by his son Shah Ghazi Khan. Shah Ghazi Khan was a strong man. He used force in taking possession of agricultural lands belonging to other Khetrans. As a result, many leading Khetrans, including some Mazaranis, left Barkhan area as protest and went to Dera Ghazi Khan District in 1892. They however came back in 1933.

Shah Ghazi Khan died in 1942 and his elder son Muhammad Anwar Jan was made Sardar of the Khetrans. He was elected member of the Provincial Assembly in 1970.

Subcasts

Khetrans are usually divided into two types of subcasts. First is the cast due to their geographical region and second subcast is based on ancestral lineage.

The Khetrans situated in Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab are known as Dhara while the Khetrans situated in Barkhan District of Balochistan are commonly known as Ispani. The third is the mixture of the two known as Phaliat which litreally translates into "branches". These subcasts are not usually a part of name and are used for identification of region only.

Following are some major subcasts based on ancestral lineage and are usually a part of name of the Khetrans.

# Mazarani
# Mamani
# Waga
# Rotar
# Mahma
# Chacha
# Atlani
# Akwani or Akyani
# Gigarani or Gigyani
# Jamani or Jamyani
# Chambarani or Macharani
# Bigrani or Bigra

In case of two first is the Derajati or the pronunciation in Dera Ghazi Khan District while second in the pronunciation of Barkhan or the Balochi pronunciation.

Mazarani is the ruling cast of Khetrans which shares its name with subcast of Marri tribe giving rise to controversy that Khetrans may be a break away faction of Marri tribe.

Khetran-Bugti Relationships

Khetrans have very good relationships with the Bugtis. As mentioned before Sardar Mir Ba'az Khetran's aunt is Nawab Akbar Bugti's sister.

In 1845 under the command of Sir Charles James Napier 7,000 men attacked the Bugti's. Many Bugtis were killed in the clashes with the Britishers. Khetrans provided sanctuary to hundreds of Bugtis who took refuge in their lands. ["Political Lords Of Pakistan" by Aqeel Abass Jafari, Page 433-434]

In 1847 Sir William attacked Bugti's with full strength. This time Bugti's lost 500 fighting men and 120 got arrested. Marri's took the opportunity and attacked Bugtis and took over a large area of Bugti tribe. Bugtis heart broken by the two sided attacks went to the Khetran Sardar and asked for his help. Khetran Sardar promised Bugtis all the help they can give. Same year combined attack of Khetrans and Bugtis drove the Marris off, killing more than 70 of their men and took possession of their cattle. ["Political Lords Of Pakistan" by Aqeel Abass Jafari, Page 434.]

Struggle against British

Rumours of forced enrolment in army were spreading in the areas. Bijarani sect of Marri quickly established war parties. Sardar Masri Khan Mazarani Khan Khetran created his own war party. Both war parties of Khetrans and the Marris attacked Kohlu police station. After looting and then burning it down they attacked a post of Gumband Lavy and also raised it do the ground. All entry points towards the city of Kohlu were sealed off by these war parties. ["History of Balochistan" volume 2 page 394 by Gul Khan Nasrees.]

February 1918, Dera Ghazi Khan District was facing a threat of Khetran and Marri army. On 1^st of March Khar was attacked. Post office and a rest house was burned down. They also cleaned their hands on some weapons stored in post office. On 5^th March they looted the city of Barkhan where government treasury was kept. Khetran army gathered in Rakni and Bawoata and then attacked Border Military burning down three of their posts. On 15^th March Khetrans were seen along with Marris inside Fort Minro. That night government buildings and Bungalows were burnt down. ["War History of Dera Ghazi Khan District" page 8,9.]

Khetrans, Marris and Bugtis yearly did damage of 25,000 Rupees and of 25 lives. ["History of Balochistan" by Hattu Ram Summary by Saleem Akhtar page 80.]

Khetrans did not surrender easily to the Britishers, Sir Denzel Ibbetson acknowledges it in these words:

"Khetran is an independent Baloch tribe which is situated behind Leghari, Lund (tribe) and Khosas. Their original homeland is Vehowa" ["Punjab Castes" by Sir Denzel Ibbetson page 49.]

References

See also

* Balochistan
* Baloch
* Balochi
* Khetrani language
* Dera Ghazi Khan District
* Barkhan District
* Seraiki