Qaimkhani

Qaim Khani or Kaim Khani (Urdu: قائم خانى ) is a Muslim community in Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan. A number of them also reside in rural areas of Rajasthan , Haryana , Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in India. As a Muslim community they migrated from the northern region of Rajasthan in India to Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan over the centuries. Qaimkhanis migrated en masse to Pakistan after the independence in 1947. Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Umar Kot, Tando Allahyar , Larkana , Nawabshah , Naushahro , Multan , Bahawalpur and Mithankot all have large Qaim-Khani communities. Within India , the ditricts of Churu , Jhunjhunun , Sikar , Alwar , Jaipur ,Bharatpur , Bikaner , Ganganagar in Rajasthan , and Bhiwani , Mahendragarh and Hisar in Haryana have large Qaim-Khani populations.

According to legends, they had embraced Islam nearly 600 years ago, and are still considered by many to be close to Rajputs. They are the descendants of Khan-e Jehan Nawab Qaim Khan Shaheed who was the son of Raja Motay Rai Chauhan, the ruler of Dorayra or Dadrewa (presently situated in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan). The first progenitor of Qaimkhanis was Karamchand born in the family of Moterao of Chauhan clan, the ruler of Dadrewa. ["Muhnot nainsi ki khyat" part-1 page 99] Firuz Shah Tughluq converted him to Islam and named him Qaimkhan. [Dr Dasharatha Sharma: Qaimkhan Raso, page-1 ] Thus his descendants were called Qaimkhani. [Jhabarmal Sharma: Maru Bharat 1/3, page 5] He embraced Islam along with his brothers, Nawab Zainuddin Khan and Nawab Jabaruddin Khan, in the times of Sultan Feroz Shah (born in 1310 AD & crowned in 1351 AD). Descendents of Nawab Zainuddin Khan and Nawab Jabaruddin Khan are also 'Qaim Khanis'.

Qaim Khan

Nawab Qaim Khan (Urdu: نواب قائم خان ) was an Ameer of the Delhi Sultanate. Tuzk-e-Mehboobia of Sultan-e-Deccan Mir Mehboob Ali Khan mentions::"Nawab Qaim Khan embraced Islam in 754 Hijra. In 760 Hijra, Sultan Feroz Shah appointed him the Governor of Hisar Ferozah with the title of Khan-e-Jehan". [Tuzk-e-Mehboobia, Volume II, Page No.189]

Nawab Qaim Khan continued as the Governor of Hisar in the times of Sultan Mehmood Shah Tughlaq and Khizar Khan. Khizar defeated Daulat Khan Lodhi and imprisoned him under Nawab Qaim Khan at Hisar Ferozah. (It is the same Daulat Khan Lodhi who was at the helms of the Delhi Sultanate for one year and three months).

Khizar Khan then developed differences with Nawab Qaim Khan. Khizar Khan was on a military campaign when he received the information that Ameers Qaim Khan, Ikhtiar Khan, and all remnants belonging to the household of Sultan Mehmood Shah Tughlaq were planning to dethrone him. Khizar Khan left the campaign and while going back to Delhi, invited with deceit Nawab Qaim Khan and others at a meeting held at the banks of Jumna and murdered them all on 20th Jamadi-ul-Awal, 822 Hijra, [Tarikh-e-Hindustan, Volume II by Maulvi Zaka-ullah Delhvi. Pages 294, 297 & 302.]

Tareekh-e-Farishta and Tarik-e-Tabqat-e-Akbari also corroborate this incident. It appears that Nawab's body was then thrown in the river Jumna as his burial place is not given in the history books.

Ancestry

Nawab Qaim Khan had two brothers Nawab Zainudin Khan Nawab Jabeerudin Khan and six sons, named Muhammad Khan, Taj Khan, Quttab Khan, Mohan Khan, Ikhtiar Khan, and Wahid Khan. During the life of the Nawab, Muhammad Khan lived in Hisar while Taj Khan and Quttub Khan ruled Tussam in Punjab. Mohan Khan and Ikhtiar Khan were the rulers of Fatehabad and Dhosi.

After the death of their father at the hands of Khizar Khan, they dispersed and chose to avoid confrontation with Hakim-e-Delhi. Taj Khan was the eldest son of Nawab Qaim Khan and was made the Nawab of Hisar. He ruled Hisar from 1420 - 1446 AD. After death of Taj Khan his eldest son Fateh Khan was made Nawab of Hisar but Bahlol Lodi expelled Fatehkhan from Hisar. Taj Khan's brother, Muhammad Khan was made Nawab of Hansi but he was also expelled. Both these brothers came to Shekhawati area of Rajasthan and established here two states and became Nawabs. These states were Fatehpur and Jhunjhunu. [Sahi Ram: Ek adhuri kranti, page 4-5] Nawab Zainudin Khan & Nawab Jabeerudin Khan founded the states of Narhar, Barwasi, Jharo Dapti, and Kayad.

Professions

The prominent historical profession of the Qaimkhanis being Rajputs is Soldiery. Many Qaimkhanis served in Mughal, Deccan, and English Armies.However the new generations are adopting modern professions including medicine, engeenering, aviation, agriculture, banking, insurance, architecture, etc. Even today, Muslim Rajputs such as Qaimkhanis and Meos have a significant representation in both the Indian and Pakistani Defence Forces and Police Forces.

Under the guidance of H.E. Rashid Ali Khan who continues the work of the Development project which had been set up by his grandfather Late Prince Nawab Mohammed Bakhtawar Khan Kaim Khani back in India to assist communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in India, sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. The Network focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution building and the promotion of economic development. The project is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender. Its obtaining recognition from the International community for the very good work that it represents. Rashid and his younger brother Adam Khan Kaim Khani has also set up a project for Culture and History, which many cultural events have taken place globally which include the Kaim Khani Polo Cup in which many high profile international figures are patron, for which Rashid & Adam attend Tidworth, UK annually. Today the Indian Cavalry Association Polo (ICOA) Trophy is played for annually at Tidworth UK on Rundle Cup day, the ICOA trophy is modeled around a Kaim Khani soldier - and in 2003 the ICOA kaim Khani trophy was presented to HRH Prince Harry and HRH Prince William on Rundle Cup Day, http://archive.salisburyjournal.co.uk/2003/7/17/150498.html

Current settlements

In India , Qaimkhanis are mostly settled in rural areas of Rajasthan and haryana. In Pakistan , they are mainly settled in urban and semi-urban araes of Sindh and Punjab , like fellow Muhajirs.

* Karachi
* Hyderabad
* Tando Allah Yar
* Mirpurkhas
* Tando Jan Muhammad
* Kot Ghulam Mohammad,
* Samaro,
* Noukot,
* Umerkot,
* Khipro,
* Hathungo,
* Tharparkar
* Multan
* Sahiwal
* Okara
* Lahore
* Sheikhupura. [ [http://www.kaimkhani.com Kaimkhani.com] ]

Prominent Kaim Khani's

*Muhammad Irshad Khan Qaim Khani (Late) Ambesidor of Qaim Khanies in Saudi Arabia
*Maj. Gen (Retired)Bashir Khan (Former Federal Minister for Production) - Government of Pakistan) - [Ex Chairman Pakistan Red crescent Society
*General (Retired) Yousuf - Vice Chief of Pakistan Army
*Maj. Gen (Retired) Sikander Hayat - Former Chairman of Pakistan Steel mill
*H. E. Prince Mohammed Bakhtawar Khan (Late) - Prominent Entrepreneur, Major Landlord Hyderabad (India) & phi'lanthropist
*H. E. Mumtaz Ali Khan (Late) - (Son of Mohammed Bakhtawar khan) - First Muslim kaimkhani MNA Hyderabad, Deccan, India
*H. E. Mohammed Ishaq Ali Khan - (Son of Mohammed Bakhtawar khan) - First Kaim Khani to settle UK - Lawyer / Prominent Business Person
*H. E. Fathyab Ali khan - (Son of Mohammed Bakhtawar Khan) - Lawyer, most Prominent-popular political leader & Chairman Pakistan Institute of International affairs
*H. E. Rashid Ali Khan - (Son of Mohammed Ishaq Ali Khan) - Entrepreneur and MD of RAK Aerosystems
*H. E. Adam Yusuf Khan - (son of Mohammed Ishaq Ali Khan) - Entrepreneur and owner of British based media / electronic companies
*Rubina Saadat Qaim Khani - [M.N.A Member Of National Assembly]
*Shabbir Qaim Khani - ex Minister Of Excise & Taxtation [Member Of Provincial Assembly]
*Anees Ahmed Qaim Khani [Ex-Member Coordination Committee MQM]
*Capt.(Retired) Asad Ali Khan QaimKhani (ADC to CinC Field Marshal Ayub Khan)
*Maj.General Muhammad Mustafa Khan -Present Deputy Director General ISI of Pakistan Army
*Abdul Rahman Khan , Former Director-General of Rajasthan Police , 1974-79.

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References