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Revision as of 12:59, 26 December 2006
Shaikh (Arabic: شيخ ), meaning elder of a tribe, lord, revered old man, or Islamic scholar. In South Asia, it signifies Arab ancestry. From the beginning of Muslim rule in South Asia in 713 AD, the Arab technocrats, bureaucrats, soldiers, traders, scientists, architects, teachers, theologians and sufis flocked from the rest of the Muslim world to Islamic Sultanate in South Asia and settled permanently.
In South Asia, after the advent of Islam, many high caste Hindus (Brahman or Khatri) converted to Islam and adopted this title. Many of the Punjabi Shaikhs families were converted from Khatri tribe. Kashmiri Shaikhs residing in the Punjab also converted from Brahman class. Punjabi Shaikhs are mostly urban and non agriculturist. Their main professions are business and public service.
Before the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Khatris were living in all the districts of Punjab. Most of them were concentrated in the western districts. The people of the Punjab started converting to Islam in 11th century. In the western districts conversion was almost universal. People from all classes; Rajputs, Jats, Gujjars, Arains, Gakhars, etc; embraced Islam in large numbers. In districts east of Sutlej River (now in Punjab) conversion was limited. Large numbers of Khatris remained Hindu. In 1947 almost all Punjabi Shaikhs moved to Pakistan.
Khawaja Shaikh
Khatris after accepting Islam adopted Shaikh as title and it is generally assumed to belong to Muslim trading families. Although large number of them were employed in government services.
When Khatri traders from the western districts of the Punjab; Sargodha, Jhang, Jehlum, Chakwal, Faisalabad; accepted Islam called themselves Khawaja and adopted Shaikh as title. They are also called Khawaja Shaikh. Some of them adopted Mian as title. In recent years traders from a small town of Chiniot of district Jhang became prominent due to their contribution in the industries of Pakistan. These traders are known as Chiniotis or Chinioti Shaikhs.
Famous trading family Sahgals, Sahgal Khatris of Chakwal, are known as Punjabi Shaikh instead of Khawaja Shaikh. They use Mian as title.
Qanungo Shaikh
Qanungo Shaikhs are Muslim Khatris. They belonged to all the districts of the Punjab. They are descendant of Khatri families who were holding hereditary office of ‘’Qanungo’’ (‘’Law givers’’) during the Muslim Period.
This designation was used in the Punjab and other provinces of India and Pakistan for hereditary registrar of landed property in a subdivision of a district. In Mughal times most of these offices were held by Khatris. When these families converted to Islam, they called themselves Qanungo Shaikh.
Delhi Punjabi Sodagran
Delhi Punjabi Sodagran are descendant of Muslim Khatri traders who settled in the old city of Delhi. The date of settlement in Delhi is not certain. They use Shaikh as title. After creation of Pakistan in 1947, a large number of these traders migrated to Karachi. Some still live in Delhi Death no leveller in Capital cemetery.
Other Shaikhs
Kashmiri Shaikhs is another community living in different districts of the Punjab. They emigrated from Kashmir during 19th & 20th century. Allama Shaikh Muhammad Iqbal belonged to this group. His grandfather Shaikh Rafiq migrated to Sialkot in early 19th century.
Kakkezai traders, who claim descent from Afghan of Seistan are residing in almost all the districts of the Punjab. They also use Shaikh as title. Ghulam Muhammad, the 3rd Governor General of Pakistan belonged to this community.
Historical background
Vedic Period
All the indigenous Punjabi Shaikhs are descendants of converted Khatris. The ancestors of present day Khatris were Kshatriyas of antiquity. Kshatriya was one of the Varnas (casts or classes) of Aryan social system. This class was responsible for ruling and defending the people.
The present day Khatri families are not homogeneous racially, nor all of them are descendents of Kashatriya of Vedic Period (1700 - 1000 BC). The Punjab being the gateway of the Subcontinent of India-Pakistan had absorbed wave after wave of new races from the north west.
The original Kashatriya families of Vedic Period came from two different backgrounds. First group of families were Aryans. They were successors of conquering families under whose leadership the Aryans secured their new homes in the Punjab and rest of the South Asia.
The second group of families were indigenous. The Indus Valley Civilization was the first civilization of the South Asia flourished in the present day Pakistan and West India from 2800 - 1800 BC. This civilization began to decline and its major cities Harappa and Mohen-jo-daro were abandoned much before the arrival of Aryans in around 1700 BC.
The people of IVC were absorbed in Aryan social system and were not evaporated in air. The indigenous people who maintained their independence against incoming newcomers were accepted in Aryan social orders in equal terms. Leading families of these indigenous people who successfully resisted Aryans may become Kashatriya of the Vedic Period
Invasions of Turko-Iranian People
From 2nd century BC to 5th century AD Pakistan and West India came under continuous invasions of different Iranian peoples; Bactrians, Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, and Huns. These non Aryans conquerors from north west were accommodated in Aryan social system . "... By adopting orthodox way of life and performing appropriate penitential sacrifices " they were granted Kashatriya status.
During those centuries ethnic composition of the Punjab remained in flex. By 7th century it was stabilized. Rajputs, Jats, and Gujjars, never heard before became integral part of the population. With the introduction of the Iranian peoples a physical feature became predominated which resemble to Iranian or other Caucasoid races to the west. This made people of Pakistan and West India distinct from the rest of the South Asia . These Caucasoid physical features are more prominent in Shaikh and Khatris of present time.
Rajput Period
During Rajput Period (647 - 1021 AD) Khatris role changed. They lost their political power to emerging order of Rajput. Being literate, proud, and well versed in statecraft, beside involved in to administrative role in government, Khatris channeled their skills into commerce and trade.
Muslim Period
During Muslim Period (1021-1752 AD) although rulers were foreign Muslims, local administration and revenue collection remained in the hands of local Muslims and Hindus. One of the offices called Qanungo was mostly held by Khatris. Many of these Qanungo Khatris embraced Islam. Their descended are now called Qanungo Shaikhs. By the time Mughals lost control of the Punjab to Afghans in 1752 AD, Khawaja Shaikhs had became the backbone of the economy of the Punjabi towns.
Family names of Shaikhs and division of Khatris
Sahgal (Saigol), Sethi, Chaddha, Wadhaun, Vohra, Duggal, Talwar, Jirath, Suri, Mehndru, Churra, Maghoon, Puri, Gadhiok, are some of the common family (or gotra) names of Punjabi Shaikhs. These are all Khatri sections. Khatri families were divided into three major groups; Bawanji, Baraghar and Sarin.
The Emperor Akbar's close adviser Abu Fazel noted these divisions and reported in his book Ain-i-Akbari (compiled in 1590 AD):
" there are 500 tribes of these Kshatriya, of whom 52 (Bawanjai) are pre-eminently distinguished and 12 (Baraghar) are considerable importance"
He also wrote that "Some of their descendants abandoning the profession of arm and have taken other occupations"
These groupings is said to be happened at the time of Ala-uddin Khilji (1296-1315 AD) when he tried to impose widow-marriage upon Khatris. They sent a deputation of 52 to oppose this court order. Sarin accepted court orders, while Bawanjai did not. Khokhran, a sub group of Bawanjai are descended of those opposed and joined Khokhars in rebellion.
The Baraghar are Kapur, Khanna, Malhotra, Kakar, Chopra, Talwar, Sahgal, Dhawan, Wadhaun, Tannan, Vohra and Maindharu.
Bawanjai consisted of many sections. One of the sub group mentioned above consists of 8 sections; Anand, Bhasin, Chadda, Sahni, Suri, Sethi, Kohli and Sabbarwal; is indigenous to Rawalpindi Division is known as Khokhran or Kukhran. Sarin division beside a large number of sections consists of four section of Sikh gurus; Bedi, Sodhi, Trihun and Bhalla.
Punjabi Shaikhs in the present era
The British Raj (1848 - 1947 AD) offered lot of opportunities in education and businesses for the people of the Punjab. Majority of the people were involved in cultivations. Shaikhs and Khatris who were non agriculturists availed these opportunities. The establishment of new system of education and development of communications ; roads, railways, and telegraphs; stimulated large number of Shaikhs and Khatris for progress. Those who were involved in trade expanded their activities beyond Punjab and established their businesses as far as Kolkatta and Burma. Initially their activities were restricted to trading later they established manufacturing industries.
After partition of India in 1947 almost all Punjabi Shaikhs moved to Pakistan. Presently, beside Saigols and Chinioties, Shaikh traders are involved in all kind of businesses in small and large towns of the Punjab and other cities of Pakistan.
Those who joined government services during 19th century, provided high education to their children. They are now most successful community of the Punjab and represented heavily in the public service, in professions like doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
Distinguished Punjabi Shaikhs
- Wasim Sajjad, Chairman of Senate and 2 time Acting President of Pakistan. A Qanungo Shaikh from Jalandhar.
- Najam Sethi, Chief Editor of Weekly "The Friday Times".
- Mian Rafiq Saigol, Ex Chairman of Pakistan International Airline.
- Mian Mohammad Mansha; Chairman of Nishat Group, largest industrial & financial conglomerate of Pakistan.
- Aftab Ahmed Vohra, Chief Executive of Vohra Group of Industries
- Amin Saigol, founder of House of Saigols.
- Shaikh Maula Baksh, founder of Ismael Maula Baksh Industrial Group.
- Sir Muhammad Iqbal, National Poet of Pakistan, Poet of East. A Kashmeri Sheikh from Sialkot.
References
- D. Ibbetson, E.MacLagan, H.A. Rose, " A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North West Frontier Province", 1911, pp 502 Vol II
- Wendy Doniger, tr. "The Law of Manu", (Penguin Books, 1991 ) Verses 43-44, Chapter 10.
- A.L. Basham " The Wonder That Was India", ( Sidgwick & Jackson, 1967)
- D. Ibbetson, E.MacLagan, H.A. Rose, pp 58, Vol I
- Abu Fazal, "Ain-i-Akbari", translated by H.Blocmann & H.S. Jarrett, (Calcutta, 1873-94) 3 Vols., a gazetteer of the Mughal Empire compiled in 1590 AD.
- D. Ibbetson, E.MacLagan, H.A. Rose, pp 513-514 Vol II
See also
- Shaikh
- Shaikhs in South Asia
- Khatri
- Kukhran
- Punjabi Muslim tribes from Hindu Lineage
- Hindu and Buddhist heritage of Pakistan