| Revision as of 16:27, 16 May 2012 editSitush (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers260,192 edits →Conversion to Islam: ditto: we need to source much better than this← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:27, 16 May 2012 edit undoSitush (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers260,192 edits →Genealogical records and clan histories of the Gakhars at Pehowa and Kankhal: rm: unsourced since pre-October 2011Next edit → | ||
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| While a significantly large majority of Gakkhars did convert to Islam from Hinduism, during the medieval period many Gakhar Hindus did not convert and continued to live in their traditional homelands of Jhelum, Kashmir, and West Punjab (which now falls in the Pakistan Punjab).{{cn}} | While a significantly large majority of Gakkhars did convert to Islam from Hinduism, during the medieval period many Gakhar Hindus did not convert and continued to live in their traditional homelands of Jhelum, Kashmir, and West Punjab (which now falls in the Pakistan Punjab).{{cn}} | ||
| ==Genealogical records and clan histories of the Gakhars at Pehowa and Kankhal == | |||
| The pandas or record keeping ]s of the Gakhars are located in ] near ] and ] near ], both places in India, which are visited for spiritual reasons as well as to complete religious ceremonies after death. These are primary sources for the clan histories of the Gakhars. Often these Pandas are able to shed considerable light on Muslim clans as well converted from Hindus.{{cn|date=October 2011}} | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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Gakhars (also Gakkhar or Ghakhar or Ghakkar) are a Punjabi community living in India with an ancient recorded history, originally belonging to the areas of West Punjab which now fall in the territory of Pakistan. Gakhars are found among Hindus and Sikhs in India and also among Muslims, and a large section of Muslim Gakhars are settled in Pakistan.
The Gakhars are an ancient tribe settled in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, Kashmir, and Khanpur regions in modern day Pakistan and India.
Before the independence of Pakistan, the Gakhar Hindus shared their ancestral homes with the rest of the tribe. After independence the Gakhar Hindus moved to India and they now live in various parts of north India.
Conversion to Islam
After the arrival of Islam into the South Asia a predominant section of Gakhars converted to Islam. The Muslim Gakhars in Pakistan are a prominent community in that country.
Hindu Marriage customs are recorded prevalent among Muslim Gakhars as late as the 18th century in the district gazetteer of Rawalpindi
old religious customs, obviously of Hindu origin are still observed by the Gakhars, or were until within a very short period, such as customs at marriage of lawa-pherna and Khari par baithana, and the Kazi and the Brahman are both present on such occasions. Further it is curious that their headmen always call themselves Raja and not by any other distinctively Musalman title. The name Gakhar too , seems to partake more of a Hindu than of Persian or Arabic form".
According to S A A Rizvi
the motives of Muizzuudin's conquests were no different from those of Mahmud of Ghazni. Both were in need of plunder from India to maintain their slave armies and to attract the wandering bands of Islamicized mercenaries known as "ghazis" to their forces. The Islamicization of India was not their main objective, although some tribal leaders such as the Gakkhars were encouraged to embrace Islam".
While a significantly large majority of Gakkhars did convert to Islam from Hinduism, during the medieval period many Gakhar Hindus did not convert and continued to live in their traditional homelands of Jhelum, Kashmir, and West Punjab (which now falls in the Pakistan Punjab).
See also
References
- Gazetteer of the Rawalpindi District 1893-94, Punjab Government, 2001 Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore. Page 114
- The wonder that was India II on page 22. Picador