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| | colspan="3" bgcolor="chocolate" | <center><font size="+1">Khatris</font></center> | |||
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| | bgcolor="orange" | Caste: | |||
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| | bgcolor="orange" | Subdivisions: | |||
| | bgcolor="#ffde80" | Dhaighar, Charghar, Aathghar, Barahghar, Bawanghar, Sareen, Kukhran and the groups associated with the Sikh Gurus | |||
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| | bgcolor="orange" | Significant populations in: | |||
| | bgcolor="#ffde80" |], ], ], ], ] and other parts of ] | |||
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| | bgcolor="orange" | Language | |||
| | bgcolor="#ffde80" | ] and ] | |||
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| | bgcolor="orange" | Religion | |||
| | bgcolor="#ffde80" | ], ], ] | |||
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| ==Origins== | |||
| The Khatris are the original members of the ] caste (From Sanskrit क्षत्रिय '''''Kshatriya''''') and a community that originated in the Potwar Plateau of Punjab and were scattered in the northern areas of ], ] (in ancient times these areas were known as ] and ], very close in proximity to ]). These areas/regions are historically connected with the composition of the ] and classics like the ] and ]. The Kshatriya are members of the Hindu military order. The Kshatriya are members of the Hindu military order. As administrators, governors, landlords, and rulers, Kshatriya are assigned with protecting the Hindu ], and serving humanity. All Kshatriya/Khatris and ] are descendants of ] people originating in Central Asia (related to Iranian Aryan tribes of Persia/Iran). They migrated/invaded the Indian subcontinent around the year 3000-1500 B.C., often referred to as the ]). Khatris were for many centuries the only group that made up the government administration roles including the rulers, kings, landlords, and governors, as well as the civil administration officials. They are considered the aristocratic members of the Indian caste system. | |||
| When Pakistan and India gained independence, most of the Khatris in what became Pakistan migrated to India. Today Khatris live in all regions of India, but are concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. While most Khatris are Hindu, some are also Sikh and a small minority are Jain. Khatris of all these faiths collectively form one community. In modern times, the Khatri play a dominant role in the Indian economy, serving as businessmen, civil and government administrators, landlords, and military officials. | |||
| ===Common Family Names=== | |||
| Some Khatri family names include Anand,Arora, Awal, Badhwar, Bagga, Baijal, Bakshi, Bedi, Bhalla, Bhasin, Bhandari, Bindra, Chadha, Chandok, Chona, Chopra, Choudhary, Dhawan, Dua, Duggal, Dhupar, Dumra, Gadhiok, Ghai, Gandhi, Gosain Gujral, Handa, Jerath, Jairath, Jaggi, Kakkar, Kapoor (Kapur), Khanna, Khosla, Khullar, Kochhar, Kohli, Koshal, Lal, Lala, Lamba, Loomba, Madhok, Mahendru, Maini, Malhotra, Malik, Mankhand, Manraj, Mehra, Mehrotra, Mehta, Monga, Nair(Nayyar), Nayer, Nijhawan, Nikhanj, Oberoi, Ohri, Parwanda, Phull, Phul, Phool, Puri, Rai, Roshan, Sabharwal, Sablok, Saggar, Sahni, Sami, Sarin, Sehgal (Sahgal), Sekhri, Sethi, Seth, Sial (]), Sibal, Sikka, Sobti, Sodhi, Sondhi, Soni, Suri, Talwar, Tandan(Tandon), Tehim, Thapar, Trehan, Uppal, Vadehra, Vig. Vij, Vinaik, Vohra, Wadhawan, Wahi(Wahie) and Walia. | |||
| ==History of the Khatri Community== | |||
| ===Historical Background=== | |||
| ''See detailed article ].'' | |||
| For the most part, Khatris have been in the civil, governement, and military adminstrators roles for centuries. Some subgroups of Khatris have gone in the merchant business as traders, and have participated in trade well beyond India's borders, for many centuries from Burma to Russia. At one time, the Khatris controlled a significant share of the trade in the central asian region. The ] of ], Azerbaijan, supported for centuries by Khatri merchants flourished until the middle of 19th century. The ] built by the Khatris still exist. | |||
| Khatris continue to be the most educated group in modern Punjab. Their historical access to resources and education, has translated into wealth, influence and service to the society. | |||
| Many prominent historical figures have emerged from the Khatri. All ten Sikh Gurus were Khatri, belonging to the Bedi, Trehan, Bhalla and Sodhi subcastes. ] was a Tandon Khatri who codified the revenue collection system as Revenue Minister for Akbar. ] was a Puri Khatri whose martyrdom was celebrated on Basant Panchami in Lahore until independence. ], an Uppal Khatri, was a prominent general under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The father and son pair of the Diwans ] and Mul Raj Chopra were successive governors of Multan under Ranjit Singh. The former instituted vast improvement in agriculture, while the latter was instrumental in leading the revolt against the British to prevent the annexation of the Sikh kingdom into the East India Company territory. | |||
| ===Historical Mentions=== | |||
| Khatri ''gots'' are divided into three major groups; ''Baraghar'', ''Bawanji'', and ''Sarin''. These divisions were reported by Emperor Akbar's close adviser Abu Fazal in his book ''Ain-i-Akbari''(compiled in 1590 AD). These grouping is said to be happened at the time of Ala-uddin Khilji (1296-1316 AD). | |||
| ]]] | |||
| ] (b. AD 1551) in his "Varan Bhai Gurdas Ji", Vaar 8 - Pauri 10 (Khatri jatan) mentions: ''barahi, bavanjahi, Pavadhe, pachadhia, phalian, khokharainu, chaurotari and serin'' sections. | |||
| The family name mentioned above existed for long time. We know that four ''gots'' of Sikh gurus existed at least since 15th century AD.: | |||
| # Guru Nanak: ''Bedi'' | |||
| # Guru Angad: ''Trehan'' | |||
| # Guru Amardas: ''Bhalla'' | |||
| # All seven others: ''Sodhi'' | |||
| One of the most important character of famous Punjabi legend ''Raja Rasalu'' is minister ''Mahita Chopra''. Most scholars agree that Raja Rasalu ruled from Sialkot and lived sometime between 400 to 500 AD. If it is true then Chopra family name, a Baraghar Khatri, developed by that time. The actual timing of the development of other Khatri family names is an interesting subject and requires more reserach. | |||
| ===Khatris and Sun Worship=== | |||
| Raja Vanvihari Kapur has written that major Khatri clans are named after Lord Sun. The Sarasvat Brahmin clan of which some of these these were yajamanas are also metioned below. | |||
| * Mitra Mehra Priests: Jetali | |||
| * Kripakar Kapur Priests: Pambu | |||
| * Shankan Khanna Priests: Jhingana | |||
| * Martanada Tandan Priests: Jhingana | |||
| * Shreshtha Seth | |||
| * Dhavan Dhavan | |||
| * Mahendra Mahindru | |||
| * Bahukar Bahora (Vohra) | |||
| * Chakravali Chaupada (Chopra) | |||
| * Karalagni Kakkar Priests: Kumadiye | |||
| * Surya Suri | |||
| * Sahasrakar Sahgal Priests: Mohile | |||
| According to Bhavishya Purana, Punjab indeed was an ancient center of Sun worship. | |||
| ===Khatris and ]=== | |||
| As noted in the introduction, the mercantile communities were the socio-religious leaders in the Punjab. The Khatris were the patrons ('yajamansas' or in Punjabi 'jajmani') of the ]. Together the two communities represent the heritage of ancient Aryan center of NW India. The Saraswat Brahmins accept both Kachcha and Pakka food from the Khatris. | |||
| A few Nukhs (Sub-castes) of Kapoor, Malhotra/Mehra, Mago and Chopra are known as Arya Saraswat Rajanya and have close affiliation with the Sarasvata Brahmins. They include Kiri, Mer, Kandhrawara, Rupania and Thathagarh of Mehra/Malhotra, Rabara, Gila, Dariya and Medhiya of Kapoor and finally Chamriya, Kediya, Karchal, Sindhwar, Barbhaiya, Gaviya, Bobori and Kumkum of Chopra. They do not consume alcohol, meat and egg or fish. | |||
| See also ], a Brahmin clan associated with the Gurus. | |||
| ===Khatris and the Sikh Panth=== | |||
| A minority of the Khatris are Sikh. The Sikh panth is not caste based, still the Khatris played a major role in development of Sikhism as a gentle and inclusive faith. All the Sikh Gurus were Khatri. During the lifetime of the Gurus, most of their major supporters were Khatris. The Sikh institutions till the early 20th century were lead by Mahants (Masands) who were generally Khatri. Widespread abuses by the Masands, such as introduction of idols in Gurudwaras, led to agitation for reform by the reformist Singh Sabha resulting in formation of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee to oversee Sikh Gurudwaras. After the formation of the Khalsa (1699), and especially during the reign of Ranjit Singh, Hindu Khatri families raised at least one son (usually the oldest) as an Amritdhari Sikh. | |||
| ''See detailed article ]'' | |||
| ===Khatris and Jain Dharma=== | |||
| The number of khatris who are ] is very small. However One of the best known Jain munis in recent times, Acharya ] (also known as Shri Vijayanandsuri) (1841-1900) was a Kapur Khatri, born at Lahra, Firozepur. He was the first person to be raised to the rank of a Jain Acharya in the past 400 years in 1890. He was invited to visit the Congress of World Religions held in Chicago in 1893 A.D. The rules for Jain monks prevented him from going overseas, but he sent his lay disciple ], who is now considered to be the father of ]. | |||
| ===Khatris and Indian Culture=== | |||
| The Khatris were adversely impacted by the partition of India. It resulted in the loss of the traditional home regions of the Khatris. | |||
| Traditionally Khatris have been an orthodox community, although there is now significant exposure to modernity in some Khatri families. Even when they are modern, the Khatris have a great affinity with their traditions and values. | |||
| Khatris take pride in their Indian heritage and have contributed significantly to the Indian culture in terms of industry, commerce, administration, scholarship etc. | |||
| ===Khatris Organizations=== | |||
| The sessions of Akhil Bhartiya Khatri Mahasabha were held in Lucknow in 1916, 1936, 1952 and 1980. Lucknow Khatri Sabha was established in 1927 and publication Khatri Hitashi was started in 1936. | |||
| ==Divisions among the Khatris== | |||
| Within the Khatri clans there is a hierarchy too. The Dhai Ghar (i.e. 2 1/2 - the number 3 being considered unlucky) grouping comprising of Khanna, Kapur, and Mehra/Malhotra clans is not mentioned by the ancient authors (see above). Along with the Seth clan these four form the Char Ghar grouping. With the Chopra, Dhavan, Mahendru, Sahgal, Talwar, Tandon, Vohra and Wadhawan sub castes, all 12 form the barah-jati grouping. Another group is called Bavanjai (52). The Sarins, for some reason, are at the bottom of the pyramid. The historical reasons for these divisions need research. A regional clan grouping is the Kukhrain grouping (see below). Yet another grouping is one associated with the ten Sikh gurus (Bedi, Trehan, Bhalla, and Sodhi). | |||
| Regionally Churamani, Nanda, Khullar, Jerath, Chopra and Vig were particularly connected with Ludhiana; Bahl, Kapur, Mehra, Seth, Beri, Sencher and Dhir with Jagraon ; Batte, Sondhi and Karir with Machhiwara and Bahlolpur ; Sehgal and Thapar with Raikot; and Had and Cham with Khanna. | |||
| The origin of many clans and surnames is not exactly clear. It is possible that some of the clans among the Khatris, Rajputs and Jats, along with other similar subgroups, are somehow related. | |||
| ===Kukhran=== | |||
| ''See detailed article ].'' | |||
| ] with USA President ]] | |||
| ] (''also spelt Kukhrain'') Khatris are a regional grouping of ten subcastes of ] ] originally from the town of Bhera in the Jech doab (Jhelum - Chenab interfluve) region of Sargodha district of Pakistani Punjab. In keeping with Khatri traditions, Bhera was an important trading outpost on the road to Kabul, and a 'taksal' (mint) during the reign of ]. Kukhrans are ] and ] peoples and have originally followed ], however a significant number adapted Sikhism during the 18th and 19th centuries. This, and also because many Hindu Kukhran families, as well as other Khatri clans, raised at least one ] son after the formation of the ] in 1699, resulted in Kukhran family names, as well as other Khatri clan names, being present in both Hindu and Sikh communities worldwide. Common Kukhran names are Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, ], ], Sabbarwal, Sahni, Sethi and Suri many of whom had migrated from present Pakistan to India during partition. | |||
| The Prime Minister of India, Dr. ] is a Kukhran of the Kohli subcaste. Other famous Khukrain personalities are: Mulkh Raj Anand (English novelist/Writer), Dev Anand (Actor/Producer/Director), Balraj Sahni (Actor), Geet Sethi, Narinder Kohli (Hindi Novelist), Gurinder Chadha (UK based film director), Bhism Sahni (Sahitya Academy Award and Padam Shree winner). | |||
| ===UP Khatris=== | |||
| ] Khatris are those who have been living in ] for several generations. | |||
| ===Khatris in Burma=== | |||
| Prior to revolutionary and nationalist movements in ], Chinese and Indian merchants and landowners formed an economic upperclass in the country. Many of the Indians landowners in Burma were ] that settled in the country for generations because of their economic control and prosperity. Wealth became increasingly concentrated in the hands of very few Indian upperclass families. However, as nationalist sentiments grew, most all Indian and Chinese merchants were forced out of the country. | |||
| =Distinguished Khatris= | |||
| * ] - Bollywood actor | |||
| * ], pioneering Indian novelist in English | |||
| * ] - Kenyan- Brit movie director ('Bend it like Beckham', 'Bhaji on the Beach') | |||
| * ] - Bollywood movie director and producer | |||
| * ] - author | |||
| * The brothers Satish and Inder Kumar Gujral, the former a well regarded artist and muralist who trained under Diego Rivera, the latter a Prime Minister of India | |||
| * ] - Indo-British sculptor | |||
| * The father-son duo of Prithviraj and ] legendary actors, directors, and producers of Indian movies | |||
| * ] - movie director ('Bandit Queen', 'Elizabeth') | |||
| * Devaki Nandan Khatri, pioneer Hindi author | |||
| * ] (Kohli), Prime minister of India | |||
| * Narendra Kohli, Hindi Author | |||
| * ] (Malhotra) - freedom fighter and leader of the movement for creation of Punjabi subah | |||
| * ] - award winning Indo-Canadian director of the trilogy 'Earth','Wind','Fire' | |||
| * ], the director and producer of the award winning movies as 'Salaam Bombay' | |||
| * Kuldip Nayyar - crusading Indian journalist | |||
| * M.S. Oberoi - hotelier, founder of the Oberoi chain of hotels | |||
| * ], Chief Justice of India | |||
| * The brothers Balraj and Bhisham Sahni, the former a well known actor and the latter the Hindi author ('Tamas') | |||
| * ] - renowned botanist. | |||
| * ] (Sahgal/Sehgal), the legendary singer and actor in early North Indian (Hindi and Bengali) talkies, known as the Enrico Caruso of North India for his vocal range. | |||
| * ] - Indo-British actor ('My Beautiful Laundrette' etc.) | |||
| * ], the novelist, who so sensitively portrayed urban Khatri life after the partition of India in 'A Suitable Boy' | |||
| * ] - crusading Pakistani editor of the Friday Times | |||
| * Prakash Lal Tandon - Indian professional manager, author of 'Punjabi Century' and 'Beyond Punjab' | |||
| * ] freedom fighter | |||
| * ] (Thapar) - freedom fighter, revolutionary comrade of Bhagat Singh | |||
| * ] - Founder of the house of Maharajas of Burdwan | |||
| * ], Author and commentator | |||
| * ], Founder Ranbaxy | |||
| =References= | |||
| *{{1911}} | |||
| * Jwalaprasad Mishra, Jati Bhaskar, 1914. | |||
| * M.A. Sherring, Hindu Castes and Tribes as represented in Banares, 1872. | |||
| * Raja Vanvihari Kapur, The History of Khatris | |||
| * Bhai Gurdus ji, Varan Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 8 - Pauri 10. | |||
| * Guru Gobind Gingh, Vichitra Natak, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar. | |||
| * Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose ''"A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province"'', 1911 AD, Page 501-526, Vol II, | |||
| * Ibid, Page 537-538, Vol II. | |||
| * Temple, R.C. '' "The Legends of The Panjab"'', 1884, Reprinted by Institute of Folk Heritage, Islamabd, 1981. | |||
| * Khatris An Elite Group http://www.chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=00006053&channel=civic%20center&threshold=1&layout=0&order=0&start=120&end=129&page=1 | |||
| ] | |||
| * Khatris are Kshatri http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gaz_ldh8.htm | |||
| ] | |||
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