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Kharal (Punjabi: کھرَل) is a Punjabi Muslim tribe predominantly found in the Sandal Bar region of Punjab and some parts of Sindh.

History and description

The Kharals predominantly inhabit the western plains of Punjab that lie below the Salt Range and its surrounding areas. The Kharals seem to be most concentrated in the Ravi River Valley between Lahore and the former Montgomery District, this corresponds well to Ain-i-Akbari (1595 CE) listing of Kharal Zamindaris in different Parganas. Additionally, Kharals were designated as a Martial race being known for their bravery and fierceness.

Modern Indian and Pakistani census reports mention Kharals as Rajputs though a journal by Government College University listed Kharals along other tribes as Jats.

Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal is a historical personality, who was the chieftain of the Kharal tribe, who revolted against the British in the 1857 revolt, where he consequently took leadership of the many local tribes in the region. He was killed while offering afternoon prayers by the British on September 21, 1857.

The Kharals are also famous in the Indian Subcontinent due to the one of the greatest and tragic Punjabi romances called Mirza Sahiban. According to the story of Mirza Sahiban as narrated by the Punjabi writer Pilu, the story's protagonist is Mirza, son of the chief of the Kharal of Danabad, who falls in love with his cousin Sahiban, of the Sial tribe. To date there have been many film adaptations in both Pakistan and India of the Story of Mirza and Sahiban.

Subclans

The Kharals have numerous subdivisions more than 150 and clans some of which include Nuwenke, Rehman e (ky), Tule,Basheraky,Ablana, Mangera,Chimnay,Sheraky,Goggara,Lakhera, Upera, Lakhera, Peroka, Jalab ke, Begeke, Randhaira, Lalhaira, Rubera, Sahi, Lodike, Dehar, Churiara, Khar, Bhandra, Daulke, Sherke and Gogera; the Kharals use many titles including Rai, Chaudhry and Malik but Rai is mostly used.

• Khar (Punjabi: کھر) is a Punjabi Jat tribe found in Pakistan and is considered among the prominent tribes of Muzaffargarh District. They are a branch of the larger Kharal tribe and multiple legends exist as to why their name was shortened from Kharal to Khar.

Notable People

• Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal, Ruler (nawab) of Jhamra, chieftain of the Kharal tribe.
• Khalid Ahmed Kharal, Former Federal Minister of Information of Pakistan, former Secretary General of Pakistan People's Party, former ankhpal kharalCivil Services Officer.
• Naseem Kharal, Sindhi landlord and short story writer.
• Rai Mansab Ali Khan, Former Provincial Minister for Social Welfare, former Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.
• Ghulam Mustafa Khar, Feudal Lord, Former Governor of Punjab, former Chief Minister of Punjab.
• Ghulam Noor Rabbani Khar, Former Member of National Assembly of Pakistan.
• Hina Rabbani Khar, Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of National Assembly of Pakistan.
• Malik Ghulam Raza Rabbani Khar, Former Member of National Assembly of Pakistan.
• Malik Ghulam Arbi Khar, Former Member of National Assembly of Pakistan
• Malik Ghulam Raza Rabbani Khar, Member of National Assembly of Pakistan.
• Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal, Former Member of National Assembly of Pakistan.
• Rai Usman Khan Kharal, Former Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.
• Rai Haider Ali Khan Kharal, Former Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.
• Naeem Ahmed Kharal, Former Member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

References

1. Barua, Pradeep (1995). "Inventing Race: The British and India's Martial Races". The Historian. 58 (1): 107–116. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6563.1995.tb00942.x. ISSN 0018-2370. JSTOR 24449614.
2. General, India Office of the Registrar (1968). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.
3. 1998 District Census Report of [name of District].: Bahawalnagar. Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 1999. p. 16.
4. 1998 District Census Report of [name of District].: Okara. Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 2000. pp. Page 9.
5. Shackle, C. (1984). The Sikhs. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. p. 31.
   • Pels, Peter; Salemink, Oscar (2000). Colonial Subjects: Essays on the Practical History of Anthropology. University of Michigan Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-472-08746-4.
   • Dogra, R. C.; Mansukhani, Gobind Singh (1995). Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture. Vikas Publishing House. p. 383. ISBN 978-0-7069-9499-5.
   • The Panjab Past and Present. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. 2006. p. 192.
   • The Journal of Political Science. Department of Political Science, Government College. 1989. p. 81.
6. Miraj, Muhammad Hassan (22 April 2013). "Kharal and Berkley II". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
7. Sargana, Turab ul Hassan (2020). Punjab and the War of Independence 1857-1858 from Collaboration to Resistance. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-070184-0.
8. Banga, Indu (2005). "Appendix - The Story of Mirza and Sahiban in Pilu's Narrative". In Grewal, Reeta; Pall, Sheena (eds.). Precolonial and Colonial Punjab: Society, Economy, Politics, and Culture: Essays for Indu Banga. Manohar. p. 171. ISBN 9788173046544. Mirza was the son of Banjal, a Kharal Rajput Chief of Danabad in the Montgomery district. Sahiban was the daughter of the Rajput Chief Khiva Khan belonging to the Syal clan ...
9. Muhammad Hassan Miraj (1 April 2013). "The ballad of Mirza Saheba'n". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 14 January 2021.
10. Duggal, K.S. (1979). Folk Romances of Punjab. Marwah. p. 17. Retrieved 26 September 2022. Mirza and Saheban were cousins. Saheban was the daughter of Mirza's maternal uncle. They were fellow pupils in a madrasa. Mirza, the son of Binjal, a Kharral Jat of Danabad on the bank of the river Ravi
11. Bali, Karan (13 September 2016). "Before 'Mirzya', Mirza and Sahiban have died over and over again for their love". Scroll.in. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
12. Khan, Muhammad Sajid; Mohyuddin, Zafar; Naz, Humera (30 June 2019). "District of Montgomery (Sahiwal) in Nineteenth Century: A Historical Study". Journal of Languages, Culture and Civilization. 1 (1): 48, 49. ISSN 2708-3748.
13. ^ Haider, Karim (31 December 2017). "Impact of Politico-economic Changes on the Resettlement of Kharal Tribe in Punjab". Pakistan Social Sciences Review. 1 (II). Fatima Gohar Educational and Welfare Society: 179. doi:10.35484/pssr.2017(1-ii)15. ISSN 2664-0422.
14. Fiaz, Hafiz Muhammad; Akhtar, Sohail; Rind, Ayyaz Ahmad (31 December 2021). "Socio-cultural Condition of South Punjab: A Case of Muzaffargarh District". Research Journal of Education and Innovation (Pakistan). 2 (3): 21, 22.
15. Durrani, T.; Hoffer, W.; Hoffer, M.M. (1995). My Feudal Lord. Corgi Books. Corgi. p. 22,23. ISBN 978-0-552-14239-7. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
16. Kamran, Tahir (30 January 2022). "Rabbani Khar and the politics of altruism - Political Economy". thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
17. "Former minister Khalid Kharal passes away". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
18. "Punjab Assembly | Members - Members' Directory". www.pap.gov.pk. Retrieved 23 November 2023.

External links‌

• ‌Kharal and Berkley (19th century British ‌India) on Dawn (newspaper‌)

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