Tarkhan

(Punjab)

This article is about Tarkhan, a Northern Indian tribe. For other uses, see Tarkan (disambiguation)

The Tarkhan ethnic tribe inhabits the Punjab area of Northern India and Punjab area of Pakistan. Some are also found in Kashmir. Scholars such as H.A. Rose state that they are descended from the Saka tribes, and originally settled in Taxila. They are known to be of the same stock as the Jat and Kamboj castes as they are a purely Indo-Scythian tribe. As the Tarkhans were not of the same Indo-Aryan lineage as the Brahmins, they were identified as an ethnic tribe, and therefore it is incorrect to call Tarkhan a caste, as it is an ethnic tribe. The Tarkhans are a minority in the Punjab, with numbers estimated at around 1,000,000 at least to 2,000,000 maximum.

History

Hindu Tarkhans are regarded to be of the Vaishya Varna (as they are artisans) and worship the Vedic deity, Vishwakarma.^[1] This is namely due to following the traditional Vaishya occupation of carpentry.

Sikh Tarkhans are more commonly known as Ramgarhias because of their reverence for the famous Misl leader, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia(1723-1803), who was a Tarkhan.

A very proud and fiercely independent people, they are amongst the wealthiest and most educated clans of India. Historically, tarkhan's Tarkhan occupations have included carpentry, landowning, farming, engineering, politics, science, medicine, and military.^[2].

Tarkhans have served couragously in crack Commando units of the Punjab and Sikh Regiments of the Indian Army, as well as brave fighter pilots and in the Navy. They were made famous on the silver screen in the Bollywood film, Border for their brave actions in the Battle of Longowal, a battle fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Ramgarhia/Tarkhan tribes

According to Sir Denzil Ibbetson^[3], the major Tarkhan tribes of the Punjab and the Northwest Frontier Province include:

Bhogal - Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana , Delhi
Begi Khel - Hazara.
Bhatti - Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi
Dhaman/Dhiman - Ambala, Faridhkot, Firozpur, Jalandhar, Karnal, Nabha, Patiala and Sialkot.
Gade - Amritsar
Jhangra - Delhi and Hissar
Khatti - Ambala, Faridhkot, Firozpur, Jalandhar, Karnal, Nabha, Patiala and Sialkot.
Khokhar - Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi
Matharu/Matharoo - Amritsar, Jalandhar, Lahore and Ludhiana
Netal - Hoshiarpur
Siawan - Jalandhar and Sialkot
Tharu - Gurdaspur and Sialkot
Virdi - Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana

Ibbetson notes further that^[4]:

"The carpenters of Sirsa are divided into two great sections: the Dhaman and Khati proper, and the two will not intermarry. These are two great tribes of the Lohars (q.v.). The Dhamans again include a tribe of Hindu Tarkhans called Suthar, who are almost entirely agricultural, seldom working in wood, and who look down upon the artisan sections of their caste. They say they came from Jodhpur, and that their tribe still holds villages and revenue free grants in Bikaner." It should be noted that the artisan sections of Tarkhans look down upon the agricultural sections of their tribe too."

Ibbetson

Tarkhans and Lohars

Lohars are blacksmiths. According to HA Rose and Denzil Ibbetson, Lohars are descended from Rajputs and Jats. Although considered a lower caste than Tarkhans, Lohars have been accepted into Tarkhan tribal affiliations.

^[5]

In Hushyarpur They are said to form a single caste called Lohar-Tarkhan, and the son of a blacksmith will often take to carpentry and vice versa; but it appears that the two castes were originally separate, for the joint caste is still divided into two sections who will not intermarry or even eat or smoke together, the Dhaman, from dhamna "to blow", and the Khatti from khat "wood". In Gujranwala the same two castes exist; and they are the two great Tarkhan tribes also (see section 627). In Karnal a sort of connection seems to be admitted, but the castes are now distinct. In Sirsa the Lohars may be divided into three main sections; the first, men undoubted and recent Jat and even Rajput origin who have generally by reason of poverty, taken to work as blacksmiths; secondly the Suthar Lohar or members of the Suthar tribe of carpenters who have similarly changed their original occupation; and thirdly, the Gadya Lohar, a class of wandering blacksmith not uncommon throughout the east and south east of the Province, who come up from Rajputana and the North West Provinces and travel about with their families and implements in carts from village to village, doing the finer sorts of iron work which are beyond the capacity of the village artisan. The tradition runs that Suthar Lohars, who are now Musalman, were originally Hindu Tarkhans of the Suthar tribe (see section 627); and that Akhbar took 12,000 of them from Jodhpur to Delhi, forcibily circumcised them, and obliged them to work in iron instead of wood. The story is admitted by a section of the Lohars themselves, and probably has some substratum of truth. These men came to Sirsa from the direction of Sindh, where they say they formerly held land, and are commonly known as Multani Lohars.

Ibbetson

This would explain why some Tarkhans/Lohars have similar surnames to Jats and Rajputs.

The Ramgarhia Misl

The founder of the Ramgarhia Misl was Khushal Singh of Guga village near Amritsar. Khushal Singh was succeeded, Nand Singh, who belonged to the village of Sanghani near Amritsar. He was succeeded by a much more enterprising and valiant man, named Jassa Singh, under whose stewardship the band assumed the status and the name of the Misl. He took over the floundering Misl and made it into one of the greatest fighting armies of the Punjab.

Hardas Singh

Hardas Singh, the grandfather of Jassa Singh, a carpenter by caste, was the resident of Sur Singh which is situated about nineteen miles east of Khem Karan, in the present district of Amritsar. Hardas Singh was initiated into the Khalsa faith by Guru Gobind Singh himself from whose hands he took pahul and fought some battles at the Guru's side. When Banda Bahadur organised the Sikhs to fight against the Mughals, Hardas Singh joined his followers and participated in most of the battles fought by him. He died in the battle of Bajwara AD 1715.

Jassa Singh

One of the known warriors from punjab jassasingh from the zamindars family. Bhagwan Singh, the only son of Hardas Singh, was of a still more adventurous disposition. He had also mastered the Adi Granth. He shifted to the village of Ichogil which lay about twelve miles east of Lahore. He preached the Sikh faith in the neighbouring villages. He was an intrepid soldier. Bhagwan Singh had five sons, named Jai Singh, Jassa Singh, Khushal Singh, Mali Singh and Tara Singh. In 1739, during the invasion of Nadir Shah Bhagwan Singh saved the life of the governor of Lahore at the cost of his own. To reward his brave deed the governor gave a village each to all of his five sons. The villages gifted were Valla, Verka, Sultanwind, Tung and Chubhal. Of these villages Valla came to the share of Jassa Singh. [6]. Ramgharia Sikhs today (often referred to as Tarkhans) derive this name from the very same aristocratic Jassa Singh Ramgharia, who was renowned for his bravery in battle.

The Ghallughara

When Prince Timur, son of Ahmad Shah Abdali, marched against Adina Beg, the latter retreated towards the hills to the north and Sardar Jassa Singh and his brothers left him and went to Amritsar, where they joined the forces of Nand Singh Sanghania. The younger brother of Sardar Jassa Singh was at this time killed in action with the Afghans near Majitha. After the terrible blow dealt to the Sikhs by Abdali, in the Battle of Ghallughara('Holocaust'), in which 17,000 Sikhs fell, the three brothers, Jassa Singh, Mali Singh and Tara Singh, with Jai Singh Kanhaiya (Leader of the Kanhaiya Misl), were reduced to the necessity of hiding in jungles and subsisting on whatever chance threw in their way. They had, however, the temerity to visit Amritsar to bathe in the sacred tank, and pillaged the suburbs of the city. When attacked by the Shah's troops they fired off their matchlocks and fled to the jungles. After the departure of Ahmad Shah, Jassa Singh with his brothers Mali Singh and Tara Singh, and Jai Singh Kanhaiya emerged from their jungle retreat, and collecting their followers ravaged the country far and wide, building forts and establishing military outposts. When Khawaja Obed, the Governor of Lahore, attacked the Sikh fort at Gujranwala, he was opposed by the united forces of the Ramgarhias and Kanhaiyas and the guns, ammunition and treasure left by the Governor were equally divided by the leaders of the two Misls.

Tarkhan Gotras (Clans)

Main article: List of Tarkhan Clans

Many Tarkhan clans are also cross-listed as Jat and Rajput, due to Tarkhans having the same racial lineage and racial type as these castes. It is not entirely clear in the case of many clans and surnames as to which subdivision of the Kshatriya caste they belong to. Eventually Hephthalites (coalition between many tribes with different origins, including mongolian and Turkish) and Huns (mongolians) (it is proven Rajputs have also an east-Asian ancestor-line) were absorbed into the Kshatriya caste, given their warlike nature, and thus became one of the subgroups or in many cases, assimilated completely into older Indo-Aryan clans. It is probable that Aroras/Arokhas (they are also thought as Herodot's Arachosians in ancient Kandahar), Gujjars, Jats, Kamboj, Khatris and Rajputs, have varying degrees of both foreign and indigenous Indian stock. In many parts, it is largely due to familial tradition that some members of a certain clan dub themselves Rajput and others of the same clan are Arora, Gujjar, Jat, Khatri, Kamboj and Tarkhan. This is more often the case in the Punjab, where there was already a large indigenous Kshatriya population when the invading tribes arrived.

Tarkhan - Ramgharia Personalities

Political & Religious Figures

Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia - Leader of Ramgharia Misl, Jathedar and holder of keys to the Golden Temple.
Sarmukh Singh Chamak - Gurudwara reform movement leader and Indian Freedom fighter.
Arjan Singh Gargaj - Gurudwara reform movement leader and Indian Freedom fighter.
Bhai Lalo - Follower of Guru Nanak.
Bhai Sukha Singh Kalsi - Sikh Warrior and Leader in Buddha Dal.
Bhai Roop Chand Ji Khokar - Sikh Warrior and trusted Lietenant of Guru Hargobind Singh Ji.
Bhai Dharam Singh - Bhai Roop Chand's son and warrior of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Bhai Param Singh - Bhai Roop Chand's son and warror of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Bhai Dharma Singh - Sikh Warrior and son of Bhai Dharam Singh.
Bhai Param Singh - Sikh Warrior and son of Bhai Dharam Singh.
Bhai Karam Singh - Sikh Warrior and son of Bhai Dharam Singh.
Bhai Mahanand Singh - Sikh Warrior and son of Bhai Dharam Singh.
Bhai Sadanand Singh - Sikh Warrior and son of Bhai Dharam Singh.
Bhai Surtia - Sikh Warrior and son of Bhai Dharam Singh.
Bhai Sukhia ji - Sikh Warrior and son of Bhai Dharam Singh.
Hardas Singh - Trusted Warrior of Guru Gobind Singh.
Bhagwan Singh - Scholar and Warrior during Sikh Misl Period.
Jai Singh - Sikh Warrior and Misl General.
Khushal Singh - Sikh Warrior and Misl General.
Mali Singh - Sikh Warrior and Misl General.
Tara Singh Bhambra - Sikh Warrior, Misl General and expert in the Sikh Martial Art of Gatka.
Giani Zail Singh - Chief Minister of Punjab and First Sikh President of India.
Dalip Singh Saund - First Sikh United States Senator.
Justice Mota Singh - First Sikh Law Lord in United Kingdom.
Air Marshal Shiv Dev Singh - IAF leading light and 2nd World War Veteran.
Bhai Ranjit Singh Ghattora - Jathedar At Golden Temple and chastiser of the Nirankari Cult.
Sardar Sardul Singh Caveeshar - Indian Freedom Fighter.
S. Karam Singh Bhogal - Indian Freedom Fighter and Partcipant in the Jaito Ji Morcha.
Shaheed Sundar Singh - Son of Bhai Gian Singh Saggu and Martyr of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Sardar Chanan Singh Hunjan - Barrister at Law and Chief Judge of the Kenyan High Court. Close friend of President Jomo Kenyatta.
Sardar Kartar Singh Bahra - an eminent socialite and a freedom fighter.
Jaswant Singh Bharaj - Freedom Fighter who fought against British Colonialism in India and Africa.
Diljit Bahra - Leading UK police officer.
GS Dhiman - Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jalandhar.
Mr Jai Gopal Dhiman - President, Social Democratic Party of India.
Flight Lieutenant DK Dhiman - Fighter Pilot and Gallantry Award winner.

Sports Personalities

Harbhajan Singh Plaha - Indian Cricketer.
Monty Panesar - England Cricketer.
Bahadur Singh Saggu - Indian Strongman and Olympic Shotputter and Asian Games Gold Medalist.
Jatinder Singh Mudarh - Indian Strongman and given the title "The Strongest Man in Panjab".

Television & Media Personalities

Ameet Channa - British Film Actor.
Kulvinder Ghir - Actor/Comedian Goodness Gracious Me.
Kesar Singh Matharu - Famous Punjabi Film Director.
Suzanne Virdee - News Presenter.

Music Personalities

Bally Sagoo - World Famous Music Producer and first Sikh Artist to cross over to UK Charts.
Gurdas Maan - (Ludhiana Maan) World renowned Singer and Actor
Labh Janjua - Famous Panjabi Singer and Producer.
Lehmber Hussainpuri - Panjabi Singer.
Surinder Shinda - Panjabi Folk Singer and Icon.
Sukhshinder Shinda - Famous singer from the Midlands.
Jagjit Singh Sokhi - World renowned religious singer and famous ghazal artist.
Bhai Gurmit Singh Virdee - World renowned Tabla player and photographer.
Talvin Singh - Musician and world renowned percussionist.
Burmy Brothers - DJ's in world Famous Tigerstyle.
Kuljit Bhambra - Music producer (for groups such as Heera and Premi).
Kuldeep Bhambra - Singer and one half of duo in Apna Sangeet.
Sardar Sukhvinder "Pinky" Bharaj - Renowned Tabla Player.
Prof. Harchand Singh Kalsi - Musician.
Mohinder Kaur - Panjabi Folk Singer.
Teja Singh (Tej) Jhita - World Famous Panjabi Poet.
Amarjyot - Singer with the famous Amar Singh Chamkila.
Asa Singh Mastana - Panjabi Folk and comedy singer.
Hazara Singh Ramta - Panjabi Folk and comedy singer.
Mohinder Kaur Bhamra - Panjabi Folk Singer (sang Giddah Pao Haan Deo).
Palvinder Dhami - Singer for Heera.
Channi Singh - Singer and co-producer for Alaap and DCS.
Johnny Kalsi - World Famous Dholi.
Jagmohan Kaur - Panjabi Folk singer (sang with K.Deep).
Deedar Singh Pardesi (Kalsi) - World renowned and pioneer of Panjabi Folk Music.
Gurcharan Pohli - Pioneer in Panjabi Lok Geet and Tumbi Artist.
Ranjit Kaur - Panjabi Folk singer with Mohd. Saddiq.
Didar Sandhu - (Ramgarhia-Sandhu) Famous Folk Singer.
Vijay Dhammi - Famous Panjabi lyricist and poet.
Mangal Singh - Panjabi singer (sang the original "Rail Gaddi" later covered by Heera).
Kuldip Singh Matharu - Singer and tutor to Sukhshinder Shinda.
Laal Singh Bhatti - Singer and tutor to Sukhshinder Shinda.
Rangila Jat - Famous Panjabi Folk Singer.

Miscellaneous Personalities

Sobha Singh - Artist and Famous Religous Painter.
S. Hari Singh Bansal - Renowned Sculptor and Architect.
S. Sohan Singh Saggu (Popular as G. S. Sohan Singh) - Famous Artist.
Shri Narain Dass Dhiman (Salh)- Top Industrialist of Ludhiana and Philanthrophist.
Bhai Gian Singh Saggu - Artist and Fresco Painter.
Gurbachan Singh Dhiman - Owner of Dhiman Group in Nakodar.
Harpal Matharu - Hotel Tycoon and Multi Millionaire.

References

^ see H.A. Rose. A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province; Manu Smriti
^ Patwant Singh. The Sikhs.

External links

Notes and References

^ Prof Sahib Singh - Adhi Bir Barai - page 198
^ H.A. Rose. A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province.
http://www.punjabilok.com/land/origin_of_saka_race1.htm
^ Patwant Singh. The Sikhs.
^ Sir Denzil Ibbetson. Panjab Castes - page 313.
^ Sir Denzil Ibbetson. Panjab Castes - page 313.
^ Sir Denzil Ibbetson. Panjab Castes - page 312.

External links

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Tarkhan

History

Ramgarhia/Tarkhan tribes

Tarkhans and Lohars

The Ramgarhia Misl

Hardas Singh

Jassa Singh

The Ghallughara

Tarkhan Gotras (Clans)

Tarkhan - Ramgharia Personalities

Political & Religious Figures

Sports Personalities

Television & Media Personalities

Music Personalities

Miscellaneous Personalities

References

External links

Notes and References

External links

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