Castes of India
Khatris
Classification	Kshatriya
Subdivisions	Aathghar, Barahghar, Bawanjahi, Charghar, Dhaighar, Kukhran, Sareen and others
Significant populations in	Punjab (India), Haryana, Delhi, Punjab (Pakistan) and Sindh
Languages	Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu
Religions	Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism ,Islam

A respectacle caste of merchants native mainly to Punjab. Deepak Chopra is a Khatri. The Kshatriyas have nothing to do with Khatris. The Kshatriyas are India's warriors and kings. Jaswant Singh is a Kshatriya. Khatri (Punjabi: ਖੱਤਰੀ, khatrī) is the Punjabi adaptation of Sanskrit word Kshatriya (Hindi: क्षत्रिय, kşhatriya). The Kshatriya are the traditionally members of the Hindu military order. As administrators and rulers, Kshatriya were assigned with protecting Dharma, and serving humanity and the world. In course of time, however, as a result of economic and political exigencies, the Khatri also expanded into other occupations. 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, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. While most Khatris are Hindu, some are also Sikh and a smaller minority are Jain and Muslim.

Contents 1 Khatri Family Names 2 History 2.1 Origin and Distribution 2.2 Prominent historical Khatris 2.3 Khatris and Sun Worship 3 Religion 3.1 Sanatan Khatris 3.2 Arya Samaj Khatris 3.3 Sikh Khatris 3.4 Jain Khatris 3.5 Muslim Khatris 4 Divisions among the Khatris 4.1 Kukhran 5 See Also 6 Distinguished Khatris 7 References

Khatri Family Names

Main article: List of Khatri surnames on Wiktionary

History

Origin and Distribution

See also: Hinduism in Punjab, Indian caste system, and Potohar

The Khatris are a prominent Indian community that originated in the Potohar region of north-western Indian subcontinent. This region is of considerable historical significance in the development of the Indian culture since the composition of the Vedas and classics like the Mahabharata. Now Kapoor and Khanna Khatris are the backbone of the Bollywood. ^[1] For the most part, Khatris have been in the civil, government, and military administrators roles for centuries.^[2]. In modern Indian Army Khatris have won many honors and gallantary awards. Present chief of Indian Army, General Deepak Kapoor is Khatri and he took charge from another Khatri, General Joginder Jaswant Singh (Marwah) who took charge from another Khatri, General Nirmal Chander Vij. Khatris have sometimes expanded into trade and mercantile businesses, including architecture. The Khatris were adversely affected by the partition of India, as it resulted in the loss of their traditional home regions. These Khatris migrated to India, where they were forced to start anew their life.

Prominent historical Khatris

Many prominent historical figures have emerged from the Khatri. All ten Sikh Gurus were Khatri. The 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

Haqiqat Rai was a Puri Khatri whose martyrdom was celebrated on Basant Panchami in Lahore until independence. Hari Singh Nalwa,Bhai Bhachiter Singh(in the Guru Gobind Singh army one of the braver and Uppal Khatri ^[3], was a prominent general under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The father and son pair of the Diwans Sawan Mal and Mul Raj Chopra were successive governors of Multan under Ranjit Singh. Sadhu Singh Gulla fought against the British Empire in 19th century. One of the most important character of famous Punjabi legend Raja Rasalu is minister Mahita Chopra^[4], ^[5] Most scholars agree that Raja Rasalu ruled from Sialkot and lived sometime between 400 to 500 AD.^[6] If it is true that Chopra name originated in that time.^[7]

Khatris and Sun Worship

Raja Vanvihari Kapoor has written that major Khatri clans are named after Lord Sun.^[8]The Sarasvat Brahmin clan of which some of these were yajamanas are also mentioned below.

• Kripakar Kapur Priests: Pambu
• Shankan Khanna Priests: Jhingana
• Martanada Tandon Priests: Jhingana
• Mitra Mehra Priests: Jetali
• Shreshtha Seth
• Dhavan Dhavan
• Mahendra Mahindru
• Bahukar Bahora (Vohra)
• Chakravali Chaupada (Chopra)
• Karalagni Kakkar Priests: Kumadiye
• Surya Suri
• Sahasrakar Sahgal Priests: Mohile
• Raja Fateh Chand Maini: Was chieftien of bihar during childhood of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and being a childless he adopted Bal Gobind Rai as his son.

According to Bhavishya Purana, Punjab indeed was an ancient center of Sun worship.

Religion

Sanatan Khatris

A majority of Khatris are Sanatan Hindus ^[9]. As noted in the introduction, the Khatri community have been positioned in roles of administration, rule and warfare within Punjab. The Khatris were the patrons ('yajamansas' or in Punjabi 'jajmani') of the Saraswat Brahmins. ^[10]

Arya Samaj Khatris

Swami Dayanand was invited to Punjab to counter the missionaries by prominent individuals who also founded the Singh Sabha. He established Arya Samaj in Lahore in 1877, which was against casteism, rituals, idol worship and promoted strict monotheism, which he claimed was the essential message of the Vedas. Arya Samaj became popular among Punjabi Hindus, especially Khatris ^[11]who were attracted to a similar message by the Sikh Gurus earlier ^[12]. Arya Samaj inspired individuals like Swami Shraddhanad and institutions like Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Schools System started by Lala Hansraj^[13]. Lala Lajpat Rai is sometimes identified as a Khatri^[14], his father was an Agrawal married to a Khatri wife ^[15].

Sikh Khatris

A portion of the Khatris are Sikh.^[16] The Sikh panth is not caste based, still the Khatris played a major role in development of Sikhism as a warrior faith and inclusive faith. All the Ten Sikh Gurus were Khatri's from the Sodhi and Bedi clans (which claim Surya Banshi Kshatriya descent) ^[17]. During the lifetime of the Gurus, most of their major supporters and Sikhs were Khatris. A list of this is provided by Bhai Gurdas in Varan Bhai Gurdas a contemporary of the Sikh Guru's^[18] .However it must be noted that the rejection of the caste system by Sikhs meant that the Gurus did not see themselves as Khatris. The martial development by the Sikh Guru's is well documented, with the first Guru (Guru Nanak), calling upon Sikhs to make a "ball of their head" to play the game of love. The second Guru (Guru Angad) encouraged physical activities of Sikhs by encouraging wrestling bouts and "Kabbadi" matches (Kabbadi an ancient game used by Kshatriya's to develop physical prowess). The 6th Guru (Guru Hargobind) took up the sword and fought many battles against neighboring Rajputs and Mughals. The 9th Guru (Guru Teg Bahadhur) fought many battles with the 6th Guru and was an accompalished martial artist. The 10th Guru (Guru Gobind Singh), was proficient in the art of warfare as well as an accompalished swordsman, marksman and horse rider. The tenth Guru's maternal side of the family were accompalished warriors and fighters in their own right (Kirpal Chand), descended from Surya Banshi Kshatriya clans ^[19]. Bhai Daya Singh- [Sobti Clan] Was the "first" of the Panj Pyare
. In the historic divan in the Keshgarh Fort at Anandpur on 30 March 1699, Bhai Daya Singh was the first to rise at the Guru's call and offer his head. Sahib Singh Bedi (1756-1834), Was tenth in direct descent from Guru Nanak, and much revered in Sikh times for his piety as well as for his martial prowess. He was born at Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district. At the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's coronation at Lahore on April 11, 1801, Baba Sahib Singh Bedi placed the tilak or mark of sovereignty on Ranjit Singh's forehead anoiting him Maharaja of Punjab.

Many Hindu Kukhran families, as well as other Khatri and Khatri-like clans (Arora), raised at least one Sikh son after the formation of the Khalsa in 1699, resulted in Kukhran family names, as well as other Khatri-like clan names, being present in both Hindu and Sikh communities worldwide.

See also: Hinduism and Sikh Panth

Jain Khatris

The number of Khatris who are Jain is very small. However one of the best known Jain munis in recent times, Acharya Atmaram (also known as Shri Vijayanandsuri ^[20]) (1841-1900) was a Kapoor Khatri, born at Lahra, Firozepur. ^[21].

Muslim Khatris

With the advent of Islam following invasions by Turkic tribes from Afghanistan and the North West Frontier Province from the 11th century onwards, there were conversions of Hindus to the faith from among various Punjabi communities, including Khatris .Generally they retained their tribal, clan or caste affiliations as has been the norm in the Indian subcontinent. Similarly, the Khatris who converted to Islam, continue to retain a strong social identity and are known as Punjabi Shaikhs. Pakistan continues to have a prominent community of Khatris known as Punjabi Shaikhs as well as Khawaja Shaikhs. Some Muslim Khatris like the Sahgal family of Pakistan are examples of well-known and successful Islamic Khatris. They are also known as Qanungoh Shaikh , Khoja and Chiniotis .

Divisions among the Khatris

Khatri gots have often been divided into three major groups; Baraghar, Bawanjahi, and Sarin.^[22] These divisions were reported by Emperor Akbar's close adviser Abu'l Fazal in his book Ain-i-Akbari(compiled in 1590 AD). There are several subdivisions within the Khatri clans. There are the Dhai Ghar (i.e. 2 1/2 houses -the number 3 being considered unlucky) grouping comprising of Kapur/Kapoor,Khanna, and Mehrotra in order of their social status.^[23] Along with the Seth clan these four subdivisions form the Char Ghar (4 houses) grouping.^[24]. With the Chopra, Dhawan, Mahendra, Sahgal, Talwar, Tandon, Vohra and Wadhawan sub castes, all 12 form the barah-jati grouping ^[25]. Another group is called Bavanjai (52)^[26] . Other regional clan groupings include the Sarin and the Kukhrain. Regionally Churamani, Nanda, Khullar, Jerath, Chopra and Vig were particularly connected with Ludhiana; Bahl, Kapoor, 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 ^[27] Most Kshatriya draw their relations together at some point after the Indo-Aryan settlement of Northern India.

Kukhran

Kukhran (also spelt Kukhrain) are a regional subcaste of Khatris ^[28] of ten clans of Punjab, originally from the town of Bhera in the Jech doab (Jhelum - Chenab interfluve) region of Sargodha district of Pakistani Punjab. A significant number adapted Sikhism during the 18th and 19th centuries. The ten Kukhran family names are Anand, Bhasin, Chadha,Chandok,Gadhok, Gadok, Kohli, Sabharwal, Sahni/Sawhney,Suri,Sodhi and Sethi. The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh is a Kukhran of the Kohli clan.

See also: Kukhran

See Also

• Forward Castes
• Khawaja Shaikh
• Qanungoh Shaikh
• Punjabi Shaikh
• Hindu and Buddhist archetectural heritage of Pakistan
• Places in Pakistan with Hindu and Sikh Populations before 1947
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Generals

Distinguished Khatris

Main article: List of distinguished Khatris

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
• Jwalaprasad Mishra, Jati Bhaskar, 1914.
• M.A. Sherring, Hindu Castes and Tribes as represented in Banares, 1872.
• Raja Vanvihari Kapur, The History of Khatris
• The Khatris, a socio-historical study, Baij Nath Puri, M.N. Publishers, 1988.
• Bhai Gurdas Ji, Varan Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 8 - Pauri 10.
• The Indian Diaspora in Central Asia and Its Trade, 1550-1900 by Scott Cameron Levi.
• 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 are Kshatri http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gaz_ldh8.htm
• Mahan Kosh by Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha

•  • e Ethnic groups, tribes and clans of the Punjab
Ancient Kshatriya Tribes	Ahir • Dhangar • Gurjar • Kamboj • Khash • Mers
Arains	Arain • Chaudhary • Mian • Sardar • Ramay • Ramday • Mundh • Goheer • Munda • Ghurki • Daula • Chhachhar • Bhutta • Kardar • Hansi • katarbund • Ghalar • Gejial • sapal • Dholanwal • Kukru • Gatku • Kawali • Basroo • Bhutta • Mudh • Chandu • Bhalay • Dhadhay • Dhengay • Rattay • Labanay • Wahnd • Vehra • Jatala • Bhoongay • Pawadhray • Rahail • Behlwan • Saggi • Mulanay • Teer Andaz • Malgoria • Jandialia • Nihal
Brahmins	Punjabi Brahmins • Saraswat Brahmins • Mohyal • Bali • Bhimwal • Chhibber • Datt • Lau • Mohan • Vaid
Dalits	Punjabi Dalits • Balmiki • Chamar • Chura • Kabirpanthi • Mazhabi • Nai • Ramdasia • Rangrehta
Jats	Jat: List of Jat clans
Khatris	Khatri : Dhaighar • Sekhri • Charghar • Aathghar • Barahghar • Bawanghar • Kukhran • Sareen • List of Khatri subgroups Arora : Uttradhi • Dakhna • Gujarati • List of Arora subgroups Bhatia • Sood
Rajputs	Rajput • Bagal • Bais • Bhutta • Bhatti • Chadhar • Chauhan • Chibb • Doad • Dogra • Gheba • Haral • Jaswal • Jamwal • Janjua • Jarral • Johiya • Jaura • Jodhra • Khakha • Kharal • Khati • Khokhar • Mahnike • Mair • Mangral • Manhas • Manj • Meo • • Minhas • Mir • Narma • Naul • Noon • Paramara • Parhar • Pawar • Pundir • Puni • Punwar • Rana • Rawat • Ranial • Rawal • Rawal Rajput • Rathore • Salaria • Saroya • Sial • Thakial • Toor • Wattu • Wejhwa • Wijhalke
Saini
Shaikhs	Shaikh • Abbasi • Alavi • Farooqi • Gardezi • Gilani • Hashemi • Osmani • Paracha • Quraishi • Sayyid • Shaikh Siddiqui
Tarkhans	Tarkhan : • Chaggar • Dhiman • Gade • Jhangra • Kalsi • Khatti • Lall • Matharu • Nagi • Netal • Siawan • Seyan • Tharu • Panesar • Palahi • Riat Rayat • Virdi • List of Tarkhan surnames
Ahluwalia	•Ahluwalia
Others	•Agarwal • Bakarwal • Bania • Bishnoi • Sansi