Kharal
Kharal (Punjabi and Urdu: کھرَل) is a Punjabi Rajput tribe predominantly found in the Sandal Bar of the Punjab Region of Pakistan, with significant numbers also present in Muzaffargarh,[1] Multan and Bahawalpur districts, and further south to Sindh. Some historians record Kharals of either Jat[2] or Rajput origin,[3][4] yet, modern Indian and Pakistani census reports mention Kharals as Rajputs.[5][6][7] Additionally, the Kharals were designated as a Martial race[8] being known for their bravery and fierceness.
| Kharal | |
|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Punjabi |
| Location | Pakistan |
| Language | |
| Religion |  Islam |
The Kharals predominantly inhabit the Western plains of Punjab (i.e. west of Lahore) that lie below the Salt Range and its surrounding areas.[9] 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.[10] Historian and writer Amar Nath Bali says that the Kharal tribe were of Rajput origin and became Jats after migrating to Punjab.[11] A study by Punjabi University states Kharals inhabited western plains of Punjab and perhaps belonged to a Rajput tribe but subsequently recorded themselves as Jatts.[2] A journal by Government College University lists Kharals along other tribes as Rajputs.[3]
The Kharals have numerous subdivisions and clans some of which include Upera, Lakhera, Begke,[12] Randhaira, Lalhaira, Rubera, Lodike[y], Dehar, Churiara, Khar, Bhandra, Doulo Kay and Gogera; the Kharals use many titles including Rai, Chaudhry, Malik and Mian but Rai is mostly used.[13]
Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal is a historical personality, who was the sardar (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.[14][15]
The Kharals are also famous in the Indian Subcontinent due to the one of the great tragic Punjabi romances called Mirza Sahiban. The story's protagonist is Mirza, son of the Chief of the Kharals of Danabad, who falls in love with his cousin Sahiban, of the Sial tribe.[16][17] To date there have been many film adaptations in both Pakistan and India of the Story of Mirza and Sahiban.[18]
Notable people bearing the Kharal name, who may be affiliated with the tribe, include:
• Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal, Nawab of Jhamra and sardar (chief) of the Kharal tribe.
• Ghulam Mustafa Khar, Pakistani politician, feudal lord and former Chief Minister of Punjab.
• Ghulam Noor Rabbani Khar, Pakistani politician and former member of National Assembly of Pakistan.
• Khalid Ahmed Kharal, Pakistani politician and former Federal Minister of Information of Pakistan.
• Naseem Kharal, Sindhi story writer and landlord.
• Rai Usman Khan Kharal, Pakistani politician.
References
- Fiaz, Hafiz Muhammad; Akhtar, Dr Sohail; Rind, Ayaz Ahmad (31 December 2021). "Socio-cultural Condition of South Punjab: A Case of Muzaffargarh District". International Research Journal of Education and Innovation. 2 (3): 15–34. doi:10.53575/irjei.v2.03(21)2.15-34. ISSN 2710-0448.
- Multiple sources:
- Quddus, S.A. (1992). Punjab, the Land of Beauty, Love, and Mysticism. Royal Book Company. p. 202. ISBN 978-969-407-130-5. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
The father of Mirza was cast in a different mould. He was a typical Kharral, an epitome of Jat values.
- Khan, Imran (30 September 2021). "Social Stratification in a Punjab Village in New Millennium". Pakistan Social Sciences Review. Fatima Gohar Educational and Welfare Society. 5 (III): 465. doi:10.35484/pssr.2021(5-iii)34. ISSN 2664-0422. S2CID 240526731.
Jatt the person or family, adapt to follow the traditional style of living and farming, in Nauthen a family of Muhammad Nawaz Kharal is called Jatt. In family of Miana is example of occupation as families of Mian Manzoor s/o Khuda Bakhash and Mian Abdullah were professional Maulvi leader of the prayers in Mosque, so their Al became Maina. On the bases of Castes in Nauthen there are Randhaira a sub tribe of Kharal
- Evans, David Denton (2015). "Social Emergence: Romance Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Style Focused on Northern India and Nepal between 1993 and 2013" (PDF). Asia Pacific Peace Research Conference: 16.
The "Mirza Sahiban" story is believed to have started during the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan's era, when a child was born in the clan of Kharral Jatts
- Raja, Ali (24 December 2010), "Democracy's Sahiban: Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan", LUBP website, archived from the original on 20 January 2019, retrieved 6 January 2021
- "Role of Elected Landed Aristocrats in the Legislation and Policy Making in Pakistan: A Case Study of Members of the National Assembly (1972-1977) from the Punjab". ProQuest. p. 105. ProQuest 1767064764. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
Rabera is a branch of Kharals, a sub-clan of Jats. It is a medium class landlord family of Fatehpur, District Sahiwal.
- Quddus, S.A. (1992). Punjab, the Land of Beauty, Love, and Mysticism. Royal Book Company. p. 202. ISBN 978-969-407-130-5. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- Multiple sources:
- Khan, Hussain Ahmad (2004). Re-Thinking Punjab: The Construction of Siraiki Identity. Research and Publication Centre, National College of Arts, Lahore. p. 131. ISBN 978-9-69862-309-8. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- Purewal, Navtej K. (15 April 2010). Son Preference: Sex Selection, Gender and Culture in South Asia. Berg. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-84520-468-6.
- Nawaz, Shuja (2008). Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within. Oxford University Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-19-547660-6.
- Mines, Diane P.; Lamb, Sarah (2002). Everyday Life in South Asia. Indiana University Press. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-253-34080-1.
- Waheed-uz-Zaman; Akhtar, Muhammad Saleem (1993). Islam in South Asia. National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research. ISBN 978-969-415-036-9.
- Roseberry, James Royal (1977). The Administration of Multan, L8l8-l881: A Study of Local Society and Imperial Rule in Punjab. University of Wisconsin.
- Raheja, Gloria Goodwin (1996). "Caste, Colonialism, and the Speech of the Colonized: Entextualization and Disciplinary Control in India". American Ethnologist. 23 (3): 494–513. doi:10.1525/ae.1996.23.3.02a00030. ISSN 0094-0496. JSTOR 646349.
- Tod, James; Crooke, William (1 January 2010). Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (3 Vols): Or the Central and Western Rajput State of India. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0380-0.
- Biographical Encyclopedia of Pakistan: Millennium 2000. Research Institute of Historiography, Biography and Philosophy. 2001.
- Sekhon, Sant Singh; Duggal, Kartar Singh (1992). A History of Punjabi Literature. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-7201-292-2.
- Mirzā, Shafqat Tanvīr (1992). Resistance Themes in Punjabi Literature. Sang-e-Meel Publications. p. 100. ISBN 978-969-35-0101-8.
- Rashid, Haroon (2008). History of the Pathans: The Ghurghushti, Beitani and Matti tribes of Pathans. Haroon Rashid.
- Bhatia, Shyamala (1987). Social Change and Politics in Punjab, 1898-1910. Enkay Publishers. p. 33. ISBN 978-81-85148-13-7.
- Nijjar, Bakhshish Singh (2008). Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India: 900 B.C.-1947 A.D. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 331. ISBN 978-81-269-0908-7.
- Singh, Fauja (1972). History of the Punjab: A.D. 1000-1526. Editor: Fauja Singh. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University.
- Cug̲h̲tāʼī, Muḥammad Ikrām (2006). Babaji: Life and Teachings of Farid-ud Din Ganj-i Shakar. Sang-e- Meel Publications. p. 128. ISBN 978-969-35-1824-5.
- Miraj, Muhammad Hassan (15 April 2013). "Kharal and Berkley". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- 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.
- General, India Office of the Registrar (1968). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.
- 1998 District Census Report of [name of District].: Bahawalnagar. Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 1999. p. 16.
- 1998 District Census Report of [name of District].: Okara. Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 2000. pp. Page 9.
- India. Census Commissioner; Baines, Jervoise Athelstane (1893). Census of India, 1891 : General report. Cornell University Library. London : Printed for the Indian government, by Eyre and Spottiswoode.
- Ahmed, Iftikhar (1984). "TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION OF JATT CASTES IN PUNJAB c. 1595 - c. 1881". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. Indian History Congress. 45: 429. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44140224. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
the Langah, Kharral and Marral, are placed by him in the 'western plains'- whereby is implied the area west of Lahore bue excluding the Salt Range and the submontane tracts
- Ahmed, Iftikhar (1984). "TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION OF JATT CASTES IN PUNJAB c. 1595 - c. 1881". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. Indian History Congress. 45: 430, 432. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44140224. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
They are found in large numbers only along the valley of the Ravi, from its junction with the Chinab to the boundary between Lahore and Montgomery".19 This is already reflected in the sixteenth century Zamindari possessions of the Kharrals : two of the three (identified) parganas listed in our table lie on the banks of the Ravi. Apart from these the Ain mentions five more parganas (unidentified) under the Kharrals, four of which are placed in the Rechna Doab portions of Sarkars Multan and Dipalpur, aad one in Bari Doab (Sarkar Dipalpur)
- Bali, Amar Nath (1969). Glimpses of Punjab's History. New Delhi. p. 65.
A similar change took place in the case of a few other Rajput clans migrating to the Punjab . In course of time , the Chathas , the Sindhus , the Syals , the Kharrals , the Randhawas all became Jats.
- 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.
- Haider, Karim (31 December 2017). "Impact of Politico-economic Changes on the Resettlement of Kharal Tribe in Punjab". Pakistan Social Sciences Review. Fatima Gohar Educational and Welfare Society. 1 (II): 179. doi:10.35484/pssr.2017(1-ii)15. ISSN 2664-0422.
- Miraj, Muhammad Hassan (22 April 2013). "Kharal and Berkley II". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- 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.
- Muhammad Hassan Miraj (1 April 2013). "The ballad of Mirza Saheba'n". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- 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
- 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.