Description of Major Muslim Communities in India: Muslim Kamboh

In this post, I return to the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP), and the Muslim communities that inhabit it. In particular, I will look at the Muslim Kambohs, a Muslim community that is part of the wider Kamboh ethnic group of South Asia. They are also known as Zubairi. The Muslim Kamboh are found mainly in the Rohilkhand and Doab region. They are entirely Sunni and speak Urdu. They are fairly small community, but played a major role in the history of Western Uttar Pradesh. Like the Gujjars and Bhattis discussed in my earlier posts, they are likely to have been immigrants from the Punjab.

Origin

There are a number of different traditions as to the origin of the Kamboh. Some Kamboh claim Afghan origin, others claim Arab origin, while others simply claim to be Muslim converts from the Hindu Kamboh caste.

• Those who claim Indian ancestry claim descent from Raja Sodakhsh of Kamboja, an ancient Indian kingdom. The Rajah was a descendent of the god Chandra Verman, and the Kambojas are referred to in the Mahabharata. They are said to have inhabited Afghanistan, which was known as Kamboja desa, or land of the Kamboh.

• Those who claim Afghan origin, claim to belong to the famous Kayani dynasty of ancient Iran. The word Kamboh is said to be a compound of the word Kai Ambo, after an ancestor. The descendents of this king were known as the Kamboh, and Ghazni in Afghanistan was a centre of their power.

• Those who claim Arab ancestry claim descent from Zubair ibn al-Awam, the first cousin of the Prophet Mohammad. According to this tradition, the original homeland of the Kamboh wasMultan and not Afghanistan.

It seems clear is that most Uttar Pradesh Kamboh have strong traditions of migrating from Punjab. Some groups, such as those of Bareilly claim that they were part of the army of Shahbaz Khan Kamboh, a general in the army of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir. He was asked to pacify a rebellion in Assam, and said to have come from Jalandhar in Punjab. Many in his army were Punjabi Kamboh, who instead of returning to Punjab settled in various locations in western Uttar Pradesh.

The exact circumstances of the Kamboh migration to Uttar Pradesh are unclear. However, towards the end of the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526), we hear increasing references to the Kamboh as playing an important role in the politics. During the Lodhi and Moghul rule. Miyan Jumman Khan Kamboh was “Hajib-i-Khas” (Special Lord of Bed Chamber),Umar Khan Kamboh was Amir-i-Akhur (Minister of Cavalry department)[ and Miyan Ladan Khan Kamboh was an Imam and Royal Nadim of Sikandar Lodhi, Shaikh Itmad-ul-Malik Sambhal was Amir-i-Arz (Paymaster General) and then Prime Minister of Sher Shah Suri. Numerous other Kamboj are known to have occupied very key military and civil positions during Lodhi, Pashtun and the Moghul reign in India. Irfan Habib writes:

The Sayyids and the Kambohs among the Indian Muslims were specially favoured for high military and civil positions during Moghul rule”.
The Kambo, Indian Shaikhzadas and local Saiyid nobles rose to prominence during the period under review” (i.e. Lodi dynasty of Delhi).

According to the historian Muhammad Umar writes:

“The (Muslim) Kamboh distinguished themselves by their courage, generosity and high spirits. They were famous for their excellent manners and were particularly gifted with wisdom and nobility….In terms of social stratification, the Kambohs were counted among the Shaikhs…..Among the Indian Muslims, the Kambohs were regarded as the noblest of all. However, perhaps with a view to maintaining the purity of their descent, or because of pride of nobility, they confined their matrimonial relationships within their own groups and did not establish marriage connections with other Muslim groups including even the Saiyids and the Mughals. Some members of this clan like Shahbaz Khan Kamboh, Nawab Abu Muhammad Khan, Bahadur Khan and Nawab Khair Andesh Khan rose to high positions during the reign of Mughals”

Hindu origin

The tradition of a Hindu origin seems more prevalent among the Kamboh of Saharanpur District. According to tribal myths, they originally  lived about Mathura and were Kshatriyas. When Parasu Rama was slaughtering the Kshatriyas, he found their ancestor Bhup  Rae armed and ready resist. He, therefore, proposed  slaying him; and on Bhup Rae saying that he was not a Kshatriya,Parasu Ram is said to have replied that he was demenour was that of a  Kshatriyas. Bhup Rae at once objected that he was not qaim buu (of any fixed  odour) at all and was saved. He was afterwards was known as Qaimbn,
which gradually got changed into Kamboh. This legend was recorded in the late 19th Century by the ethnologist William Crooke, at the time most Hindu and Sikh Kamboh were making claims to Kshatriya.  What was clear was that both in Punjab, where the majority of Kambohs lived, and in western UP, they were seem by their neighbours as quasi-kshatriya.

 

Those who claim a Hindu origin, claim their conversion to Islam occurred during the early years of Islam in India, one of the groups of this clan embraced Islam at the instance of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi (of Multan) and his son Shaikh Sadruddin. Their tradition refers to their migration from Multan to Saharanpur under during the rule of the Lodhi dynasty. It is interesting that Saharanpur District is also home to a large community of Hindu Kambohs. These Kamboh have largely remained affiliated with agriculture. In this district, they are believed to be one of sub caste of Jatts. This region may be the site of their earliest settlement in Uttar Pradesh.

 

Arab origin

The tradition of an Arab origin is more common among the Kamboh of Etah and Bareilly districts. They generally now prefer to be known as Zubairi. Zubairi literally means in Arabic a descendant of Zubair, and the Zubairi Kamboh claim descent Zubair ibn al-Awam. Zubair ibn al-Awam was the first cousin of the Prophet but was also one of his closest companions. He was known for his valor and bravery and is remembered as the conqueror of Egypt in 19 AH, and embraced martyrdom in 36 AH. Zubair was laid to rest in Basra, near the borders of Kuwait and Iraq. This town was named as Al-Zubair. Zubair had twelve sons and nine daughters. Three of his famous sons were Abdullah, Musab and Urwah. Abdullah was a Muslim caliph at Makkah, Musab was the governor of Kufa in 73 AH and Urwa was the first Muslim historian.

After almost fifty years of the conquest of Sindh by Muhammad Bin Qasim, Zuberis started migrating from Makkah and Medina towards Sindh. Most of them settled at place near modern Dadu. By the end of 4th century AH, Zuberis started migrating from Sindh to Multan. During 14th century AD, portion of Zuberi clan migrated to Delhi. Sheikh Samauddin Zuberi was a famous Sufi who led this migration. Afterwards Zuberi family flourished in Lahore, Panipat, Delhi and Sambhal. During the regime of Mughal Emperor Akbar, Zuberis also settled in Meerut.

Kamboh of Marehra, Etah District

The Kambohs of Marehra in Etah District claim to be Arab descent, and often call themselves Zubairi. There ancestor was Shaikh
Khwajah Imad-ud-din Muhammad , a native of Multan, who was a courtier of the first Mughal Emperor Babur (20 April 1526 – 26 December 1530). Babur appointed him amil (administrator) of Marehra around 1527.In 1542, during the reign of Sher Shah, the Khwaja’s two sons were appointed to the offices of chaudary and kanunjo of the pargana (lowest administrative unit), when theses post were created. These posts remained with the descendants of the original holders until the occupation of country by the British, when the office of was abolished.The Mughal Emperor Akbar conferred the proprietary rights on Marehra to Fateh Khan and Umar Khan, grandsons of the Khwaja. The town was divided into eleven muhallas or wards, the most noteworthy of which was the Kamboh muhalla.

Kamboh of Meerut District

The Muslim Kambohs of Meerut, in Uttar Pradesh have a tradition that they belonged to a distinguished Kamboh family of Ghazni which had come to India in early eleventh century in the invading army of Sulatn Mahmud of Ghazni (rule: 997 AD – 1030 AD). According to their own accounts the name “Kamboh” of the family is derived from that of their original home, Kamboja, the ancient name for Afghanistan. The Muslaman Kambohs of Meerut stated that that one of their ancestors, Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh was the Wazir (minister) of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni and came to India in first decade of eleventh century AD in the army of the Sultan. Their ancestors succeeded in capturing the city of Meerut from Raja Mai of Meerut Hassan Mahmudi Kamboh built the Jama Masjid in the city and around it stand buried the Kamboh heroes from Ghazni who fell in the attack on Meerut. The Masjid was later repaired in 16th century during the rule of Mughal Emperor Humayun. The early members of the Kamboh family built the Sangi Mahal which was later known as Permit House and another elegant palace known as Rangi Mahal– the remains of both these once-elegant palaces are still in existence.

Kamboh of Amroha and Moradabad

The Kambohs of Amroha all claim to come from Afghanistan. They traditionally resided in two mohallahs, the Saddu muhalla Kamboh who were Shia and those of Badshahi Chabutra wo were Sunni. The Saddu muhalla Kambohs claimed descent from from Hakim Imam-ud-din Khan, who arrived in Amroha the end of the eighteenth century from Meerut . The Sunni Kambohs claim descent from Muhtashim Khan, who came to Amroha at a somewhat earlier date. This family is related to the Sunni Kambohs of Moradabad, whose ancestor, Karim Bakhsh arrived in Moradabad from Dehli , during the rule of the Awadh Nawab Asaf-ud-daula. The Awadhi authorities appointed him chakladar . When Awadh rule was replaced by the British in the beginning of the 19th Century, he was made tehsildar. These Moradabad Kambohs were substantial landowners. In addition to the Muslim Kambohs, the old district of Moradabad (now Amroha, Moradabad and Sambhal) was also home to a large community of Hindu Kambohs.

Distribution of Muslim Kamboh in Uttar Pradesh by District According to 1891 Census of India

 

District	Hindu	Muslim
Saharanpur	3,271	689
Muzaffarnagar	920	8
Dehra Dun	290	5
Meerut	760	480
Bulandshahr		11
Aligarh		38
Agra		1
Farrukhabad		67
Mainpuri		2
Etawah		2
Etah		437
Bijnor	274	16
Badaun		11
Moradabad	308	294
Shahjahanpur		19
Kanpur		7
Fatehpur		62
Banda		17
Hamirpur		2
Allahabad		50
Jhansi		24
Jalaun		23
Ghazipur		8
Gorakhpur		6
Basti		13
Nainital	309
Lucknow		9
Sitapur		10
Barabanki		2
Bahraich		9
Total Population in UP	6,222	2,322

 

Description of Major Muslim Communities in India: Muslim Bhumihar / Kamsar Pathan

In this post, I look another major Indian Muslim community, found mainly in eastern Uttar Pradesh and parts of north western Bihar. There preferred self-designation now is Kamsari Pathan, although history they were known as Muslim Babhan, or Muslim Bhumihar. The Kamsari are a community of rural Muslims, who are descended from the Hindu Bhumihar community.

To start off with, I will briefly discuss the origin of the Bhumihar community, from whom the Kamsar trace their descent. The Bhumihars claim Brahmin status, and are also referred to as Bhumihar Brahmin. In Bihar, they are also known as Babhan and they have also been called Bhuinhar. The word Bhumihar is itself of relatively recent origin, first used in the records of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh in 1865. It derives from the word bhoomi (“land”), referring to the caste’s landowner status. The term Bhumihar Brahmin was adopted by the community in the late-19th century to emphasize their claim of belonging to the priestly Brahmin class. The alternate name “Babhan” has been described as a distorted colloquial term for “Brahmin. As with many castes in India, there are numerous myths regarding the origins of the Bhumihar community. One legend claims that their ancestors were Brahmins who were set up to take the place of the Kshatriyas slain by Parashurama but some non-Bhumihars have implied that they are the mixed-race offspring of Brahmin men and Kshatriya women. Other legends state that they are the offspring of a union between Rajput men and Brahmin women, or that they derive from Brahman-Buddhists who lost their high position in Hindu society.

With regards to Ghazipur District, the terms Bhumihar and Rajput are somewhat elastic, since the line of demarcation between these two communities is often extremely vague, both claiming a common origin in several instances, such as the case of the Kamsar Pathans. The Kamsar Pathans, who are found mainly in the Ghazipur District of eastern Uttar Pradesh. According to tribal traditions, they ancestor was a Kam Deo, a Sikarwar Rajput who came from the region of Agra. According to tribal traditions, Kam Deo served in force led by his brother Dham Deo, a leader of four thousand troops and fought alongside Rana Sanga of Mewar, who led a large Rajput alliance against the Mughal Emperor in the battle of Khanwa, a place near Agra in 1527. The Mughals were victorious and the Rajput army was scattered. Dham Deo and his elder brother Kam Deo came down to Ghazipur with their families and followers. The refuges are said to have settled in a territory between Karmnasha and Ganges in what is now Ghazipur district, Dham Deo and his followers settled in Gahmar, while Kam Deo settled in Zamania. Kam Deo’s descendants intermarried with other settled Bhumihars in the region, and founded the clan of Kinwar Bhumihars.
Subsequent to their arrival, both brothers and their followers entered into the service of Tikam Deo, the Cheru tribal chieftain of Birpur and eventually overthrew him, seizing his capital and occupying his estate At the time of the arrival of the refugees, the Cheru were said to be the rulers of most of Ghazipur. After a couple of generation, the community split into three main branches; after the founders Rajdhar Rai, Mukund Rai, and Pithaur Rai. Rajdhar Rai captured Birpur and one of his subdivisions settled in the Bara taluka of Zamania, and converted to Islam. There is however some dispute as to when the conversion to Islam. According to some traditions, the conversion occurred during the period of Lodhi rule over Ghazipur district, while others traditions point to a much later date during the rule of Sher Shah Suri. The first to convert to Islam was a Narhar Dev, later called Narhar Khan after his accepting of Islam.

The Kamsari are now mainly a community of peasant cultivators, but historically were in possession of most of the Bara of Ghazipur District. They speak Bhojpuri, although most also understand Urdu. The Kamsar now occupy a compact territory near the town of Bara, between the Ganges river and the Bihar state border. The most important settlement in Kamsar region of Dildarnagar Kamsar. Each of their settlement contains an informal caste council known as a panchayat, which enforces communal norms as well as resolving intra-community disputes. This region is also known as Kamsar-O-Bar, and the following villages Usia, Rakasaha, Tajpur Kurrah, Gorasara, Mania, Khajuri, Kusi, Bhaksi, Jaburna, Dewaitha, Fufuao, Bahuara, Saraila, Chitarkoni, Akhini come in the Bar sub region. Other then the Kamsar, there are several lineages of Muslim Bhumihar found in Munger and Muzaffarpur of Bihar, where they are called as Diwani Pathan.

Naipal and Wattu tribes

In this post, I will look at two communities of Punjabi Muslims, namely the Naipal and Wattu, that were found along the banks of the Sutlej, in what is now Okara, Kasur and Bahawalnagar districts in Pakistan, and Ferozepur in India. After the partition of Punjab in 1947, the Wattu and Naipal of Ferozepur immigrated to Pakistan. Both these tribes connect themselves to the Bhatti, and like them were largely pastoral until the arrival of the British in the 19th Century.

Naipal

I start with the very localized tribe of the Naipal, who were found entirely Ferozepur District. The Naipal clan get their name from Naipal, son of Bhuni, who belonged to the Bhatti tribe, were historically found on the Sutlej just north of the city Ferozepur. They came from Sirsa in the reign of Muhammad Shah (ruler 1719-1748), and once held the river valley as far down as that town, but were driven higher up by the Dogars, and in the Naipal in turn expelled the Gujars. Sometime during the middle of the 18th Century, the Naipals occupied the Makhu ilaqa, then probably a complete waste. It is said to have been named Makkah by a faqir, one Muhammad, who had been there, but its name was corrupted into Makhu. Like their neighbours, the Dogar, Gujjar and Wattu, they were largely pastoral.

By middle of the 18th Century, Mugha1 authority had collapsed in the Sutlej valley and the Naipals became independent until Jassa Singh, the Ahluwalia (1718-1783), chief of Kapurthala took possession of their territory around 1770, and established a thana at Makhu and created the ilaqa of that name. By the early 19th Century, Ahluwalia rule was replaced by the British. Groups of the Naipal began to immigrate to the Ahluwalia ruled Kapurthala State, establishing their settlement in 1857. The Naipal were almost independent under the Ahluwalia rulers, and to have paid a small rent in kind only when the kardar was strong enough to compel them to it, which has not often the case.

By the mid 19th Century, the Naipal were settled as farmers, and began to intermarry neighbouring Muslim Jat tribes such as the Sidhu. They have lost more of their Hindu origin than either the Dogars or Gujars, and in their marriage connections they follow the Muslim law, near blood relations being permitted to enter into the marriage. Most Naipals were owner cultivators, almost every member of the tribe holding land in ownership, and not cultivating it under a few tribal chiefs as tenants, like their neighbours the Dogars.
At the time of partition in 1947, the Naipal territory was allocated to India, leading to the migration of the entire tribe to Pakistan Punjab.

Wattoo

The Wattoo, sometines writen as Wattu, are one of the main Rajput tribes of the Sutlej valley, who are closely connected to the Bhatti. Their historic homeland lay adjacent to Bhattiana, the region that now forms parts of Hissar, Sirsa and Ferozpur. Like other Punjabi tribes, the Watto have several origin myths.

In the old Sirsa territory, modern day western Haryana, the Wattoo traditions refer to a Raja Junher, a descendant of the Bhatti Raja Salvahan of Sialkot, was settled in Bhatner, wher he had two sons Achal and Batera, who were.was settled in Bhatner. The descendants of Batera include the Sidhu and Barar Jats. The former again had two sons Jaipal and Raipal, of whom Jaipal was the ancestor of the Bhatti proper, and Raipal of the Wattoo. The Wattoo are said to have been converted to Islam by Baba Farid, during the rule of their chief Khiwa, who ruled at Haveli in Okara, and was succeeded by the famous Wattu chief, Lakhe Khan. Wattoo territory at the beginning of the 19th Century included lands on both banks of the Sutlej in the Sirsa district, and the adjoining parts of Montgomery and Bahawalpur state, from Baggehi 16 miles above Fazilka, to Phulahi 70 miles below it. Above them was the territory of the Dogars, below them the Joiya. In the late 18th Century, after the Chalissa famine, the Wattoo left what is now Okara and settled in the lands of Sirsa and Rania, which was ruled by Bhatti Nawabs. This migration occurred under the leadership Fazil Dalel Rana. Another branch moved into what is Bahawalnagar District. In the Sutlej valley, the Wattoo were the most important group of Hitharis. Other groups also began to move into the Ravi river valley clashing with both the Kharals and Bhattis of the Bhatiore.

Another Wattoo traditions makes them descendants of Rajah Salvahan son Pital, who quarrelled with hie brothers and went th Bhatner (now known as Hanumangarh) in Rajasthan. Twelve generatione later Adham, owing to a feud with tho Panwar Rajputs, immigrated into the
Punjab and earned his title of Wattoo by subduing the pride of that race.The word watt or vat has various meanings, and Wattoo very likely meens a borderer. The Wattoos have a number of clans (muhins), e.g. Ladhoka, Bazidke,
Salim-Shahi, etc, all named after a particular ancestor.The principal clans of the Wattoos in Bahawalpur are:

i) Salim-ke (I) Qaim-ke, (2) Amruke, (3) Bare-ke.
ii. Sahru, with a sub-sept Darweshke.
iii. Gaddhoke, (1) Ratte-ke, (2) Bithe-ke, (3) Dhaddi-ke, (4) Daddd-ke.
iv. Rahmanke
v. Malike
vi. Miana
viii Jasoke
ix. Ahloke

The Wattoo were pastoralist par excellence, and this shown by a quote by the colonial ethnographer W.E. Purser:

priding themselves upon their politeness and hospitality. They are of only moderate industry, profuse in expenditure on special occasions, indifferent to education and exceedingly fond of cattle

In Bahhwalpur they have a different origin, with the Wattoos originally coming from Jaisalmeer and settled in the Punjab, advancing as far as Batala, which according to this tradition they founded. They then dispersed along both banks of the Sutlej. Their conversion to Islam occurred during the rule of Firoz Shah Tughlak (1351 to 1388) after which period they were incorporated into the Sultanate of Delhi. With the collapse of Muslim rule, the Wattoo suffered greatly at the hands of Sidhu-Bar Sikhs to whom they remained tributary until Nawab Muhammad Bahawal Khan II (4 June 1772 – 13 August 1809) expelled the Sidhu-Barars from the Wattu territory and annexed it to Bahawalpur.

Prior to the partition of India, there were sizeable colonies in Fazilka in what is now Punjab, India and Sirsa in what is now Haryana. All of these communities migrated to Pakistan in 1947.

The Wattoo tribe is now found in the following districts; Okara District, Pakpattan District, Bahawalnagar District, Shekhupura District, Multan District, and Nankana Sahib District.

Description of Major Muslim Communities in India: Bhale Sultan

In this post, I stick with the state of Uttar Pradesh, and look at the Bhale Sultans, a community of Khanzadas found in Uttar Pradesh. There name is a combinationation of the Sanskrit, Bhala, a kind of arrow or spear and the Arabic word Sultan meaning lord. The Bhala in medieval India was a type of spear given only to army commanders, and possession signified leadership. So technically, any army commander was a Bhale Sultan, but the title is now restricted to a specific community of Hindu Thakurs and Muslim Khanzadas found in the Awadh region and Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. In fact, when we talk of the Bhale Sultan, we are really talking about two distinct communities, those of Bulandshahr and those of Awadh, each with their own origin myths. In the introduction to my article on the Ahbans, I discuss the exact meaning of the word Khanzada, and I ask the reader to look at that post.

Bhale Sultan of Bulandshahr

In Bulandshahr, the Bhale Sultans are found mainly in villages around the ancient town of Khurja. According to tribal traditions, there ancestor was Sidhrao Jai Sinh, a Solanki Rajput of Anhilwada Pattan in what is now Gujarat. A descendent of Sidhrao, Sarang Deo, a nephew of the then Solanki Raja of Gujarat, settled in the ancient city of Baran (now known as Bulandshahr), which was then part of a principality ruled by the Dor clan of Rajputs. These Solanki were then granted an estate of eight villages by Prithvi Raj Chauhan, as a reward for services rendered during the Mahoba war. Most of the country was inhabited by the Meo community, who Sarang Deo and his followers conquered. His grandson, Hamir Singh, obtained from Shah ab-ud-din Ghori the title of Bhala Sultan or lord of the lance.” From then on the clan became known as Bhale Sultan. Kirat Singh was seventh in descent from Hamir Singh, and his descendant, Khan Chand, seven generations later, converted to Islam during the rule of Khizr Khan and took the name of Malha Khan. His son, Lad Khan and his nephew, Narpat Singh, who divided the property between them, moved from their homes at Arniyan and Kakaur to Khurja during the reign of Akbar and received the office of Chaudhri. Over time, the Bhale Sultan, both the Muslim branch descended from Lad Khan and Hindu branch descended from Narpat Singh became effective rulers of Khurja. At their height, the Muslim branch owned forty-four villages and the Hindus of the same clan thirty-two villages and-a-half. However, with rise of Kheshgi Pathans of Khurja, the Bhale Sultan power declined, with further losses when the British conquered the Doab in the early 19th Century.

Bhale Sultan of Awadh

In Awadh, there are several communities of Bhale Sultans, each with their own origin myths. The most important are those communities found in Faizabad and Sultanpur.

Among the Bhala Sultan of Sultanpur, there is a tradition that four hundred years ago Rai Barar, son of Amba Rai, brother of the then Raja of Morarmau, commanded a troop of cavalry recruited entirely from the Bais clan in the service of the Mughals, and was deputed to exterminate the trouble sum Bhars (an indigenous community) in the Isauli Pargana in present day Sultanpur District. Having accomplished his task, he returned to Delhi and presented himself at the head of his troop before the Emperor, who, struck with their manly bearing, exclaimed, “Aao, Bhale Sultan” meaning “come, spear of the Sultan”. Palhan Deo, great grandson of Rai Barar, is said to have been converted to Islam during the rule of Sher Shah Suri. From this branch of the Bhale Sultan descended the taluqdar families of Deogaon, Mahona and Unchgaon. In addition, the more minor Muslim Bhale Sultan formed the main landowning group in the north-west corner of Sultanpur district, then forming the parganas of Isauli, Musafirkhana and Jagdispur

In Faizabad, the Bhale Sultan claim descent from Rao Mardan Sinh, who is said to be a Bais Rajput, of Dundiya Khera, who was a horse-dealer by profession. During a visit Gajanpur, in Isauli Pargana, of the Sultanpur District, where there was a fort of the Rajbhars, which the Thakur is said to have captured. His son, Rao Barar, entered the service of the Sultan of Delhi, and as he was a good horseman and clever spearman, he obtained the title of Bhale Sultan. One of his descendants, Baram Deo, obtained the title Khanzada from a Sultan of Delhi, and from that period his descendants have been called Khanzada.

While a little known tradition, in Rae Bareli claims that they were Ahirs who were raised to the rank of Rajputs by Tilok Chand, a legendary figure in Awadh history.

Distribution of Bhale Sultans by District According to 1891 Census of India

District	Hindu	Muslim
Saharanpur	17	27
Meerut	20
Bulandshahr	6,370	4,790
Agra	59	3
Farrukhabad	9	6
Mainpuri	36
Badaun	11
Shahjahanpur		9
Pilibhit	19	4
Kanpur	11	75
Fatehpur	3
Banda		1
Allahabad	824	18
Lalitpur	2	2
Benaras	15	86
Jaunpur	25	3
Ghazipur		7
Gorakhpur	35	64
Basti	155	53
Azamgarh	122	29
Lucknow	17	283
Unnao	5	38
Rae Bareli	377	372
Sitapur	20	23
Lakhimpur Kheri	3	108
Faizabad	757	687
Gonda	406	352
Bahraich	108	271
Sultanpur	8,016	4,607
Partapgarh	49	17
Barabanki	329	735
Total Population in UP	17,320	12,670

 

Population of Muslim Jat Clans of British Punjab According to the 1901 Census of India

Bellow is a breakdown of the larger Jat clans by population. I would also the reader to look at my posts Population of Muslim Jat Clans of British Punjab According to the 1891 Census of India/ and Major Muslim Jat clans, which gives a brief description of the main clans.

 

Tribe	Population	Distribution
Wariach	58,936	Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sialkot, Lahore and Amritsar
Cheema	39,358	Patiala, Lahore, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat and Chenab Colony
Bajwa	27,609	Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Jallandhar and Patiala State
Chandhar/ Chadhar	27,422	Montgomery, Amritsar, Firuzpur, Lahore, Jhang, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali, Multan, Jhelum, Shahpur and Chenab Colony
Sandhu	25,786	Hissar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Montgomery, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Amritsar, Shahpur (Sargodha), Chenab Colony, Jhang and Multan
Tarar	25,606	Lahore, Gujrat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Jhelum and Chenab Colony
Gill	19,894	Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Firuzpur, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Chenab Colony
Virk	19,703	Gujranwala, Chenab Colony, Gujrat, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sialkot, Lahore and Amritsar
Ghumman	16,893	Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Chenab Colony
Hanjra	15,892	Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Montgomery, Shahpur, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Chenab Colony
Bains	14,398	Ambala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Shahpur, Chenab Colony, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan
Bhutta	14,208	Shahpur, Jhelum, Mianwali, Multan and Chenab Colony
Goraya	14,076	Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Chenab Colony
Bhatti	13,682	Shahpur, Jhelum, Mianwali and Chenab Colony
Langrial	12,960	Sialkot, Gujrat and Multan
Dhillon	12.913	Ambala, Hissar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot Mianwali, and Chenab Colony
Sipra	12,558	Patiala, Montgomery, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur (Sargodha), Chenab Colony, Jhang, Multan and Bahawalpur
Heer	11,839	Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Montgomery, Shahpur, Mianwali, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Chenab Colony
Soomra / Samra	11,509	Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur
Chatha	11,483	Patiala, Lahore, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat and Chenab Colony
Sahi	11,478	Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Gujrat, Jhelum and Sialkot
Sidhu	11,322	Hissar, Jallandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Sialkot, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat and Chenab Colony
Parhar	11,099	Shahpur, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan
Thaheem	11,023	Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan
Kahlon	10,809	Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Chenab Colony
Langah	10,808	Shahpur, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, Multan and Bahawalpur
Harral	10,599	Gujranwala, Shahpur, Mianwali, Gujrat, Jhang, and Chenab Colony
Chachar	10,079	Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan
Randhawa	9,617	Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot
Chhina	8,492	Lahore, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Chenab Colony and Dera Ghazi Khan
Panwar or Puar	7,900	Bahawalpur and Firuzpur
Chelar	7,529	Bahawalpur
Babbar	6,657	Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh
Kang	6,580	Patiala, Lahore, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Multan, Muzaffargarh and Chenab Colony
Sandhel	6,215	Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur
Maan	5,939	Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Chenab Colony
Aulakh	5,838	Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Amritsar, and Jallandhar
Sarai	5,746	Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Ambala and Jallandhar
Janjua	5,394	Mianwali, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan
Jodhra	5,157	Attock
Mangat	5000	Patiala, Ludhiana, Gujrat, Gujranwala and Sialkot
Autrah	4,962	Multan, Mianwali and Muzaffargarh
Ghallu	4.906	Multan, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur
Buttar	4,923	Dera Ghazi Khan, Ludhiana, Firuzpur, Lahore, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala and Sialkot
Dhariwal	4,884	Ambala, Hissar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Chenab Colony
Chahal	4,466	Ambala, Ludhiana, Firuzpur, Amritsar, Lahore, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Chenab Colony
Sahu	4,294	Multan and Muzaffargarh
Dosanjh	4,198	Kapurthala and Jalandhar
Sial	4,169	Rawalpindi and Mianwali
Jakhar	4,165	Hissar, Firuzpur, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Montgomery, and Multan
Lak	3,971	Shahpur, Jhang, Chenab Colony, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan
Bhullar	3,905	Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Lahore
Naij	3,894	Bahawalpur
Bohar	3,833	Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan
Khaki	3,801	Multan, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur
Khokhar	3,735	Gujranwala
Malana	3,609	Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan
Dahya	3,602	Ambala, Bahawalpur, Hissar, Karnal, Rohtak and Delhi
Mohana	3,591	Dera Ghazi Khan
Deo / Dev	3,549	Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Mianwali and Chenab Colony
Lodike	3,269	Gujranwala
Malak	3,264	Bahawalpur
Atwal	3,200	Jalandhar and Amritsar
Lali	3,137	Shahpur and Jhang
Samma	3,084	Bahawalpur
Kharal	3,046	Gujranwala
Kalru	2,956	Multan and Muzaffargarh
Kanyal	2,944	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Khera or Khaira	2,942	Lahore, Amritsar and Sialkot
Sahotra	2,805	Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Chenab Colony
Maitla	2,765	Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan
Phor	2,738	Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan
Lakaul	2,675	Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan
Dhotar	2,545	Gujranwala and Gujrat
Gondal	2,508	Jhelum, Rawalpindi and Chenab Colony
Bassi	2,449	Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Sohal	2,383	Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Sialkot
Sangi	2,338	Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Firuzpur and Kapurthala
Naul	2,311	Jhang
Aura	2,329	Rawalpindi
Kalasra	2,284	Mianwali and Muzaffargarh
Bahiniwal / Wahiniwal	2,227	Montgomery, Hissar, Rohtak and Firuzpur
Daha	2,222	Muzaffargarh, Multan and Bahawalpur
Dhamial	2,209	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Johal	2,199	Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Chenab Colony
Nonari	2,086	Multan, Muzaffargarh, Montgomery and Bahawalpur
Channar	1,959	Multan and Bahawalpur
Lang	1,873	Multan
Mahil	1,861	Ambala, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar
Nanwai	1,833	Bahawalpur
Uttera	1,817	Multan and Bahawalpur
Kalial	1,791	Rawalpindi
Sudhan	1,765	Rawalpindi
Pannun	1,752	Amritsar, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Chenab Colony
Chhajra	1,648	Dera Ghazi Khan
Barra	1,597	Dera Ghazi Khan
Bhachar	1,588	Mianwali
Jakhlan	1,584	Dera Ghazi Khan
Kalwar	1,582	Bahawalpur
Khatreel	1,578	Rawalpindi
Rehan	1,573	Jhang and Shahpur
Hans	1,542	Multan, Muzaffargarh and Montgomery
Waseer	1,513	Chenab Colony
Jhammat	1,508	Mianwali and Jhelum
Turk	1,499	Mianwali
Kohawer	1,487	Mianwali
Kahka	1,453	Bahawalpur
Gandhi	1,452	Mianwali
Bal	1,439	Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Lahore, Jalandhar and Ludhiana
Marral or Marhal	1,434	Karnal, Patiala and Jhang
Sahmal	1,417	Jhang and Chenab Colony
Tulla	1,403	Sargodha
Asar	1,400	Mianwali
Sanda	1,398	Bahawalpur and Mianwali
Gilotar	1,394	Jhang
Dumra	1,357	Mianwali and Dera Ghazi Khan
Turkhel	1,344	Mianwali
Sekhon	1,335	Gujranwala
Kahu	1,331	Chenab Colony
Dahar / Dahiri	1,327	Bahawalpur
Kalu	1,301	Mianwali
Kalu	1,301	Mianwali
Jhullan	1,285	Bahawalpur
Lohanch	1,275	Mianwali and Muzaffargarh
Wagha	1,273	Chenab Colony
Rawn	1,213	Multan
Bhidwal	1,207	Mianwali
Hanbi	1,207	Dera Ghazi Khan
Bhangu	1,186	Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Chenab Colony
Khandoa	1,168	Mianwali
Chaudhari	1,162	Bahawalpur
Ser	1,144	Mianwali
Uttra	1,145	Mianwali
Kalyar	1,123	Multan
Rawn	1,212	Multan
Talokar	1,096	Mianwali
Jhawari	1,092	Shahpur
Mahe	1,050	Multan
Ganja	1,047	Bahawalpur
Tonwar / Tomar	1,038	Bahawalpur
Dhindsa	1,032	Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Chenab Colony
Kachela	1,010	Multan
Samtia	1,007	Mianwali
Joiya	993	Bahawalpur, Firuzpur and Mianwali
Duran	977	Bahawalpur
Panjootha	966	Shahpur
Grewal	965	Ludhiana
Dhudhi	965	Mianwali
Dhandla	929	Dera Ghazi Khan
Bhaya	923	Bahawalpur
Kajla	922	Dera Ghazi Khan
Hidan	915	Jhang
Dab	908	Jhang
Bar	899	Chenab Colony
Minhas	824	Jhelum
Dakah	823	Bahawalpur
Gorchhar	807	Mianwali
Shajra	796	Multan and Bahawlpur
Bhumla	793	Mianwali
Lar	778	Multan and Muzaffargarh
Mahaar	773	Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur
Kanera	765	Dera Ghazi Khan
Wahla	756	Chenab Colony
Kalhora	725	Bahawalpur
Panuhan	723	Multan
Jora	718	Shahpur
Jappa	706	Jhang
Jatal	703	Rawalpindi
Kolar	661	Bahawalpur
Burana	657	Shahpur
Khichi	651	Bahawalpur
Mahesar	648	Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur
Baghial	647	Rawalpindi
Dhandhu	643	Bahawalpur
Khombra	637	Bahawalpur
Dhamtal	635	Rawalpindi
Manela	628	Bahawalpur
Kanju	626	Multan
Raad	618	Multan
Khatti	612	Dera Ghazi Khan
Butta	610	Chenab Colony
Rajoke	607	Chenab Colony
Mial or Miyal	599	Rawalpindi
Maghial	596	Rawalpindi
Bhakral	585	Jhelum
Pawania	581	Karnal, Hissar and Firuzpur
Lodhra	580	Multan
Pawania	576	Hissar, Karnal and Rohtak
Bedha	572	Mianwali
Masson	563	Bahawalpur
Nissowana	560	Shahpur and Jhang
Ghatwala or Malik	556	Hissar, Karnal, Rohtak and Delhi
Marath	549	Shahpur
Sanghera	544	Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Basra	540	Gurdaspur and Sialkot
Thathaal	534	Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Sialkot
Murali	526	Jhang
Khal	512	Bahawalpur
Bipar	508	Bahawalpur
Dharal	499	Mianwali
Burara	498	Bahawalpur
Kohadar	496	Bahawalpur
Badhan	494	Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Sialkot
Magrial	486	Rawalpindi
Chan	479	Muzaffargarh
Bhutt	475	Bahawalpur
Makwal	473	Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur
Sutera	468	Bahawalpur
Sehwag	462	Karnal and Rohtak
Dasa	459	Bahawalpur
Nain	456	Karnal, Rohtak and Delhi
Jaam	448	Bahawalpur
Sagoo	445	Shahpur (Sargodha)
Rak	435	Multan
Khalne	412	Bahawalpur
Wattu	411	Chenab Colony
Sandi	410	Mianwali
Jhar	402	Dera Ghazi Khan
Deshwal / Deswal	400	Hissar, Gurgaon, Karnal, Rohtak and Delhi
Khar	389	Muzaffargarh
Jaj	382	Chenab Colony
Noon	377	Multan
Dhal	374	Shahpur
Mohal	373	Montgomery and Bahawalpur
Budhwana	366	Mianwali
Rathi	363	Karnal, Rohtak and Delhi
Chauhan	361	Lahore and Amritsar
Gahora	352	Bahawalpur
Gaun	349	Multan
Manais	332	Montgomery
Sahgra	331	Multan
Unnar	329	Bahawalpur
Toor	329	Patiala State
Gangal	325	Rawalpindi
Kathia	320	Montgomery
Matyal	314	Rawalpindi
Athangal	308	Multan
Sarah	300	Firuzpur,
Dona	290	Multan
Kont	288	Bahawalpur
Siroha	281	Rohtak
Mahota	277	Multan
Bucha	275	Multan
Bhagiara	270	Rawalpindi
Gawanis	262	Chenab Colony
Wawana	258	Mianwali
Kalasan	252	Jhang
Jhak	246	Bahawalpur
Hurgan	236	Shahpur
Chauhan-Hamshira	233	Bahawalpur
Tama	231	Jhelum
Hundal	230	Amritsar and Chenab Colony
Mangral	226	Rawalpindi
Hattial	222	Rawalpindi
Suddle	221	Multan
Khehi	219	Bahawalpur
Kudhan	216	Jhang
Kassar	216	Jhelum
Rawana	215	Mianwali
Salhal	215	Rawalpindi
Mangon	204	Jhang
Kasra	204	Jhang
Bhindar	194	Gujranwala
Harrial	194	Rawalpindi
Nehon	184	Bahawalpur
Atar Khel	181	Mianwali
Waghora	173	Mianwali
Godara	170	Karnal, Rohtak and Delhi
Phira	170	Rawalpindi
Pala Khel	169	Mianwali
Balani	167	Chenab Colony
Pandah	165	Multan
Des	158	Mianwali
Markhand	155	Bahawalpur
Hannial	155	Rawalpindi
Mundra	150	Rawalpindi
Targar	150	Jhang
Matmal	149	Jhang
Dagur	148	Gurgaon, Rohtak and Delhi
Kalu Khel	147	Mianwali
Lidhar	141	Amritsar and Chenab Colony
Gallat	138	Rohtak
Phal	135	Rawalpindi
Walana	132	Rawalpindi
Sian	131	Chenab Colony
Birkan	130	Mianwali
Chal	123	Multan
Sangah	123	Bahawalpur
Tatla	117	Chenab Colony
Sahrawat	108	Karnal, Rohtak and Gurgaon
Hasnana	104	Jhang
Khalis	102	Rawalpindi
Narwal	101	Karnal
Dalal	97	Hissar, Gurgaon, Rohtak and Delhi
Bandecha	90	Lahore
Chandhran	76	Multan
Kookara	55	Jhang
Ahlawat	48	Rohtak
Baidwan	47	Ambala
Rohal	44	Karnal and Rohtak
Dhankar	42	Delhi and Rohtak
Sheoran	37	Hissar and Karnal
Salakhlan	25	Rohtak
Gulia	17	Rohtak and Delhi
Sethi	14	Ludhiana
Boparai	13	Ludhiana
Aujla	Malerkotla	11
Kadian	11	Karnal

 

Population of Muslim Jat Clans of British Punjab According to the 1911 Census of India

Bellow is a breakdown of the larger Jat clans by population. I would also the reader to look at my post Major Muslim Jat clans, which gives a brief description of the main clans.

 

Tribe	Population	Distribution
Wariach	66,392	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujrat, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Gondal	62,320	Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujrat, Jhelum, Lahore, Sargodha and Rawalpindi
Cheema	37,076	Multam, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Sargodha, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Bhatti	35,289	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Ambala, Lahore, Sahiwal / Okara, Jhelum, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Sargodha, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Khokhar	33,032	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Okara, Lahore and Hissar
Sandhu	32,632	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh,Gujrat, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargo dha, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Kharal	24,702	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal / Okara, Lahore, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Gujranwala, Sargodha
Bajwa	23,501	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Sargodha, Lahore, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Gill	22,861	Multan, Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gujtanwala, Lahore, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Tarar	22,351	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh,Lahore, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Sialkot and Sargodha
Sial	21,251	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh,Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Gujrat, Jhelum, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Lahore and Rawalpindi
Chadhar/Chandher	19,396	Multan, Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Gujrat, Jhelum, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, Sargodha, Lahore, Amritsar, and Firuzpur
Bhutta	17,306	Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Jhelum, Sargodha
Virk	16,153	Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh,Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar
Ghumman	13,826	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Hanjra	12,844	Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar
Joiya	12,044	Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Firuzpur, Sahiwal /Okara, Lahore, Sargodha, Mianwali / Bhakkar
Kahlon	11,942	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gurdaspur Amritsar, and Jalandhar
Chachar	11,783	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan
Dhillon	11,561	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Ambala, Ludhiana,Lahore, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Sialkot
Bains /Waince	11,487	Multan, Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujrat, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Jhelum, Sargodha, Ambala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Chhina	10,424	Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh,Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Sargodha, Mianwali / Bhakkar,Rawalpindi, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, and Jalandhar
Thaheem	10,088	Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Sargodha, Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan and Multan
Khichi	10,067	Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Sargodha and Multan
Harral	9,553	Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Jhelum, Sargodha and Gujranwala
Randhawa	9,261	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Goraya	8,707	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sargodha, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar
Panwar or Puar	8,568	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan
Nonari	8,236	Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh,Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Muzaffargarh / Layyah and Multan
Sahi	7,947	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Lahore, Gujrat, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Sidhu	7,856	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Langah	7,766	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Sargodha, Mianwali / Bhakkar and Multan
Soomra	7,742	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali and Multan
Thathaal	7,550	Gujrat, Sialkot, Jhelum, Gurdaspur and Rawalpindi
Ranjha	7,536	Sargodha
Bulla	6,691	Multan
Babbar	6,657	Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh
Noon	6,493	Multan, Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, and Sargodha – most Noon in Sargodha declared themselves to be Rajput
Awan	6,232	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Gurdaspur and Lahore
Dhamial	6,232	Jhelum and Rawalpindi
Daha	6,041	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh
Heer	6,013	Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Sialkot, Lahore, Gujrat, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Sargodha, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Chatha	5,963	Multan, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Muzaffargarh, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Sipra	5,886	Jhang, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Gujranwala and Multan
Lak	5,803	Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha
Mekan	5,435	Sargodha
Ghallu	5,313	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali
Bohar	5,308	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan,Dera Ghazi Khan
Bab	5,257	Dera Ghazi Khan
Parhar	5,118	Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargah, Jhang, Bhakkar, Sargodha and Multan
Bassi	5,090	Kapurthala and Jalandhar
Maan	4,955	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Lahore, Hissar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Dhudhi	4,903	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Jhelum, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Sargodha
Langrial	4,489	Multan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Gujrat
Mahra	4,810	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang and Multan
Bangial	4,798	Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Gujrat
Dhariwal	4,449	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Ambala, Amritsar, Gujranwala, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Ludhiana, Sialkot Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Naich	4,379	Dera Ghazi Khan
Manjotha	4,348	Dera Ghazi Khan
Mahaar	4,277	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan,Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan
Aulakh	4,245	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Mianwali, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Malak	4,042	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Basra	4,041	Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar
Jhammat	4,030	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Mianwali / Bhakkar, Jhelum
Chahal	4,024	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Ambala, Lahore, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Khera or Khaira	3,958	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Chauhan	3,910	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Gujrat, Lahore and Patiala State
Kang	3,887	Ambala, Amritsar, Gujrat, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh / Layyah, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Sialkot
Sahu	3,864	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Muzaffargarh
Maij	3,786	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Mallana	3,771	Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali
Sandhila	4,566	Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali and Multan
Chaughata	3,728	Multan and Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Kanyal	3,527	Mianwali / Bhakkar, Jhelum and Rawalpindi
Kalyal	3,168	Jhelum and Rawalpindi
Bilar	3,147	Multan
Buttar	3,067	Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Sahotra	3,035	Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Ambala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Targar	3,011	Mianwali
Mangat	2,962	Ambala, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Sujal	2,954	Sargodha
Janjua	2,876	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali / Bhakkar,Muzaffargarh / Layyah, Hoshiarpur and Patiala State – most Janjua declared themselves as Rajputs
Sarai	2,827	Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Lang	2,715	Multan
Lakaul	2,675	Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh
Lodike	2,675	Gujranwala
Rawn	2,616	Multan
Hans	2,573	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan
Khak	3,161	Multan, Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Bhullar	2,544	Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Kachela	2,517	Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan
Wehi	2,509	Multan
Arar	2,478	Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Mianwali / Bhakkar
Dosanjh	2,473	Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Atwal	2,430	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Ambala, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Khakhi	2,418	Muzaffargarh and Multan
Kallu	2,403	Mianwali / Bhakkar, Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Uttera	2,392	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan and Lodhran
Jajularu	2,379	Multan
Asar	2,352	Mianwali
Lali	2,324	Jhang, Sargodha
Dhaku	2,295	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan,Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Sargodha
Lurka	2,288	Faisalabad
Waseer	2,266	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh and Multan
Auler Khel	2,244	Mianwali
Rajoke	2,243	Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh
Dhal	2,210	Mianwali / Bhakkar, Sargodha
Arain	2,192	Multan
Bhakral	2,147	Jhelum
Chapal	2,120	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Jakhar	2,275	Multan, Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan, Mianwali/ Bhakkar, Firuzpur, and Hissar
Lona	2,062	Jhang, Faisalabad
Sambar	2,030	Dera Ghazi Khan
Khatril	2,004	Rawalpindi
Sohal	1,985	Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Sargodha, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Deo	1,961	Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Barra	1,927	Dera Ghazi Khan
Aulara	1,915	Mianwali
Pannun	1,914	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Lahore, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Rehan	1,880	Sargodha
Khar	1,853	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Mianwali, Bhakkar/Layyah
Nanwa	1,833	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Nagyal	1,830	Jhelum
Bhasa	1,829	Multan
Raya	1,790	Jhelum
Bhachar	1,719	Mianwali
Marral	1,705	Jhang,Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Changar	1,704	Faisalabad and Dera Ghazi Khan
Wattu	1,695	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh
Tonwar / Tomar	1,691	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan – outside Bahawalpur almost all the Tonwar declared themselves as Rajput
Kalsan	1,690	Jhang, Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan
Wahla	1,688	Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Panwat	1,676	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Jammun	1,657	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Malil	1,633	Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan
Larsan	1,609	Multan
Jajalani	1,571	Dera Ghazi Khan
Makwal	1,564	Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Bhamb	1,552	Sargodha
Chhajra	1,507	Mianwali and Dera Ghazi Khan
Gilotar	1,497	Jhang
Kalru	1,488	Muzaffargarh
Mahun	1,471	Jhang
Jora	1,457	Mianwali / Bhakkar, Sargodha
Dahya	1,391	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Hissar, Ambala – most Dahya declared themselves as Rajputs
Kundi	1,338	Mianwali
Wasli	1,327	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh and Multan
Tulla	1,311	Sargodha
Dahar or Dahiri	1,307	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Dakhna	1,303	Dera Ghazi Khan
Kalasra	1,281	Muzaffargarh
Talokar	1,274	Mianwali
Kalwar	1,271	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan – outside Bahawalpur most Kalwar registered themselves as a seperate caste
Gujar	1,265	Jhang
Mekan	1,229	Jhelum
Bhidwal	1,295	Mianwali
Jhullan	1,285	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Parohe	1,253	Multan
Nourangi	1,247	Multan
Bahiniwal	1,225	Hissar, Karnal and Rohtak
Dawana	1,210	Multan
Chani	1,204	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan
Khatarmal	1,184	Jhelum
Bagwar	1,179	Multan
Ghagar	1,177	Multan
Mahla	1,160	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Sangi	1,159	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Matyal	1,147	Jhelum
Khinger	1,146	Jhelum
Tatri	1,122	Sargodha
Johal	1,115	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Aheer	1,101	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha
Jhawari	1,092	Sargodha
Sadraj	1,091	Multan
Bar	1,084	Faisalabad
Dhar	1,074	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Samma	1,072	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Kanera	1,071	Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali
Aishiani	1,058	Dera Ghazi Khan
Khat	1,055	Sargodha
Gorchhi	1,054	Mianwali
Gangal	1,049	Jhelum
Gauja	1,047	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Kudhan	1,045	Jhang
Pansota	1,041	Faisalabad
Dara	1,040	Multan
Kalhora	1,031	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Thabal	1,019	Jhang
Naul	1,630	Jhang and Multan
Sahmal	994	Jhang
Lodhra	985	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Sandi	981	Mianwali
Duran	977	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Chachakar	974	Multan
Sadhari	974	Multan
Grewal	962	Ludhiana
Shakhani	961	Dera Ghazi Khan
Sandal	960	Multan
Chozan	958	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Maru	956	Jhang
Dhandla	949	Dera Ghazi Khan
Chimar	947	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Samitah	943	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Kamoka	943	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh
Burana	935	Sargodha
Maho	934	Multan
Siana	933	Multan
Chanal	919	Multan
Hidan	914	Jhang
Katwal	912	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Batwani	895	Dera Ghazi Khan
Samdana	895	Dera Ghazi Khan
Kakrial	894	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Pumma	893	Mianwali
Samra	880	Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Phor	867	Dera Ghazi Khan
Kalera	855	Sargodha
Dhandu	844	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Autrah	843	Muzaffargarh
Domra	822	Dera Ghazi Khan
Pattiwala	816	Multan
Awrah	814	Jhang
Badhan	813	Gujrat, Ambala and Karnal
Ghatwala also known as Malik	808	Karnal and Rohtak
Basar	807	Multan
Baghoor	807	Sargodha
Phaphra	802	Jhelum
Sattar	801	Jhang
Koral	794	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Jaam	788	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Gujjral	788	Jhelum
Darakhe	785	Dera Ghazi Khan
Wahiniwal	782	Faisalabad
Lar	778	Muzaffargarh
Unu	777	Mianwali
Maitla	776	Dera Ghazi Khan
Chavan	775	Multan
Hanbi	769	Dera Ghazi Khan
Langra	766	Multan
Sailigar	757	Multan
Natt	755	Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Parkar	753	Multan
Bandechha	750	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Amritsar
Dahral	738	Sargodha
Khanda	734	Jhelum
Hujjan	733	Dera Ghazi Khan
Atral	733	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Bhatia	733	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Hundal	725	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh, Amritsar
Khaloti	720	Dera Ghazi Khan
Otrai	718	Dera Ghazi Khan
Kalyar	715	Sargodha
Sagoo	715	Sargodha
Jatal	710	Jhelum
Ghogha	710	Jhelum
Hatiar	691	Sargodha
Hansi	691	Mianwali
Dangar	689	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Rongia	689	Multan
Kamboh	679	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan – outside Bahawalpur, almost all Kamboh registered themselves as a separate caste
Jhandir	679	Sahiwal /Okara / Pakpattan
Kanwan	678	Jhang
Suddle	674	Multan
Shaikha	674	Multan
Mahran	673	Multan
Mohana	663	Dera Ghazi Khan
Makkal	662	Mianwali
Asran	662	Mianwali
Mahesar	648	Dera Ghazi Khan
Mangil	656	Dera Ghazi Khan
Sangra	653	Mianwali
Khoti	646	Jhelum
Dhol	638	Dera Ghazi Khan
Bhadro	638	Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan
Kaloke	638	Rawalpindi
Khombra	637	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Ganda	637	Rawalpindi
Ghani	628	Dera Ghazi Khan
Manela	628	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Dhindsa	627	Sialkot, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Bhangu	625	Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Jandral	618	Jhelum
Ruk	618	Multan
Tama	617	Jhelum
Lidhar	614	Sialkot, Gurdaspur and Lahore
Khatti	612	Dera Ghazi Khan
Aura	610	Rawalpindi
Chandram	608	Multan
Bagar	602	Multan
Sapral	600	Sahiwal / Okara / Pakpattan
Kalhar	600	Mianwali
Samachi	599	Multan
Panjootha	596	Sargodha
Ghorhawal	591	Mianwali
Bhander	589	Sargodha
Chahura	587	Mianwali
Bagril	586	Gujrat
Athar	581	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Pukhowara	581	Multan
Hariar	579	Jhelum
Lapra	579	Multan
Brakha	579	Sargodha
Charal	578	Multan
Rayar	578	Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Sandrana	577	Sargodha
Serwal	572	Jhelum
Jangal	572	Jhelum
Kajla	558	Dera Ghazi Khan
Kande	557	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Kabru	554	Dera Ghazi Khan
Jarola	550	Sargodha
Samri	549	Multan
Marath	548	Sargodha
Joota	544	Jhelum
Saand	544	Mianwali
Hindan	541	Rawalpindi
Kathal	538	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Jandi	538	Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Masson	537	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Jauson	531	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh
Malhan	529	Dera Ghazi Khan
Kalia	525	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Bir	524	Multan
Meo	524	Dera Ghazi Khan – the relation of the Meo Jat of Dera Ghazi Khan and the Meo caste in Gurgaon, Alwar and Bharatpur is unclear. The Meo Jat claim an Arab origin
Samtia	524	Mianwali
Sansi	522	Gujranwala and Lahore
Dhamtal	520	Rawalpindi
Chhaj	510	Faisalabad
Bipar	508	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Chawali	506	Bahawalpur / Rahim Yar Khan
Khinge	506	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh
Nissowana	505	Sargodha
Bhawan	503	Sargodha
Barar	501	Dera Ghazi Khan
Mahi	498	Multan
Kohawer	496	Mianwali
Gadri	490	Sialkot and Gurdaspur
Minhas	457	Jhelum
Sanghera	418	Ambala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Chuna	415	Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Mandahar	401	Patiala State
Nagra	366	Sialkot and Gurdaspur
Batth	340	Lahore
Deshwal	321	Hissar, Karnal and Rohtak/td>
Kalair	312	Faisalabad / Toba Tek Singh
Godara	309	Hissar / Patiala State
Ghahi	301	Multan
Bal	298	Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Marhal also sometimes called Mandal	280	Patiala State and Karnal – Muslim Nawabs of Karnal belonged to this tribe
Auntal	274	Jalandhar and Ludhiana
Ves	274	Sargodha
Turkhel	255	Mianwali
Panghal	229	Hissar, Karnal and Rohtak
Janjhar	223	Patiala State
Jhalli	219	Patiala State
Tiwana	216	Patiala State – most Tiwana declared themselves as Rajputs
Punia	213	Hissar / Patiala State
Pawania	207	Hissar, Karnal and Patiala State
Billan	205	Patiala State
Malhi	205	Lahore, Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Raad	201	Multan
Narwal	191	Hissar
Sudhan	175	Rawalpindi
Mami	166	Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Uppal	163	Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala and Patiala State
Nain	162	Hissar, Karnal and Rohtak
Sekhon	155	Lahore
Padda	151	Sialkot, and Gurdaspur
Jawana	150	Patiala State
Shajra	144	Multan
Rathi	144	Karnal and Hissar
Dhandhe	141	Patiala State
Mahil	134	Sialkot, Lahore, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
Maalta	121	Multan
Basati	120	Patiala State
Raparia	119	Patiala State / Hissar
Sunar	107	Rohtak
Aujla	107	Jalandhar
Bore	102	Patiala State
Bandar / Wandar	100	Firuzpur, Hissar and Sirsa
Baghial	96	Rawalpindi
Kali Rauni	95	Patiala State
Dohan	83	Hissar
Gandhu	77	Patiala State
Gadra	77	Patiala State
Gulia	71	Patiala State
Ahlawat	70	Hissar, Karnal and Rohtak
Bola	70	Hissar and Patiala State
Maghial	69	Rawalpindi
Khatri	68	Sonepat, Karnal and Rohtak
Sodhi	65	Patiala State
Baidwan	61	Karnal and Hissar
Mander	59	Patiala State
Sarwara	58	Patiala State
Phogat	57	Patiala State
Dabdal	51	Hissar
Hari	49	Patiala State
Gurne	48	Patiala State
Boria	46	Rawalpindi
Dhauker	45	Patiala State
Sheoran	43	Hissar
Lahar	43	Patiala State
Sohi	42	Patiala State
Mandi	41	Patiala State
Narwan	41	Patiala State
Narwan	41	Patiala State
Sawaich	40	Hissar
Sangi	38	Firuzpur
Rattiwal	37	Patiala State
Jawanda	34	Patiala State
Dandiwal	34	Hissar
Bator	33	Patiala State
Tarka	30	Patiala State
Rai	29	Firuzpur
Chanhan	26	Hissar
Mial	25	Rawalpindi
Kandoe	24	Patiala State
Sehwag	24	Hissar
Maindal	22	Patiala State
Mahla	22	Hissar
Bagar	21	Patiala State
Gailan	20	Hissar
Phogat	20	Patiala State
Jassar	19	Patiala State
Sarao	13	Patiala State
Dullat	13	Patiala State
Jaglan	11	Hissar
Chande	10	Patiala State
Bandhel	10	Patiala State
Lahar	10	Hissar
Dhawe	10	Patiala State
Dalal	10	Rohtak
Khandi	9	Hissar
Boparai	9	Gurdaspur
Saran	7	Rohtak
Dagur	2	Gurgaon – a few families of Muley Jats

 

Population of Muslim Rajput Clans of British Punjab According to the 1911 Census of India

 

Tribe	Population	Distribution
Bhatti	208,664	throughout Punjab, but special concentrations in Bhatiana (Firuzpur/Hissar/Sirsa), Bhatiore (Jhang/Chiniot), Gujranwala and Rawalpindi
Chauhan	109,533	Modern Haryana (especially Karnal and Panipat), Ambala, and central Punjab – the Karnal, Rohtak and Rewari Chauhan are a Ranghar tribe, in central found mainly in Lahore, Amritsar and Jallandhar
Khokhar	93,012	Jhang, Jhelum, Hoshiarpur, Sialkot, Hoshiarpur, Jallandhar and Gurdaspur
Sial	91,211	Jhang, Multan and other parts of South Punjab
Joiya	49,486	Along the banks of the Sutlej from Multan to Firuzpur extending to Hissar and Sirsa
Panwar	44,924	Rohtak, Karnal, Jind and Hissar (the eastern group); Bahawalpur, Multan and Muzaffargarh (the western group) – the eastern group are a Ranghar tribe; a smaller grouo also found in Jhelum
Wattu	34,696	Along the banks of the Sutlej from Bahawalpur to Firuzpur extending to Hissar and Sirsa
Naru	29,665	Present East Punjab, Amritsar, Jallandhar, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana – by early 20th Century, several Naru were settled in Faisalabad and Sahiwal in the canal colonies
Ghorewaha	26,203	Present East Punjab, Jallandhar, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana
Janjua	25,621	a western group in Rawalpindi and Jhelum and eastern group in Hoshiarpur
Sulehri / Sulehria	25,512	Sialkot and Gurdaspur
Mandahar	24,703	Modern Haryana (especially Karnal and Panipat), Ambala, and Hissar. They are a Ranghar tribe
Manj	20,633	Present East Punjab, Amritsar, Jallandhar, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana
Bariah also pronounced as Varya	17,893	Present East Punjab, Jallandhar, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana
Tomar	16,686	Modern Haryana (especially Rohtak and Panipat), Ambala, and in the Bahawalpur Stater
Mair-Minhas	15,075	Chakwal
Kharal	14,521	Faisalabad and Sahiwal
Jatu	13,825	Modern Haryana (especially Hissar and Gurgaon), Ambala, and Rohtak. They are a Ranghar tribe
Manhas / Minhas	10,382	From Rawalpindi to Hoshiarpur – a Muslim Dogra grouping
Awan	9.555	Two groups of Awan registered themselves as Rajput, those of Sonepat and near Delhi – who were a Ranghar tribe, and smaller group in Gurdaspur and Sialkot. All Awan declared themselves as Awan
Taoni	9,273	Ambala – a Ranghar grouping
Alpial	8,986	Attock – a branch of the Manj Rajput tribe
Chib	8,360	Gujrat, a Muslim Dogra clan
Jodhra	8,085	Attock District
Dhanyal	7,909	Rawalpindi – Murree Tehsil
Dhudhi	6,730	Sargodha, Jhang, Faisalabad and Sahiwal
Baghial	6,715	Rawalpindi
Dhamial	5,973	Rawalpindi
Bhakral	5,744	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Bhakral	5,744	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Khichi	4,774	Sargodha, Jhang and Sahiwal
Langrial	3,886	Multan, Sahiwal and Okara – northern branch in Rawalpindi/Jhelum and Gujrat – most northern Langrial declared themselves as Jat
Chadhar	3,825	Jhang District – outside Jhang most Chadhars registered themselves as Jat
Dahya	3,620	Ambala District – a Ranghar clan
Khanzada	3,662	Gurgaon – a branch of the Jadaun clan
Kalial	3,662	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Dahya	3,620	Ambala District – a Ranghar clan
Kathia	2,900	Sahiwal and Okara
Kanial	2,317	Rawalpindi
Mangral	2,309	Rawalpindi
Nagrial	2,220	Rawalpindi
Kalyar	2,177	Sargodha – most Kalyar declared themselves to Jat
Raghubansi	2,135	Ambala – a Ranghar clan
Katil	2,104	Sialkot and Gurdaspur
Gaharwal	2,069	Rawalpindi
Nagyal	2,038	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Qaimkhani	2,020	Hissar – essentially a Rajasthani tribe, a branch of the Chauhan
Rawat	1,971	Malerkotla State
Thathaal	1,618	Rawalpindi
Mekan	1,584	Sargodha – most Mekan declared themselves as Jat
Jhap	1,559	Jhang
Jamra	1,455	Dera Ghazi Khan
Tiwana	1,347	a western group in Kushab and eastern group in Patiala
Matyal	1,347	Rawalpindi
Jatal	1,310	Rawalpindi
Rathore	1,148	Hissar, Firuzpur and Bahawalpur, in areas bordering Bikaner. Rajasthani immigrants
Khuhi	1,148	Multan
Warha	1,288	In Hissar a Ranghar group, also found along the Sutlej in Firuzpur and Bahawalpur State
Dogar	1,300	Sahiwal and Okara – most Dogar registered themselves as Dogars and numbered 68,473
Jalap	1,172	Jhelum – a branch of the Khokhar tribe
Nagrawal	1,143	Rawalpindi
Ramial	1,120	Rawalpindi
Ghangar	1,002	Rawalpindi
Daha	991	Multan, Sahiwal and Okara – a branch of the Panwar
Badpyar	988	Delhi with villages near the Yamuna river – a Ranghar clan
Pundir	985	Ambala and Karnal – a Ranghar group with villages near the Yamuna river
Atiras	965	Patiala State
Kural	961	Rawalpindi
Phularwan	935	Sahiwal and Okara – a second group in Sialkot
Baghela	923	Sahiwal / Okara
Mukhmdal	852	Gujrat – a Chib sub-clan
Jora	834	Fazilka, Hissar and Sirsa
Attar	821	Sargodha
Mial	817	Rawalpindi
Hon	811	Rawalpindi – a branch of the Panwar tribe
Bargujar	805	Gurgaon – a Ranghar tribe found in Rewari
Mayen	802	Patiala State
Mahaar	792	Along the banks of the Sutlej from Bahawalpur to Firuzpur extending to Hissar and Sirsa – most Mahaar declared themselves as Jat
Adrah	792	Rawalpindi
Kala	747	Jhang
Sakhri	743	Hissar – a Ranghar clans, sub-division of the Jatu
Taraqar	710	Multan
Bhao	706	From Kharian to Gurdaspur – a Muslim Dogra group
Rath	706	Sahiwal / Pakpattan
Sarral	698	Rawalpindi
Luddu	680	Hoshiarpur
Gaurwa	644	Gurgaon – Ranghar group
Kethwal	642	Rawalpindi – Murree Tehsil
Doli	639	Sahiwal / Okara
Barial	633	Ludhiana District
Chandel	618	Present East Punjab, Jallandhar, Patiala and Ludhiana
Sohlan	606	Jhelum
Noon	599	Sargodha and Multan – a branch of the Bhatti tribe
Agan	569	Gurdaspur – Muslim Dogra clan/td>
Dhanwal	569	Sahiwal and Okara/td>
Jandran	551	Sahiwal / Okara
Bains	548	Rawalpindi – the majority of the Bains registered themselves as Jats
Ranjha	579	Jhelum / Chakwal
Ratial	549	Rawalpindi
Mughal	544	Rawalpindi
Satraola	544	Hissar – a Ranghar tribe
Bhan	519	Sargodha
Chatha	420	Rawalpindi
Jawal	288	Delhi – a Ranghar clan
Jadaun	165	Gurgaon and Karnal – a Ranghar tribe
Jaswal	160	Hoshiarpur
Meun	76	Multan and Bahawalpur State
Pathania	71	Gurdaspur – a Muslim Dogra group
Jaral	58	Kangra
Gondal	31	Rawalpindi – almost all the Gondals declared themselves as Jat, except a few in Rawalpindi

 

Population of Muslim Rajput Clans of British Punjab According to the 1901 Census of India

In this post, I make reference to the 1901 Census of India, which gave a breakdown of the larger Muslim Rajput clans of British Punjab. The whole Province of Punjab had a 24.4 million population in 1901, of which the Muslim Rajputs numbered 1,505,586. In 1901, the Punjab comprised five administrative divisions — Delhi, Jullunder, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi — and a number of princely states. During the course of the Census, those districts that lay across the Indus which formed the Peshawar Division were formed into a new province named the North West Frontier Province. Geographically, the province was a triangular tract of country of which the Indus River and its tributary the Sutlej formed the two sides up to their confluence, the base of the triangle in the north being the Lower Himalayan Range between those two rivers. Moreover, the province as constituted under British rule also included a large tract outside these boundaries. Along the northern border, Himalayan ranges divided it from Kashmir and Tibet. On the west it was separated from the North-West Frontier Province by the Indus, until it reached the border of Dera Ghazi Khan District, which was divided from Baluchistan by the Sulaiman Range. To the south lay Sindh and Rajputana, while on the east the rivers Jumna and Tons separated it from the United Provinces.

In present-day India, it included the regions of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh (but excluding the former princely states which were later combined into the Patiala and East Punjab States Union). While in present-day Pakistan, it included the regions of Punjab, Islamabad Capital Territory and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (until 1901).

My post on the Rajputs of Punjab gives more details as to the origin and distribution of the various Rajputs tribes.

 

Tribe	Population	Distribution
Bhatti	249,302	throughout Punjab, but special concentrations in Bhatiana (Firuzpur/Hissar/Sirsa), Bhatiore (Jhang/Chiniot), Gujranwala and Rawalpindi
Chauhan	114,529	Modern Haryana (especially Karnal and Panipat), Ambala, and central Punjab – the Karnal, Rohtak and Rewari Chauhan are a Ranghar tribe
Khokhar	108,239	Jhang, Jhelum, Hoshiarpur, Sialkot and Gurdaspur
Sial	104,658	Jhang, Multan and other parts of South Punjab
Joiya	61,438	Along the banks of the Sutlej from Multan to Firuzpur extending to Hissar and Sirsa
Panwar	55,068	Rohtak, Karnal, Jind and Hissar (the eastern group); Bahawalpur, Multan and Muzaffargarh (the western group) – the eastern group are a Ranghar tribe
Gondal	36,088	The Gondal Bar (Mandi Bahaudin, Gujrat and Sargodha), also in Rawalpindi
Naru	34,152	mainly in what is now India Punjab – Jallandhar and Ludhiana
Ghorewaha	33,295	mainly in what is now India Punjab – Hoshiarpur, Jallandhar and Ludhiana
Sulehria / Sulehri	28,577	Sialkot and Gurdaspur – a Muslim Dogra group
Wattu	25,544	Along the banks of the Sutlej from Multan to Firuzpur extending to Hissar and Sirsa
Janjua	23,619	A western group found in Rawalpindi and Jhelum, and eastern group in Hoshiarpur
Baria, also pronounced Varya	21,991	Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Patiala State
Mandahar	21,764	Mainly Karnal and Panipat – a Ranghar group
Manj	20,736	Amritsar, Firuzpur and Jalandhar
Jatu	18,861	Hissar, Sirsa and Rohtak – a Ranghar
Taoni	18,384	Ambala and Patiala State – a Ranghar tribe
Tomar/ Tonwar	18,365	Hissar, Karnal and Rohtak – a Ranghar tribe
Mair-Minhas	15,697	Chakwal
Minhas/Manhas	13,471	from Rawalpindi in the west to Hoshiarpur in the east – a Muslim Dogra group
Dhudhi	11,764	In Sahiwal, mainly in the new districts of Vehari and Okara
Ranjha	11,764	Gujrat, Jhelum and Mandi Bahaudin
Bhakral	11,577	Rawalpindi and Jhelum/Chakwal
Chib	10.697	Jhelum and Gujrat – Muslim Dogra sub-group
Khichi	9,769	Between Ravi and Sutlej – now Vehari, Pakpattan and Sahiwal
Alpial	9,395	Attock and Rawalpindi
Mekan	8,915	Sargodha and Jhelum
Tiwana	6,326	A western group in Khushab and eastern group in Patiala
Khoja	6,326	Multan and Bahawalpur State
Baghial	5,769	Rawalpindi
Noon	4,866	Sargodha, Multan and southern Punjab
Thathaal	4,134	Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Gujrat
Dhanial	4,037	Murree Tehsil of Rawalpindi
Raghubansi	4,032	Hissar and Sirsa – a Ranghar group
Dahya	3,637	Ambala and Karnal – a Ranghar tribe
Kanyal	3,271	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Nagial	3,036	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Dhamial	2,967	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Jhammat	2,550	Sargodha, Multan and South Punjab
Gaurwa	2,521	Gurgaon, Delhi and Rohtak – a Ranghar tribe
Kethwal	2,355	Rawalpindi – Murre Tehsil (now Kotli Sattian)
Katil	2,170	Sialkot and Gurdaspur – A Muslim Dogra sub-group
Jodhra	1,802	Attock and Rawalpindi District
Bargujar	1,502	Gurgaon and Delhi – Ranghar tribe
Hon	1,496	Rawalpindi
Lar	1,494	Multan and South Punjab
Jatal	1,451	Rawalpindi
Pundir	1,427	Ambala and Karnal – a Ranghar tribe
Atiras	1,416	Patiala State
Ranial	1,345	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Sasral	1,292	Rawalpindi
Nissowana	996	Jhang and Sargodha
Jalap	949	Jhelum
Nagral	919	Rawalpindi
Adrah	909	Rawalpindi
Bhon	853	Sargodha
Kalial	773	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Chandel	752	Lahore, Jalandhar and Ludhiana
Narma	748	Rawalpindi and Gujrat
Satti	744	Rawalpindi – Murree
Khatril	722	Rawalpindi
Mial	699	Rawalpindi
Gakhar	690	Rawalpindi and Jhelum
Targar	653	Multan and South Punjab
Rathore	587	Firuzpur and Hissar
Nagralwal	580	Rawalpindi
Jamra	548	Dera Ghazi Khan
Satraola	546	Hissar – a Ranghar group
Chatha	500	Rawalpindi
Kowar	493	Rawalpindi
Luddu/td>	491	Hoshiarpur
Kanial Chauhan	470	Rawalpindi
Sainiwal	439	Rawalpindi
Rath	410	Sahiwal and Okara
Johar	407	Rawalpindi
Bakhial	404	Rawalpindi
Jodha	368	Rawalpindi
Joota	367	Jhang
Bosan	340	Multan
Chadhar	334	Jhang
Mangral	331	Rawalpindi
Fattiana	318	Sahiwal
Pathial	311	Hoshiarpur
Maral	307	Jhang
Tanwari	273	Multan
Badhan	272	Rawalpindi
Salhal	262	Rawalpindi
Khel	234	Rawalpindi
Sudhan	227	Rawalpindi
Kangra	222	Rawalpindi
Dharwal	202	Mianwali
Hafial	197	Rawalpindi
Gaharwal	194	Rawalpindi
Kahut	178	Jhelum / Chakwal
Gangal	178	Rawalpindi
Saswal	174	Rawalpindi
Marial	167	Rawalpindi
Kathia	166	Sahiwal
Taranda	162	Multan
Tonda	156	Rawalpindi
Bhao Ragial	153	Rawalpindi
Bains	152	Rawalpindi
Budhal	152	Rawalpindi
Dalal	133	Rawalpindi
Satral	146	Rawalpindi
Jasgam	129	Rawalpindi
Matra	121	Multan
Kassar	113	Jhelum / Chakwal
Katoch	112	Kangra
Khakha	106	Rawalpindi
Jaswal	89	Hoshiarpur
Bagri	82	Firuzpur
Pathania	69	Gurdaspur
Ladhar	47	Rawalpindi
Jaral	47	Kangra
Kilchi	46	Rawalpindi
Thakkar	36	Gurdaspur
Guleria	11	Gurdaspur

 

Description of Major Muslim Communities in India : Bhatti

In this fifth post of mine on Muslim communities in India, I shall stick with the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). The state is home to 38,519,225, who make up 19.3% of the total population. This population is not only large, but very diverse, home to perhaps as much as two hundred odd groups, castes and sects, speaking various dialects, as well as standard Urdu. In this post, I shall look the Bhatti community, which has traditions of migration from the Punjab, in particular from the Sirsa Rania region that is now divided between Haryana and Indian Punjab. Several Bhatti groups claim that there migration to UP was the result of the Chalisa Famine of 1783-84, the affected the territories south of Sultjej river, which were prior to the famine rich grassland. As the Bhatti were pastoral groups relying heavily on cattle rearing, and the Chalisa effectively wiped out these grasslands. However, as I shall discuss in this post, various groups of Bhattis have different and complex origin myths.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Bhatti are an extremely diverse set of communities, many with quite different origin myths. I shall initially give a brief background to the origin myths of the Bhatti, the migration history of the some of these groups and finally look briefly the Bhatti Taluqdars of Bara Banki, who were perhaps the most prominent family among Bhattis of UP. Just a point of clarification, the name is pronounced as Bhatti in UP, Haryana and Punjab, and Bhati in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Sindh. In terms of distribution, the Bhatti are fairly widespread, but there main concentrations are in Bulandshahr, Budaun, Kasganj, Farrukhabad, Barreilly, Pratapgarh and Barabanki districts.

Origin

According to tribal legends, the Bhatis were initially Yadavas, claiming descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya. The Yadava homeland was the territory of Braj, roughly what is now Agra, Mathura and the adjoining areas of Rajasthan such as Bharatpur, from they were driven out by Paras Ram and fled to the Thar desert area of Jangladesh. Jangladesh was infertile and there was a constant scarcity of water throughout this region. The people had to wander from one place to another in search of water and food. These people were known as the Bhati. The word “Bhati” is therefore derived from the Hindi word, ‘Bhatakna’ (“to wander”). What is interesting about this legend is that it makes oblique reference to the most desert dwellers of the Jangaldesh acquired the name Bhati, which probably suggest a mixed origin. It is also interesting most Bhati of this region, now divided between Rajasthan and Sindh, remain herdsmen.

James Todd the colonial historian makes reference to another origin myth, involving a Mamnenez, the king of Khorasan, who drove out King Shal Bahan from Ghazni. He then established his capital at Sialkot. One of his sons was Rao Bhati and his descendants came to be called Bhatis. In Punjab, Rajah Risalu, the founder of Sialkot is often said to a Bhatti, and in that province, at least a third of those who called themselves were of the Bhatti clan. In Punjab, the Bhatti story also talks about a period of exile to Ghazni, followed by their return.

I now return to the Jangaldesh, the present regions of Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Mallani (split now between Umerkot in Pakistan and Barmer) and an individual named Jaisal. Jaisal is said to have founded the city of Jaisalmer in 1156 AD. The new fort that he built was on a hill called Trikuta. The state of Jaisalmer was positioned right on the route from Afghanistan to Delhi. Taking advantage of this strategic position, the Bhatis levied taxes on the passing caravans. At the height of Bhati power, it covered a large part of what is now the Bahawalpur Division of Pakistan, Bikaner extending into southern Haryana. With the arrival of the Rathore in Bikaner in 1504, the traditional homeland of the Bhatti split, with the northern region becoming known as Bhatiana.

Bhatiana

Almost all the tribal traditions connect the Bhati Rajputs to Bhatnair or Bhatner (present-day Hanumangarh in northern Rajasthan. Bhatner was historically important as it was situated on the route of invaders from Central Asia to India. Whether the Bhati Rajputs initially spread from Bhatner and Bhattiana or these were their final abodes is unclear. It might be the case that the drying up of the Ghaggar forced them to migrate to the plains of Punjab. However, its worth pointing out that most Bhattiana Bhattis trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner and some tehsils of Jodhpur (Osian and Shergarh). Sirsa in the heart of Bhattiana became home to a Muslim Bhatti principality, which survived until the arrival of the British in the 19th Century. Most of the local Rajput tribes, such as the Bhatti and Joiya had become Muslim with the arrival of the Mughals (early 16th Century) and led a pastoral life. However, with the Chalisa famine of 1783-84, almost the entire ecosystem was destroyed, forcing significant Bhatti migration into the Doaba region of Uttar Pradesh. The Awadh Bhattis have slightly different story to their migration, and I will look at that latter in the article.

Migration to UP – Traditions of the Bhatti of the Doab and Rohilkhand

Various groups of Bhatti in the Doab have different traditions as to their origin and migration. In terms of distribution, the Bhatti in the Doab are found mainly in Bullandshar, in Etah District mainly in Azamnagar tehsil, with Bhargain being their most important settlement, and in Kakrala in Badaun and Thriya Nizamat Khan in Bareilly. Most Bhatti settlements like along the banks of the Kali Nadi between Bullandshahr and Etah. Many of these Kali Nadi Bhattis have origin myths suggest that they predate the Chalisa migration. It is of course quite possible a number of waves of Bhatti arrived in UP over different times. They say they came to Bulandshahr under Kansal, or as others say, Deo and Kare, in the time of Prithivi Raj Chauhan (1149–1192 CE), and drove out or more likely subdued the Meos. The clan then divided into two branches, the Bhatti and Jaiswar. Interestingly, looking at colonial censuses of UP shows that most Jaiswars are Hindu, and Bhatti Muslim. It should also be noted that Hindu Jaiswar and Bhatti do not intermarry, under the rules of clan exogamy, considering themselves to be the same clan. Conversion to Islam is said to have taken place during the times of Qutubudin Aibak (1150–1210) and Alaudin Khilji (ruled 1296 to 1316). This would make them some of the earliest converts to Islam. In Bulandshahr, most Hindu Bhattis consider themselves as Gujjars, while the Muslims groups are now known as Ranghar, a term used to describe any Muslim Muslim Rajput. They are said to be over a 150 Bhatti villages in the Noida, Bulandshahr and Meerut region, most of whom are Muslim. Important villages include Til Begumpur, Hirnoti, Vellana, Vair ,Rabupura and Bakaswa.

The Bhatti of Til Begumpur

The most important Bhatti settlement in the Bullandshar / Greater Noida region is village of Til Begumpur. It was a site of an independent Bhatti Muslim principality until 1857. According to tribal traditions, the ancestors of the Bhattis are said to have come to Til Begumpur from Bbattiana, in the t.ime of Prithvi Raja of Dehli, and to settled here after expelling the Meos. The Bhatti are said to have founded two villages Ghodi Bachchera and Til Begumpur, now located on the outskirts of Greater Noida. The founders of these two villages were said to be two brothers. During 16th Century, Gujjars began immigrate from across the Yamuna, thereby reducing the Bhatti principality to a few villages. According to tribal tradition, Til was established by Rao Kasan Singh, who after defeat at the hands of a Allauddin Khilji was converted to Islamic . Kasan Singh was renamed himself Rao Qasim Ali Khan after conversion. While the village Ghodi was established by Kasan Singh’s younger brother Ranbir Singh who lived and died a Bhati Rajput. One of the brothers was also supposed to have fathered Bhati Gujjars after marriage with a Gujjar girl. The Bhattis in Til and other villages – Dhaula, Andhel, Mandpa, Kaumra and Jalalpur – all claim descent from Rao Qasim.

The Til Begumpur Bhatti’s played an important role in the 1857 War of Independence, and after the reestablishment of British rule, the estate was confiscated for their rebellion. The lands were handed over to the Skinner Estate, which was created by Colonel James Skinner CB (1778 – 4 December 1841) was an Anglo-Indian military adventurer in India, who became known as Sikandar Sahib later in life. The town of Sikanderabad near Tilla is named after Skinner. The Skinner family remain proprietors of Tilla until the independence of India in 1947.

The Bhatti of Bhargain

However, the Bhargain Bhattis have strong traditions of migration during the Chalisa, and as I have already said, this probably shows a steady flow of Bhatti migrants from the arid region of Bhattiana. According to the Bhargain tradition, two brothers named Khawaj Khan and Mehmood Khan came and settled in the region fertile region between the Bhurhi Ganga and Kali Nadi river. They are said to be fleeing the Chalisa famine and found the area occupied by Ahir groups, whom they displaced. The brothers are said to have founded the village of Bhargain during the later part of 18th century. From their various sons descend most of sub-clans of the Bhagain Bhattis. The region where the Bhattis settled was in a vacuum, and they became effectively independent, sometimes fighting with their neighbours the Pathans of Kasganj, and sometimes allied with them. Two descendants of Khawaj Khan, Dillu Khan and Sharabu Khan moved to Badaun and founded Kakrala. Most Kasganj, Badaun and Farrukhabad Bhattis claim some connection with the brothers Khawaj and Mahmood. Other then Bhargain, there are several villages in Azamnagar tehsil.

The Bhatti of Kakrala

The Kakrala Bhattis however have a slightly different story to their origin. According to one of their traditions in 1610 AD, the Bhattis were settled in Agra, when they seized Noorjahaan, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, as she was travelling from Bengal to Delhi. When Jehangir came to know of this, he sent a force against them, forcing them to flee to the country of the Meos, lying east of their homeland in Agra. Their the Bhattis converted to Islam, and remained until the death of Jahangir. Their circumstances changed, when Noorjahaan wanted her son-in-law to be enthroned. She needed allies and the Bhatti came in support. They were then granted lands that became settlement of Kakrala. If this legend is to be believed then, Kakrala was founded a century before Bhargain, and the connection between the two Bhatti communities becomes weaker. The Kakrala Bhatti state was absorbed into the Rohilla state in early 18th Century, and the Bhattis also played a part in 1857. Closely connected to the Kakrala Bhattis are those of the town of Thirya Nizamat Khan in Bareilly, which said to have been founded by migrants from Kakra. In additions, there are also several Bhatti villages near Baheri in Bareilly District.

The Bhatti Khanzada

I now move to Awadh, and look at the very interesting community of the Bhatti of Barabanki. The Bhatti Khanzada of Awadh are a sub-group within the larger Khanzada community of Awadh. However, unlike other Khanzadas, the Bhattis are now closely associated with the Qidwai Shaikhs, with whom they intermarry.
There is also a distinct community of Bhattis found in the village of Yahiapur in Pratapgarh district. The Awadh region covers most of the eastern areas of Uttar Pradesh, and is home to a distinct culture with the extensive use of the Awadhi language.

The Awadh Bhatti also claim to orignate from Bhatner in Haryana, and the Bhattis were some of the earliest converts of Islam. According to tribal traditons, there ancestors Zabar Khan and his brother, Mustafa Khan, accompanied the governor Tatar Khan to Awadh at the time of the first Muslim conquest. In return for his services Zabar Khan received the parganas
of Mawai and Basorhi. He and his brother were the disciple of the saint, Saiyid Shah Jalal, whose tomb is at Basorhi, and in consequence of an insult offered to the holy man they exterminated the Brahmans of Mawai. Zabar Khan’s descendants
held the land for several generations, and then Kale Khan and Munna Jan divided their estates, taking Basorhi and Mawai respectively.
From the former springs the Neora house, which takes its name from a village in the south of Basorhi.

The two Bhatti taluqdars of Barauli and Neora in Barabanki district, and are closely related to the Qidwai Shaikhs, a neighbouring Muslim community through intermarriage. Other then the taluqdar families, the majority of the Barabanki Bhatti are small to medium sized farmers. With the abolishment of zamindari system of feudal ownership, has had a strong impact on the large landowning families, as much of their land has been redistributed. Bhattis are found mainly in and around the town of Mawai, with important villages include Makhdumpur, Neora and Basorhi.

Bhatti of Yahyapur in District Pratapgarh

The village of Yahyapur in Pratapgarh District has quite a unique history. The village is located on the north bank of the river Sai, near its junction with the Paraya stream, about seven miles from Partapgarh city. Located within the village is the famous temple of Bilkhar Nath, which stands among the ruins of Kot Bilkhar, the ancient fort of Ghaibar Sah, a Dikhit Rajput of Bisauli in Banda District. This man was sent by the Emperor of Dehli to exterminate the Bhars, and settling here founded the family of Bilkharia Thakurs, who ruled the pargana till the days of Raja Ramdev Singh. Ramdev Singh was defeated and slain some 650 years ago by Bariar Singh, the ancestor of the Bachgoti clan. On the division of the Baohgoti property the fort fell to the lot of Dingur Singh, the ancestor of the present taluqdar of Dalippur. It was destroyed by the forces of the Nawab of Awadh in 1773 after the defeat of Rai Maharban Singh. The ruins stand on the river bank on a plateau surrounded on three sides by ravines and covered with scrub jungle. The Awadh rulers then settled a colony of Bhattis, who now make up the majority of the population. However the shrine of Bilkbar Nath in the village has remained an important site of Hindu pilgramage.

Distribution of Bhattis by District According to 1891 Census of India
 

District	Hindu	Muslim
Barreilly		3,763
Bulandshahr	3,482	2,455
Etah	80	2,671
Pratabgarh		1,652
Barabanki		1,353
Farrukhabad	10	1,177
Ghazipur		854
Aligarh	5	576
Moradabad		514
Saharanpur	37	443
Muzaffarnagar	80	343
Bahraich		267
Hardoi		198
Lakhimpur Kheri		195
Sultanpur		127
Unao		112
Gorakhpur	125	66
Mathura		49
Badaun	587
Meerut	180
Total Population in UP	4,619	17,170

 

Description of Major Muslim Communities in India : Rautara or Zamindara

This is my fourth posting on a Muslim community in India, and like the previous one, it will focus on the state of the Uttar Pradesh (UP). I shall be looking at the interesting group called Zamindara, also known as Rautara, who extremely localized, found only in Azamgarh, Jaunpur and Mau districts. During the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, most Rautara insisted on calling Shaikhs, although this has now lessened. From the late 20th Century, the self-designation is now Azmi or Azmi Biradari or Azmi Qaum, which literally means a resident of Azamgarh District.

Like most communities, there are a number of traditions as to the origin of the Rautara. The word Zamindara is simply a corruption of the word zamin dar, meaning landowner or in many instances a cultivator. In the eastern most region of, it refers to a group of Muslim communities found mainly in villages who were traditionally associated with farming. They are also known as Rautara, which a corruption of the word ryot. I shall now further explore the term ryot as it can give a clue to the origin of the Rautara. Ryot and its alternative raiyat was a general economic term used throughout India for peasant cultivators but with variations in different provinces. During the Mughal Period (circa 16th onwards), a raiyat was defined as someone who has acquired a right to hold land for the purpose of cultivating it, whether alone or by members of his family, hired servants, or partners. It also referred to succession rights. Under the Mughal system of land control there were two types of raiyats: khudkasta and paikasta. The khudkasta raiyats were permanent resident cultivators of the village. Their rights in land were heritable, while other type of raiyats was called paikasta. They did not cultivate land on a permanent basis in any particular mauza (lowest revenue plus village settlement unit), but instead moved from mauza to mauza and engaged themselves for a crop season. In terms of revenue, the paikasta raiyats were generally paid a much lower rate of rent than the khudkashta raiyats.

Under the British, two system of land tenure were established. The Ryotwari (or ryotwary) tenure related to land revenue imposed on an individual or community owning an estate, and occupying a position analogous to that of a landlord..While under zamindari tenure, the land is held as independent property; while under ryotwari tenure it is held of the crown in a right of occupancy, which is under British rule both heritable and transferable by the ryots. It is therefore interesting how closely this community’s identity is closely connected with landownership, both zamindara and rautara referring to a type of landownership. The Rautara therefore a groups of people who held the land as cultivators and or landowners under the Mughals, and continued there position under the British. British writers such as Drake-Brockman writing the District Gazetteer of Azamgarh wrote favourably about them as cultivators.

As one would expect of a community defined by land tenure, the Rautara have a number of different origin myths. The Ain-i-Akbari, referred to them being the largest community in pargana Nizamabad a Mughal area of administration that roughly covers the present Azamgarh District. In early British colonial accounts, the Rautara were referred to in their words as a broken community of Brahmans and Rajputs, who had converted during the period of the Lodhi dynasty (1451-1526). However, the Rautara of Mohammadpur near Nizamabad had traditions of Afghan origin. There story runs like this, the village of Mohammadpur was founded during the rule of Jai Chand of Kannauj (1173 -1193). When area became part of the Delhi sultanate, the Afghans were joined by Arabs, and Moghals, who identified themselves as Sheikh, Mirza and Pathan respectively. These groups intermingled with each other each other but retained their individual identities as Pathan, Sheikh and Mirza. Incidentally, the Mohammadpur tradition accept that high caste Hindus such as Chattaris, Brehmins and Rajputs who adopted Islam, were also welcome incorporated into the community. By time of the rise of the Jaunpur Sultans, these communities referred to themselves as Ryot or in the Bhojpuri Rautara, based on their position as cultivators.

It was during the rule of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605) the Afghans the people of the area including the people of Mohammadpur came under period of persecution. In the eyes of Akbar, the local Afghans had supported Sher Shah Suri, who briefly ended Mughal rule in North India. The Mohammadpur villagers, according to their stories, had to destroy all proofs of their being Afghan. They therefore emphasized their identity as ryots, and when the British arrived they noted a community of Brahman and Rajput converts, rather then Afghans or Turks. I feel that that as claims to Afghan or Arab identity are recent, while not denying that there may be some among them who are of Afghan or Mughal origin, by and large the late 19th Century and early 20th Century British writers were probably right. Incidentally, most Rautara had recorded themselves as Shaikhs, a term used through eastern UP and Bihar for recent converts to Islam. Imtiaz Ahmad has looked at the case of Kayastha Muslims in Allahabad changing their identity to Siddique Shaikhs as an attempt at raising there status. This process has been called Ashrafization, where groups start to claim an extra Indian identity to raise their social status. In Azamgarh, furthermore as communal relations between Hindus and Muslims have worsened, the insistence of Afghan and Central Asian identity has increased.

The Rautara speak a distinct dialect of Bhojpuri, although most also speak Urdu. Greater Ashrafization has meant that the Rautara have begun to call their Bhojpuri dialect Azmiat. Most Rautara sub-divide themselves into three groups, the Shaikh, Pathan or Khan and Turk. Azamgarh District remains the centre of the community, substantial number in neighbouring districts of Mau and Jaunpur, and in certain pockets of Gorakhpur and Sultanpur. In terms of major villages, starting with Shaikh sub-division include Sanjarpur (King Sanjar Shaikh) Amilo Khas, Saat Gao, Mangrawan Raipur, Kundanpur Kotila, Bindawal- Jairajpur, Bisham, Nandao, Anjan Shahed, Mahwara , Ashrafpur, Mande and Sarai Poohi. Among the Pathan sub-division, the main iinclude Mohammedpur (Ghazni), Fariha (Farah) Khandwari, Daudpur, Sherwaa, Surahi and Rajapur Sikrour. While the Turk sub-division villages include Muslim Patti, Manjeerpatti, Mirzapur, Hasanpur-Beenapara and Shahpur.