Kharal
JātiRajput, Jat
ReligionsIslam
LanguagesPunjabi
CountryPakistan
RegionPunjab, Sindh
EthnicityPunjabi
Feudal titleRai

Kharal (Punjabi: کھرَل) is a Punjabi tribe predominantly found in the Sandal Bar region of Punjab, Pakistan, with significant numbers also present in Mandi Bahauddin, Pind Dadan Khan, Muzaffargarh, and further south to Sindh.

History and description

Kharal tribesman of Gogairah

The Kharals predominantly inhabit the western plains of Punjab that lie below the Salt Range and its surrounding areas. The Kharals seem to be most concentrated in the Ravi River Valley between Lahore and the former Montgomery District, this corresponds well to Ain-i-Akbari (1595 CE) listing of Kharal Zamindaris in different Parganas. Additionally, Kharals were designated as a Martial race being known for their bravery and fierceness.[1]

Modern Indian and Pakistani census reports mention Kharals as Rajputs[2][3][4] though a journal by Government College University listed Kharals along other tribes as Jats.[5]

The Kharals have numerous subdivisions and clans some of which include Upera, Lakhera, Jalab ke, Begeke,[6] Randhaira, Lalhaira, Rubera, Sahi, Lodike[y], Dehar, Churiara, Khar, Bhandra, Daulke[y], Sherke[y] and Gogera; the Kharals use many titles including Rai, Chaudhry and Malik but Rai is mostly used.[7]

Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal is a historical personality, who was the chieftain of the Kharal tribe, who revolted against the British in the 1857 revolt, where he consequently took leadership of the many local tribes in the region. He was killed while offering afternoon prayers by the British on September 21, 1857.[8][9]

Tomb of Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal in Jhamra

The Kharals are also famous in the Indian Subcontinent due to the one of the greatest and tragic Punjabi romances called Mirza Sahiban. According to the story of Mirza Sahiban as narrated by the Punjabi writer Pilu, the story's protagonist is Mirza, son of the chief of the Kharal of Danabad, who falls in love with his cousin Sahiban, of the Sial tribe.[10][11][12] To date there have been many film adaptations in both Pakistan and India of the Story of Mirza and Sahiban.[13]

Notable People

References

  1. ↑ Barua, Pradeep (1995). "Inventing Race: The British and India's Martial Races". The Historian. 58 (1): 107–116. ISSN 0018-2370.
  2. ↑ General, India Office of the Registrar (1968). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.
  3. ↑ 1998 District Census Report of [name of District].: Bahawalnagar. Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 1999. p. 16.
  4. ↑ 1998 District Census Report of [name of District].: Okara. Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 2000. pp. Page 9.
  5. ↑ Shackle, C. (1984). The Sikhs. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. p. 31.
  6. ↑ Khan, Muhammad Sajid; Mohyuddin, Zafar; Naz, Humera (30 June 2019). "District of Montgomery (Sahiwal) in Nineteenth Century: A Historical Study". Journal of Languages, Culture and Civilization. 1 (1): 48, 49. ISSN 2708-3748.
  7. ↑ Haider, Karim (31 December 2017). "Impact of Politico-economic Changes on the Resettlement of Kharal Tribe in Punjab". Pakistan Social Sciences Review. Fatima Gohar Educational and Welfare Society. 1 (II): 179. doi:10.35484/pssr.2017(1-ii)15. ISSN 2664-0422.
  8. ↑ Miraj, Muhammad Hassan (22 April 2013). "Kharal and Berkley II". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  9. ↑ Sargana, Turab ul Hassan (2020). Punjab and the War of Independence 1857-1858 from Collaboration to Resistance. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-070184-0.
  10. ↑ Banga, Indu (2005). "Appendix - The Story of Mirza and Sahiban in Pilu's Narrative". In Grewal, Reeta; Pall, Sheena (eds.). Precolonial and Colonial Punjab: Society, Economy, Politics, and Culture: Essays for Indu Banga. Manohar. p. 171. ISBN 9788173046544. Mirza was the son of Banjal, a Kharal Rajput Chief of Danabad in the Montgomery district. Sahiban was the daughter of the Rajput Chief Khiva Khan belonging to the Syal clan ...
  11. ↑ Muhammad Hassan Miraj (1 April 2013). "The ballad of Mirza Saheba'n". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Duggal, K.S. (1979). Folk Romances of Punjab. Marwah. p. 17. Retrieved 26 September 2022. Mirza and Saheban were cousins. Saheban was the daughter of Mirza's maternal uncle. They were fellow pupils in a madrasa. Mirza, the son of Binjal, a Kharral Jat of Danabad on the bank of the river Ravi
  13. ↑ Bali, Karan (13 September 2016). "Before 'Mirzya', Mirza and Sahiban have died over and over again for their love". Scroll.in. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "Former minister Khalid Kharal passes away". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Punjab Assembly | Members - Members' Directory". www.pap.gov.pk. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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