The Gakhar are a
Punjabi clan found predominantly in the
Jhelum District and
Gujranwala District
Gujranwala District (Punjabi and ur, ), is a district that is a part of the Majha region in Punjab, Pakistan. Gujranwala District is bordered by the districts of Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad and Sheikhupura. Gujranwala dist ...
in
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
province of Pakistan. The Gakhars now predominantly follow
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
after conversion from
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
during the
Islamic rule of north India.
Medieval history
The Gakhars had engaged in a long-running struggle for sovereignty over the
Salt Range
The Salt Range ( pnb, ) is a mountain range in the north of Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends along the south of the Potohar Plateau and the north of the Jhelum River. The ...
.
After the arrival of
Muhammad of Ghor
Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad ibn Sam ( fa, معز الدین محمد بن سام), also Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad Ghori, also Ghūri ( fa, معز الدین محمد غوری) (1144 – March 15, 1206), commonly known as Muhammad of Ghor, also Gh ...
to
medieval India
Medieval India refers to a long period of Post-classical history of the Indian subcontinent between the "ancient period" and "modern period". It is usually regarded as running approximately from the breakup of the Gupta Empire in the 6th cen ...
, the Gakhars converted from Hinduism to Islam.
See also
*
Sarang Gakhar
Sarang Gakhar ( pa, , translit= Sārang Gakhar) (d. 1546) was the Chief of the Gakhars, who ruled in Pothohar Plateau in northern Punjab, Pakistan, from 1520 – 1546.
Early life
Father's assassination
In 1519, Tatar Khan was assassinated by ...
, Chief of Gakhars
*
List of Punjabi tribes
This is a list of Punjabi tribes. More specifically, these are tribes and castes located within the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent—including those that may not be officially recognized by state governments.
A
* Atwal
* Ad-Dharmi ...
*
Gakhar Mandi
Ghakhar Mandi ( pa, ) is a city in the Gujranwala District of Pakistan, located between Wazirabad to the northwest and Gujranwala to the southeast. It is central to 33 villages, and the home of Pakistan's second-largest electrical grid.
Ghakhar ...
References
Further reading
*''Gakkhar'', A. S Bazmee Ansari, in ''Encyclopedia of Islam'', 2nd ed.,Edited by J.H.Kramers et al., E.J Brill, Leiden, pp. 972–74.
{{Authority control
Punjabi people
Punjabi tribes
Social groups of Pakistan
Social groups of Punjab, Pakistan