The Khakha of

Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...

are descendants of Khakha and converts to

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 ...

Sikh Empire

During the Sikh conquest of Kashmir, the Khakha and also the Bhamba tribe, occasionally ventured into the valley on looting expeditions and thus annoyed the Sikh invaders. It is recorded, that upon a British Officer's visit to Kashmir in 1822, he had to return from Uri as the Khakha chief would not allow him to pass.''Culture and Political History of Kashmir'' by Prithivi Nath Kaul Bamzai, MD Publ. Ltd., 1994, p637 The Khakhas began to intensify their raids in consequence to the weakening Sikh power. Eventually, when Maharaja

Gulab Singh Gulab Singh Jamwal (1792–1857) was the founder of Dogra dynasty and the first Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, the largest princely state under the British Raj, which was created after the defeat of the Sikh Empire in t ...

assumed rulership of Kashmir, he managed to drive back the Khakhas with great difficulty. But knowing the unrelenting fierce reputation of the rebellious Khakhas, he immediately installed strong

garrisons A garrison (from the French ''garnison'', itself from the verb ''garnir'', "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a mil ...

in the forts guarding the passes. Despite facing the best of the Sikh power to subdue them, they still enjoyed a highly privileged position, paying little if any taxes, openly wearing arms and defying orders where possible.''History of Operations in Jammu & Kashmir, 1947-48'' by Sri Nandan Prasad, Dharm Pal, Govt. of India 1987, p4

Ancestral title and reputation

The Khakhas continue their tradition of recording their genealogy.''Kashmiris Fight for Freedom'' by Muhammad Yusuf Saraf, Ferozson 1977, p77

References

{{Reflist Kashmiri tribes