Khokhar Rajput
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Khokhar are a
Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...
community native to Pothohar Plateau of
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
, and the adjoining areas of
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. Khokhars 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 ...
, though a minority continue to follow
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 ...
. Many Khokhars converted to Islam from Hinduism after coming under the influence of Baba
Fariduddin Ganjshakar Farīd al-Dīn Masʿūd Ganj-i-Shakar ( ; – 7 May 1266) was a 13th-century Punjabi Sunni Muslim preacher and mystic, who was one of the most revered and distinguished Muslim mystics of the medieval period. He is known reverentially as B ...
. The Persian historian of the medieval period,
Firishta Firishta or Ferešte ( fa, ), full name Muhammad Qasim Hindu Shah Astarabadi ( fa, مُحَمَّد قاسِم هِندو شاہ), was a Persian historian, who later settled in India and served the Deccan Sultans as their court historian. He was ...
, has called the then Khokhar people a "barbaric race without religion and morality".


History

Muhammad Ghori undertook many campaigns against the Khokhars in Punjab before he was assassinated by the Khokhars at
Dhamiak Dhamiak is a village of Jhelum District in the Punjab province of Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencie ...
located in 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 ...
in March 1206.


Under Delhi Sultanate

In 1240 CE, Razia, daughter of Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, and her husband, Altunia, attempted to recapture the throne from her brother, Muizuddin Bahram Shah. She is reported to have led an army composed mostly of mercenaries from the Khokhars of Punjab. From 1246 to 1247, Balban mounted an expedition as far as the Salt Range to eliminate the Khokhars which he saw as a threat. Although
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
was controlled by the government in
Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...
in 1251, it remained in ruins for the next twenty years, being attacked multiple times by the
Mongols The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal membe ...
and their Khokhar allies. Around the same time, a
Mongol The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal member of ...
commander named Hulechu occupied Lahore, and forged an alliance with Khokhar chief Gul Khokhar, the erstwhile ally of Muhammad's father. In 1320, Ghazi Malik launched an attack with the use of an army of Khokhar tribesmen and killed the then Sultan of Delhi, Khusro Khan to assume power.W. Haig (1958), The Cambridge History of India: Turks and Afghans, Volume 3, Cambridge University Press, pp 153-163Mohammad Arshad (1967), An Advanced History of Muslim Rule in Indo-Pakistan, , pp 90-92


Independent Chieftains

Mustafa Jasrat Khokhar (sometimes ''Jasrath'' or ''Dashrath'') was the son of
Shaikha Khokhar Shaikha Khokhar obtained the throne of Khokhar tribe after the death of his brother, Nusrat Khokhar. His brother Nusrat Khokhar was the governor of Lahore and Chief of the Khokhar Tribal Confederation. Timur attacked Lahore and burned Nusrat's re ...
. He became leader of the Khokhars after the death of
Shaikha Khokhar Shaikha Khokhar obtained the throne of Khokhar tribe after the death of his brother, Nusrat Khokhar. His brother Nusrat Khokhar was the governor of Lahore and Chief of the Khokhar Tribal Confederation. Timur attacked Lahore and burned Nusrat's re ...
. Later, he returned to Punjab. He supported Shahi Khan in the war for control 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 ...
against Ali Shah of Sayyid dynasty and was later rewarded for his victory. Later, he attempted to conquer
Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...
, after the death of Khizr Khan. He succeeded only partially, while winning campaigns at
Talwandi Talvandi or Talwandi ( ur, ), is a town and Union Councils of India, Union Council of Kasur District in the Punjab (Pakistan), Punjab province of Pakistan.
and
Jullundur Jalandhar is the third most-populous city in the Indian state of Punjab and the largest city in Doaba region. Jalandhar lies alongside the Grand Trunk Road and is a well-connected rail and road junction. Jalandhar is northwest of the state ...
, he was hampered by seasonal rains in his attempt to take over
Sirhind Sirhind-Fategarh is a town and a municipal council in the Fatehgarh Sahib district in the Indian state of Punjab. Demographics In the 2011 census Sirhind-Fatehgarh had a population of 60852. Males constituted 54% of the population and female ...
.


Colonial era

In reference to the
British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...
's recruitment policies in the Punjab Province of colonial India, vis-à-vis the
British Indian Army The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...
, Tan Tai Yong remarks: In reference to the historical residence of Khokhars at their traditional seat, 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 ...
:


See also

* List of Rulers of Pothohar Plateau *
Tribes and clans of the Pothohar Plateau The Potohar plateau, sometimes pronounced Pothohar Plateau ( ur, سطح مرتفع پوٹھوہار), is a large region of plateau situated in northern Punjab, Pakistan. It is bounded on the east by the Jhelum River, on the west by the Indus Riv ...
* List of Punjabi tribes


References

Citations Bibliography * * * * * * * * * * {{Ethnic groups, tribes and clans of the Punjab Social groups of Punjab, India Punjabi tribes Social groups of Punjab, Pakistan