Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal ( pa, ; – 21 September 1857), widely known as Nawab of Jhamra, was a

Punjabi Muslim Punjabi Muslims ( pa, ) are adherents of Islam who identify linguistically, culturally, and genealogically as Punjabis. Primarily geographically native to the Punjab province of Pakistan today, many have ancestry in the entire Punjab region ...

chieftain of the

Kharal The Kharal also spelled ''Kharral'' or ''Kharl'' is a very large tribe centered in Punjab Region that was traditionally semi-pastoral and is classed as Jat or Rajput. Modern Indian and Pakistani census reports mention Kharals as Rajputs. The ...

tribe. He led rebellion in the

Bar region The Bar Region, or the Bars (), is an area in central Punjab, now part of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. The area consists of agricultural land that was cleared in the nineteenth century for the then 'new' canal irrigation system that the Br ...

of Punjab against the

British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

in the War of Independence of 1857 and died fighting against it on 21st of September, 1857, at the age of 81. He is today considered a folk hero in Punjab.

Biography

Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal was born into a rich landowning family of the

clan in the Sandal Bar region of Punjab, in Chak 434 Gb Jhamra village 23 km from

Tandlianwala Tandlianwala ( ur, ) is a town in Punjab, Pakistan and the headquarters of Tandlianwala Tehsil. It is located 40 km from the city of Faisalabad and 45 km from Okara. It is a sub-division of Faisalabad District and has a Tehsil munici ...

Faisalabad District and 57 km from Faisalabad city. He was the de facto ruler of

Jhamra Jhamra ( pa, ) is a village at the Faisalabad District in Punjab, Pakistan. It is known for being birthplace of Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal, a famous Punjabi Muslim freedom fighter of War of Independence (1857), who was known as Nawab of Jhamra. He ...

, he possessed large sum of land and cattle. He was respected by all Kharals as well as other tribes such as

Kathia The Kathia is a Jat Muslim tribe of Pakistani Punjab. Many leaders of Kathia tribe were main participants in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 led by Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal. Present Circumstances Today, they are mainly scattered around bank of River R ...

Wattoo Wattoo is a Punjabi Muslim clan, originating from the Bhatti, Bhatti Rajputs. Notable people with the surname Wattoo include: *Adv. High Court Lahore, Ex MNA (NA-112) Haider Wattoo *Khurram Jahangir Wattoo *Manzoor Wattoo *Yasin Wattoo *Moazzam J ...

, Fatayana and others. Rai Kharal had influence over all of Sandal Bar. Lord Berkley (or, in local language, Berkeley), who was the extra Assistant Commissioner of

Gogera Gogera ( ur, ), is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°58'4N 73°18'24E with an altitude of 166 metres (547 feet) and lies to the north-west and away from the district capital - ...

, called out all important personalities of the area, and Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal came. Berkley demanded all the leaders to supply men and horses to crush the revolt. On this, Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal said "Kharals do not share wife, horse and land with anyone" and left.

Role in War of Independence (1857)

On July 8, British arrested a large number of Joiya tribe's men, women and children after they refused to pay the heavy taxes (Lagan). When Rai Kharal received the news he planned to break into the Gogera jail and rescue the innocent people imprisoned there. With help of his Fatayana, Wattoo and Kathia friends Rai Ahmed attacked the Gogera Jail on July 26. According to British records 17 prisoners were killed, 33 were injured and 18 fled. But native accounts disagree saying 145 prisoners died and 100+ EIC troops were also killed. British arrested Rai Ahmed but released him due to pressure from other tribes and as no proper evidence was available against him. Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal didn't stop and continued rebellion against Britain. In order to arrest Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal, Berkley attached Jhamra but was unable to arrest Rai Kharal although he imprisoned 20 civilians and took with himself a large sum of cattle. Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal with help of Kathia, Wattoo, Fatayana and Joiya tribe started a guerilla campaign against British. According to Punjab government records the rebels numbered 20,000 to 30,000 men. According to John Cave-Browne book each time, these rebels took refuge in thick jungles and grass and attacked with 3000-5000 guerillas, the sound of drum beating was the sign that they would attack. The connection of Jhang to Lahore was completely cut. Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal planned a final attack on Gogera but the information was leaked by Sarfraz Kharal of

Kamalia Kamalia ( pa, , ur, ) is a city in the Toba Tek Singh District of Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative center of Kamalia Tehsil. It is the 42nd largest city of Pakistan by population and has a lot more population compared to nearby ...

, British were ready to face any attack and when rebels attacked they were repulsed. Rai Ahmed with his companions fled to Jungles of Gashkori, British got news about it and a force under Captain Black was sent to kill him, they succeeded in killing him while he was offering afternoon prayers. Many of his close companions such as Sarang Khan Kharal of Begeke Kharals also died there. A trusted partner of Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal, Murad Fatayana took revenge of him by killing Lord Berkley alongside 50 british and native troops and became Rai's successor leading the rebellion until it ended in 1858 as local tribes lost. Ahmad Khan Kharral Tomb

Death

Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal was killed by a force led by Captain Black on September 21 while he was offering afternoon prayers. His assistant Sarang Khan Kharal also died with him.

References

1770s births 1857 deaths Punjabi people Folklore History of Pakistan People from Faisalabad Faisalabad Faisalabad-related lists

Faisalabad Faisalabad (; Punjabi/ ur, , ; ), formerly known as Lyallpur ( Punjabi, Urdu: لائل پور), named after the founder of the city, but was renamed in 1977 in honour of late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. It is the 3rd largest city of Pak ...

* British East India Company Military of British India Mutinies Conflicts in 1857 1857 Indian Rebellion 1857 in India Resistance to the British Empire Indian rebels {{Pakistan-bio-stub

Biography

Role in War of Independence (1857)

Death

See also

References