Khatri

Origins

The Khatris are members of the kshatria caste that originated in the Potwar Plateau of Punjab. When Pakistan and India gained independence, most of the Khatris in what became Pakistan migrated to India. Today Khatris live in all regions of India, but are concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. While most Khatris are Hindu, some are also Sikh and a small minority are Jain. Khatris of all these faiths collectively form one community. In modern times, the Khatri play a dominant role in the Indian economy, serving as businessmen, civil and government administrators, landlords, and military officials.

History of the Khatri Community

Historical Background

See detailed article Hinduism in Punjab.

For the most part, Khatris have been in the civil, governement, and military adminstrators roles for centuries. Some subgroups of Khatris have gone in the merchant business as traders, and have participated in trade well beyond India's borders, for many centuries from Burma to Russia. At one time, the Khatris controlled a significant share of the trade in the central Asian region. The Hindu fire-temple of Baku, Azerbaijan, supported for centuries by Khatri merchants flourished until the middle of 19th century. The Hindu temples of Kabul built by the Khatris still exist.

Khatris continue to be the most educated group in modern Punjab. Their historical access to resources and education, has translated into wealth, influence and service to the society.

Many prominent historical figures have emerged from the Khatri. All ten Sikh Gurus were Khatri, belonging to the Bedi, Trehan, Bhalla and Sodhi subcastes. Raja Todar Mal was a Tandon Khatri who codified the revenue collection system as Revenue Minister for Akbar. Haqiqat Rai was a Puri Khatri whose martyrdom was celebrated on Basant Panchami in Lahore until independence. Hari Singh Nalwa, an Uppal Khatri, was a prominent general under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The father and son pair of the Diwans Sawan Mal and Mul Raj Chopra were successive governors of Multan under Ranjit Singh. The former instituted vast improvement in agriculture, while the latter was instrumental in leading the revolt against the British to prevent the annexation of the Sikh kingdom into the East India Company territory.

Historical Mentions

Khatri gots are divided into three major groups; Baraghar, Bawanji, and Sarin. These divisions were reported by Emperor Akbar's close adviser Abu Fazal in his book Ain-i-Akbari(compiled in 1590 AD). These grouping is said to be happened at the time of Ala-uddin Khilji (1296-1316 AD).

File:Tandon.jpg

Purushottam Das Tandon

Bhai Gurdas (b. AD 1551) in his "Varan Bhai Gurdas Ji", Vaar 8 - Pauri 10 (Khatri jatan) mentions: barahi, bavanjahi, Pavadhe, pachadhia, phalian, khokharainu, chaurotari and serin sections.

The family name mentioned above existed for long time. We know that four gots of Sikh gurus existed at least since 15th century AD.:

1. Guru Nanak: Bedi
2. Guru Angad: Trehan
3. Guru Amardas: Bhalla
4. All seven others: Sodhi

One of the most important character of famous Punjabi legend Raja Rasalu is minister Mahita Chopra. Most scholars agree that Raja Rasalu ruled from Sialkot and lived sometime between 400 to 500 AD. [Temple] If it is true then Chopra family name, a Baraghar Khatri, developed by that time. The actual timing of the development of other Khatri family names is an interesting subject and requires more reserach.

Khatris and Sun Worship

Raja Vanvihari Kapur has written that major Khatri clans are named after Lord Sun. The Sarasvat Brahmin clan of which some of these these were yajamanas are also metioned below.

• Mitra Mehra Priests: Jetali
• Kripakar Kapur Priests: Pambu
• Shankan Khanna Priests: Jhingana
• Martanada Tandan Priests: Jhingana
• Shreshtha Seth
• Dhavan Dhavan
• Mahendra Mahindru
• Bahukar Bahora (Vohra)
• Chakravali Chaupada (Chopra)
• Karalagni Kakkar Priests: Kumadiye
• Surya Suri
• Sahasrakar Sahgal Priests: Mohile

According to Bhavishya Purana, Punjab indeed was an ancient center of Sun worship.

Khatris and Saraswat Brahmins

As noted in the introduction, the mercantile communities were the socio-religious leaders in the Punjab. The Khatris were the patrons ('yajamansas' or in Punjabi 'jajmani') of the Saraswat Brahmins. Together the two communities represent the heritage of ancient Aryan center of NW India. The Saraswat Brahmins accept both Kachcha and Pakka food from the Khatris.

A few Nukhs (Sub-castes) of Kapoor, Malhotra/Mehra, Mago and Chopra are known as Arya Saraswat Rajanya and have close affiliation with the Sarasvata Brahmins. They include Kiri, Mer, Kandhrawara, Rupania and Thathagarh of Mehra/Malhotra, Rabara, Gila, Dariya and Medhiya of Kapoor and finally Chamriya, Kediya, Karchal, Sindhwar, Barbhaiya, Gaviya, Bobori and Kumkum of Chopra. They do not consume alcohol, meat and egg or fish.

See also Chhibber, a Brahmin clan associated with the Gurus.

Khatris and the Sikh Panth

A minority of the Khatris are Sikh. The Sikh panth is not caste based, still the Khatris played a major role in development of Sikhism as a gentle and inclusive faith. All the Sikh Gurus were Khatri. During the lifetime of the Gurus, most of their major supporters were Khatris. The Sikh institutions till the early 20th century were lead by Mahants (Masands) who were generally Khatri. Widespread abuses by the Masands, such as introduction of idols in Gurudwaras, led to agitation for reform by the reformist Singh Sabha resulting in formation of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee to oversee Sikh Gurudwaras. After the formation of the Khalsa (1699), and especially during the reign of Ranjit Singh, Hindu Khatri families raised at least one son (usually the oldest) as an Amritdhari Sikh.

See detailed article Hinduism and Sikh Panth

Khatris and Jain Dharma

The number of khatris who are Jain is very small. However One of the best known Jain munis in recent times, Acharya Atmaram (also known as Shri Vijayanandsuri) (1841-1900) was a Kapur Khatri, born at Lahra, Firozepur. He was the first person to be raised to the rank of a Jain Acharya in the past 400 years in 1890. He was invited to visit the Congress of World Religions held in Chicago in 1893 A.D. The rules for Jain monks prevented him from going overseas, but he sent his lay disciple Virchand Gandhi, who is now considered to be the father of American Jainism.

Khatris and Indian Culture

The Khatris were adversely impacted by the partition of India. It resulted in the loss of the traditional home regions of the Khatris.

Traditionally Khatris have been an orthodox community, although there is now significant exposure to modernity in some Khatri families. Even when they are modern, the Khatris have a great affinity with their traditions and values.

Khatris take pride in their Indian heritage and have contributed significantly to the Indian culture in terms of industry, commerce, administration, scholarship etc.

Khatris Organizations

The sessions of Akhil Bhartiya Khatri Mahasabha were held in Lucknow in 1916, 1936, 1952 and 1980. Lucknow Khatri Sabha was established in 1927 and publication Khatri Hitashi was started in 1936.

Divisions among the Khatris

Within the Khatri clans there is a hierarchy too. The Dhai Ghar (i.e. 2 1/2 - the number 3 being considered unlucky) grouping comprising of Khanna, Kapur, and Mehra/Malhotra clans is not mentioned by the ancient authors (see above). Along with the Seth clan these four form the Char Ghar grouping. With the Chopra, Dhavan, Mahendru, Sahgal, Talwar, Tandon, Vohra and Wadhawan sub castes, all 12 form the barah-jati grouping. Another group is called Bavanjai (52). The Sarins, for some reason, are at the bottom of the pyramid. The historical reasons for these divisions need research. A regional clan grouping is the Kukhrain grouping (see below). Yet another grouping is one associated with the ten Sikh gurus (Bedi, Trehan, Bhalla, and Sodhi).

Regionally Churamani, Nanda, Khullar, Jerath, Chopra and Vig were particularly connected with Ludhiana; Bahl, Kapur, Mehra, Seth, Beri, Sencher and Dhir with Jagraon ; Batte, Sondhi and Karir with Machhiwara and Bahlolpur ; Sehgal and Thapar with Raikot; and Had and Cham with Khanna.

The origin of many clans and surnames is not exactly clear. It is possible that some of the clans among the Khatris, Rajputs and Jats, along with other similar subgroups, are somehow related.

Kukhran

See detailed article Kukhran.

File:Manmohan singh with bush.jpg

Dr. Manmohan Singh with USA President

Kukhran (also spelt Kukhrain) Khatris are a regional grouping of ten subcastes of Punjabi Khatris originally from the town of Bhera in the Jech doab (Jhelum - Chenab interfluve) region of Sargodha district of Pakistani Punjab. In keeping with Khatri traditions, Bhera was an important trading outpost on the road to Kabul, and a 'taksal' (mint) during the reign of Ranjit Singh. Kukhrans are Aryan and Vedic peoples and have originally followed Hinduism, however a significant number adapted Sikhism during the 18th and 19th centuries. This, and also because many Hindu Kukhran families, as well as other Khatri clans, raised at least one Sikh son after the formation of the Khalsa in 1699, resulted in Kukhran family names, as well as other Khatri clan names, being present in both Hindu and Sikh communities worldwide. Common Kukhran names are Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, Chandok, Kohli, Sabbarwal, Sahni, Sethi and Suri many of whom had migrated from present Pakistan to India during partition.

The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh is a Kukhran of the Kohli subcaste. Other famous Khukrain personalities are: Mulkh Raj Anand (English novelist/Writer), Dev Anand (Actor/Producer/Director), Balraj Sahni (Actor), Geet Sethi, Narinder Kohli (Hindi Novelist), Gurinder Chadha (UK based film director), Bhism Sahni (Sahitya Academy Award and Padam Shree winner).

== Khatris Apavansi == It may be noted that the Sakas also had a water branch called: the Apâ Sakâ ('Water Sacae') also known as the Pausikoi, as Herodotus prefers to call them. Later authors, like Arrian of Nicomedia (in his Anabasis) and Ammianus Marcellinus (in his Roman history) call them the Abian Scythians; still later, we encounter them as the Apasiaki, first east and later southwest of Lake Aral. They must be situated along the ancient lower reaches of the Amudar'ya. The apavansi of rajputs are currently divided into the following tribes: Formerly Khatris were also divided into many sub-groups. They are divided into 3 classes: Charjati, Barajati and Bavanjati. On the top are ’’dhai-gharas” (Charjati ) or those belonging to the “two and a half houses.” Followed by the Bhahris and Bhunjais. The “Bahris” or the “twelvers” and a a large mixed group of “Bhunjais” or “fifty-twoers” which includes almost all the remaining with the Sarin group. Another division is in the vansis mentioned here. Khatri surnames like Bhatia, Bhandari, Chopra, Chowdhri, Dhawan, Duggal, Kapoor, Khanna, Kochhar,Mehra,Maindharu, Mahendru, Sahgal, Sami, Sahni, Sethi, Tandan, Talwar, Uppal, Vohra , Wadhwa, etc., are commonly used among Hindus of Punjab. Rose pg. 507-508 “In the Kashmir hills however,the Kakkas,on the east bank of the Jhelum,are said to have been originally Khatris(they are a curiously handsome race)and in the interior and the Kangra hills there is an interesting race of fine patriarchal-looking shepherds called Gaddis,most of whome are Khatris.Khatri traders are numerous in Delhi;are found in Agra, Lucknow,and Patna; and are well known in the Bara Bazar of Calcutta,though they are principally connected with Punjab farms”. They are not usually military in their character,but are quite capable of using the sword when necessary. Diwan sawan Mal, governor of Multan,and his successor Mulraj,and very many of Ranjit singh’s chief functionaries were Khatris. There is a record of a Khatri Diwan of Badakshan of Kunduzi. The Khatris are staunch Hindus. The clans to which the first Sikh gurus belonged seem to have lost their Khatri status.

36. Kapoor/Kapur

Kapur is said to mean the moon,’karpur’.Kapur Singh led guerilla warfare against Mughals and their Afghani allies from 1721 AD – 1748 in the Panjab was a Kahtri. The dewan Sawan Mull, governor of Multan, and his successor Mulraj Chopra, were Khatri. It is said that a Khatri was dewan of Kunduz. The Khatri claim to be descendants of the old Khetrya, written also Chetrya and Kshatrya. The Kukka east of the Jhelum and the Gaddi of the Kangra hills are said to have been Khatri originally.We find by Arrian, that the Cathei were confederated with the Malli and Oxydracere, that is the people of Multan and Katch, and which to the south where Alexander might be supposed to cross the Hydraotes (Ravi), he appears to have been drawn out of the direct route towards the ganges, to attack the city of Sangala. Sangala occurs only in Arrian, (it is probably the Sagala of Raja Millinda (Manindra), a subject to Mihirakula) and is said to have been a city of great strength and importance in the country of the Cathei. (Cathei might be either the Kathi or the Khatri). If the Katheri of Diodorus Siculus are the same as the Cathi, they are the race that so manfully opposed Alexander. They were then located at about Multan, at this period occupied by the Langa race. Colonel Tod describes the genuine as of a fine manly form, and claims they are of Scythian origin (Tod, Rajastahn p. 246) The cathi claim descent from the Balla, another proog of their northern origin. A portion of them gave their name to Kattyawar, in the Saurashtra peninsula.

37. Wadhva. Also known as Vadhvani (in Sindh) and Wadhel.

38. Wahi , Vahal or Wahla, Wahal(a).

39. Duggal

40. Kochar Kochar is said to come from ‘ Kavach’,’armour’.

41. Dhawan or Dhaun. Dhawan,or Dhavan,is said to mean a messanger on the field of battle.

42. Mehra (mehrotra) Mehra is said to be derived from Mihir,the sun or mihiragotra.

Vayuvansi

43. Khanna ; Khanna is derived from khan,a sapper or khanda, a sword.

44. Tandon Tandan is also said to be an abbreviation of Martand and to mean the sun,but it is also said to mean warrior.

45. Kakar use the title of Seth or Sethi. Seth means rich and also Raja. Kakkar is said to be originally Karkar,’strong’ or ‘powerful’.

46. Chopra Chopra are named after a great warrior Chaupat Rai who was killed in a battle against Sultan Mahmud.

47. Sami

48. Sahni. Seni are both said to be corruptions of the Sanskrit. Sainini the head of an army or general.

49. Uppal or Oppal

UP Khatris

Uttar Pradesh Khatris are those who have been living in Uttar Pradesh for several generations.

Khatris in Burma

Prior to revolutionary and nationalist movements in Burma, Chinese and Indian merchants and landowners formed an economic upperclass in the country. Many of the Indians landowners in Burma were Khatri that settled in the country for generations because of their economic control and prosperity. Wealth became increasingly concentrated in the hands of very few Indian upperclass families. However, as nationalist sentiments grew, most all Indian and Chinese merchants were forced out of the country.

Distinguished Khatris

• Dev Anand - Bollywood actor
• Mulk Raj Anand, pioneering Indian novelist in English
• Gurinder Chadha - Kenyan- Brit movie director ('Bend it like Beckham', 'Bhaji on the Beach')
• Yash Chopra - Bollywood movie director and producer
• Kartar Singh Duggal - author
• The brothers Satish and Inder Kumar Gujral, the former a well regarded artist and muralist who trained under Diego Rivera, the latter a Prime Minister of India
• Anish Kapoor - Indo-British sculptor
• The father-son duo of Prithviraj and Raj Kapoor legendary actors, directors, and producers of Indian movies
• Shekhar Kapur - movie director ('Bandit Queen', 'Elizabeth')
• Devaki Nandan Khatri, pioneer Hindi author
• Manmohan Singh (Kohli), Prime minister of India
• Narendra Kohli, Hindi Author
• Master Tara Singh (Malhotra) - freedom fighter and leader of the movement for creation of Punjabi subah
• Deepa Mehta - award winning Indo-Canadian director of the trilogy 'Earth','Wind','Fire'
• Meera Nair, the director and producer of the award winning movies as 'Salaam Bombay'
• Kuldip Nayyar - crusading Indian journalist
• M.S. Oberoi - hotelier, founder of the Oberoi chain of hotels
• Y.K. Sabharwal, Chief Justice of India
• The brothers Balraj and Bhisham Sahni, the former a well known actor and the latter the Hindi author ('Tamas')
• Birbal Sahni - renowned botanist.
• Kundan Lal Saigal (Sahgal/Sehgal), the legendary singer and actor in early North Indian (Hindi and Bengali) talkies, known as the Enrico Caruso of North India for his vocal range.
• Roshan Seth - Indo-British actor ('My Beautiful Laundrette' etc.)
• Vikram Seth, the novelist, who so sensitively portrayed urban Khatri life after the partition of India in 'A Suitable Boy'
• Najam Sethi - crusading Pakistani editor of the Friday Times
• Prakash Lal Tandon - Indian professional manager, author of 'Punjabi Century' and 'Beyond Punjab'
• Purushottam Das Tandon freedom fighter
• Sukhdev (Thapar) - freedom fighter, revolutionary comrade of Bhagat Singh
• Sangam Rai - Founder of the house of Maharajas of Burdwan
• Khushwant Singh, Author and commentator
• Bhai Mohan Singh, Founder Ranbaxy

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

• Jwalaprasad Mishra, Jati Bhaskar, 1914.
• M.A. Sherring, Hindu Castes and Tribes as represented in Banares, 1872.
• Raja Vanvihari Kapur, The History of Khatris
• Bhai Gurdus ji, Varan Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 8 - Pauri 10.
• Guru Gobind Gingh, Vichitra Natak, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar.
• The Indian Diaspora in Central Asia and Its Trade, 1550-1900 by Scott Cameron Levi.
• Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose "A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province", 1911 AD, Page 501-526, Vol II,
• Ibid, Page 537-538, Vol II.
• Temple, R.C. "The Legends of The Panjab", 1884, Reprinted by Institute of Folk Heritage, Islamabd, 1981.
• Khatris An Elite Group http://www.chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=00006053&channel=civic%20center&threshold=1&layout=0&order=0&start=120&end=129&page=1
• Khatris are Kshatri http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gaz_ldh8.htm