Chadhar
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Chadhar is a Punjabi tribe of India and Pakistan. They are found among both Rajputs and Jats.
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[edit] Pronunciation
Chadhar (Shahmukhi: ﭽﺩﮪﮌ, Gurmukhi: ਚਧੜ ) is commonly pronounced Chadhar but in some areas of the Punjab, like the cities of Jhang and other adjoining districts , it is pronounced as Chadhrar, while in the Majha, Doaba and Malwa areas it is pronounced as Chandhar, Other transliterations include "Chadarh", "Chadharh", "Chandhar" and "Chandarh".
[edit] Origin
Chadhars claim descent from Chandarh, the son of Raja Ravilan of the lineage of king Pandu of the Mahabharata. They are Chandra Vanshis. It is widely believed that they are a branch of the Tomaras as it has been confirmed by the claim of the Chadhars of Jhang that they are the descendants of Raja Toor and that they migrated into the Punjab from Rajputana and also that their throne is Tahli Mangeeni.
In 1193 AD, when Muhammad Ghori invaded India, the clan moved from Rajasthan to the Punjab. Some went to Bahawalpur, where they were converted to Islam by Pir Shershah (Jalaluddin Surkh Bukhari) of Uch Sharif. From Bahawalpur, they migrated north, along the course of the rivers Ravi and Chenab. Over the possession of essential water resources, they clashed many times with Kharal and Sial tribesmen in the beginning but their march could not be stopped. The Chadhars were heavily built and also outnumbered others.
[edit] Geographical distribution
Chadhars occupy a large area of land on the left bank of the Chenab, in the Jhang District, starting from Khiwa (along the boundaries of the Sials) to the adjoining areas of Sayyids (Descendants of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad) of Rajoka Sadaat. Their main village is the famous Tahli Mangeeni which is said to be their throne or Takht.
The Chadhars are found in most areas of Sandal Bar in districts of Jhang and Faisalabad and also in other distrcits of Punjab (Pakistan), including Sargodha, Sahiwal, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Khanewal, Multan, Bhakkar, Bahawalpur and also in some parts of Sindh.
While some of them went to other parts of Punjab, some of the Chadhars settled in the Firozpur District and founded the village of Chandarh near Mudki. Others settled in Nakodar near Jalandhar. Most of the Chadhar Jats shifted from Ferozepur to Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Lahore. They founded many villages in the doabs of the Chenab and the Ravi. The famous villages at the banks of chenab are Chak Lune, Talhi Mangini, Teja Berwala, Wijhalke, Kaloke, Chak Sajanke, Sheikhan, Tibbi Nalera, Mahnika Thatta, Thatta Muhammad Shah. Chandhars are also found in the Sangrur District.
[edit] Contemporary notable Chadhars
There were two families of Chadhars at Talhi Mangini, and Taja Bairwala near Bhowana who had been Zaildars during the British Raj. The head of one family was Chaudhry Fateh Sher Chadhar.
Today, Chaudhry Sarfaraz Khan Chadhar and some other prominent Chadhars are representing their areas in union councils. While most normally take part in regional politics, some like Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf Chadhar from PAT and Faizullah Kamoka from PML(N) were candidates in the 2002 National Elections.
Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Rajoka, the Principal Scientific Officer (BioChemistry) and many civil service officers magistrates and educators are Chadhars.
[edit] Chadhar Writers
[edit] Notable Chadhars in the past
It is believed that Bhai Gurmukh Singh, professor and founder of the Singh Sabha Movement, was a Chandarh Jat. He originally belonged to a village named Chandarh near Gujranwala.
[edit] Mirza Sahiban
Chadhars were the villans in the famous Punjabi romance story of Mirza Sahiban. It is said that Mirza Kharal, the hero of the story, was slain by Chadhars as Sahiban, the heroine was betrothed to Zahir Khan, the son of Jham Khan, a Chadhar Rajput. Because of this murder, there were many battles between Chadhars and Kharals.
[edit] Chadhar sub clans
According Chadhar genealogists, they are divided in twenty-one sub-clans, most of which are found in Jhang. These include:
- Aasi
- Wejhwe
- Wijhalke
- Kulle
- Kaloke
- Thabal
- Jappe
- Lune
- Sajanke
- Kangar
- Rajoke
- Kamoke
- Paroke
- Jatoke
- Deoke
- Paajike(needs confrmation)
- Majoke(needs confrmation)
- Nalere(needs confrmation)
- Balnke(needs confrmation)
- Mahnike(needs confrmation)
- Chookhia
There are also villages in the names of these sub-tribes like Wijhalke and Kaloke and Chak Sajanke and Chak Loone on the right and left banks of the Chenab in the Chiniot tehsil of the Jhang district respectively.
Well known villages of Chandarhs in other areas of Punjab are Chandarh, Rajeana, Dhaaban and Awan .
[edit] Rajputs or Jats?
Jhang Chadhars claim that they are Rajputs, while Chadhras of some areas of Punjab claim to be Jats. According to the Census of 1881, 26404 Chandars recorded themselves as Jats and 177,746 recorded themselves as Rajputs.
According to the Gazetteer of Jhang District (1881 - 1884), Chandarhs are considered to be good farmers and rarely indulged in cattle rustling or theft unlike their neighbours, the Sials, Kharals and others.
[edit] References
- Respected Genealogists of Tribe (Respected Mirasis of Tribe)
- Ibbeston, Denzil, Punjab Castes.
- Gazeeteer of District Jhang (1881-1884), Sang-e- Meel Publication Lahore.
- Gazeeteer of District Montgomary, Sang-e- Meel Publication Lahore.
- Ghazali, Ahmed, Saandal Bar.
- Duleh, H.S., Jattan da Itihas.
[edit] External links
- Detail may be read from under given links:
- Famous Mirza sahiba songs having word chadhar :
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Chadhar Sub Clans |
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| Wejhwe | Wijhalke | Kulle | Kaloke | Thabal | Jappe | Lune | Sajanke | Kangar | Rajoke | Kamoke | Paroke | Jatoke | Deoke | Paajike | Majoke | Nalere | Mahnike | Aasi | Chookhia |
