Khakha
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The Khakha Rajputs (also spelt "Khaka", "Kakha") of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan are a prominent Muslim Rajput clan, who have inhabited this region since the 13th century. They claim descendancy from the emperors of the ancient Shahi dynasty and today hold dominant positions in the Azad Kashmir Government.
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[edit] History
The Khakhas are a branch of the Janjua Rajputs of Punjab.
The Janjuas consider Maharaja Janamejaya, emperor of Hastinapur and great-grandson of the valiant warrior prince Arjun of the Mahabharata as their apical ancestor.
[edit] Jaipal Shah
In the 10th century, emperor Janamejaya's later descendant, Maharaja Jaipal Shah fought and lost the war with Sultan Mahmud Ghazni and his descendants eventually settled in Kashmir in the Mandu fort of the Siwaliks Hills.
During the late 12th century, a known scion of the House of Jaipal Shah, Raja Mal Khan converted to Islam, and aided the successive campaigns of his five sons into various regions of Northern India, to extend and reclaim his ancestral dominion lost two centuries earlier to the Ghaznavid Empire.
[edit] Raja Mal Khan
Khakha Rajputs are descended from Raja Mal Khan's younger son, Raja Khakha Khan. His elder brothers included Raja Jodh Khan of Makhiala (Jhelum), Raja Bhir Khan of Malot (Chakwal), Raja Kala Khan of Kahuta and Raja Tanoli of Amb (Hazara).
Sir Lepel H.Griffin mentions of Raja Khakha in his work, Chiefs and Families of Note:
"Raja Mal left five sons...Wir (Bhir), Jodh, Kahla, Tanoli, and Khaka...Khaka's offspring inhabit Muzafferabad, Kot Khakha and other villages near the Jammu frontier."
Considering the Janjuas' kingdoms at this point in history, with the elder sons conquering various regions, it appears that Raja Mal Khan's prior kingdom in the Siwalik hills was taken by Raja Khakha Khan.
[edit] The Khakhas and the Khasas
The Khakhas are sometimes confused with the ancient Khasas of the Mahabharata, but this is purely theoretical as none of the clan has made any reference to descendancy from the Khasas, although independent historians have made mention of Raja Mal Khan's son Raja Khakha Khan's kingdom in the exact areas of where the Khasas are believed to be today.
[edit] The Khakhas during the Mughal period
The Khakha Rajputs have played an important part in the history of Kashmir by creating alliances with other Kashmiri tribes against many powerful rulers, such as the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The feudal Khakha lords had allied with Yakub Shah against the Mughal army of Akbar at the battle of Bulyasa and were victorious.[1]
[edit] Ancestral Title and Reputation
The Imperial Gazetteer of Kashmir and Jammu records, "The Khakhás, who enjoy the proud title of Rájá, are, like the Chibs, Musalmán Rájputs, and trace their descent to Rájá Mal......They regard themselves as belonging to the Janjuah tribe." (Sang-e-Meel, 2002, p34)[2]
The Khakhas are renowned for being a "powerful and warlike Musalman Rajput tribe" . During the period of the Afghan overlordship over the region of Kashmir it is recorded, "..paid little to their overlord and were practically independent." Even when the Sikh empire tightened their hold over the Jhelum Valley of Kashmir, the Khakhas retained a privileged position. ((Imperial Gazetteer of Kashmir and Jammu, Sang e Meel, 2002, p9, p34)
The proud and privileged position of the Khakha Rajputs within their kingdom as well as their strong alliance to the Bhambas Sultans is renowned throughout their history in the region. Their power and dominance aided Yakub Shah in his defence of Kashmir, in what was the first defeat of Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1582 on his first incursion into the Kashmir valley. But Akbar eventually returned more powerful and a lot of difficulty, finally conquered the region in 1586. (Imperial Gazetteer of Kashmir and Jammu, Sang e Meel, 2002, p24, 34)
Sir George Campbell of the British Raj referred to them as "...a curiously handsome people."
The Khakha Rajputs have also continued their ancestral tradition of recording of the family lineal tree. The above all indicate a strong a continuance of the Janjua traditions by the Khakha Rajas, making them a highly successful and powerful branch of the Janjua dynasty. They have always been a force to be reckoned with in the Jhelum Valley and their reputation as a warlike tribe is well renowned.
[edit] Family Tree of the Khakha Rajas of Jagarli
The Dineal, Jagarli Khakha Kingdom's rulers and still current inhabitants, have provided a family tree for reference to their connection to the great Janjua Rajput.
Maharaja Dhrupet Dev Janjua - ruler of Mandu Fort and Mathura State[3]
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Maharaja Ajmal Dev Janjua/a.k.a Maharaja Mal Khan Janjua
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Raja Khakha Khan
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Raja Manghi Khan
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Raja Ali-Sher Khan
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Raja Panja Khan
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Raja Feroz Khan/Pirouz Khan
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Raja Goun /Junaid Khan
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Raja Dard/Daat Khan
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Raja Souroj Khan
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Raja Jogh Khan
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Raja Ismail Khan
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Raja Jehra Khan
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Raja Jang /Rang Khan
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Raja Khaki Khan (ruler of Jaglari)
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Raja Kabul Khan (Tomb Jaglari, Chota, Azad Kashmir)
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Raja Shuja Khan
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Raja Manda Khan
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Raja Neka Khan
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Raja Kalou Khan
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Raja Mahnja Khan
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Raja Hansou Khan
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Raja Neka Khan
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Raja Rahmat Khan
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Raja Hamat Khan
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Raja Dina Khan (of Dineal )
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Raja Marcha Khan
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Raja Mangha Khan (of Chaprian Jaglari)
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Raja Hansou Khan
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Raja Fakir Khan (Tomb Pindi Rata)
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Raja Fateh Noor Khan
| Raja Habib Khan Raja Shakur Khan Raja Aslam Khan Raja Fazaldad Khan |
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Raja Khaliq Khan Raja Muhammad Rafaq Khan Raja Taj Muhammad Khan Raja Muhammad Bashir Khan
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Raja Muhammad Rafaq Khan (translated this work)
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Raja Elias Khan Raja Dahoud Khan Raja Samiullah Khan
Raja Taj Muhammad Khan | Laila Khan Tara Khan Raja Tariq Khan Kalsoum Shima Raja Asif Khan
Raja Khaliq Khan | Zarina Yasmine Raja Amar Khan Raja Asim Khan (Me)
Raja Muhammad Bashir Khan | Raja Imran Saida Raja Niaz Raja Siab Raja Iftikhar Raja Ibrahim
[edit] Famous Khakha Rajas
A famed Khakha chief of his time was Raja Ghashu Khan Khakha who is still remembered by the Kashmiri tribes as a fair and courageous ruler of his kingdom.
Other present day Khakha Rajputs are highly influential in the region of Azad Kashmir and hold key positions in government. These include:
- Raja Muhammad Haider Khan (Former President AJK Muslim Conference Of AJK)
- Raja Muhammad Niaz Khan (Former Secretary to the Government Of AJK)
- Raja Muhammad Latif Khan (Former MLA, AJK assembly)
- Raja Muhammad Farooq Niaz Khan (Senior Member Board of Revenue and Secretary to Government Of AJK)
- Raja Farooq Haider Khan (Former Caretaker Prime Minister, Senior Minister, Advisor to Government Of AJK)
- Raja Qayum Khan (Minister, Government of AJK)
- Raja Muhammad Khalid Niaz Khan (Director Auqaf, Government Of AJK)
- Raja Muhammad Yaseen Khan (Legislative Assembly Member, Government Of AJK)(Former Minister AJK)
[edit] References
- The Punjab Chiefs by Lepel H. Griffin (Lahore Press, 1909, p214).
- Tehreek-e-Janjua by Raja Muhammad Anwar Khan Janjua (Sahiwal Press 1982, v1, p67)
- Chronicles of Early Janjua by Dr. H Khan, (iUniverse 2003, p17,p26)
