Panghal

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Panghal is a Jat clan, found in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, India.

Also spelled as "Panghaal".

1 Panghals
2 Origins of word Panghal
3 Found in

[edit] Panghals

Panghals, like all Jats belong to the warrior class who settled into farming in peaceful times. A significant majority of Panghals have served in the Armed Forces since time immemorial. Farming or serving in the armed forces was the main occupation of Panghals until recently, when because of shortage of land available per person, they have moved into other occupations.

[edit] Origins of word Panghal

There are many theories regarding the origin of the word Panghal.

Panghals are mentioned in Satapatha Br as Paingya. This is from Pinga, the original word of Pingal or Pangal clan.

Bri. Samhita mentions them as Pingalakas. By removing the suffix ka, we get the correct clan name as Panghal.

Panghals are also mentioned in Markndeya Purana.

Legend has it that the word Panghal originated from the word "Pankhal" , from the word "Pankh", (meaning feather). This started when one group of Jats in a fight against the other group of Jats identified themselves from the other group by wearing peacock feathers on their heads or placing peacock feathers on their houses. They began calling themselves as "Pankhal", meaning those wearing feathers. This later changed to Panghal. Denzil Ibbetson subscribes to a version of this version but this is likely not the correct version, as clarified by (KULDEEP SINGH)(Jats, the ancient rulers, a study of the pre Muslim period).

[edit] Found in

[edit] Haryana

Panghal villages in Haryana include Bhagana, Tosham, Baganwala, Naya Gaon, Lakshmanpura, Panghalia and Kharkadi.

[edit] Bhagana

Bhagana is a "Panghal" village where majority of its inhabitants are Panghals. Other communities constitute a significant proportion of the population of the village and play an important part in the social, economic and cultural life of the village. It is four miles west of the road connecting Hisar and Hansi, in Haryana. Bhagana boasts of a population of about 8000 inhabitants. The recent generations have begun to move out of Bhagana for better opportunity or for a good career.(mostly to Hisar,Bhiwani and other neighboring towns). Hinduism is the predominant religion in the village but there are a handful of muslim families who remained behind after the partition of 1947. Legend has it that many hundred years ago, a large group of dacoits and robbers was passing through this settlement. The residents at that time these dacoits for a fight. Fight is what they got. The residents, outnumbered and finally defeated, ran away to the jungles nearby. Later, the survivors came and settled back in the village, which came to be named as "Bhagu-ana", meaning those who ran away and came back. This later changed to Bhagana over time, and hence its present name. Another version of Bhagana being settled by Brhamins alone in the beginning is debatable because given the cast specific occupations in the past, it is unlikely that a village with only scholar but no merchants, farmers or other workers would have been viable.

Bhagana was relatively isolated from the outside world until about 40 years ago, when the one had to walk to get to Bhagana, and there was no public transport to or from Bhagana, and no telephone. Bhagana is now connected to the National Highway no. 10 with a road, and has all modern amenities including telephone. Public transport to and from Bhagana is easy to get and many Bhaganites commute to and from Bhagana on a daily basis.

Residents of Bhagana have made political, social and economic contributions to the region. Bhagana boasts of a high school and two primary schools and one veterinary clinic,Ayarvadic Dispensary.

[edit] Uttar Pradesh

Dabthwa Meerut, Roorki.

Shikhera, Bulandshahr.

There is also strong presence of Jat in Uttar Pradesh. Shikhera Village in Bulandshahr is the Jat village and all the people here are Panghal. This village is primarily into Defence Services (Majorly into Air Force and Amry ). Other people are into Agriculture. Some people have become achieve Doctor in Philosophy (P.hd Hindi) and now the new generation is going into various other fields like IT, Engineering etc.