Virk

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Virk (Hindi: (विर्क), Punjabi: ਵਿਰਕ) is a Jat gotra or clan.(the use of words :jats,rajputs,brahman,khattris,baniyas etc is evolutionary in the sense no strict line were drawn initialy and came up to solve the ethnographic puzzle which india had become after vedic times and (is!! still!!)was more related to the families occupation,and resulted in good level of racial difference as well as mixture,with a kernel of the original people and a infusion of people from the new comers in every caste at various periods in history.)^{[citation needed]} The clan is spread across the Punjab region in Pakistan and northern India. The name is pronounced as "Veerk" ਵੀਰਕ .

Contents 1 Prominent Virk 2 History 2.1 Virks in the Rig Veda 2.2 Virks in other ancient texts 3 Yasodharman was virk clan Jat 4 Physical Attributes 5 Virks in the Punjab 5.1 Controversy Surrounding the Virks 5.2 Sheikhupura 5.3 Jauharabad 5.4 Muslim and Sikh Virks 5.5 Virks in the British Period 6 Virk Jats Today 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Prominent Virk

• Nawab Kapur Singh Virk, was famous Sikh Misl warriors leader in the 18th century in Punjab.
• Karora Singh Virk, was a famous Sikh Misl leader of warriors in the 18th century in Punjab.
• Jathedar Teja Singh Chuharkana was a fighter against British Rule and one of the few responsible for India's freedom from the British.
• Kulwant Singh Virk. Prominent Punjabi writer.

[edit] History

[edit] Virks in the Rig Veda

According to the Jat historian, Bhim Singh Dahiya's book "Aryan Tribes and the Rig Veda", a prince named Dasyave Vrika, is mentioned in the Rig Veda (Vlll/51/2, Vlll/55/1, Vlll/56/1). He can be identified with the Virk clan of the Jats and also with the Virk people in the Iranian history, who gave their name to the province of Varkania /Hyrcania in Iran.

[edit] Virks in other ancient texts

According to the Patanjali Bhashya (4.6-114), Ashtadhyayi (l-6-155), Mahabhasya( 4-2-154) and Kashikavarti (1-1-175), Raja Virk Vardhan built forts in:

1. Kasrud (present-day Mandsor) in central India
2. Shakil (Sialkot)
3. Sosaph
4. Dathaaprastha
5. Naudipur
6. Koak
7. Kandewa
8. Mula
9. Pava Datt
10. Karkar
11. Virkgary.

According to Thakur Yugendrapal, the Virks are the Vahilkas (they are believed to be the founders of Bahawalpur) who are mentioned in the Mahabharata and who took one-sixth of the income of the King Shalya, who was the king of the Madras and ruled over Madradesa (modern-day Sialkot). In the 4th century AD, they had a powerful kingdom. They were the contemporaries of the Gupta rulers. According to Brij Indra Bhaskar, in 428 AD, the Virk rulers performed a big Yagya near Bayana and constructed a pillar, on which they mentioned themselves as Virks. Rock inscriptions of Yasodharman have been found in Mandsor. Their reign in Malwa came to an end in 462 AD. yasir waseem virk is a great writer in many magazine

[edit] Yasodharman was virk clan Jat

The Bijayagadh Stone Pillar Inscription of Vishnuvardhana shows that Yasodharman, the father of Vishnuvardhana, was a king of Virk gotra. ^{[1] [2]}Thakur Deshraj and CV Vaidya have concluded that the inscription of Bijaygarh and Mandsaur prove that Yasodharman, the ruler of Malwa, was a Jat king of the Virk gotra ( clan). ^[3][4]

[edit] Physical Attributes

Historically, the Virks had unique physical attributes. In the history books, they have been described as tall, muscular, courageous and loyal.^{[Citation Needed]} These physical and mental attributes made them ideal candidates for recruitment in the armies of various Kings and Maharajas. They served in the British Army, and still comprise a sizeable portion of the Pakistani and Indian armies.

[edit] Virks in the Punjab

[edit] Controversy Surrounding the Virks

Traditionally Virks have been associated with horse and buffalo trading throughout the Punjab. This account of the Virk clans historical role in the Punjab has recently gained increasing support with the discovery of 17th century texts written by Bhai Gurdas. However, speculation remains regarding the extent these actions as well as the accuracy of this account.

[edit] Sheikhupura

According to the historians, the present-day city of Sheikhupura in the province of Punjab (Pakistan), was the site of Virkgarh till the Mughal emperor, Jahangir built the city of Sheikhupura. The epical ancestor of Virks, Raja Virk Vardhan, was a ruler of the area with its capital being the present-day city of Sialkot, Punjab (Pakistan). The eastern extent of his Raj included [Amritsar] (India) which, still, belongs to the Virks.

[edit] Jauharabad

Most of them are working on their agricultural land. They have a good social and political position in the society (ref:word of mouth)

[edit] Muslim and Sikh Virks

Whether Muslim pakistan, indian Sikh or hindu, Virks . The majority of Virks on the western side of Punjab converted to Islam while the majority of Virks on the eastern side of Punjab converted to Sikhism. The famous Virk chieftan, Nawab Kapur Singh founded the Dal Khalsa and, later, divided it into twelve Misls. He belonged from the "Fyzallapur" village which remained his headquarters. This village was, later, renamed as Singhpur. The Misl that he headed was, consequently, known as the Singhpuria Misl.though sikhism later taught against pride in caste creed or race.

[edit] Virks in the British Period

In Punjab (British India), the Virks held very high positions in the British Indian Army. Before the Partition of India, Sir Shahab-ud-Din, a member of the Punjab Assembly and Secretary of the Jat Sabha, was a Virk Jat who belonged to Tar village in Sialkot.

[edit] Virk Jats Today

Today, one can find Virk Jats on both sides of the Punjab and also in foreign countries(US, Canada, Australia, England). In Punjab (Pakistan), a majority of Virks live in the Sheikhupura district and some are scattered in Sialkot District. There is a small village "Virk" in Sialkot inhabited by Virk Jats. Virks still control the city of Sheikhupura (the ancient Virkgarh) both, politically and economically. In India, Virks are mainly concentrated in the Karnal district of Haryana & Udam singh nagar district of UTTRANCHAL Mostly in three village in Bagwara rudarpur to kichha road,Shhatrpur,Dora farm .Majority and some very prominent Virk Families are concentrated in villages around Tehsil Assandh, District Karnal and few are temporarily living in Patiala district or in udamsingh nagar uttranchal state .Some of them also identify themselves with their old town names like SHEROKA (shekhupura in pakistan)r known as SHEROKA. CHURKANIA(shekhupura in pakistan) r known as churkanias and many more people from Harchand(Sacha Sauda, Pakistan) are know as Harchandias, Virks from village Manga(Sheikhupura, Pakistan) are known as Mangai's, Virks from NavaPind(Pakistan) are known as NAVEPINDIYE and are presently settled in village Balu of district Karnal.Virks from Cheene(Pakistan) are known as Cheene and are presently settled in village Singhpura (Sangroli) of district Kaithal and Assandh of district Karnal.Virks from kakki village are known as kakki virk,most of them are in jundala ,karnal disstrict. There are also a few families of Virks from famous village of WADI KADIYAL in West Punjab who are now settled in KURALI(About 7 km from Karnal) and are known as The KADYALIYE.

The VIRKS are also settled in BATHINDA district near the MUKTSAR disrict border in the villages named VIRK(KALAN) and VIRK(KHURAD). The Virks of the VIRK(KALAN) village are the descendent of the man named SHRI CHAND. Originally he belongs to the village near NANKANA SAHIB. He came here to meet his relatives at the village ABU KOTLI, 17 KM from from VIRK(KALAN).

[edit] References

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