Tarkhan (Punjab)

This article is about Tarkhan, a Northern Indian tribe. For other uses, see Tarkan (disambiguation)

The Tarkhan (Punjabi: ترخان (Shahmukhi), तरख़ान (Devanagari) tarkhān) are considered a Punjabi tribe in Pakistani Punjab while a caste in Indian Punjab. They are carpenters by occupation.^[1]

H.A. Rose supposed that they are descended from the Saka tribes, and originally settled in Taxila. Scholars such as Khalsa have analysed the work of ethnographers such as Ibbetson, Cunningham, and Elliot, and have concluded that agrarian and artisan communities in Punjab such as Tarkhans may be of Scythic origin.^[2]

Further analysis has suggested that Tarkhans may be descended from Scythic tribes who settled in north-western India in successive waves between 500 B.C. too 500 AD.^[3][4]

Ramgarhia/Tarkhan tribes

According to Sir Denzil Ibbetson^[1], the major Twelve Tarkhan tribes of the Punjab and the Northwest Frontier Province are:

• Jhangra - found in Delhi and Hissar
• Dhaman - found in Karnal, Ambala, Jalandahar, Sialkot, Patiala, Nabha, Faridhkot and Firozpur.
• Khattia - found in Karnal, Ambala, Jalandahar, Sialkot, Patiala, Nabha, Faridhkot and Firozpur.
• Siawan - Jallandhar and Sialkot
• Gade - Amritsar
• Matharu - Ludhiana, Amritsar and Lahore.
• Netal - Hoshiarpur
• Janjua - Rawalpindia
• Tharu - Gurdaspur and Sialkot
• Khokar - Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan
• Bhatti - Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan
• Begi Khel - Hazara.

Ibbetson notes further that:

"The carpenters of Sirsa are divided into two great sections: the Dhaman and Khati proper, and the two will not intermarry. These are two great tribes of the Lohars (q.v.). The Dhamans again include a tribe of Hindu Tarkhans called Suthar, who are almost entirely agricultural, seldom working in wood, and who look down upon the artisan sections of their caste. They say they came from Jodhpur, and that their tribe still holds villages and revenue free grants in Bikaner."

Tarkhans and Lohars

Lohars are blacksmiths. According to HA Rose and Denzil Ibbetson, Lohars are descended from Rajputs and Jats. Lohars have been accepted into Tarkhan tribal affiliations.

References

• ^ see H.A. Rose. A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province
• ^ Sir Denzil Ibbetson. Panjab Castes - page 312f.