Chhina

Chhina or Chheena is a Jat clan of India and Pakistan.

Traditional origin and history

According to Horace Rose, the Bahawalpur Chhina genealogy gives them common origin with the Wattu. They claim origin from Chhina, a descendant of Jaypal, the brother of Rajpal, from whom are descended the Wattu.^[1] The Muslim Chhina claim that they were converted to Islam by Baba Farid-ud-Din of Pakpattan. This is said to have occurred during the time of Pheru, eighteenth in descent from the eponymous Chhina. They are mentioned as a courageous and hardworking people.^[1] Rose also lists an alternate theory of the Chhina being descended from Raja Agarsen Surajbansi.^[2] According to the Majha tradition, the Chhina are a Jadubansi clan. The eponym of the clan, Chhina Rao was one of the sixteen sons of Raja Salwan. He held the lands between the Ravi and the Beas.^[3] However, Sir Lepel Henry Griffin alludes to Miru, the founder of the Chhina villages in Amritsar district, as a Gill Jat.^[4]

Migrations

Rose mentions that there was a migration of various Jat clans, including the Chhina from Bahawalpur and Multan, in the early 15th century. These clans went up the Indus, gradually occupied the country on the edge of the Mianwali Thal, and then crossed the Indus. The Chhina also held onto large tracts in the Thal.^[5] Jamki, near Sialkot, is considered the oldest Chhina settlement in the north of Punjab.^[3] It is said to be founded by a Chhina Jat who held the title of Jam.^[1] Sir Lepel Henry Griffin dates the founding of the Chhina villages in Amritsar district to around 1600 CE.^[6]

Prominent Chhinas

• Bhai Bidhi Chand Chhina,^[7][8] renowned Sikh warrior and preacher, famed for the recovery of the horses, Dilbagh and Gulbagh for Guru Hargobind.^[9][10]
• Achhar Singh Chhina, freedom fighter and political activist.^[11][12]
• Jagbir Singh Chhina, freedom fighter.^[13]

References

Punjab geography Beas River Chenab River Chhachh Cholistan Desert Doaba Ganji Bar Ghaggar river Indus River Jhelum River Kachhi Kala Chitta Range Kallar Kahar Khewra Salt Mine Kirana Bar Kirana Hills Majha Malwa Margalla Hills Murree Neeli Bar Poadh Pothohar Plateau Ravi River Salt Range Sandal Bar Sivalik Hills Soon Valley Sulaiman Mountains Sutlej River Thal Desert Trimmu