Tarkhan

The Tarkhan tribe inhabits the Punjab area of Northern India and Punjab area of Pakistan. Some scholars such as H.A. Rose believe that they are descended from the Sakas, the Kushans and the Huns. According to the Manu Smriti, they (the Sakas) are originally of Kshatriya status, however they fell to the status of Shudra after refusing to accept Brahmin authority. It is also interesting to note that Tarkhan was a title used by some of the known armies that invaded India during the reign of Tamer the Lame of Central Asia, therefore it is possible that the Tarkhans found in Punjab and the Northwestern Province are actually the descendants of those Tarkhans

History

Hindu Tarkhans are regarded to be of the Vaishya Varna (as they are artisans) and worship the Vedic deity, Vishwakarma. This is namely due to following the traditional Vaishya occupation of carpentry.

"Under the increased professional rigidity and foreign caste prejudices propagated by Brahmanism in the west and north-west in the post 10th century era, Sakas engaged in artisan pursuits (Tarkhans, Lohars) were edged downward in Brahmanical "caste standing" while other Saka groups lost their tribal and clan identity altogethor to emerge only as occupational jatis. The Sufis and Sikh Gurus of the Punjab (11-17th century) rose to counter and arrest this process of social denigration and caste division and re-unify society along its traditional Saka ideals of brotherhood, equality and spiritual humanism. Interestingly, among the Puranic tirades the Gangetic caste-bigots hurl against the Saka civilization and people of the West and North-West, one more term used to denounce them (besides "Mlechas", "Sudra" and "Vahikas") is "Vratyas" meaning "brotherhood". The concept of a casteless society and democratic republican polity propounded by the Saka tradition in which no segment among them was acknowledged as "superior" and where political leaders were elected (e.g Panchayat, Sarpanch, Sarva Khaap, Thok, etc.) was an abomination to the Aryan priesthood from Gangasthan (Kannauj or Brahmavarta).

Sikh Tarkhans are more commonly known as Ramgarhias because of their reverence for the famous Misl leader, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia(1723-1803), who was a Tarkhan.

A very proud and fiercely independent people, they are amongst the wealthiest and most educated clans of India. Historically, Tarkhan occupations have included carpentry, landowning, farming, engineering, politics, science, medicine, and military.

Tarkhans have served couragously in crack Commando units of the Punjab and Sikh Regiments of the Indian Army, as well as brave fighter pilots and in the Navy. They were made famous on the silver screen in the Bollywood film, Border for their brave actions in the Battle of Longowal, a battle fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. However no matter how hard they try, the Tarkhans will always be known as a non-martial tribe, unlike the glorious Jatts.

Clans In Tarkhans

A

• Ahdi
• Arrii
• Assi

B

• Babra
• Bachu
• Bansal
• Bahra
• Bamrah
• Bara
• Barhey
• Bassan
• Bari
• Baharha
• Bhachu
• Bhachoo
• Bhamber
• Bhambher
• Bhambra
• Bhamra
• Bhara
• Bharaj
• Bhari
• Bhatti
• Bheley
• Bhogal
• Bhui
• Bhurjee
• Bhurji
• Bilkhu
• Birmi
• Birdee
• Birdi
• Bubbra
• Budhoo
• Burmy

C

• Caveeshar
• Chaddha
• Chaggar
• Chamak
• Chana
• Channa
• Chani
• Channy
• Chharote
• Chita
• Chodha

D

• Daddoo
• Dadiala
• Daffu
• Dahale
• Dahley
• Daphu
• Darhalay
• Deerhe
• Deogan
• Deogun
• Deosi
• Devgan
• Devgun
• Devsi
• Dhaffu
• Dhammi
• Dhamu
• Dhanni
• Dhanjal
• Dheeraj
• Dhiman
• Dhonsi
• Dhoopar
• Dhulphir
• Dhuphar
• Dogra
• Dulphir
• Duphar

G

• Gabri
• Gabriah
• Gahir
• Gaidu
• Gallad
• Gaand
• Gansie
• Gargaj
• Ghariall
• Gharyal
• Ghatora
• Ghattora
• Ghir
• Ghura
• Gidda
• Gilla
• Gillar

H

• Harbias
• Hothi
• Hunjan
• Hunjoon
• Hunzan
• Hussainpura
• Hussainpuri
• Hussanpura
• Hussanpuri
• Hyothi

J

• Jabba
• Jagdeo

• Jagdey
• Jandu
• Jandoo
• Jass
• Jetlay
• Jhass
• Jhita
• Jhooti
• Jouble
• Jutla
• Juttla
• Jutley

K

• Kaile
• Kainthal
• Kalsi
• Kaundal
• Khalsi
• Kharal
• Kharey
• Kharl
• Khattia
• Khohar
• Khokhar
• Khural
• Kohar
• Kular
• Kundral
• Kundi

L

• Lall
• Lafunghaa
• Leel
• Lota
• Lotay
• Lottay
• Lyall

M

• Main
• Mandaley
• Mankoo
• Manku
• Marway
• Marwa
• Marwaha
• Matharoo
• Matharu
• Matyar
• Meen
• Mion
• Mudarh
• Mudhan
• Mudhar
• Multani
• Mundae
• Munday
• Muttair

N

• Nadoia
• Nagi
• Nandhra
• Nandra
• Nanery
• Nanre
• Nanra
• Nautay
• Nawetay
• Notah
• Notay
• Note
• Notta

O

• Obhi
• Oshan

P

• Padam
• Palhora
• Palne
• Panesar
• Philoura
• Phull
• Phul
• Plaha
• Plania
• Pohli
• Puaar

R

• Ramgarhia
• Ranauta
• Rayat
• Rehal
• Rehnsi
• Riat
• Rihal
• Riyat
• Rooprai
• Rupal
• Roopra
• Ruprah

S

• Sagoo
• Saggu
• Salh
• Sambhi
• Sandhu
• Saond
• Saund
• Sayan
• Seehra
• Sehmi
• Sehra
• Sembhi
• Seol
• Shergi
• Sihota
• Sihra
• Sian
• Singhraj
• Singhpal
• Sira
• Sokhi
• Sohal
• Sohanpal
• Sond
• Sondh
• Soor
• Soora
• Sootdhar
• Spal
• Sund
• Sura
• Suraj
• Surajbansi
• Suri
• Sutardhar
• Syan
• Singhrao

T

• Tattar
• Tethi
• Thoka

U

• Ubhi

V

• Verdi
• Virdee
• Virdi
• Virdy

Z

• Zandy

Social Groups

Rajput ♣♣ Khatri ♣♣ Lohar ♣♣ Kumhar ♣♣ Nai ♣♣ Chamar ♣♣ Arora ♣♣ Bhatra ♣♣ Agrawal ♣♣ Bania ♣♣ Sindhi ♣♣ Saini ♣♣ Julaha