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

Ramgarhia community originated from the Sikh's Ramgharia Misl affiliated with the Sikh Confederacy. The Baron (or Misldhar) of Ramgharia Misl was Nand Singh,he was succeeded by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. Name Ramgarhia was taken after winning a major battle near the village of Ramghar.

The founder of the Ramgarhia Misl was Khushal Singh of Guga village near Amritsar. Khushal Singh was succeeded by, Nand Singh Sanghania who belonged to village Sanghani near Amritsar. After his death he was succeeded by a much more enterprising and valiant man, named Jassa Singh (1723-1803), under whose stewardship the band assumed the status and the name of the Misl.[1]

Hardas Singh, the grandfather of Jassa Singh, was the resident of Suringh which is situated about nineteen miles east of Khem Karan, in the present district of Amritsar. Hardas Singh was initiated into the Khalsa faith by Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself from whose hands he took Amrit/pahul (the Sikh baptismal oath) and fought some battles at Guru Ji’s side. After the death of the Guru, he joined the forces of Banda Bahadur and took part in almost every religious battle under his flag against the Mughal Empire. In 1716 AD., he died in a skirmish. After him his son, Sardar Bhagwan Singh became the head of the family, and with 200 followers entered the Imperial Mughal forces under the Governor of Lahore. Owing to his ability he rose to be a distinguished officer. He died fighting for his master in 1739 at Lahore, when Nadir Shah invaded India and the Governor resisted him ineffectually. He had five sons. Baron Jassa Singh, the eldest, now became the head of the family. He was appointed a Risaldar by the Governor of Lahore, and the following villages were given to him : Jagir Valla, Verka, Sultanwind, Tung and Chabba (all of these are now in the Amritsar district). The Sehmi Clan of Nawan Pind in Valla/ Verka today hold the spirit of Jassa Singh's endeavours. On the death of Khan Bahadur, the Governor of Lahore, in 1746, Baron Jassa Singh, together with his followers, joined his Sikh brethren at Amritsar.

Clans In Tarkhans