Gallant Khatri of Punjab - The Original Kshatriya

The Khatris of Punjab

Khatri is a group of warrior clans from the northern Indian region of Punjab. The Khatris are of Vedic descent and the only original Kshatriyas in India. Most Hindu gods were of Khatri background. Indra, the king of Hindu gods was the leader of Indo-Aryans who settled in Punjab region over 4,000 years ago. These Khatris later migrated from Punjab to Gangetic plains of Northern India during the reign of Raghu. Hindu God Rama was a descendant of Raghu. Gautama Buddha was a Kshatriya and so were the Sikh Gurus,

Disclaimer: As a practicing Sikh, I consider all castes as equal and DO NOT believe in the outdated  and divisive caste system. The purpose of this blog is to honor the spiritual, military, and service contributions of the ancient Khatri warriors and try to understand their family history purely from a historical perspective

Indo-Aryan Migraton to Punjab

The Proto-Aryan culture developed on the Central Asian steppes around Kazakhstan as the Sintashta culture (2200 BCE) and developed further as the Andronovo culture (2000 BCE) around the Aral Sea. The Proto-Aryans then migrated southwards and split off around 1800 BCE into two branches.  Indo-Aryans migrated into Punjab, while the Parso-Aryans moved into Iran.

Aryan Migration to Punjab and India

The dispute on the Aryan migration theory has been settled once and for all by the genetic testing - read more here from an article published in the Hindu newspaper in India. This will shut the mouths of some historians  from India who were making out that Aryan migration never happened.

Indo-Aryans originally settled in ancient Bactria, west of the Hindu Kush. Around 1700 BCE they began to migrate into the northern Indus basin of Sindh and Punjab. Indo-Aryan immigrants were pastoral nomads, who were able to move into the Punjab with their cattle and horses after the collapse of the great Indus Valley Civilization. By 1500–1200 BCE their culture and language had come to dominate the entire Indus watershed, south to the confluence of the Indus and Chenab rivers; and east to the northern reaches of the Ganges. Indo-Aryans expanded into North India forming ethnolinguistic group that spoke Indo-Aryan languages of today's NW India.

Vedic Kshatriyas

Indo-Aryans arrived in Punjab with their sacred Vedic scripture - Rigveda. Being composed in an early Indo-Aryan language, the hymns post-date the Indo-Iranian separation, dated to roughly 2000 BC. After their arrival in Punjab, their ancient Indo-Aryan language was transformed into a refined written language now known as Sanskrit. In fact it was Pāṇini (Sanskrit: पाणिनि) a revered scholar from Punjab defined the Sanskrit grammar in 5th century BC.

The clans mentioned in the Rigveda are described as semi-nomadic warrior society, engaging in endemic warfare and cattle raids ("gaviṣṭi") among themselves and against their enemies, the "Dasyu", the early settlers in Punjab. Their settlements were headed by a chief (Raja, Rājan) assisted by warriors (Kshatriya) and a priestly caste (Brahmans). The ancient region of Āryāvarta or पञ्च जना (Páñca Jánāḥ) of 1700-1500 BCE  roughly corresponds with Punjab regions.

Ancient Kshatriya Warrior on Chariot

The Battle of the Ten Kings (Sanskrit: दाशराज्ञ युद्ध,) is a battle described in Rigveda (Book 7, hymns 18, 33 and 83.4–8). The battle took place during the mid Rigvedic period, near the Ravi River in Punjab. It was a battle between Sudasa, the king of Indo-Aryan clan Tritsu-Bharata against the confederation of ten other Indo-Aryan kings. Bharata is a Vedic Indo-Aryan clan mentioned in the Rigveda, especially in Mandala 3 advised by legendary sage Vishvamitra.

Khatri clans ruled most of North India for almost 2,000 years enforcing their Vedic culture to the deep jungles of South India. Saraswat Brahmins from the banks of Saraswati river from Punjab, Norther India were placed in South to propagate the new religion. Their influence shaped the Hindu religion as it is seen across India,

Decline of Khatri Power

The influence of Khatri clans declined after the epic battle of Mahabharata (827 BCE). The Khatris of Punjab and NW Frontiers fought on the sie of Kaurava and lost. Later the invasions by Persian King Cyrus the Great in 535 BCE further dented the Khatri powerhouse. The Greek invasion by Alexander the Great in 320 BCE further depleted the Khatri power in Punjab. Arrival of Kushans in 100 BC and them being recognized as Kshatriya gave them some reprieve and they ruled from Bactria to Mathura. After the decline of Kushan empire, Punjab saw the arrival of another warrior like tribe who were also accommodated as the "Sons of Kshattriys" or Rajputs. 

The valiant Khatri lost the political power but established business power in Punjab as the clans turned to various businesses. Even today, some of the most successful businesses in India are owned by Punjabi Khatris - Nandas of Escort, Munjals of Hero Enterprise, Appolo Tyres, Mohan Meakins Brewery, Oberoi Hotels, etc.

Khatri Groups

Khatri clans in Punjab are divided into several categories and sub-categories:

• Vedic Khatri consisting of clans from the earliest Indo-Aryans and their ancestry can be traced back to the Kshatriya clans mentioned in Vedas and Mahabharata. The clans included in this group are Bedi, Bhalla, Behl, Kakkar, Trehan, Sodhi, Alagh, Puri, Wahi, etc.
  
  
• Dhai Ghar consisting of three Khatri clans - Kapur, Khanna and Malhotra/Mehrotra/Mehra (three is considered unlucky number in India)
  
  
• Char Ghar consisting of four Khatri clans including the three from Dhai Ghar and adding one more - Seth
  
  
• Barah Ghar  adding eight more clans to the Char Ghar makes the twelve clans for this group - Chopra, Dhavan, Mahendru, Sehgal, Talwar, Tandon, Vohra and Wadhawan.
  
  
• Kukhrian Khatri are the descendants of the ancient Kushans (Kushan -> Kushran -> Kukhran) from the Rawalpindi/Puthohar region of West Punjab. The Kushans were accepted by the Brahminical system as Kshatriya when they settled in the region after Khatri clans were defeated by Parshurams, the King of Persia.  This distinct group of Khatri marry within the group. The clans included in this group are Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, Chandhok/Ghandhoke, Ghai/Kahai, Kohli, Sabharwal, Saawhney/Sahni, Sethi, and Suri.
  
  
• Sareen makes a group of Khatri clans from Syr basin in Afghanistan including Sarins, Nayyar, and Tandon.
  
  
• Bavinja Ghar consisting of the remaining 52 clans of Khatris

Khatri Last Names

This list is incomplete but I intend to add more based on the progress of my research:

• Alagh - ancient Alina or Alan clan from Persia region who settled in Nuristan as mentioned in Rig Veda (7.18.7)
• Anand - one of the 5 clans mentioned in the Rigveda (RV 1.108.8, RV 8.10.5) as Anu with Ānava in the Battle of the Ten Kings (7.18.13)
• Bakshi -Not a clan but a title given to the revenue collectors of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
• Bhasin - Kukhrain Khatri clans derived from Sanskrit word bhāsin meaning the ‘sun’. There is also a village named Bhasa in Kohistan, NW Frontier which is the location of Diamer Basha Dam
• Bindra
• Bedi - ancient Vedic clan of Kshatriya with the name suggesting the link to the Vedic period. Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikhs was born in this clan. Bichitra Natak attributed to to Guru Gobind Singh refers to the Bedi clan as descendant of Hindi God Rama's son Kusha
• Bahl or Behl - Khatri clan from the Bahlika (Balkh) region of Afghanistan
• Beri or Bheri - Khatri clan originating fron Bhera, West pakistan
• Bhalla - ancient Bhalana clan mentioned in Rigveda and the Dasarajna battle. Bolan Pass derives its name from the Bhalanas.
• Bhandari - Not a clan but a title given to the quartermasters of Sikh Army for ammunition and supplies
• Chadha - ancient Indo-Aryan clan mentioned in Rigveda as Cheddi
• Chandhok or Chandihok - Kukhrain Khatri clan named after its ancestor Chandi
• Chatrath - Vedic Indo-Aryan warrior clan commanding a group four chariots (Rath)
• Chopra - Khatri clans originating from Chaupada (Four Pillars) in West Punjab
• Chhatwal
• Dutta
• Dhawan - Khatri clan possibly originating from Dhawa, NW Frontier
• Duggal - Khatri clan with origin from Duggal village in Toba Tek Singh District, West Punjab
• Ghai or Kahai - Kukhrain Khatri clan originating from Kahai region of NW Frontier
• Gujral - Khatri clan from Gojra, West Punjab
• Johar - Khatri clan with origin from Wahali Zer and Wahali Bala in Chakwal District
• Jolly
• Jaidka
• Kakkar - Khatri clan from the Kaikey region of Punjab
• Kandhari - ancient Kshatriya clan from Gandhara, NW Frontier as mentioned in Mahabharata
• Kapoor/Kapur - Khatri clan belonging to the Dhai Ghar group
• Khanna - Khatri clan belonging to the Dhai Ghar group originating from Khand region of Lahore
• Kohli - Kukhrain Khatri clan from the hills (Koh in Hindko) - Koh Muree of Rawalpindi district
• Kocchar or Kucchar- Khatri clan originating from Kuchh, Mianwali, West Punjab
• Lamba
• Madhok - - Khatri clan named after its ancestor Madho
• Malhotra - Khatri clans from the Malh region also referred to as Malloi by the Greeks
• Mahindru - Khatri clan mentioned in Rigveda as Mahīna belonging to 12 Ghar (Bahri)
• Mehra or Mehrotra - Khatri clan of Dhai Ghar group (suffix -otra signifyig the northern branch) with possible links to Mehrgarh in Blochistan and Mehar Taluka in Larkana, Sindh
• Mehta - Not a clan but a title given to someone who took the profession of an accountant or revenue officer
• Makkar - ancient Khatri clan with origin from Maka kingdom and Makran redion of Balochistan. Its Khatri warriors chased Alexander's army out of India all the way to Susa, Iran,
• Nanda - Khatri clan related to survivors of the ancient Nanda dynasty of Magadha
• Nayyar - Khatri clan from Sareen group from Kunjah in Gujrat district of West Punjab
• Oberoi or Uberot- Khatri clan found in Sindh/Punjab with connections to Thatta Ubhi, Sargodha
• Panjrath - Vedic Indo-Aryan warrior clan commanding group of five chariots (Rath)
• Puri - ancient Vedic clan mentioned as Puru in Vedas and Mahabharata. King Porus of the Puru or Paurava clan defeated Alexander in the Battle of Hydaspes forcing him to exit from India.
• Sarna - ancient Indo-Aryan clan Srñjaya as mentioned in Rigveda
• Sabharwal - Khatri clan originating from the ancient kingdom of Sauvira in SW Punjab
• Sahni/Sawhney - Kukhrain Khatri clan originating from the banks of Swan river in the Pothohar region near Rawalpindi. There may be a potential link to Sahn region in NW Frontier also.
• Sarin - Khatri clan belonging to the Sarin group with connections to Indo-Aryan settlement on the banks of Syr river.
• Sehgal - Khatri clan from the ancient Sagala kingdom near Sialkot, West Punjab
• Selhi - subgroup originally from Sodhi clan who received the "Selhi" cap of Guru Arjan Dev
• Seth - Khatri clan with name originating from Sanskrit term Shrestha meaning the nobles of the city 
• Sethi - Kukhrain Khatri clan with name meaning Shrestha, the nobles of the city in sanskrit
• Sibal - Khatri clan originating from ancient Sivi or Sibi kingdom as mentioned by Greek chronicles
• Sodhi - ancient Khatri clan from the Vedic period with ancestry link with Rama's son Lava
• Soin - Khatri clan with connections to Soinwari, NW Frontier
• Soni or Sondhi - Khatri clan with potential link to Adda Sondh inToba Tek Singh District
• Sud or Sood - One of the oldest Khatri clan from Vedic period - descendants of King Sudasa
• Suri - Suryavanshi clan of Indo-Aryans belonging to Kukhrain Khatri group
• Sikka
• Talwar - Khatri clan with origins in Talwara near Lahore and Talwara, Hoshiarpur
• Tandon - Khatri clan belonging to the Sarin group
• Thapar - Khatri clan with connections to Basti Thapar, West Punjab 
• Tuli - Khatri clan from Lahore region
• Trehan - descendants of the ancient Vedic Indo-Aryan clan mentioned as Tritsu in Rigveda
• Uppal - Khatri clan from Gujranwala District, West Punjab. Famous Sikh warrior Hari Singh Nalwa belonged to this clan.
• Wahi - Khatri clan from the Wah region near Rawalpindi

Famous Khatri personalities

The Khatri or Kshatriyas of Punjab were the fore bearers of Vedic culture and the key power house responsible for the adoption of Vedic culture and religion by the rest of the India. Here are some of the famous Khatris from historical perspective:

• Sudasa - Indo-Aryan King who defeated other Aryan tribes and conquered Punjab (Sood)
• Ikshavaku - Indo-Aryan King who expanded Vedic kingdom to North India
• Raghu - Indo-Aryan King who expanded his kingdom to Eastern UP
• Kaikeyi - Queen of Raja Dashratha (Kakkar)
• Takshak - Decsndent of Kaurava who established Taxila (Taksha-Shila)
• Bharata - Several individuals with this name - Bharata, the King of Panch Janya (Bharat Varsha)
• Gandhari - Queen of Raja Dhritrashtra (Kandhari)
• Shakuni- Brother of Gandhari was the mastermind behind the Kurukshetra War
• Madri - Queen of Raja Pandu (Madan)
• Shalya - Brother of Madri but fought Mahabharata fro the side of Kaurava
• Jayadratha - the King of Sindh and Multan fought Mahabharata from Kaurava side
• Porus or Puru - Puri Khatri who defeated Alexander the Great at the battle of Hydaspes
• Kanishka - Kushan (Kukhrain) emperor (127–150 CE) ruled from Bactria to  the Gangetic plain
• Guru Nanak - the first Guru of the Sikhs (Bedi Khatri)
• Guru Angad - the second Guru of the Sikhs (Trehan Khatri)
• Guru Amardas - the third Guru of the Sikhs (Bhalla Khatri)
• Guru Ramdas, Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Hargobind Rai, Guru Har Rai, Guru Harkrishan Rai, Guru Teg Bahadur, and Guru Gobind Singh  - All from Sodhi Khatri
• Bhai Gurdas - Sikh Scholar whose hymns are included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib
• Bhai Nandlal Goya - Sikh Scholar of Guru Gobind Singh's court
• Bhai Mani Singh - Sikh scholar executed by Mughals for scribing Sri Guru Granth Sahib
• Diwan Mohkam Chand - Commander of the Khalsa army (Nayyar Khatri)
• Diwan Sawanmal - Commander of the Khalsa army (Chopra Khatri)
• Diwan Moolraj - Sikh Governor of Multan (Chopra Khatri)
• Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa - Sikh general expanded Sikh empire to Khyber Pass (Uppal Khatri)
• Sardar Mihan Singh - Governor of Kashmir from Qila Mihan Singh
• Master Tara Singh - Freedom fighter and leader of Akali Dal (Malhotra Khatri)
• Film Personalities - Prithviraj Kapoor, Balraj Sahni, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Prem Nath (Malhotra), Pran (Sikand), Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Yash Chopra, BR Chopra, Yash Johar, Anand Bakshi, FC Mehra, Prakash Mehra, Prem Chopra, Om Prakash, Rajinder Kumar (Tuli). Jeetendra (Kapoor), Vinod Khanna, Vinod Mehra, Kabir Bedi, Rakesh Roshan (Nagrath), Amitabh Bachhan (s/o Teji Suri), Ranjit (Bedi), IS Johar, Madan Puri, Amrish Puri, Om Puri, Karishma Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Kareena Kapoor, Hritik Roshan (Nagrath), Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Karan Johar, and so on.
• Sant Singh Chhatwal - Businessman and Hotelier, New York
• Yogi Bhajan - Founder of 3HO - American Sikh Organization (Harbhajan Singh Puri)
• Gurbax Singh - Hockey Player and Olympic Gold Medalist
• Bishan Singh Bedi - Cricketer
• Abhinav Bindra - Olympic Gold Medalist in Shooting
• IK Gujral - Prime Minister of India
• Manmohan Singh (Kohli) - Prime Minister of India
• Shikhar Dhawan - Cricketer
• Niraj Chopra - Olympic Gold Medalist - Jevelin
  
• Virat Kohli - Captain, Indian Cricket

(This list is incomplete)

References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khatri
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rigvedic_tribes
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ancient_Indo-Aryan_peoples_and_tribes
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Aryan_peoples
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Aryan_migration
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshatriya
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kshatriya
• https://scroll.in/article/936872/two-new-genetic-studies-upheld-aryan-migration-theory-so-why-did-indian-media-report-the-opposite
• https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/theres-no-confusion-the-new-reports-clearly-confirm-arya-migration-into-india/article29409611.ece
• https://www.peopleofar.com/2018/09/16/new-dna-study-supports-an-armenian-origin-of-the-indo-europeans/