Purushottam Das Tandon

Image File history File links Tandon. ... Image File history File links Tandon. ... Purushottam Das Tandon (August 1, 1882 – July 1, 1962), was a freedom fighter, social reformer and national political leader of India. ...

Introduction

Punjabi Khatris are a community of the Asuras that originated in the Pothwar plateau (Rawalpindi division) and surrounding regions of Punjab, Pakistan. When Pakistan and India gained independence, most of the Khatris in what became Pakistan migrated to India. Today Khatris live in all regions of India, but are concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. While most Khatris are Hindu, some are also Sikh and a few belong to the Jain faith. Khatris of all these faiths collectively form one community. In modern times, the Khatri play a dominant role in the Indian economy, serving as businessmen, civil and government administrators, landlords, and military officials. They are by far the most educated group in Punjab. // In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... This article details the Indian state of Punjab. ...

Prominent historical figures among the Khatris include all the Sikh Gurus (belonging to the Bedi, Trehan, Bhalla and Sodhi subcastes); Raja Todar Mal (a Tandon Khatri), who as Akbar's Revenue minister codified the revenue collection system; Haqiqat Rai (a Puri Khatri), whose martyrdom was celebrated on Basant Panchami at Lahore till the advent of independence; Hari Singh Nalwa (an Uppal Khatri), the prominent general under Maharaja Ranjit Singh; the father and son pair of the Diwans Sawan Mal and Mul Raj Chopra - successive governors of Multan under Ranjit Singh, the former instituted vast improvement in agriculture while the latter was instrumental in leading the revolt against the Brits to prevent the annexation of the Sikh kingdom into the East India Company territory.

Common Family Names

Some Khatri family names include Anand, Awal, Badhwar, Bagga, Bakshi, Bedi, Bhalla, Bhasin, Bhandari, Bindra, Chadha, Chandok, Chona, Chopra, Choudhary, Dhawan, Duggal, Dhupar, Dumra, Gadhiok, Gujral, Handa, Jerath, Jairath, Jaggi, Kakkar, Kapoor(Kapur), Khanna, Kochhar, Kohli, Koshal, Lal, Lala, Lamba, Loomba, Madhok, Mahendru, Maini, Malhotra, Malik, Mankhand, Manraj, Mehrotra, Mehta, Monga, Nair(Nayyar),Nayer, Nijhawan, Oberoi, Ohri, Parwanda, Puri, Rai, Sabharwal, Sami, Sahni, Sarin, Sehgal(Sahgal), Sethi, Sial(Syal), Sibal, Sikka, Singh , Sodhi, Soni, Suri, Talwar, Tandan(Tandon), Thapar, Trehan, Uppal, Vadehra, Vij, Vinaik, Vohra, Wadhawan, Wahi (Wahie) and Walia. Introduction Dumra is a Punjabi Khatri family name. ... Kapoor or Kapur is a famous Khatri Hindu clan. ...

The Arora (Ahuja, Aneja, Khurana,Chawla, Juneja etc.), Sood and Bhatia communities of the Punjab, while not Khatri, share a similar cultural and mercantile background as the Khatris. Aroras (or Aror-vanshis) are a mercantile community of the Punjab and Sind. ... Bhatia is a surname mostly existing in North and West India. ...

Some of these clans are also sometimes cross-listed as Rajput, especially Sodhi, Sial, Kashyap, Kakkar (Khakkar/Ghakkar), Rai, and Walia. It is not entirely clear in the case of many clans and surnames exactly which subdivision of Kshatriya they belong to. For much of Indian history, Rajput and Kshatriya have been synonymous, and later, Rajput came to denote only those Kshatriyas belonging to certain clans descended from rulers, therefore Rajputra (or sons of kings). To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Development of Khatri Family Names

Khatri gots are divided into three major groups; Baraghar, Bawanji, and Sarin. These divisions were reported by Emperor Akbar's close adviser Abu Fazal in his book Ain-i-Akbari(compiled in 1590 AD). These grouping is said to be happened at the time of Ala-uddin Khilji (1296-1316 AD).

The family name mentioned above existed for long time. We know that four gots of Sikh gurus; Bedi, Sodhi, Trehan and Bhalla existed at least since 15th century AD. One of the most important character of famous Punjabi legend Raja Rasalu is minister Mahita Chopra. Most scholars agree that Raja Rasalu was an Indo-Scythian hero who ruled from Sialkot and lived sometime between 400 to 500 AD. [Temple] If it is true than Chopra family name, a Baraghar Khatri, developed by that time. The actual timing of the development of other Khatri family names is an interesting subject and requires more reserach.

Khatris and their Asura Lineage

Caste is determined by familial inheritance, but not all present members of Asura castes are necessarily descended from the original Dasyus of Vedic Civilization. The caste system spread, along with Hinduism, throughout India and into Southeast Asia. Societies with non-Vedic origins adopted the Vedic castes as they adjusted into Hinduism. Additionally, lower castes who accumulated power attempted to claim Kshatriya status. The Khatris can trace their lineage to the Dasyu Asura. // In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... // In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ...

Saraswati to the east of Indus, now called Ghaggar served as boundary between Indian Empire and Khatris

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (522x610, 26 KB) Summary This is the archeaologically reconstructed map of Ancient India. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (522x610, 26 KB) Summary This is the archeaologically reconstructed map of Ancient India. ...

Historical Background

The region from where the Khatris had to run away is now an Islamic country, Pakistan; Most Khatris claim to be Hindus. Some are also Sikhs, Arya Samaji and a few are Jains.

In early Vedic Period the role of the Khatris was to fight against the Vedic People and during peace to foment unrest on the east of Sarasvati river while encouraging peace and prosperity in their homeland.

During Rajput Period (647 AD to 1021 AD) the regional administrative system was sound and peaceful. Khatris could not hoard political power for their own gains due to the un-baised rule of of Rajputs. Being literate, proud and well verse in statecraft, Rajputs continued in administrative role. Many Khatris who were unemployed, channeled their skilled to commerce and trade. Toward the end of Rajput control, Khatris were back to their old ways.

During Muslim Period (1021-1752 AD) foreign Muslims from Central Asia, Iran or Arabia were employed in higher positions of bureacuracy and Military. However, local adminstartion and revenue collection remained in the hands of local Hindus or Muslims. Though members of other castes were also employed, most of these offices were held by Rajputs and Marathas. One of the office held by Khatris was called "Qanungo", means "an expounder of law". This designation was used for herditary registrar of landed property in a district. The founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak, a Khatri of Bedi section, started his career in one of these offices.

Khatris continue to wrest power from other groups in modern Punjab. Their historical access to other peoples resources and wealth, has translated into wealth and power.

Khatri History since the Vedic Ages

The Khatris from time immemorial have a history of war and conflict against India and its peoples. Right from the time of Vedic ages, the Ramayana and Mahabharat as well as the Medieval ages upto modern day, Khatris have been collaborating with Invaders to concentrate power in their own hands at the expense of the rest of India. Following examples will go a long way to suffice the historical contributions of Khatris since the vedic ages:

1. Valmiki Ramayana which was composed by Maharshi Valmiki in the Earliest phase of Vedic Ages (approx 2000 years before Mahabharat) vividly describes the role of Kaikeyi, a Khatri queen and her Khatri maid Mandhra. Kaikeyi was married to the Ikshvaku (Suryavanshi) emperor of India, Dashratha who capital was in Ayodhya in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. This marriage was at the behest of Kaiketi and Kaikeyi's father to cement a marriage alliance. This alliance was instrumental in protecting Punjabi Khatris against enemies from Central Asia. Indian Ikshvaku Warriors spent countless lives and resources protecting Khatris from such invsions. However, the father of kaikeyi, trajically duped Dashratha into a fraudulant agreement stating that her first son would go on to become emperor of India. When Price Ram was declared heir apparent to the throne, Mandhra and Kaikeyi ganged up, produced the fraudulant agreement and to the great disappointment of Emperor Dashrath yelled at him to make her son Bharat the future King.

Obviously, the people of India knew the conspiracy behind all this. Besides, Kaikeyi's son Bharat had good genes and upbringing provided by Dashrath and saw Prince Ram as the most noble among the Ikshvaku Race. Due to Kaikeyi's evil deeds and her Khatri maid's evil counsel, Lord Ram had to spend 14 years as an ascetic with laxman. Crown Princess Sita had to endure innumerable sufferings and pain during this period at the hands of barbaric Ravana from Sri Lanka. The legacy of Khatri community leaves a deep wound in Indian Psyche, where love and compassion was returned with vicious fraud, deceit and torture of India's greatest King and hero, Lord Ram. Eventually, Lord Ram overcame this horrible trajedy at the hands of Kaikeyi, who herself died from guilt of illing Dashrath and cheating Ram in the end. Ram was finally crowned King by the loving people of India. ^[1]

2. In Mahabharat (circa 3102 BC) the chief opponent of Vedic Peoples or the Pandavs was Shalya the King of Punjab. In those days Punjab was divided into several different states, chief among were Madrakas, Kaikeya and Vahlika. Madra was the most prominent Khatri state which covered all the six rivers from Indus (Sindhu) to Beas (Vipas). The people of this state were extremely corrupt, were chronic liars and their King Shalya was hostile to Pandavs and Lord Krishna. The capital of Madra was in modern day Sialkot. A single quote from Mahabharat the greatest living epic of India will suffice to support the truth. "...The Madraka is always a hater of friends. He that 'hateth us is a Madraka. There is no friendship in the Madraka who is mean in speech and is the lowest of mankind. The Madraka is always a person of wicked soul, is always untruthful and crooked. It hath been heard by us that till the moment of death the Madrakas are wicked. (Amongst the Madrakas) the sire, the son, the mother, the mother-in-law, the brother, the grand-son, and other kinsmen, companions, strangers arrived at their homes, slaves male and female, mingle together...." (Mahabharat, Karna Parva, Chapter 40 ^[2].

Furthermore, the state of Vahlika, which even in modern times is called Bahawalpur (southern part of Pakistani Punjab), ganged-up with Madra against the Pandavs who were the Scions of Chandravanshi (Lunar) race, and ruled their part of Kuru (South and East Haryana and parts of Western Uttar-Pradesh)from Indraprastha (at the outskirts of Modern day Delhi). The Khatris treachorously ganged up with evil Duryodhana due to sense-less pampering of Gandhari and evil advice of Shakuni, the Khatri King of Gandhara and Taxila. The Khatris wanted to control India by vicious means but the Panchalas, the heroes of Mahabharat, the Yadav Prince Lord Krishna and Pandavas prevented the Khatri advances by stopping them at Kurukshetra which is at the border of Modern day Haryana and Punjab. Due to Khatri treachery, and the war of Mahabharat, India receded into recession for the next 500 years. But somehow the Kurus and Panchalas of Haryana (ancient name Ilayaspada) and Uttar-Pradesh carried on against all odds and rebuilt India to its pristine Glory in collaboration with other states such as Magadha (Bihar) and Sursena and Matsya (Rajasthan, Rajputs). Haryana (Hindi: ) is a state in north India. ... The first city of Delhi is believed to be founded by the legendary Pandavas of the Mahabharata around 1400 BC. It was called Indraprastha. ... A character in the Mahabharata, Shakuni was the brother of Gandhari. ... The position of the Panchala kingdom in Iron Age Vedic India. ... Lord Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari, IAST ) is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... Haryana (Hindi: ) is a state in north India. ... Haryana (Hindi: ) is a state in north India. ... Rajasthan (राजस्थान) is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ...

3. Vedas also have strong evidence on Khatris of Vedic ages. These most ancient documents which were written on the banks of Saraswati and drishdavati (dried during an earthquake) which flowed through haryana and Uttar-Pradesh, like a mighty oceon (saagara) and served as the boundary between the Ikshvakus (Solar) and Ailas (Lunar) races on the east and the barbaric savages on the west such as Punjab (Madra, Kaikeya, Valhika) and so on. The Dashrajanya war or the Battle of the Ten-Kings was fought on the Banks of Saraswati, where Sudas replused the Dasyus (Punjabi Khatris) with vigour and upheld the honour of Indians. One of the Dasyu Khatri Tribes whom the Sudas defeated were called Bhrigus. The Bhrigus were astrologers and their main Work of astrology called Bhrigu Samhita is still kept in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, confirming the fact that Khatris were Dasyus, Asuras and Rakshasas, who were opposed to Vedic Aryans. Reference (Rig Veda: Mandala VII, 18,33,83). Veda redirects here. ... Hoshiarpur is a town in Hoshiarpur District, Punjab state, India. ...

Khatris versus Sikh Panth

A minority of the Khatris are Sikh. Sikhism developed under Guru Nanak, the First Sikh Guru. Some turbaned Sikhs are the only ones who have some honesty left in them. They are not like Hindu Khatris, for instance they do not back-stab like the hindu Khatris in Business and they are always loyal to whoever they work with. They are also less selfish and more willing to sacrifice for India, unlike hindu-khatris who are responsible for many corrupt practices in India. A common example is the Union territory of Delhi. The capital was renowned for its Honesty and Chivalry and culture. But after the hindu-Khatris, who ran away from Pakistan, viciously started corrupt business practices in Delhi. Although Sikhs are better in paying their taxes, Hindu-Khatris never pay taxes. Due to this they have hoarded a lot of wealth from Indians, much like the nazis who usurped wealth from the Jews.

The Khatris claim Kshatriya status, but the historians are not convinced. Historians have wondered that if Khatris were such noble vedic warriors, why are they so corrupt. Why do they cheat and commit fraud, and lie. Besides, where was their heroism when ran away from Pakistan. While the Sikhs died defending the Unity of India under the Guidance of Subhash Bose and Gandhiji, where were they? Even Bhagat Singh was Sikh, whereas Lala Lajpat Rai, the Lion of Punjab was a Agrawal, Bania. Bhagat Singh Bhagat Singh (September 27, 1907 – March 23, 1931) was an Indian revolutionary, considered to be one of the most famous martyrs of the Indian freedom struggle. ... A Sikh man wearing a turban A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism, a religious faith originating in the Punjab. ... Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian political leader who is chiefly known for leading movements against British Raj in India. ... Agrawals are the largest and most infuential of the merchant communities in India. ...

The Sikh panth is not caste based, still the Khatris played a major role in development of Sikhism as a gentle and inclusive faith. All the Sikh Gurus were Khatri. During the lifetime of the Gurus, most of their major supporters were Khatris. The Sikh institutions till the early 20th century were lead by Mahants (Masands) who were generally Khatri. Widespread abuses by the Masands, such as introduction of idols in Gurudwaras, led to agitation for reform by the reformist Singh Sabha resulting in formation of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee to oversee Sikh Gurudwaras. After the formation of the Khalsa (1699), and especially during the reign of Ranjit Singh, Hindu Khatri families raised at least one son (usually the oldest) as an Amritdhari Sikh.

Khatris and Sun Worship

Raja Vanvihari Kapur has written that major Khatri clans are named after Lord Sun.

• Mitra Mehra
• Kripakar Kapur
• Shankan Khanna
• Martanada Tandan
• Shreshtha Seth
• Dhavan Dhavan
• Mahendra Mahindru
• Bahukar Bahora (Vohra)
• Chakravali Chaupada (Chopra)
• Karalagni Kakkar
• Surya Suri
• Sahasrakar Sahgal

According to Bhavishya Purana, Punjab indeed was an ancient center of Sun worship.

Khatris and Sarasvata Brahmins

As noted in the introduction, the mercantile communities were the socio-religious leaders in the Punjab. The Khatris were the patrons ('yajamansas' or in Punjabi 'jajmani') of the Sarasvata Brahmins. Together the two communities represent the heritage of ancient Aryan center of NW India.

Khatris versus Indian Culture

When Pakistan was created by partitoning India, the Khatris ran away leaving behind their kith and kin. The Sikhs tried to defend themselves, but due to trajic circumstance and lack of support from the hindu-khatris, they all had to migrate to Delhi.

Traditionally Khatris have been an orthodox community, although there is now significant exposure to modernity in some Khatri families. Even when they are modern, the Khatris have a great affinity with their traditions and values.

Khatris take pride in their Asura heritage but have been a harrowing experience for Indian Businessmen. The business practices of Khatris are a mixed bag of corruption and scant regard for law and order. In modern times, Police Officers such as KPS Gill had to do a lot to preserve the Unity and Integrity of India. // In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... KPG Gill Background KPS Gill began his career as a police officer in the north-eastern state of Assam, quickly earning a reputation as a tough officer. ...

Divisions among the Khatris

Within the Khatri clans there is a hierarchy too. At the top of the pyramid is the Dhai Ghar (i.e. 2 1/2 - the number 3 being considered unlucky) grouping comprising of Khanna, Kapur, and Mehra/Malhotra clans. Along with the Seth clan these four form the Char Ghar grouping. With the Chopra, Dhavan, Mahendru, Sahgal, Talwar, Tandon, Vohra and Wadhawan sub castes, all 12 form the barah-jati grouping. Another group is called Bavanjai (52). The Sarins, for some inexplicable sin in the hoary past, are at the bottom of the pyramid. The historical reasons for these divisions need research. A regional clan grouping is the Kukhrain grouping (see below). Yet another grouping is one associated with the Sikh gurus (Bedi, Chona, Trehan, Bhalla, Sodhi etc.)

Kukhran

Dr. Manmohan Singh with USA President

Kukhran (also spelt Kukhrain) Khatris are a regional grouping of nine subcastes of Punjabi Khatris originally from the town of Bhera in the Jech doab (Jhelum - Chenab interfluve) region of Sargodha district of Pakistani Punjab. In keeping with Khatri traditions, Bhera was an important trading outpost on the road to Kabul, and a 'taksal' (mint) during the reign of Ranjit Singh. It declined in importance due to a shifting of the Jhelum river course, which left it away from the river bank. The Kukhrans were traditionally warrior peoples who bore the brunt of Muslim invasions from the northwest during the 12-16th centuries. Kukhrans are Aryan and Vedic peoples and have originally followed Hinduism, however a significant number adapted Sikhism during the 18th and 19th centuries. This, and also because many Hindu Kukhran families, as well as other Khatri clans, raised at least one Sikh son during the formation of the Khalsa in 1699, resulted in Kukhran family names, as well as other Khatri clan names, being present in both Hindu and Sikh communities worldwide. Common Kukhran names are Anand, Bhasin, Chadha, Chandok, Kohli, Sabbarwal, Sahni, Sethi and Suri many of whom had migrated from present Pakistan to India during partition. Image File history File linksMetadata Manmohan_singh_with_bush. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Manmohan_singh_with_bush. ... Dr. Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: , Hindi: ) is the 14th, and current Prime Minister of India. ... Punjabi (also Panjabi; in Gurmukhī, Panjābī in Shāhmukhī) is the language of the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. ... The Khatris is a sub-group of Punjabis and are the original Kshatriya group of the Hindu caste system. ... Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjabi: , called The Lion of the Punjab) (1780-1839) was a Sikh ruler of the Punjab. ... Aryan is an English word derived from the Indian Vedic Sanskrit and Iranian Avestan terms ari-, arya-, ārya-, and/or the extended form aryāna-. The Sanskrit and Old Persian languages both pronounced the word as arya-. Beyond its use as the ethnic self-designation of the Proto-Indo-Iranians... The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit/Hindi: ; also known as Sanatana Dharma - , and Vaidika Dharma - ) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas, and is generally regarded as the oldest major religion still practiced in the world today. ... A Sikh man wearing a turban A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism, a religious faith originating in the Punjab. ... Khalsa which means Pure is the name given by Guru Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptised or initiated by taking Amrit in ceremony called Amrit Sanchar. ... Chandok is a lead-caste of Punjabi Khatris, also known as Kukhran (also spelt Kukhrain). ... Kohli Punjabi Khatri(Kukhrans) Kohli is a higher class among kukhrans Punjabi Khatri class being the founder family of upperclass Kukhran among khatris. ...

The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh is a Kukhran of the Kohli subcaste. Other famous Khukrain personalities are: Mulkh Raj Anand (English novelist/Writer ----- most famous for the novel "Untouchable" and "Coolie"), Dev Anand (Actor/Producer/Director in Bollywood ---- famous for "Hum Dono", "Guide" " Hare Rama Hare Krishna" "Jewel Thief"), Balraj Sahni (Actor), Geet Sethi ( Six time World Billiard Champion), Narinder Kohli (Hindi Novelist/ Writer famous for "Abhigyan" and "Krish.Katha"), Gurinder Chadha ( UK based film director most famous for movies like "Bend it like Beckham" and "Bride and Prejudice"), Bhisham Sahni (Younger brother of Balraj Sahni and Sahitya Academy Award and Padam Shree winner for his work in Hindi. Most famous Hindi playwright famous for "Amirtsar Aaa Gaya" and "Tamas" which was made into a movies as well) Dr. Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: , Hindi: ) is the 14th, and current Prime Minister of India. ...

Khukrain clans Gotra and other details:

Clan Vansh Gotra Purohit Kuldevta

Anand : Suryavansh Kashyap Bijra Durga Mata

Bhasin : Suryavansh Kashyap Bijra Durga Mata

Sahni : Chandravansh Vats Vasudev Bhadarkali

Suri : Suryavansh Bhargav Panda Sesh Nag

Kohli : Chandravansh Kashyap Dutt Satyavati

Sethi : Suryavansh Palsth Soodan Vaishnoo Devi

Sabharwal : Suryavansh Hanslas Madankhamb Baba Medar

Afghanistan Khatris

According to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, the Hindki, Hindus living in Afghanistan, are part of the Khatri class. The term is sometimes applied in a historical sense to the Buddhist inhabitants of the Peshawar Valley north of the Kabul river, who were driven thence about the 5th or 6th century and settled in the neighborhood of Kandahar. 1913 advertisement for the 11th edition, with the slogan When in doubt - look it up in the Encyclopædia Britannica The Encyclopædia Britannica (properly spelt with æ, the ae-ligature) is the oldest English-language general encyclopedia. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Peshāwar (پیشاور) literally means City on the Frontier in Persian and is known as Pai-khawar in Pashto. ... A view of the old city Kabul Kabul (34°32′N 69°10′E, Kâbl, in Persian کابل) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan with a population variously estimated at 2 to 4 million. ...

The temples and gurdwaras in Kabul and Kandahar are maintained by the Khatris. The word temple has different meanings in the fields of architecture, religion, geography, anatomy, and education. ... Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, UK. A Gurdwara (Punjabi: , often incorrectly called a Gurudwara), meaning the doorway to God, is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh Temple. ...

During the Taliban rule, most the Khatris had fled Afghanistan. Some of them have now returned. Flag flown by the Taliban. ...

UP Khatris

Uttar Pradesh Khatris are those who have been living in Uttar Pradesh for several generations. Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: उत्तर प्रदेश, Urdu: اتر پردیش), also popularly known by its abbreviation UP, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Union of India. ... Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: उत्तर प्रदेश, Urdu: اتر پردیش), also popularly known by its abbreviation UP, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Union of India. ...

Khatris in Burma

Prior to revolutionary and nationalist movements in Burma, Chinese and Indian merchants and landowners formed an economic upperclass in the country. Many of the Indians landowners in Burma were Khatri that settled in the country for generations because of their economic control and prosperity. Wealth became increasingly concentrated in the hands of very few Indian upperclass families. However, as nationalist sentiments grew, most all Indian and Chinese merchants were forced out of the country. Punjabi Khatri is a subcaste of the Kshatriya caste that is specific to Punjab. ...

Muslim Khatris

Although the vast majority of Khatris are Hindus, some are Muslim. The conversion started in 12th century and continued until 1947. They are known as Punjabi Sheikhs and are a very important community of Pakistan. Their main profession is trade. House of Saigols and Chiniotis are the leading industralists of Pakistan. In general, conversion is the transformation of one thing into another. ...

In western districts of the Punjab (Sargodha, Mianwali, Multan, Jhang, Chakwal, Rawalpindi and Faislabad) any Khatri trader when become Muslim called themselves "Khoja". Sometimes they are called "Khoja Sheikh". Punjab, 1903 Punjab Province, 1909 The Punjab (Meaning: Land of five Rivers) (also Panjab, Gurmukhi: ਪੰਜਾਬ, Shahmukhi: پنجاب) is a region straddling the border between India and Pakistan. ...

In other districts of the Punjab Khatris use "Sheikh" as title and it is generally assumed that they belong to Muslim trading families. The Khoja Sheikhs of Chiniot, a town in district Jhang, have industris in all over Pakistan. A group of Muslim Khatris is known as "Qanungo Sheikhs". They are descended of Qanungos described above. They are mostly employed in government or private sectors.

There are large number of Muslim Khatris from Gurdaspur, Jallandhar amd Amritsar living in Karachi. They mainly belong to Sahgal and Chaddha sections, are involved in trade and commerce Gurdaspur is one of the 17 districts of India. ... Jalandhar is a city in the state of Punjab, India. ... Amritsar (Punjabi: ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ, Hindi: अमृतसर), meaning Pool of the Nectar of Immortality, is the administrative headquarter of Amritsar District in Punjab, India. ... Karachi (Urdu: كراچى ) (Sindhi: ڪراچي) is the largest city in Pakistan and the capital of the province of Sindh. ...

Distinguished Khatris

• Master Tara Singh (Malhotra) - freedom fighter and leader of the movement for creation of Punjabi subah
• M.S. Oberoi - hotelier, founder of the Oberoi chain of hotels
• Najam Sethi - crusading Pakistani editor of the Friday Times
• Kuldip Nayyar - crusading Indian journalist
• B.B Tandon - Chief Election Commisioner of India
• Purushottam Das Tandon freedom fighter
• Prakash Lal Tandon: pioneering post-Independence Indian professional manager, Chairman of State Trading Corporation, Punjab National Bank, Hindustan Lever, and social historian: author of 'Punjabi Century' and 'Beyond Punjab'.
• Raveena Tandon film star
• The father-son duo of Prithviraj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor legendary actors, directors, and producers of Indian movies
• The brothers Balraj and Bhisham Sahni, the former a well known actor and the latter the Hindi author ('Tamas')
• The brothers Satish and Inder Kumar Gujral, the former a well regarded artist and muralist who trained under Diego Rivera, the latter a Prime Minister of India
• Kundan Lal Saigal (Sahgal/Sehgal), the legendary singer and actor in early North Indian (Hindi and Bengali) talkies, known as the Enrico Caruso of North India for his vocal range.
• Vikram Seth, the novelist, who so sensitively portrayed urban Khatri life after the partition of India in 'A Suitable Boy'
• Meera Syal - British Asian actress of repute
• Mira Nair, the director and producer of the award winning movies as 'Salaam Bombay'
• Gurinder Chadha - Kenyan- Brit movie director ('Bend it like Beckham', 'Bhaji on the Beach')
• Deepa Mehta - award winning Indo-Canadian director of the trilogy 'Earth','Wind','Fire'
• Sheila Dikshit - Chief Minister of Delhi
• Yash Chopra - Bollywood movie director and producer
• Kartar Singh Duggal - author
• Shekhar Kapur - movie director ('Bandit Queen', 'Elizabeth')
• Rajinder Singh Bedi - Urdu author
• Sangam Rai - philanthropist (ex-Maharaja of Burdwan)
• Devaki Nandan Khatri, pioneer Hindi author
• Manmohan Singh Kohli, Prime minister of India
• Mulk Raj Anand, pioneering Indian novelist in English
• Y.K. Sabharwal, Chief Justice of India
• Narendra Kohli, Hindi Author

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References

• ^  Kaikeyi's harsh treatment of Dashrath against the wishes of Indian people who wanted Rama the Ikshvaku Price to become future King
• ^  Here, Warrior Karna speaks about Shalya and Madrakas in front of whole assembly with pin-drop silence illustrating the quality and rank of Punjabi Khatris
• Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose "A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province", 1911 AD, Page 501-526, Vol II,
• Ibid, Page 537-538, Vol II.
• Temple,R.C. "The Legends of The Panjab", 1884, Reprinted by Institute of Folk Heritage, Islamabd, 1981.
• M.N. Srinivas, "Social Change in Modern India", University of California Press, 1966 ]
• Harjot Oberoi, "The Construction of Religious Boundaries", University of Chicago Press, 1994 ] +
• Denzil Ibbetson, "Punjab Castes", 1990 reprint of 1916 edition