Khatana

Khatana^[1][2][3] is a major clan of the Gurjar community of India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[4][5] They follow several religions, including Hinduism, Islam,^[1] and Sikhism.^[6]

Origin

Khatana Gurjars claim being the descendants of Raja Jaipal of the Hindu Shahi dynasty, who encountered the Sebuktigin (also known as Sultan Mehmud Gaznavi) near the Jehlum river at Attock in Punjab.^[7] Some of them also claim their lineage back to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata.^[8]

Offshoots

Khatana Gujjars have many sub-branches/sub-sections including the:^[9]

• Awana
• Kunduana
• Amrana
• Bukkan
• Bhand
• Topa
• Gajgahi
• Debar
• Doi
• Thilas
• Jangal
• Lohsar

Distributions

They are found in all regions and provinces of Pakistan, including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hazara, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Islamabad Capital Territory. In Pakistani Punjab's Gujarat district alone, there are 40 village with a Khatana Gujjar majority population.^[10]

References

1. Pal, Vijay Kumar. Black Dots of Terrorism. Rudra Publications. p. 92. ISBN 978-93-90835-65-2. 3. Chauhan surname is very common in Hindu and Muslims. 4. Nirvan a clan in Gurjar community, both IN Hindus and Muslims both. 5. Khatana clan of Gurjar is in both Hindus and Muslims.
2. Manku, Darshan Singh (1986). The Gujar Settlements: A Study in Ethnic Geography. Inter-India Publications. p. 117. ISBN 978-81-210-0072-7. Paharpur village was settled by three Gujar clans namely, Bhoomla, Kalas, and Khatana, who came from different villages and areas. They divided the land of the mauza into three tarfs and established three hamlets in their respective tarfs.
3. Rahi, Javaid. The Gujjars -Vol 04 (Gujjars History & Culture) by Dr. Javaid Rahi. Jammu and Kashmir Acacademy of Art, Culture , Languages , Jammu. p. 398. The names of the gotras are common to Hindu Gujjars, Sikh Gujjars and Muslim Gujjars in the Indian sub- continent. Members of some gotras while claiming their ancestory to the legendary figures, philosophers and warriors also assert the superiority of their gotra over others. A few prominent gotras are Khatana, Hakla, Bajjar, Chechi, Rathore, Chauhan, Bhatti, Rana, Thekria, Noon, Bhadana, Gorsi, Bagri, Kasana, Bajran, Kohli, Khari and some others.
4. Lidhoo, Moti Lal (1988). Kashmir Tribals: Child Rearing and Psycho-social Development. Minakshi Publishers. p. 54.
5. Contributions to Indian Sociology: Volume 23, Issue 2 (2nd ed.). Mouton. 1989. p. 293.
6. Kanwal, Aroosa (2024-01-31). Rehumanizing Muslim Subjectivities: Postcolonial Geographies, Postcolonial Ethics. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-003-83568-4.
7. Bharadwaj, A. N. (1994). History and Culture of Himalayan Gujjars. Jay Kay Book House. p. 74. Another legend makes the Khatanas descendants of Raja Jaspal (Jaipal) and the Pandawas . Jaspal had extended his domination from Thanesar to Jehlam and when Sultan Mohd . Subuktagin was invited to Hindustan , Raja Jaspal met him at ...
8. Bahadur, Krishna Prakash (1977). Caste, Tribes & Culture of India (Page_21). Ess Ess Publications. p. 21. Another legend makes the Khatanas descendants of Raja Jaspal and the Pandavas of Mahabharat. Jaspal had extended his dominions from Thanesar to Jhelum , and when Sultan Mahmud Sabuk tagin invaded Hindustan , Jaspal met him at Attock , but ...
9. Bharadwaj, A. N. (1994). History and Culture of Himalayan Gujjars. Jay Kay Book House. p. 74. These Khatanas are not only leading Gujjars clan but have many offshoots as the minor sections ( sub - clans ) such as Awana, Amrana, Bukkan, Bhand, Topa, Gajgahi...
10. Rahi, Javaid (2012-01-01). The Gujjars Vol: 01 and 02 Edited by Dr. Javaid Rahi. Jammu and Kashmir Acacademy of Art, Culture, Languages, Jammu. p. 651. In district Gujrat (West Punjab), there are forty villages of Khatana Gujars whose Headmen informed me in 1951 that by tradition they being mor Khatana are heirs of Jaipal who fought against Mahmud of Ghazni.