Kharal ( Punjabi: ) is a Punjabi Muslim tribe predominantly found in northern Punjab and the Sandal Bar region.

Origins

The earliest mention of origins of Kharals was by Hazrat Pilu, a 16-17th century poet who wrote Mirza Kharal as a Jat in his Kissa Mirza Sahiba. The second earliest source being the 17th century Sufi Poet Hafiz Barkhurdar Ranjha who in his version of Qissa Mirza Sahiban also referred to Mirza Kharal as Jat multiple times. The earliest Bristish Raj sources recorded Kharals as

Jats The Jat people (, ), also spelt Jaat and Jatt, are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, many Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in ...

and observed

Rajputisation Modern historians agree that Rajputs consisted of a mix of various different social groups (castes) and different varnas. Rajputisation (or Rajputization) explains the process by which such diverse communities coalesced to form the Rajput commu ...

of some of the population afterwards.Additionally, Kharals were also designated as a Martial race being known for their bravery and fierceness.

History

Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal is a historical personality, who was the chieftain of the Kharal tribe, who revolted against the British in the

1857 revolt Events January–March * January 1 – The biggest Estonian newspaper, ''Postimees'', is established by Johann Voldemar Jannsen. * January 7 – The partly French-owned London General Omnibus Company begins operating. * Janu ...

, where he consequently took leadership of the many local tribes in the region. He was killed while offering afternoon prayers by the British on September 21, 1857. Ahmad Khan Kharral Tomb

The Kharals are also famous due to one of the greatest and tragic Punjabi romances called

Mirza Sahiban ''Mirza Sahiban'' () is a classical Punjabi folk tragedy, originally recorded in literary form by the 17th-century poet Pilu. Set in a village in Jhang, the tragedy follows the romance between two youths, belonging to chieftain families ...

. According to the story of Mirza Sahiban as narrated by the Punjabi writer Pilu, the story's protagonist is '' Mirza Jatt ,'' son of the chief of the Kharal of Danabad, who falls in love with his cousin Sahiban, of the Sial tribe. To date there have been many film adaptations in both

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

and

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

of the Story of Mirza and Sahiban.

Subclans

The Kharals have numerous subclans, some of which include Basheraky, Mangera, Sherakhy, Gogairah, Lakherah, Uperah, Perokah, Begekeh, Randhairah, Lalhairah, Ruberah, Sahi, Lodikeh, Dehar, Churiarah, Khar, Bhandrah, Daulkeh, Sherkeh, Baira and Gogerah, *Khar ( Punjabi: کھر) is a Jat clan found in

in districts of Multan and Montgomery and is considered among the prominent tribes of Muzaffargarh District. They are a branch of the larger Kharal tribe and multiple legends exist as to why their name was shortened from ''Kharal'' to ''Khar''.

Notable people

* Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal, ruler (

nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...

) of Jhamra, chieftain of the Kharal tribe. * Khalid Ahmed Kharal, Federal Minister of Information of Pakistan, Secretary General of

Pakistan People's Party The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is a political party in Pakistan and one of the three major Pakistani political parties alongside the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. With a centre-left political position, it is cu ...

Civil Services The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil service personnel hired rather than elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leadership. A civil service offic ...

Officer. *

Naseem Kharal Naseem Ahmed Kharal () (June 29, 1939 – July 14, 1978) was a Sindhi people, Sindhi short story writer.Daily Dawn on July 15, 2003 He was born on June 29, 1939, in Kharalabad, Khairpur District of British India, what subsequently became Pakistan. ...

, Sindhi landlord and short story writer. * Rai Mansab Ali Khan, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare, former Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. * Ghulam Mustafa Khar, feudal lord, Governor of Punjab, Chief Minister of Punjab. * Ghulam Noor Rabbani Khar, Member of National Assembly of Pakistan. * Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of National Assembly of Pakistan. * Malik Ghulam Raza Rabbani Khar, Member of National Assembly of Pakistan. * Malik Ghulam Arbi Khar, Member of National Assembly of Pakistan * Malik Ghulam Raza Rabbani Khar, Member of National Assembly of Pakistan. * Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal, Member of National Assembly of Pakistan. * Rai Usman Khan Kharal, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. * Rai Haider Ali Khan Kharal, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. * Naeem Ahmed Kharal, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

References

External links‌

*�
Kharal and Berkley (19th century British ‌India) on Dawn (newspaper‌)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kharal (surname) Surnames Jat clans of Punjab Jat clans of Pakistan Rajput clans of Punjab Punjabi-language surnames