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Revision as of 18:08, 20 April 2006 by 156.80.102.112 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Khatris are the original Kshatriya race that originated from the Aryan Invasion into the Indian subcontinent during the years 1500-1000 BC. There originations can be traced to that of Eastern Iran (modern eastern Iran, souther Tajikistan, and northeastern Aghanistan....and even before that, they migrated to the Iranian plateau from Central Asia, many 1000s of years before the settling in eastern Iran). They made up the eastern Kshatrapa (military province) of the Persian conquered territory. For the most part, Khatris (Kshatriya) are purely 100% Aryan by blood, except for having mixed with other invading outsiders such as the Greco-Bactrians and Macedonians during the invasion led by Alexander the Great 326 B.C.). The Rajputs who came much later to the Indian subcontinent (300-800AD), were the product of Khatris mixing with invading Scythians, Huns, and other tribes from Central Asian origins. After mixing with the Khatris, these tribes even mixed with other southern tribes in Southern India. The term Rajput was applied mainly to the tribes who came to rule in the lands of Rajputana (modern day Rajasthan, UP, Haryana, Bihar).....but other ruling tribes in the southern, eastern, southwestern, and southern India took on the new name Rajputs, as it became a sign of status and of ruling & military power.
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.
Khatris have played a promonebt role in 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.
See also
See detailed article Khatri.