Pachhada

The Pachhada are a Punjabi Muslim pastoral community now settled in Punjab, Pakistan. They are also known as Rath. The community has different tribes, and it is believed that they originally hailed from the Bar Region of western Punjab.

Origin

The ancestral homeland of the Pachhada was the Bar region. The term "Pachhada" is derived from the Punjabi word "Pachádhar," meaning "westerner," ^[1] as they were believed to be the people of the west. They spoke a dialect of Punjabi called Pachhadi or Rathi, which had influences from Haryanvi.^[2]

Later, the Pachhada migrated to the semi-desert territories that now form part of the Hissar and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana, and the Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan, before returning to Punjab. The Pachhada were a nomadic and pastoral community.

With the establishment of British rule in the early 19th century, the authorities took measures to settle the Pachhada, along with other pastoral groups in the region, as part of efforts to control nomadism. The Pachhada were involved in the resistance during the 1857 Indian War of Independence.^[3]

After the re-establishment of British authority, the Pachhada were subjected to land confiscations and forced settlement. By the early 20th century, they had transitioned to an agricultural lifestyle, though animal husbandry remained important.

Following the partition of India in 1947, the Pachhada, residing in areas that became part of India, migrated to Pakistan.

Social Structure and Cultural Identity

The Pachhada's major tribes are Sahu, Sukhera, Hanjra, and Chotia (also referred to as Bhaneka). While many have assimilated into the broader society, they have maintained some aspects of their distinct cultural identity in settlement areas across west Punjab, particularly in Okara, Sahiwal, Muzaffargarh, and Layyah districts. They predominantly follow the Sunni Islam faith, and some continue to speak their native Punjabi dialect.

Tribes

Sahu

The Sahu tribe is one of the major groups within the Pachhada community. Many of them identify as both Jat and Rajput, reflecting their diverse cultural and historical influences. There are two main traditions regarding their origins. One tradition suggests that the Sahu are descendants of a Rana Jatu who originally lived in Rawalpindi, later settling in Rania and finally Bhirana. Although he eventually returned to Rawalpindi, his son Lal, who remained in Bhirana, is regarded as the ancestor of the Sahu tribe. According to the second tradition, their ancestors originated from Jilopatan near Jaipur in Rajasthan, eventually moving to Delhi before migrating to the Ghaghar valley.^{[citation needed]}

Hanjra

The Hanjra, also known as Hinjra, Hajrah, or Hajraw, is an important Jat tribe. The Hanjra of the Gujranwala bar are primarily based in 37 villages in the Gujranwala region but have also spread east and west across the hills. The tribe's immediate ancestors are identified as Mal and Dhol, and some of their clans are said to remain in the Hissar area. The Hissar Settlement Report notes that the Hinjraon Pachhada trace their origins to a Saroha Rajput ancestor named Hinjraon. While they are primarily Sunni Muslims in the Gujranwala area, Hindu Hinjraon Pachhadas are found in other regions.

The Hanjra tribe had a notable distribution in the Punjab region. In Pakistan, they were most concentrated in Gujranwala, where they owned 37 villages. Other significant populations were found in the districts of Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sialkot, Lahore, Sargodha, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Sahiwal. In India, the tribe was present in districts such as Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Firozpur, and the East Plains region. Gujranwala District remains one of the places where the Hanjra population is most heavily concentrated.^[4]

Other tribes

In addition to the major tribes, the Mahaar, Johiya, Wattoo, and Kharal clans lived in proximity to the Pachhada. There were instances of intermarriage between these clans, although many of them were collectively referred to as Ranghar. The Mahaar clan was sometimes considered part of the Pachhada Community.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ A. Jukes (1900). Dictionary of the Jatki or Western Panjábi Language. p. 59.
^ G.a.griyerson (1907). Linguistic Survey Of India Vol Ix Part1. p. 696.
^ The peasant armed: by Eric Stokes pages 120 to 122
^ Panjab Castes" Book by Sir Denzil Ibbetson, published in 1916, page 117

[1] A. Jukes (1900). Dictionary of the Jatki or Western Panjábi Language. p. 59.

[2] G.a.griyerson (1907). Linguistic Survey Of India Vol Ix Part1. p. 696.

[3] The peasant armed: by Eric Stokes pages 120 to 122

[4] Panjab Castes" Book by Sir Denzil Ibbetson, published in 1916, page 117

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