The Khatris got names proper are popularly derived from various titles and
so on and proof of the military character of the caste. Khatris are also divided
into many sub-groups. They are divided into 3 classes: Charjati, Barajati and Bavanjati.
On the top are ''dhai-gharas" (Charjati) or those belonging to the "two and a half
houses." Followed by the Bhahris and Bhunjais. The "Bahris" or the "twelvers" and
a large mixed group of "Bhunjais" or "fifty-twoers" which includes almost all the
remaining with the Sarin group. Another division is in the vansis mentioned here.
Khatri surnames like Bhatia, Bhandari, Chopra, Chowdhri, Dhawan, Duggal, Kapoor,
Khanna, Kochhar, Mehra, Maindharu, Mahendru, Sahgal, Sami, Sahni, Sethi, Tandan,
Talwar, Uppal, Vohra, Wadhwa etc. are commonly used among Hindus of Punjab.
(Rose
pg. 507-508)
"In the Kashmir hills however, the Kakkas, on the east bank of the Jhelum, are said
to have been originally Khatris (they are a curiously handsome race) and in the
interior and the Kangra hills there is an interesting race of fine patriarchal-looking
shepherds called Gaddis, most of whome are Khatris. Khatri traders are numerous
in Delhi; are found in Agra, Lucknow and Patna; and are well known in the Bara Bazar
of Calcutta, though they are principally connected with Punjab farms". They are
not usually military in their character but are quite capable of using the sword
when necessary.
Some Khatri sections:
Bhalla also called
Bhallar in Panchap. Bhalla - means spear. Thus Bhalla
is derived from Bhalla, a spear. It is also one of 72 ½ sections of the Maheshri
Banias. Bhallas are found in Lahore and Ferozpur but also throughout Panjab. H.A.
Rose p.515,
Bhasin from Bhas, brilliancy and in. Master i.e. the sun.
Mahendru
is naturally derived from Mahendra, 'lord of the earth' or 'chief'.
Kapoor/Kapur: Kapur is said to mean the moon, 'karpur'. Kapur Singh
led guerilla warfare against Mughals and their Afghani allies from 1721 AD - 1748
in the Panjab was a Kahtri.
Diwan Sawan Mal, governor of Multan and his notorious successor Mulraj and very
many of Ranjit Singh's chief functionaries were Khatris. It is in the record that
a Khatri was dewan of Badasahkhan of Kunduz. The Khatris are staunch Hindus. The
clans to which the first Sikh gurus belonged seem to have lost their Khatri status.
The Khatri claim to be descendants of the old Khetrya, written also Chetrya and
Kshatrya. The Kukka east of the Jhelum and the Gaddi of the Kangra hills are said
to have been Khatri originally. We find by Arrian, that the Cathei were confederated
with the Malli and Oxydracere, that is the people of Multan and Katchh, and which
to the south where Alexander might be supposed to cross the Hydraotes (Ravi), he
appears to have been drawn out of the direct route towards the Ganges, to attack
the city of Sangala. Sangala occurs only in Arrian, (it is probably the Sagala of
Raja Millinda (Manindra, a subject to Mihirakula) and is said to have been a city
of great strength and importance in the country of the Cathei. (Cathei might be
either the Kathi or the Khatri). If the Katheri of Diodorus Siculus are the same
as the Cathi, they are the race that so manfully opposed Alexander. They were then
located at about Multan, at this period occupied by the Langa race. Colonel Tod
describes the genuine as of a fine manly form, and claims they are of Scythian origin
(Tod, Rajasthan p. 246). The cathi claim descent from the Balla, another proog of
their northern origin. A portion of them gave their name to Kattyawar, in
the Saurashtra peninsula.
- Wadhva: Also known as Vadhvani (in Sindh) and Wadhel.
- Wahi, Vahal or Wahla,
Wahal(a).
- Duggal
- Kochar: is said to come from 'Kavach' / 'armour'.
- Dhawan or Dhaun: Dhawan or Dhavan is said to mean
a messenger on the field of battle.
- Mehra (Mehrotra): Mehra is said to be derived from Mihir, the sun
or mihiragotra.
- Khanna: Khanna is derived from khan - a sapper or khanda - a sword.
- Tandon: Tandon is also said to be an abbreviation of Martand and
to mean the sun, but it is also said to mean warrior.
- Kakkar: Kakkar is said to be originally Karkar, 'strong' or 'powerful'.
They use the title of Seth or Sethi. Seth means rich and also Raja.
- Setty is also said to be a corruption of shreshta (good) and is
a title of the Komti caste.
- Chopra Sami
- Sahni & Seni are both said to be corruptions
of the Sanskrit word 'Sainin'- the head of an army or general.
- Uppal or Oppal
- Arora or Rora Etc.
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