Chachar

Chachar (چاچڙ) is a Muslim Jat clan found in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan provinces of Pakistan and in Hindus in Rajasthan province of India The Chachar claim Baloch origin, and are believed to be descended from the famous King Chaker khan Rind. Chachar(s) are also found in Sindh Province in Districts Ghotki, Sukkur, Kandhkot, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Thar, Saeedabad, and Mirpur Khas , Kachcho^[1] etc. In Punjab Pakistan, Chachar Tribe is mostly found in Sargodha, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Okara and Lodhran districts of Punjab. Basirpur in Okara District is an important village of this tribe. In Sindh Pakistan, Chachar(s) are resident in Pano Aqil, Ghotki, Sukkur and Kashmore mostly. Gamero, Haji Khan Chachar Village Reti, Marowalla, Dari and Village Yusuf Chachar are some of the majority area of Chachars in District Ghotki. Chachars, in sindh, are also found in District Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Saeedabad, Thar and Mirpur Khas. Village Wadda Chachar is a famous village of Chachar Tribe in District Jamshoro. Chachar(s) are Sindhi Jamote They migrated from Sindh to Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan.^[2]

History

"At the present day the Janjuhahs call themselves Janjua, although they continue to spell their name Jajuha. They also say that they are called Raja, because their tribe have always given Kings to the country. These two statements at once recall the account given by Al-Masudi of the Kings of Gandhara in the middle of the 10th century. " The King of El-Kandahar," says he, " who is one of the Kings of Es-Sind ruling over this country, is called Jahaj; this name is common to all sovereigns of that country."

The same name Chach is seen here: "Jamd'ah-yi brahman. I have memorized all four kutub-i Hind: Rg, Jaj, Assam, Atharin" see Chachnama 1939, 18; 22.

Translators have made a mess of the name, which also occurs in my mother's clan name (JAji or YAji, one who performs Yagna) and their ancient abodes near Kannauj (JAjmau). "The Bráhman Dynasty. Though we have no reason to complain of any want of detail respecting the political transactions of this dynasty, yet we are left in considerable doubt respecting the chronological adjustment of the few reigns which it comprises, and even the very name of Chach is a subject of some uncertainty. Gladwin has "Juj;"* Briggs has "Huj;"* the two Manuscripts in the Bibliothèque Royale have "Hoj;"* Reinaud spells the name "Tchotch;"* Renouard leans to "Jaj," as he considers it a corruption of Yajnya;* S. de Sacy gives reasons for considering it to be "Hijaj;"* Pottinger writes "Chach;"* and he is followed by all English authors. This is certainly in conformity with native usage, and we have several existing instances of the same combination—as Chachpúr, Cháchar, Cháchagám, Chachí, Chachar, and similar names of places in the valley of Indus."

There has to be a Yusufzai connection to these Chachi folk. I would not be surprised if the Alkozai and Durrani have some connection too since "most recent common ancestor of the Yusufzai Khans lived at some time between 700 and 500 years ago & they share a common ancestor with R1a1a-M17 Durrani Khans at some time between 1100 and 1300 years ago."

Chach of Alor Sindh in 700 AD, under the Brahmin dynasty

Chach of Alor (610–682)[27] was a Brahmin chamberlain and secretary to Rai Sahasi II of the Rai Dynasty, and succeeded him to the throne of Sindh.[27] The history of Chach is related in the Chach Nama, a book about the history of Sindh.

In the 35th year of the reign of the Raja Sahasi Rai II (636 AD), the Chach Nama reports the repulsion of an Arab raid on Debal and Thana. The raid was meant for the purpose of looting the coastal cities, and not actually permitted by the Caliph Umar (634–644), who later dismissed the governor of Bahrain for raiding without permission. In 644, after Muslim conquest of the Sassanid Empire, the Rashidun army entered Makran and defeated the army of Sahasi Rai II in the Battle of Rasil, and annexed Makran and eastern Balochistan. Caliph Umar disapproved of any incursion beyond the Indus River and ordered his commanders to consolidate their position west of the Indus.[28][not in citation given] During the reign of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (644–656), Muslims captured Qanzabil, a main military garrison of the Rai dynasty in northern Sindh. In 662, during the Umayyad Caliphate, it was retaken by the Rai kingdom, and it served as easternmost garrison town of the Rashidun army.

Chach is reported to have developed a relationship with the then Queen Suhanadi, and upon the death of Sahasi Rai II he conspired with the queen and became ruler. The Rana Maharath, the King of Chittor, who was the brother Sahasi Rai, claimed the throne and attacked Chach. The Rana was killed by strategem, in the war in 640.[27][29]

Chach then enlisted his brother Chandra to help him administer the realm, and set off with an army to bring the rest of the realm under his control. He is reported to have fought battles at Babiah on the south bank of the River Beas, at Iskandah, and at Sikkah, where "Chach Rai took possession of the fort (of Sikkah), and killed 5,000 warlike men who were in it, and made the other residents of the town prisoners, and secured a large booty and a great number of slaves."[30] He appointed a Thakur at Multan and rode unopposed to settle the boundary with Kashmir.

Later he expanded his rule, subduing neighbouring Buddhist regions across the Indus River, culminating in a battle at Brahmanabad. He stayed there for a year, cementing his control by various means such as marrying the widow of the king Agham; marrying his niece to Agham's son Sarhand; taking hostages; and prohibiting the Jat and Lohana tribes from carrying weapons.

He placed upon the Jat and Lohana restrictions such as forbidding them riding horses with saddles, forbidding them from wearing silk or velvet, forbidding them from wearing headgear or footwear, and forcing them to wear black or red scarves.

He then marched into Sassanid territory to the town of Armanbelah, and through Turan to Kandahar, from where he exacted tribute before returning.

Several places along the Sindhu river are named after this king. For example, there are Chachpur, Chachar, Chachro, Chachgaon, and Chachi.[31] [edit] Chandar

Chach was succeeded by his brother, Chandra (671–679).[32] Chandar was a Buddhist ascetic.[33] He defended his realm from the Rana Sahiras of Kannauj. After a protracted siege of the capital at Aror, the Rana was captured during a conflict at a parley. Peace was concluded by means of hostages. Chandra ruled for 8 years. [edit] Raja Dahir Main article: Raja Dahir

Chach's eldest son Dahir then succeeded his uncle Chandar. His father is reported as being named Selaij. There are conflicting reports on when Chach married the Queen Suhanandi, who had no children from the Rai, and whether it was before or after the battle with the Rana Maharath. Chach had two sons (Dahir and Daharsiah) with the Queen Suhanandi and one daughter (Bai) from the widow of Argham.

pp. 145,Vol II

Chachar—an agricultural clan,classed as Jat.In Bahawalpur the Chachars claim Mughal origin and they produce tablesdescent from Timur whome they connect with Abbas,cousin of husain,son of Ali.But tradition says that the Surar,Subhago,Sirlo and Chachar tribes were once slaves of Raja Bunga Rai,raja of Amrkot, and that Jam Jhakhar redeemed them, and there is a saying:

Surar,Subhago,Silro,chauthi Chacharia, Anda hai Jam Jhakhre ha bahnan Bunga Ra

"Surar,Sabhago,Silro,(these three) and a fourth tribe,the Chachar were the slaves of Bunga Rai;it was Jam Jhakhar who brought them."

Mountains, Hills, and Plains

The general elevation of the chain drops steadily. But Fort Munro, the hill station of the Dera Ghazi Khan district, 200 miles south of the Takht, still stands 6300 feet above sea level, and it looks across at the fine peak of Ekbhai, which is more than 1000 feet higher. In the south of the Dera Ghazi Khan district the general level of the chain is low, and the Giandari hill, though only 4160 feet above the sea, stands out conspicuously. Finally near where the three jurisdictions meet the hills melt into the Kachh Gandava plain. Sir Thomas Holdich's description of the rugged Pathan hills applies also to the Suliman range. Kaisargarh is a fine limestone mountain crowned by a fores't of the edible chilgoza pine. But the ordinary tree growth, where found at all, is of a much humbler kind, consisting of gnarled olives and dwarf palms.

Passes and torrents in Suliman Hills. — The drainage of the western slopes of the Suliman range finding no exit on that side has had to wear out ways for itself towards the plains which lie between the foot of the hills and the Indus. This is the explanation of the large number of passes, about one hundred, which lead from the plains into the Suliman hills. The chief from north to south are the Vehoa, the Sangarh, the Khair, the Kaha, the Chachar, and the Siri, called from the torrents which flow through them to the plains. There is an easy route through the Chachar to Biluchistan. But unfortunately the water of the torrent is brackish.

Sub Himalaya or Siwaliks. — In its lowest ridges the Himalaya drops to a height of about 5000 feet. But the traveller to any of the summer resorts in the mountains passes through a zone of lower hills interspersed sometimes with valleys or " duns." These consist of Tertiary sandstones, clays, and boulder conglomerates, the debris in fact which the Himalaya has dropped in the course.

History and Origin

The Chachar claim Mughal (tribe) origin, and claim descent from the famous king Timur But according to another tradition, Surar, Subhago, Silro and Chachar(S) were once slaves of Bunga Rai, the Raja of Umarkot in Sindh and were freed by Jam Jakhar.A Glossary of the tribes & castes of Punjab by H. A Rose chachar are also found in Sindh in district Jamshoro Distribution The Chachar(S) are found in Sargodha, Multan Bahawalpur Okara District and Lodhran districts. Basirpur in Okara District is an important village of the tribe. chachar in Sindh are found in district Jamshoro Village Wadda Chachar is the important village of Chachar tribe in Sindh.

Chach of Alor

Sindh in 700 AD, under the Brahmin dynasty Chach of Alor (610–682)[27] was a Brahmin chamberlain and secretary to Rai Sahasi II of the Rai Dynasty, and succeeded him to the throne of Sindh.[27] The history of Chach is related in the Chach Nama, a book about the history of Sindh. In the 35th year of the reign of the Raja Sahasi Rai II (636 AD), the Chach Nama reports the repulsion of an Arab raid on Debal and Thana. The raid was meant for the purpose of looting the coastal cities, and not actually permitted by the Caliph Umar (634–644), who later dismissed the governor of Bahrain for raiding without permission. In 644, after Muslim conquest of the Sassanid Empire, the Rashidun army entered Makran and defeated the army of Rai Sahasi II in the Battle of Rasil, and annexed Makran and eastern Balochistan. Caliph Umar disapproved of any incursion beyond the Indus River and ordered his commanders to consolidate their position west of the Indus.[28][not in citation given] During the reign of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (644–656), Muslims captured Qanzabil, a main military garrison of the Rai dynasty in northern Sindh. In 662, during the Umayyad Caliphate, it was retaken by the Rai kingdom, and it served as easternmost garrison town of the Rashidun army. Chach is reported to have developed a relationship with the then Queen Suhanadi, and upon the death of Sahasi Rai II he conspired with the queen and became ruler. The Rana Maharath, the King of Chittor, who was the brother Sahasi Rai, claimed the throne and attacked Chach. The Rana was killed by strategem, in the war in 640.[27][29] Chach then enlisted his brother Chandra to help him administer the realm, and set off with an army to bring the rest of the realm under his control. He is reported to have fought battles at Babiah on the south bank of the River Beas, at Iskandah, and at Sikkah, where "Chach Rai took possession of the fort (of Sikkah), and killed 5,000 warlike men who were in it, and made the other residents of the town prisoners, and secured a large booty and a great number of slaves."[30] He appointed a Thakur at Multan and rode unopposed to settle the boundary with Kashmir. Later he expanded his rule, subduing neighbouring Buddhist regions across the Indus River, culminating in a battle at Brahmanabad. He stayed there for a year, cementing his control by various means such as marrying the widow of the king Agham; marrying his niece to Agham's son Sarhand; taking hostages; and prohibiting the Jat and Lohana tribes from carrying weapons. He placed upon the Jat and Lohana restrictions such as forbidding them riding horses with saddles, forbidding them from wearing silk or velvet, forbidding them from wearing headgear or footwear, and forcing them to wear black or red scarves. He then marched into Sassanid territory to the town of Armanbelah, and through Turan to Kandahar, from where he exacted tribute before returning. Several places along the Sindhu river are named after this king. For example, there are Chachpur, Chachar, Chachro, Chachgaon, and Chachi.[31] Chandar Chach was succeeded by his brother, Chandra (671–679).[32] Chandar was a Buddhist ascetic.[33] He defended his realm from the Rana Sahiras of Kannauj. After a protracted siege of the capital at Aror, the Rana was captured during a conflict at a parley. Peace was concluded by means of hostages. Chandra ruled for 8 years.

Raja Dahir

Chach's eldest son Dahir then succeeded his uncle Chandar. His father is reported as being named Selaij. There are conflicting reports on when Chach married the Queen Suhanandi, who had no children from the Rai, and whether it was before or after the battle with the Rana Maharath. Chach had two sons (Dahir and Daharsiah) with the Queen Suhanandi and one daughter (Bai) from the widow of Argham.

Chachar names

Muslim Sindhi tend to have traditional Muslim first names, sometimes with localized variations. Sindhi have castes according to their work and mostly of their belonging places and their forefathers. Sindhi speaking Baloch have tribal names which came to Sindh in majority after Talpur and British invasions.

Sindhis tend to have surnames that end in '-ani' (a variant of 'anshi', derived from the Sanskrit word 'ansh', which means 'descended from'). The first part of a Sindhi Hindu surname is usually derived from the name or location of an ancestor. In northern Sindh, surnames ending in 'ja' (meaning 'of') are also common. A person's surname would consist of the name of his or her native village, followed by 'ja'.

Best Personalities of Chachar Community of Pakistan

Famous Places, Cities and Villages of Chachar

Mr. Muhammad Hassan Dani in his book " Tamur Garha" on page 20 to page 22 mentioning that Malo was an ancient Arian democratic State. People of Malo tribe during the period of Great Alexander live near the linking point of Indus and Ravi Rivers, probably on the eastern side at Chachran, Allah Abad, Khanpur, Rahim Yar Khan. So it proves that that In the age of Arian 900 BC, Chachran was like a basic city in that State. Shahzada Mirza Mehmood Shah cited in his travelling story on page # 46 that Chacharan at the bank of Indus River is in the premises of Bahawal Pur State. It is said that it was a big city and its population was like the population of Multan.

There was a big harbour in Chachran before the birth of Khwaja Ghulam Farid. Big boats used to be here and people do business through this way when traveling source were very rare. However Chachran got more fame after the birth known poet Khwaja Ghulam Farid and became known as Chachran Sharif. Mostly the people of Chachar tribe used to live and are living here and due it, its name has become known as Chachran Sharif. There are main mouzaz near Chachran Sharif Like Pahoran, Mud Adil, Beit Mugul, Mehran, Hasil Pur, Mouza Chachar, Mouza Chandia, Mouaza Hamid pur, faiz Abad, and Hyder Abad.

List of Villages of Chachar Community

• Taluka Ubauro and Taluka Daharki

Note: Also Thousands of Chachars living in below cities of Ghotki District. Ghotki, Adilpur, Mirpur Mathelo, Bharchundi Sharif, Daharki, Ubauro and Khanpur Mahar.

Kashmore @ Kandhkot District

• Following is the list of Villages in Taluka Kandhkot and Taluka Tangwani of Kashmore

• Following is the list of Villages in Taluka Kashmore of Kashmore District

• Also Thousands OF Chachar Living in below cities of District Kashmore @ Kandhkot District Kandhkot, Kandhkot, Guddu and Badani.

Chachar(S) Villages and Schools in Sibi District, Balochistan, Pakistan.

NOTE:- Chachar Tribe Have More than 1 Lac Acers Land in Revenue Record Of Sibi District, Balochistan, Pakistan.

References

1. ↑ "Simple living: Life in the katcha". The Express Tribune News Network. The Express Tribune. August 23, 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015. 
2. ↑ "Tribal justice: Jirga resolves decade long Chachar-Mahar dispute". The Express Tribune. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.