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Chatha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chatha (Urdu: چٹھہ ) (also spelt as Chattha) is a Punjabi Jat tribe that inhabits the western and central parts of Punjab, Pakistan. Chathas are believed to be descendants of Indo-Scythian tribes. Historically the Chathas were big landlords and considered to be influential persons in society. There are hundreds of villages bearing the Chattha name such as 'Sooianwala' Chattha', a well-known village in central Punjab near Hafizabad.
The Chattha tribe was designated by the British as a Martial Race. Martial Race is a designation created by officials of British India to describe "races" (peoples) that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle, and to possess qualities like courage, loyalty, self sufficiency, physical strength, resilience, orderliness, hard working, fighting tenacity and military strategy. The British recruited heavily from these Martial Races for service in the colonial army.
Chatthas followed local Peer-E-Tariqat (The head of a Sufi order), Jathera (Ancestor worship) as well as previously, Buddhism. The Muslim Chatthas live in Punjab province of Pakistan while Sikh in the Punjab state of India.
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Historically Chathas have been confined to district Gujranwala, in which they hold 84 villages. They marry among the Jat tribes of Gujranwala. Chatha clan is also found south-east of Rawalpindi. Many Chathas migrated to Lyallpur (Faislabad) and Montgomery (Sahiwal) districts during the build-up of canal network by the British.
The group of six Chatha villages of Faisalabad is situated near the town of Chak jhumra. People of these chattha villages are peculiar in the sense that they are not direct migrants from Gujranwala.They came here from Gurdaspur while they are the progeny of one chattha person who migrated to Gurdaspur from Gujranwala. When Cannal Rakh Branch was dug they were allocated agricultural land by British Indian Government.They came here in 1888 AD from Gurdaspur. Rakh Branch cannal is same cannal which irrigates much of Tehsil Samundri passes from Abdullah pur in Faisalabad and also irrigates these six Chatha villages. Town of Sangla Hill and Salarwala are also situated at this cannal.
After partition of the Punjab in 1947, many Sikh Chatthas from Gujranwala district migragted to East Punjab.
Chatha was a fierce tribe of district Gujranwala. Chattha warlord ( Pir Mohd. Khan ) of Rasulnagar and Alipur Chatha held considerable tracts under his control until he lost to Ranjit Singh of Sukerchakia misl. Chathas rose to considerable political importance under Ranjit Singh's rule; and the history of their leading families is told by Sir Lepel Griffin at pages 402 ff of his Punjab Chiefs.
Hassan Riaz Chatha is a very prominent personality of the Chattha tribe. His village is Gagargola near Alipur Chattha. His ancestors include Ch. Khuda Buksh Chattha and Ch. Nawab Khan Chattha. They were Genrals in the army of Ranjit Singh, and were very well known for their feirce wars. A canon currently on Mall road Lahore is of Ch. Khuda Buksh Chattha. Ch. Nawab Khan was awarded by the British for his generous attitude. The Gagargola Station was built by the British. Now a days Hamid Nasir Chattha of Gujranwala and Naeem Chattha ( son of Muhammad Hussain Chattha,a famous politician) of Sheikhupura are most prominent personalities of this ethnic group. They have been elected many times for national and provincial assembly.
There is an old folk saying about Cheema and Chatha tribes in Punjabi "Cheemey tey Chatthey, khaan peen nu vakkhon vakh tey larran bhiran nu katthey" { English translation : Cheemas and Chatthas are separate in their feasts but united for the fights)
It is said that when Akbar great Mogul king came to power he invited chattha chieftains to give a name of their representative to take some court position. Chatthas sat in punchaet to decide a name year after year, but could not reach to a decision. It is said that tonns of sweat oil was burnt in clay lamps as discusions continued even in nights. Akbar's rule came to end and discussions were still there. It tells us of something of disunity in this clan. People belonging to other Jat castes tease Chattha people by repeating this folklore.
View a list of Chatha Villages Here
| Tribes and Clans of the Jat people | |||
| Jat | Atwal | Aujla | Aulakh | Badesha | Badhan | Baghoor | Bagri | Bajwa | Bajya | Bandechha | Basra | Bassi | Baath | Bembi | Beniwal | Bhalli | Bhangu | Bharhaich | Bhinder | Biling | Bhullar | Boparai | Brar | Buttar | Bual | Chahar | Chahal | Chatha | Cheema | Chhillar | Chohan | Dehr | Deol | Deshwal | Dhami | Dhariwal | Dhaliwal | Dhillon | Dhindsa | Dhoat | Dhoot | Dosanjh | Dulat | Faujdar | Gandhar | Garewal | Ghuman | Gill | Gondal | Goraya | Gosal | Grewal | Hala | Hans | Hayer | Harl | Jakhar | Jawanda | Jhajharia | Johal | Johiya | Kahlon | Kaloye | Kang | Khirwar | Khokhar | Khosa | Lally | Langah | Lehal | Maan | Madar | Mahil | Maitla | Malhi | Mandair | Manes | Mattu | Mavi | Mehria | Phogat | Palak | Pandher | Padda | Pama |Panaich | Pannu | Poonia | Purewal | Rana | Rai | Randhawa | Ranghar | Riar | Rode | Sahota | Samra | Sandher | Sandhu | Sangha | Sanghera | Saran | Sekhon | Shergill | Sidhu | Sohal | Sohi | Sra | Sukhera | Takhar | Takshak | Thiara | Thind | Tiwana | Tomara | Toor | Virk | Wahla | Waraich | Warar |(sahu)| |(bhakar)| | |||