Khant (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Khant are a Hindu
caste
found in the state of Gujarat in India
.
in Kathiawar
. The chief of the tribe claims descent from Bhati
Rajput
s. The leading families are known by the title of Mer
, which is said to mean chief. This is derived from the old Gujarati
word mer, meaning the largest bead in a necklace.
Dhandh Khant, an early leader, was the son of Sonang Mer, conqueror of Dhandhuka
and founder of Dhandhalpur in Panchal
. Patal Khant is believed to have conquered Petlad
. Their most famous leader was Jesa (or Jesing), who helped Emperor Muhammad bin Tughluq
take Junagadh
(1330) from Ra'Khengar. In return, the emperor is said to have bestowed on the Khants the hill of Girnar
and the 24 villages of Bilkha Chovisi. A century later, when Mahmud Begada
conquered Junagadh
(1472), he found the Khants living in Girnar. The tribe believe that Markand, the son of Kashyap
, is their ancestor.
, Parmar, and Deavla. Their claim to Rajput status is generally acknowledged, and they are referred to as darbars (rajput). The Khant are agriculturalists.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
found in the state of Gujarat in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
History
Khants numbered 13,423 (1901), including 6,733 males and 6,690 females. They are found chiefly in Gir villages in Junagadh districtJunagadh district
Junagadh District is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.-Geography:The district is located on the Kathiawar peninsula in western Gujarat. It is surrounded by Rajkot District , Porbandar District , Amreli District...
in Kathiawar
Kathiawar
Kathiawar or Kathiawad is a peninsula in western India, which is part of the Saurashtra region on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is bounded on the north by the great wetland of the Rann of Kutch, on the northwest by the Gulf of Kutch, on the west and south by the Arabian Sea, and on...
. The chief of the tribe claims descent from Bhati
Bhati
Bhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner...
Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s. The leading families are known by the title of Mer
Mers
The Mer population of Kathiawar region in Saurashtra also known as the Maher, Mihir, Mair or Mehr are a community of people who have evolved from the Kshatriya Rajput varna within Hinduism. They are believed to be of Indo-Aryan descent, and have a rich and diverse history involving many battles,...
, which is said to mean chief. This is derived from the old Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
word mer, meaning the largest bead in a necklace.
Dhandh Khant, an early leader, was the son of Sonang Mer, conqueror of Dhandhuka
Dhandhuka
Dhandhuka is a city and a municipality in Ahmedabad district in the state of Gujarat, India.- Geography :Dhandhuka is located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres .Dhandhuka is located at 22°22′N 71°59′E / 22.37°N 71.98°E / 22.37; 71.98[1]...
and founder of Dhandhalpur in Panchal
Panchal
Panchal is an Indian title, in tune with the Hindu caste system, that represents some of the castes that are predominant in the Indian state of Gujarat that are either agriculturalists or blacksmiths.-Ethnicity:...
. Patal Khant is believed to have conquered Petlad
Petlad
Petlad is a Town and a municipality "Taluka" in Anand district in the Gujarat state of India.-Geography:Petlad is located at . It has an average elevation of 30 metres .-Demographics:...
. Their most famous leader was Jesa (or Jesing), who helped Emperor Muhammad bin Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughluq was the Turkic Sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351. He was the eldest son of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq.He was born in Kotla Tolay Khan in Multan. His wife was daughter of the raja of Dipalpur...
take Junagadh
Junagadh
Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,...
(1330) from Ra'Khengar. In return, the emperor is said to have bestowed on the Khants the hill of Girnar
Girnar
Girnar is a collection of mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat, India, situated near Junagadh at a distance of 327 km from Ahmedabad. It is a holy place and an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Jains. There are a number of temples located here. Amidst the lush green Gir...
and the 24 villages of Bilkha Chovisi. A century later, when Mahmud Begada
Mahmud Begada
Sultan Abu'l Fath Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah I, popularly known as Mahmud Begada was the most prominent sultan of Gujarat. He was the great-grandson of Ahmad Shah I, the founder of the Muzaffarid dynasty, and of the city of Ahmedabad in the present-day state of Gujarat, India. He was known to be...
conquered Junagadh
Junagadh
Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,...
(1472), he found the Khants living in Girnar. The tribe believe that Markand, the son of Kashyap
Kashyap
Kashyapa was an ancient sage , who is one of the Saptarshis in the present Manvantara; with others being Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja...
, is their ancestor.
Present circumstances
The Khant have clans called "ataks", such as the Baria, Chavda, Makwana, Gujarati, Jhala, SarvaiyaSarvaiya
Sarvaiya / Sarvaiyya are a Rajput, Kshatriya clan of India mainly found in Gujarat.-History:Sarvaiyas like Jadejas, Chudasamas, Bhattis & Raijadas are off-shoot of Samma clan of Sindh. Sammas are again have branched off from Yadava clan of Kshatriyas, who claim descant from Samba, grandson of Krishna...
, Parmar, and Deavla. Their claim to Rajput status is generally acknowledged, and they are referred to as darbars (rajput). The Khant are agriculturalists.