Chatha
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'''Chatha''' ({{lang-ur|چٹھہ}}) (also spelt as '''Chattha''') is a [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] [[Jat]] tribe that inhabits the central parts of Punjab, India and western and central parts of [[Punjab, Pakistan|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 '[[Ali pur ]] Chattha', a well-known village in central [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] more in [[wazarabad, gujranwala]], and also near [[Hafizabad District|Hafizabad]]. However there are only a few villages in Punjab, India, which either bear the Chatha name or are settled by the Chatha tribe, example include Dhandowal and Noorpur Chatha in the Jalandhar district of Punjab, India.
== Overview ==
The Chatha 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 .
Chathas are found among Muslim Sikh and Hindu people . Muslim Chathas followed local [[Peer-E-Tariqat]] (the head of a [[Sufi]] order), ''Jathera'' ([[Ancestor worship]]) as well as previously, [[Buddhism]] and Hinduism . The Muslim Chatthas live in [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] province of [[Pakistan]] while Sikh in the [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] state of [[India]].
== Geography ==
[[Image:Punjab 1909.jpg|thumb|300px|right| [[Punjab region|Punjab]]]]
Historically Chathas have been confined to the [[Gujranwala]] district, in which they have 84 villages. They marry among the Jat tribes of [[Gujranwala]]. The Chatha clan is also found south-east of Rawalpindi. Many Chathas migrated to Lyallpur [[Faislabad]] and Montgomery [[Sahiwal]] districts during the build-up of the canal network by the British.
The group of six Chatha villages of [[Faisalabad]] is situated near the town of [[Chak Jhumra]]. People of these villages are peculiar in the sense that they are not direct migrants from [[Gujranwala]].They come from [[Gurdaspur]] and are the progeny of one Chatha person who migrated to Gurdaspur from [[Gujranwala]]. When the [[Rakh Branch]] canal was dug they were allocated agricultural land by the British Indian Government. They came to Faisalabad in [[1888]] from [[Gurdaspur]]. The [[Rakh Branch]] canal is the same canal that irrigates much of the Tehsil [[Samundri]] passes from [[Abdullah pur]] in Faisalabad, and also irrigates the six Chatha villages. The canal originates at [[Head Khanki]]. The towns of [[Sangla Hill]] and [[Salarwala]] are also situated along this canal.
After the partition of the Punjab in 1947, many Sikh Chathas from [[Gujranwala]] district migrated to East Punjab.
== History ==
{{cquote|'''Chatha''' A [[Jat]] tribe apparently confined to Gujaranwala in which district they hold 81 villages . They claimto be descended from Chattha , a grandson of [[Prithviraj III|Prithi Rai]] [[Chauhan]] .the [[Chauhan]] King of Delhi , and brother of the ancestor of the [[Cheema | Chima]] .In the 10th from Chattha , as otherwise stated , some 500 years ago , Dahru came from Sambhal in Moradabad , where the bards of the Karnal Chauhans still live , to the banks of the Chenab and married among the Jat tribes of [[Gujranwala]] .They were converted to Islam about 1600 AD . they rose to considerable political importance under the [[Sikh]]s ; and the History of their leading family is told by Sir Lepel Griffin at page 402 ff of his Punjab Chiefs . <ref>Denzil Ibbetson, Edward MacLagan, H.A. Rose "A Glossary of The Tribes & Casts of The Punjab & North-West Frontier Province", 1911 AD, Page 155, Vol II,</ref>}}
{{cquote|They claim to be by origin [[Chauhan|Chohan]] Rajputs and to have emigrated to the Punjab from the Delhi District .The date of the emigration is not exactly known , but it was probably about 300 years ago . They rapidly increased in numbers , spreading along the banks of the Chaanab , and founded Naddhala , Manchar , Bangli , Pandorian , and other villages . One Gagu seems to have been the first to adopt the Muhammadan faith , about the year 1600 , and his example was followed by the remainder of the tribe <ref>The Punjab Chiefs , WD cONRAN AND HD Criak , Griffin Sang e Meel Publications Pakistan 127</ref>}}
Chatha was a fierce tribe under warlord Pir Mohd Khan of Rasulnagar, and Alipur Chatha held considerable tracts of land under his control until he lost to Ranjit Singh of [[Sukerchakia]]. Chathas rose to considerable political importance under Ranjit Singh's rule; and the history of their leading families is told by [[Sir Lepel Griffin]] (pages 402 ff. of his ''Punjab Chiefs'').
===Prominent Chatthas===
Ch. mohammad nawaz Chattha of Sooianwala Chattha is a prominent personlity among the Chathas. He was famous for his ''Deri Dera'', which means that there were always men coming in his ''Dera'' for meals. He was the biggest Chaudry of Chatthas and was famous throughout the Punjab. [[Hassan Riaz Chatha]] is a very prominent personality of the Chattha tribe. His village is Gajargola near Alipur Chattha. His ancestors include Ch. Khuda Buksh Chattha and Ch. Nawab Khan Chattha. They were Generals in the army of Ranjit Singh, and were very well known for their fierce wars. A canon currently on Mall road in Lahore is of Ch. Khuda Buksh Chattha. Ch. Nawab Khan was rewarded by the British for his generous attitude. The Gagargola Station was built by the British. Tara Singh Chatha is very well known in Punjab. Tara Singh Chatha was very popular during the 1950's. Presently, Hamid Nasir Chattha of Gujranwala and Naeem Chattha (son of Muhammad Hussain Chattha, a famous politician) of Sheikhupura are the most prominent personalities of this ethnic group. They have been elected many times to the national and provincial assemblies. Rajpal Singh Chatha is also an influential person in Northern India.
== Folklore ==
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). In reality, Cheema and Chatthas are not one caste, they are separate castes. Chattha is a bigger caste than Cheema
It is said that when Akbar the Mogul king came to power, he invited Chattha chieftains to suggest a Chattha representative to take some court position. Chatthas sat in punchaet{{what?}} to decide a name year after year, but could not reach to a decision. Akbar's rule came to an end and discussions were still ongoing. This suggests disunity in this clan. People belonging to other Jat castes tease [[Chattha]] people by repeating this folklore.
== Chatha Settlements ==
''View a list of Chatha Villages [[Chatha Villages|Here]]''
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Some Chathas are also living in Jalandhar, India. The most populated villages with Chatha surnames are Chougitti, Garha, Noorpur, Chatha-Sandhu, among others. Chathas had come from Faizlabad (now known as Islamabad), close to Lahore, Pakistan. Many Chathas settled in other countries around the world, including the [[U.S.]], [[Canada]], [[England]], [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Singapore]], [[Holland]], [[Norway]], and [[Cypress]]. Chatha families in Punjab (India) moved from Pakistan during 1947.
== Notable People ==
* [[Ikaash Chatha]] - Found for attempted murder of Sara Kaur. 3 years imprisonment.
* [[Sangla Hill]]
* [[Hamid Nasir Chattha]]
* [[Salarwala]]
* [[Cheema]]
==See Also==
*[[Chatha Villages]]
*[[Punjab Chiefs]]
*[[Cheema]]
=References=
{{Reflist}}
{{Tribes and Clans of the Jat People}}
[[Category:Pakistani names]]
[[Category:Pre-Islamic heritage of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Punjabi tribes]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Jat clans]]