Khaps in Upper Doab of Ganga and Yamuna

Dr Sushil Bhati

Khap is generally a unit of 12 villages or multiple of 12 i.e. 24, 60 or 84 villages of a particular clan or gotra of tribe or caste. Khaps are generally found in North western India, among Gurjara, Jats and Rajputs. Historically, the region was dominated by Sakas, Kushanas, Hunas and Gurjara Pratiharas in ancient and early medieval times. Famous historian R S Sharma ascribes the formation of these units of 12 villages or its multiples to the Gurjara Pratihara’s or their feudatories rule in North Western India during the early medieval period. He says what distinguished the Gurjara Pratihara polity from that of contemporary Rastrakutas and Palas was the imposition of clan aristocracies on old, settled villages. He further says that Gujar imposed themselves as dominant clans on settled villages. The tribal practice that spoils should be distributed among the members of the tribe led to the apportionment of villages among the conquering chiefs, some of them received them in units of 84.

It implies that Khaps constitute the clan aristocracies of Gurjara Pratihara empire system or polity. It also implies that Jat clans formed the bulk of Gurjara Pratihara army along the clans of leading Gurjara tribe. Arab traveler Al Masudi informs in his book ‘Muruz-ul-zahab’ that Gurjara Pratihara had four armies, each having 7 to 9 lakhs soldiers. Such vast army of around 28-36 lakhs men is only possible if all such clan aristocracies imposed on old, settled villages are included in it.

The upper doab of Ganga and Yamuna comprises the Modern district of Saharanpur, Haridwar, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Hapur, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar and Gautam Budh Nagar. The Trans Yamuna region of East Delhi also part of upper doab.

Some major khaps of Upper Doab of Ganga and Yamuna are as follows-

1. ‘Khubar’ Panwar Khap (Chaurasi) of Gurjaras of 84 villages in Saharanpur district.

2. Butar Khap of Gurjaras of 52 villages in Saharanpur district.

3 Chokker khap (Chaubisi) of Gurjaras of 24 villages in Saharanpur district.

4. Kalsian Chauhan Khap (Chaurasi) of Gurjaras comprising of 84 Villages in Khandhla- Kairana area in shamli district.

5. Baliyan Khap (Chaurasi) of Jats of 84 villages in Shamli- Muzaffarnagar area.

6. Malik Khap of Jats of 45 villages in Shamli-Muzaffarpur area.

7. Rajput khap of 24 villages (Chaubisi) in Sardhana area of Meerut district.

8. Tomar Khap (Barah) of Rajputs of 12 Villages in Meerut.

9. Bhadana Khap (Barah) of Gurjaras of 12 villages in Meerut.

10. Chaprana Khap (Barah) of Gurjaras of 12 villages in Meerut-Baghpat area.

11. Huna Khap(Barah) of Gurjaras of 12 villages in Meerut-Hapur area.

12. Salaklain khap (Chaurasi) of Jats of 84 villages in Baghpat district.

13. Bainsla Khap (Barah) of Gurjaras  of 12 villages in Loni area.

14. Kasana khap(Barah)  of Gurjaras of 12 villages in Loni area.

15. Ahir khap of 24 villages in Bulanshahar district.

16. Bhati khap (Teenso Saatha) of Gurjaras of 360 villages in Gautam Budh Nagar. In Medieval times Kaasnaa and Dadri were their seats of power of Bhati Gurjaras. The area from Loni to Kaasna on left bank of Yamauna was known as Bhatner due to domination of Bhati clan of Gurjaras. 7 villages of Bhati Rajputs are also found along with this group in Gautam Budh Nagar district.

17. Nangdi Khap of Gurjaras  of 24 villages in Gautam Budh Nagar.

18. Rajput Khap of 24 Villages in Dhaulana area of Ghaziabad.

19. Dedha Khap (Chaubisi) of Gurjaras of 24 villages in East Delhi.

20. Dhuli khap (Barah) of 12 villages in Saharanpur district.

21. Kapasiya khap (Barah) of 12 villages in Bulandshahar.

22. Tanwar Khap of 12 villages in Mathura district.

References-

1.  R S Sharma, Indian Feudalism, AD 300-1200,Delhi, 2006, P 88-89

https://books.google.co.in/books?isbn=1403928630

2.  B.N. Puri, History of the Gurjara Pratiharas, Bombay, 1957

3.  V. A. Smith, The Gurjaras of Rajputana and Kanauj, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, (Jan., 1909), pp.53-75

4. V A Smith, The Oford History of India, IV Edition, Delhi, 1990

5. P C Bagchi, India and Central Asia, Calcutta, 1965

6. Romila Thapar, A History of India, Vol. I., U.K. 1966.

7. R S Tripathi, History of Kannauj