| Gakhars | |
|---|---|
| Religions |  Islam |
| Languages | Punjabi |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Region | Punjab |
| Ethnicity | Punjabi |
The Gakhar (Punjabi: گاکھر, romanized: Gakkhaŕ) is a historical Punjabi Muslim[1][2] tribe with origins in the northern Punjab, Pakistan.[3] The Gakhars now predominantly follow Islam after conversion from Hinduism during the Islamic rule in Punjab.[4][5][6]
- ^ Bakshi 1995, p. 142.
- ^ Ansari 2012.
- ^ Van Donzel, E. J., ed. (1994). Islamic Desk Reference. BRILL. p. 106. ISBN 978-9-00409-738-4.
- ^ Gandhi, Surjit Singh (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1469-1606 C.E. Atlantic Publishers. p. 3. ISBN 978-81-269-0857-8.
The story of most of the Gakhars is that they conquered Kashmir and ruled in that region for many generations but were eventually driven back to Kabul whence they entered the Punjab. They professed the Hindu faith and were converted to Islam, probably after the Ghori rule.
- ^ Singha, Atara (1976). Socio-cultural Impact of Islam on India. Panjab University. p. 46.
After this period, we do not hear of any Hindu Gakhars or Khokhars, for during the next two or three centuries they had all come to accept Islam.
- ^ Chandra, Satish (2006). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals. Vol. 2 (Revised, 2nd ed.). Har-Anand Publications. p. 45. ISBN 978-8-12411-066-9.