Khetran

Sardar Rab Nawaz Khetran, head of the Khetran tribe during British rule.

The Khetran (Template:Lang-bal) is a Baloch tribe in Balochistan, Their first language is the Khetrani language, and Balochi language which is spoken only by their tribe.

They are concentrated in Barkhan District of Balochistan around Barkhan city and Kohlu District, around Barkhan city.

History

According to oral tradition among Khetrans they took a guest in from the east during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, later it transpired that their guest was a convicted man in the Mughal Court. The Mughals asked for the man (known as Ram Sunara, Sunara means goldsmith) to be returned but the Khetrans refused as he was their guest and they had to provide him with protection. As a result Akbar sent an army to Vehowa to deal with the Khetrans. Khetrans lost thousands of lives in the conflict. Some of them fled to present day Barkhan District where they still live. The remains of some castles and a place known as "Ram Sunara Da Thala" still exists 10 km from Vehowa in another village known as Litra. This is the place where Ram Sunara was provided sanctuary.

Girazo Khan Khetran was succeeded by his son Bakhtiar Khan Khetran who was further succeeded by his son Sardar Haji Khan Khetran. Sardar Haji Khan Khetran was a strong ruler and the Khetrans prospered under him. His rule is memorable among Khetrans for a defeat he inflicted upon the Zhob Kakars. He also took revenge from the Marris by destroying the fort at Mawand of Karam Khan Bijrani Marri.

In 1879, the Musa Khel and other Pashtun tribes of other Kakar or Tareen origin to the number 5,000 made demonstration against Vehowa .The town was reinforced and they dispersed.

Sardar Haji Khan died leaving three sons, Umar Khan, Nawab Khan and Balu Khan. Yet he was succeeded by his brother Sardar Sayed Khan who was elected by the Khetrans. Sardar Sayed Khan died also leaving three sons Dost Muhammad, Sorni Khan and Kadir Baksh. He also was succeeded by his brother Babul Khan. Babul Khan however was opposed by Nawab Khan and Kadir Baksh. Kadir Baksh went to the Marris and gave his stepmother in marriage to the Marri chief Gazan Khan Marri. Gazan Khan Marri then led an army against Babul Khan. The Khetrans lost a lot of lives during this conflict.

In 1880, the Khetrans submitted a petition to the British authorities at Dera Ghazi Khan, offering to pay revenue and to be taken under British protection. The Khetrans country remained under the political control of the British authorities of Dera Ghazi Khan from 1878 to 1883. In 1883, Sardar Baluch Khan met Mr. Bruce, the Political Agent of Thaal Chotiali, with a Jirga of his tribesmen and the dispute between the Khetrans, Luni (tribe) and Marris was settled.

In 1884, the Khetrans came under the authority of the Agent to the Governor General in Balochistan. The Leghari Barkhan circle, comprising two valleys Barkhan and Vitakari, was transferred from Punjab to Balochistan in 1884. This district was brought under the direct administration of Balochistan in 1887, when work on the construction of D.G Khan – Pishin Road was started and a Tehsildar was posted at Barkhan. In 1889, Barkhan tehsil was transferred to the Zhob Agency with headquarters at Loralai. This tehsil however was transferred again to Thal Chotaili Agency in 1892. In October, 1903, the Thal Chotaili and Zhob Agencies were remodelled and three new agencies; Sibi, Loralai and Zhob were created and the Barkhan Tehsil was transferred to the Loralai Agency.

Area and population statistics

Major Towns and cities inhabited by Khetrans.

The total Khetran population is estimated to be between 125,000 to 150,000 individuals. Almost 80,000 individuals are situated in Barkhan District and 70,000 individuals are situated in Dera Ghazi Khan District. Many of them have migrated towards cities. The last confirmed statistics available of Khetran population are of 1998 census which records its population as 110,000 individuals. According to census of 1981–82 population of Khetrans in Dera Ghazi Khan District was 31897 individuals.

Detailed population and area statistics of major Khetran towns in Dera Ghazi Khan District around Vehowa are as follows according to 1981–82 census.

Serial Number	Town/Village	Area (acres)	Poulation (individuals)
1.	Vehowa	45359	12501
2.	Qaisrani Wala	1201	Not Determined
3.	Mathay Wali	9794	3280
4.	Litra	20696	4662
5.	Kuhar	8742	3868
6.	Jallu Wali	7343	2133
7.	Kutani	12844	3942
8.	Chatri	10980	1511

The population and area of Barkhan city and Barkhan District is not included here.

Clans

Khetrans are usually divided into two types of clans. First is the cast due to their geographical region and second clans is based on ancestral lineage.

The Khetrans situated in Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab are known as Dhara while the Khetrans situated in Barkhan District of Balochistan are known as Ispani'.

Clans divided on ancestral lineage are as follows:

1. Atlani
2. Akwani / Akyani
3. Bigrani / Bigra
4. Chacha
5. Chambarani / Macharani
6. Dehmani
7. Gigarani / Gigyani
8. Hakimani
9. Hasni
10. Jankiani
11. Jamani / Jamalani
12. Lohme
13. Mahma
14. Mamani
15. Mazrani
16. Mubarak Walay
17. Mutakhal
18. Nahar
19. Qasmani
20. Rotar
21. Salarani
22. Sueman
23. Umarani / Mehmodani
24. Wagga
25. Zakriani

In case of two first is the Derajati or the pronunciation in Dera Ghazi Khan District while second in the pronunciation of Barkhan or the Balochi pronunciation.

Khetran-Bugti relationships

In 1845 under the command of Sir Charles James Napier 7,000 men attacked the Bugtis, killing many of them. Khetrans provided sanctuary to hundreds of Bugtis who took refuge in their lands.

In 1847 Sir William attacked the Bugtis with full strength; this time the Bugtis lost 500 fighting men and 120 got arrested. Marris took the opportunity and also attacked the Bugtis, seizing much of their area. The Bugtis went to the Khetran Sardar and asked for his help; that same year a combined attack of Khetrans and Bugtis drove the Marris off, killing more than 70 of their men and taking possession of their cattle. Mubarak walay

Struggle against British

Both war parties of Khetrans and the Marris attacked Kohlu police station. After looting and then burning it down they attacked a post of Gumband Lavy and also raised it do the ground. All entry points towards the city of Kohlu were sealed off by these war parties.

February 1918, Dera Ghazi Khan District was facing a threat of Khetran and Marri army. On 1 March Khar was attacked. Post office and a rest house was burned down. They also cleaned their hands on some weapons stored in post office. On 5 March they looted the city of Barkhan where government treasury was kept. Khetran army gathered in Rakni and Bawoata and then attacked Border Military burning down three of their posts. On 15 March Khetrans were seen along with Marris inside Fort Minro. That night government buildings and Bungalows were burnt down.

Khetrans, Marris and Bugtis yearly did damage of 25,000 Rupees and of 25 lives.

Khetrans did not surrender easily to the Britishers, Sir Denzel Ibbetson acknowledges it in these words:

"Khetran is an independent pathan tribe which is situated behind Leghari, Lund (tribe) and Khosas. Their original homeland is Vehowa"

Khetrani Language

The Khetrans .It is certain that the whole of the triangular block of hill now occupied by the Marris was in the possession of Indian tribes before the Baloc invasion .They were gradually destroyed or absorbed by the Baloc from the south and the Afghans from the north and such names as Shahdedja among the Marris and Haripal among the Afghans to the north indicate that fragments of these tribes remain among the Baloc and the Afghans .The Khetrans however between the Afghan and the Baloc have preserved their identity and their peculiar Indian dialect (of the Sindhi type) to the present day .