Kharuta

Kharuta (खरुटा) Kharoti (खरोटी) Kharutiya (खरुटिया) Kharutya (खरुटया) gotra Jats live in Tonk district in Rajasthan. Kharoti (खरोटी)/Kharaita (खरेटा) clan is found in Afghanistan.

Kharoti tribe in Afghanistan

H. W. Bellew writes that beyond the Kakar to the north-east, is the Kharoti tribe, one of the principal clans composing the Povindah association of caravan merchants. The Kharoti represent, the Kharaita mercantile Rajput ; they are reckoned at six thousand families, and inhabit Paltu and Dwa Gomal districts on the east slopes of the Suleman range, and are almost entirely nomadic or pastoral. The chief township in their country is called Urghim, or Warghun, which is inhabited by the Furmuli tribe. The Kharoti also inhabit the western slopes of the Suleman range from Paltu Pass to Katawaz district. The Kharoti who are not enrolled amongst the Povindah are mostly employed in agriculture and grazing ; they own large herds of camels and immense numbers of goats and sheep. The agricultural and pastoral Kharoti differ very remarkably in appearance and manners, and even in language, from the mercantile Kharoti, being more rough in their ways and unkempt in their persons ; but they are all a very fine and manly people, with light complexions compared with Indians.

The Kharoti claim affinity with the Ghilzi, and pretend to have been a branch of the Tokhi, from which they have long been separated. The Sahak Ghilzi, it is said, claim the Kharoti as their dependents or Hamsayah that is, as their vassals.

H W Bellew writes that Several of the Ghilji or Ghilzai clans are almost wholly engaged in the carrying-trade between India and Afghanistan, and the northern states of Central Asia, and have been so for many centuries to the exclusion almost of all the other tribes of the country. The principal clans employed in this great carrying-trade are the Niazi, Nasar, Kharoti, and, to some extent, the Sulemankhel. From the nature of their occupation they are collectively styled, or individually so far as that goes, Povinda and Lawani, or Lohani. These terms, it appears, are derived from the Persian words parwinda, "a bale of merchandise," and rawani, a "traveller."

H W Bellew writes that The Kharoti and Nasir, for example, differ markedly in features, complexion, and stature from the Sulemankhel and Turan clans , and, moreover, keep a good deal to themselves in their internal clan government , whilst their hereditary occupation, as travelling merchants for a long course of centuries, without any other clans of the tribe joining them in it, is a remarkable fact, and, with the other circumstances stated, would seem to indicate a difference of origin.

H A Rose writes that Kharoti (खरोटी), a Pathan tribe occupying the hills near the sources of the Gumal and the district of Warghun or Arghun to the west of the Sulimankhel country and south by east of Ghazni. They generally arrive in the plains towards the end of November and depart in May. Their kirris or encampments during the winter are located near Tank, Mulazai and Paharpur. They are a poor tribe, and have been nearly ruined by a long and unequal contest with the Sulimankhels. This feud, though allowed to rest during their stay in Hindustan, breaks out afresh as soon as they re-enter the hills ; though attempts have latterly been made by the Deputy Commissioner with some success to bring the two tribes to terms. Most of the Kharotis engage as labourers and carriers like the Nasirs. A large proportion of them are charra folk. Some are merchants, and trade in dried fruit and madder.

The Kharoti were identified by Bellew with the Arachoti of Alexander's historians, but though they dwell in the ancient Arachosia, it is difficult to accept that theory. They claim descent from Tokhi, mother of Hotak, grandson of Ghilzai, but the Tokhi themselves say they are descended from a foundling adopted by their tribe. Bellew was probably right in saying that they and the Nasirs are of different origin to the mass of the Ghilzai.

Distribution in Rajasthan

Villages in Tonk district

Kharuta (खरुटा) Jats live in villages: Bambor (1),

Kharutiya (खरुटिया) Jats live in villages: Bambor (4),

Kharutya (खरुटया) Jats live in villages: Nimehada (6),

Reference

---

Back to Jat Gotras