View source for The Mughal caste in Punjab

==The Mughal ==
Caste No 37

The Mughals proper or Mongols, 
for the two words are only different forms of the same name, probably either 
entered the Panjab with Babar, or were attracted thither under the dynasty 
of his descendants. They are probably to be found in greatest number in the 
neighbourhood of Dehli, the capital of that dynasty ; and I believe that the 
great majority of those who have returned themselves as Mughals in the 
Eastern Panjab really belong to that race. They are also numerous in the 
Rawalpindi division and on the upper frontier, along the route of the Mughal 
armies, and where they find a more kindred people than in the great Panjab 
plains. But as will be presently explained, the number of true Mughals in 
these parts is certainly much smaller than would appear from our figures. 
The Mughals of Gujrat are described by Mr. Monckton as an unhappy 
race. Puffed up with pride of birth, they account themselves above all 
other classes except Saiyads, and even among themselves each house reckons 
itself higher than its neighbour. Among the clans, though of high descent, 
they are now at a discount. Those that might be admitted their equals, 
'^ such as Chibs or Gakkhars, despise them ; while to lower classes they 
themselves will not stoop ; and the consequence is that social relations are 
sometimes at a dead-lock.^^ The description applies with equal tnith to the 
Mughals of the Dehli territory. Even on the frontier the Mughals do not 
bear a good name. The Mughals tyrannize over the cultivator, and the 
cultivator over the earth ; and again : Trust not the MughaPs letters. 
Of the Mughals, first letters, then armies.

The Mughals are distributed very widely over the Province ; but are, 
excepting Dehli, most numerous in the western districts, and more especially 
in Rawalpindi, Jahlam, and Hazara. It is certain that a very large number 
of these men are not Mughals at all. Some, probably a considerable number 
of them, belong to agricultural tribes locally known by tribal names, such 
as Gakkhars, Sattis, Ghebas, and the like, who have set up an almost certain
ly groundless claim to Mughal origin. Many of these have already been 
noticed. But more than this, there is a tendency, apparently confined to 
Dehli and the Rawalpindi and Peshawar divisions, for men of low caste to 
call themselves Mughals just as throughout the Province they call themselves 
Shekhs. Thus we find among the sub-divisions of those returned as Mughals 
1512 Kahdrs in Hazara, and in Rawalpindi 3,655 Saiuis and 1,263 Rawdls ; 

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while in the eiglit districts just specified no fewer than 2,724 other members 
of 41 separate castes, for the most part of low standing, have been detected 
among the Mughals by a rough examination of the detailed clan tables, 
and this is doubtless only a specimen of what has taken place on a very ex
tensive scale. Major Wace is of opinion that recent Jat converts to Mahomed
often take the title of IMuo^hal. On the other hand no fewer than 

2,510 persons have returned them
selves as Pathan by caste and 
Mughal by tribe, of whom ],169 
arein the Peshawar district, 746 
in the Derajat, and 401 in Ra
walpindi and Jalilam. Further 
light will doubtless be thrown 
upon the composition of the 
so-called Mughals when the de
tailed tables are jjublished. Of 
the trae Mughal tribes, only the 
Chughatta and the Barlas seem 
to be numerously represented in 
the Pan jab, the former number
ing 23,593 and the latter 12,137. Men so returned are probably 
true Mughals. Their numbers for the districts in which they are shown as 
numerous are given in the margin. Besides these 1,543 of the Rawalpindi 
Mughals return themselves as Gakkhar and 3,861 as Kayaui, the latter also 
of which names perhaps refer to the Gakkhars, who sometimes claim to be 
Kayani. ^ In 1864, Colonel Cracroft gave the number of trae Mughals in 
the Rawalpindi district at 2,767 souls. At last Census there were 
8,205.