Tarkhan Occupations

Tarkhan occupations

Various anti-Tarkhan elements in Academics try to reduce Tarkhans to occupations of carpentry, however that is very far from reality, as carpentery is one of various Tarkhan occupations. Reducing Tarkhans to occupations of carpentry means accepting Hindu manuwad through lies, since according Hindu Varna System (caste system) one group is limited to one occupation. This is because Tarkhan is not a caste or an occupation, Tarkhan is a tribe and just like any other tribe, different members of Tarkhan tribe engage in different occupations. Different occupations of Tarkhans are also mentioned in Sikh history.

Tarkhan occupations are: 

• Carpentry: All the woodwork in Punjab is done by Tarkhans. For example Baba Lalo Ghattaura Ji, one of the first Sikhs of 1st Guru.

• Blacksmithing: Lohars (blacksmiths) of Punjab are those Tarkhans who do metal works. The term is Tarkhan-Lohar is also commonly used. For example Baba Hardas Singh Bhamra made the famous Nagni used to kill a drunk elephant and other this he was a scholar and warrior. Another example of Tarkhan-Lohar from Sikh is Baba Sadharan Sehmi Ji. Nizam Lohar (Saggu) a Punjabi folk hero and freedom fighter is another such example.

• Masonry: All the houses and buildings in Punjab are made by Tarkhans. For example Mistry Des Raj Kalsi of Sur Singh was a major figure in the reconstruction of Harmandir Sahib after it was destroyed by Ahmed Shah Abdali.

• Farming: There were small to medium-sized Tarkhan farmers all-over Punjab. Historically, Baba BHAI Roop Chand family who has been a long history in Sikhism since the times of the 6th Guru have always been farmers. This is also evident from the fact there are many places named after Tarkhan and Tarkhan clans in Punjab (India) and Pakistan.

In Panth Prakash (1809-1841), Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu and other Sikh historians like Gyani Gian Singh (1822-1921) have mentioned various Tarkhans and have written them to be Tarkhan, despite having different occupations.