The Pothohar Plateau

[ghoul]

Sound different then potohari but still understandable. Also from what i have noticed people identify with places where they live instead of dialect/languages. Azad Kashmiris identify as kashmiris and hindko people as pathans (even if they are not) etc Same is the case here even if Dhani is closer to Hindko then potohari.

It sounds pretty similar to Hindko. Some Hindko nationalists even include Chakwal in their potential province. I bet general people from central like regions will have trouble understanding his accent and vocabulary. Does it sound easier or difficult than Potohari?

And Azad Kashmiris are a confused lot. I always laugh when they describe themselves as "Kashmiri jatt:, "Kashmiri rajput" etc. I guess they took on this "Kashmiri" identity to disown any association with Punjab, as do the hindko people, who even deny that their language sounds quite similar to Punjabi and is a dialect rather than a language. Potohari/Pahari can be considered a different language though considering it has its own literature. Literature is the main criteria that sets languages apart. Hence Italian, Portuguese and Spanish are considered separate languages even though they are mutually understandable. Similarly Swedish and Norwegian languages are considered separate.

PS: Dhanni speakers might speak a hindko like dialect, but they are ethnically Potoharis. They are mostly malik awans and rajas, who are the quintessential Potohari tribes.

 

[Sulman Badshah]

Potohar is the one of the most educated area in Pakistan ... people have culture to be in armed forces ...

Most of the officers and soldiers in Pakistan armed forces are from Potohar ....
in education Jehlum , Chakwal , rawalpindi and ISB come in top six district as literate

 

[ghoul]

Potohar might also be the most crime free region in Pakistan. The traditional dress of Potohar; shalwar kameez, white turban and a woolen waist coast:

The typical Potohari turban:

Tent pegging, known as "neza bazi" in local dialects, is the national sport of the region;

 

[ghoul]

Some historical places:

Rawat fort:

Tomb of Sultan Sarang Shaheed, the brave Gakkhar warrior chief who resisted Sher Shah Suri:

Paharwala fort:

Kusak fort:

Nandana temple:

Kitasraj temples and ruins, an ancient mohyal brahmin colony:

 

[ghoul]

Some hindu shahi temples:

Sassi da kallara; a mysterious temple:

Malot temple/fort:

Amb temples:

Mysterious building in Tharchak, Chakwal:

 

[Sugarcane]

I bet general people from central like regions will have trouble understanding his accent and vocabulary.

I don't think native Punjabi will have problem to understand his accent and vocabulary,.

 

[Sulman Badshah]

The typical Potohari turban:

Prince Malik Atta looking Cool in this pic

 

[Kabira]

It sounds pretty similar to Hindko. Some Hindko nationalists even include Chakwal in their potential province. I bet general people from central like regions will have trouble understanding his accent and vocabulary. Does it sound easier or difficult than Potohari?

And Azad Kashmiris are a confused lot. I always laugh when they describe themselves as "Kashmiri jatt:, "Kashmiri rajput" etc. I guess they took on this "Kashmiri" identity to disown any association with Punjab, as do the hindko people, who even deny that their language sounds quite similar to Punjabi and is a dialect rather than a language. Potohari/Pahari can be considered a different language though considering it has its own literature. Literature is the main criteria that sets languages apart. Hence Italian, Portuguese and Spanish are considered separate languages even though they are mutually understandable. Similarly Swedish and Norwegian languages are considered separate.

PS: Dhanni speakers might speak a hindko like dialect, but they are ethnically Potoharis. They are mostly malik awans and rajas, who are the quintessential Potohari tribes.

I have noticed same thing, lots of Kashmiri jats, kashmiri rajput, kashmiri gujjar on facebook. If tomorrow Azad Kashmir name is changed they will identify with new identity. Can't blame them because "Punjabi" itself is new identity. These tribes mostly used to identity with their own biraderis.

Any native punjabi will understand Dhani/hindko. But overall potohari is easy to understand for central punjabis compared to hindko.

In Kharian we also malik awans village, they are spread out all over Punjab.

 

[ghoul]

@save_ghenda
Well northern Kharian and Sarai Alamgir region is ethno-culturally potohari any way. The Janjua, Gakkhar, Awans, Jodhras, Abbasis etc are very "Potohari", even though you see people using their names in Punjab. I have seen Tarkhans of Lahore and Multan using "Janjua" surname. Sounds weird. The northern half of Khushab(Soon valley) is ethno-culturally Potohari too. I saw a facebook page of "sooba potohar tehreek" some time ago, and it was dominated by malik awans and abbasis.

What do you think of the Hindu Shahi architecture of Potohar? Paharwala fortress and most temples I shared are ex-Hindu Shahi.

Here's some more Dhanni:

And another thing to add; there was a south Asian famous breed of horse called "Dhanni breed". The breed is unfortunately extinct now. It was said to be Ranjit Singh's favourite breed. The mair Minhas of Maloki Dhan were the famous breeders of the mentioned breed. The Mair Manhas claim that they came from Jammu to Chakwal at the behest of some Delhi Sultan. They were a notorious subject for the Gakkhars, who were entrusted by the mughals to raise taxes. The Mairs are said to have repeatedly killed Gakkhar kardars, but escaped into hills and caves whenever a Gakkhar lashkar was sent against them.

The local tribes are no doubt quite martial.

 

[ghoul]

Prince Malik Atta looking Cool in this pic

Malik Saab's family has got quite a history. I will share some other time.

@Jaggu
I think you might find this thread interesting. I shared a few videos of the "Dhanni dialect". What do you think of it?

 

[Kabira]

@save_ghenda
Well northern Kharian and Sarai Alamgir region is ethno-culturally potohari any way. The Janjua, Gakkhar, Awans, Jodhras, Abbasis etc are very "Potohari", even though you see people using their names in Punjab. I have seen Tarkhans of Lahore and Multan using "Janjua" surname. Sounds weird. The northern half of Khushab(Soon valley) is ethno-culturally Potohari too. I saw a facebook page of "sooba potohar tehreek" some time ago, and it was dominated by malik awans and abbasis.

What do you think of the Hindu Shahi architecture of Potohar? Paharwala fortress and most temples I shared are ex-Hindu Shahi.

Here's some more Dhanni:

And another thing to add; there was a south Asian famous breed of horse called "Dhanni breed". The breed is unfortunately extinct now. It was said to be Ranjit Singh's favourite breed. The mair Minhas of Maloki Dhan were the famous breeders of the mentioned breed. The Mair Manhas claim that they came from Jammu to Chakwal at the behest of some Delhi Sultan. They were a notorious subject for the Gakkhars, who were entrusted by the mughals to raise taxes. The Mairs are said to have repeatedly killed Gakkhar kardars, but escaped into hills and caves whenever a Gakkhar lashkar was sent against them.

The local tribes are no doubt quite martial.

Even Northen Kharian is standard punjabi. Only chibs speak potohari to the point that its known as ''rajea di boli'' to differentiate. Malik awans in kharian are proper awans even though they speak majhi punjabi. Awans are spread all over punjab, remember potohar is very small region of 4 districts in Punjab out of 32.

Abbasis are also spread all over including South Punjab, but they claim arab ancestry like awans.

Janjuas and Ghkkhars (no idea of jodhras) are indeed potoharis mostly, but few can be found in central punjab. My friend was Kayani who now i know are Ghakkars.

Malik Saab's family has got quite a history. I will share some other time.

@Jaggu
I think you might find this thread interesting. I shared a few videos of the "Dhanni dialect". What do you think of it?

So Malik Atta is awan?

 

[ghoul]

Even Northen Kharian is standard punjabi. Only chibs speak potohari to the point that its known as ''rajea di boli'' to differentiate. Malik awans in kharian are proper awans even though they speak majhi punjabi. Awans are spread all over punjab, remember potohar is very small region of 4 districts in Punjab out of 32.

Abbasis are also spread all over including South Punjab, but they claim arab ancestry like awans.

Janjuas and Ghkkhars (no idea of jodhras) are indeed potoharis mostly, but few can be found in central punjab. My friend was Kayani who now i know are Ghakkars.



So Malik Atta is awan?

Chibs are not the only "rajas" in Kharian I believe. Raja Aziz Bhatti was also from the same region. The Gujjars in Jhelum speak Majhi punjabi, interestingly. Jodhras are the "maliks" of Pindi Gheb. Malik Atta is a Gheba. Malik is just a title, which many clans use.

 

[Kabira]

Chibs are not the only "rajas" in Kharian I believe. Raja Aziz Bhatti was also from the same region. The Gujjars in Jhelum speak Majhi punjabi, interestingly. Jodhras are the "maliks" of Pindi Gheb. Malik Atta is a Gheba. Malik is just a title, which many clans use.

Bhatti rajputs in Kharian speak majhi punjabi like other central punjabis. Only chibs somehow speak potohari which was very surprising. Gujjars of Jhelum case is similar to Chibs in that case. Yes Malik is just a title, also used by Khokhars in Kharian. Town named Kurre Sharif in Kharian tehsil is famous for mazar of Jasrath Khokhar.

 

[ghoul]

Bhatti rajputs in Kharian speak majhi punjabi like other central punjabis. Only chibs somehow speak potohari which was very surprising. Gujjars of Jhelum case is similar to Chibs in that case. Yes Malik is just a title, also used by Khokhars in Kharian. Town named Kurre Sharif in Kharian tehsil is famous for mazar of Jasrath Khokhar.

Oh really? That's interesting. Is that just a legend or his real tomb? Do you have a picture? What are khokhars considered in Kharian? Rajput or something else? The funny thing is that the "khokhars" using malik as a title claim descent from Qutb-Shah(like the awans)... Yet the Khokhars of Pind Dadan Khan(who are rajas) claim descent from Jasrath Khokhar. The awans of Attock are called "Khokhar awan"...

 

[krash]

View attachment 137602

That is Princess of Hope in Balochistan.