History
Kang is Suryavanshigotra (clan) of Jats found in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in India and in Pakistan. Many historians has mentioned it as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia. They were inhabitants of Kanyaka forest country, who dwell now in Punjab.Kang clan is found in Afghanistan.
As per Mr. Barkley ,H.A Rose -The Kang are said to claim descent from the Solar Race of Ajudhia through their ancestor Jogra, father of Kang, and in Amritsar give the following pedigree : —
Ram Chandar. → Lahu. → Ghaj. → Harbam → Talochar. → Mal. → Jogra. → Kang. (According to the Sialkot tradition Jogra had four sons, Rai, Natt, Kang and Abala origin who founded as many septs.)
Baba Malha, son of Mangu, 6th in descent from Kang, fell in fight with the Kheras on the spot which still marks a village boundary, and he is now worshipped, Mirasis taking the offerings made to him. Kangs and Kheras still refuse to intermarry.also in later days of 17th century majority of Kang Jats accept Sikh Panth and later days they established many States and Estates like – Thanesar, Phillaur,Kang, Dharamsinghwala, KotlaBadla, Khumanon, Dhaliwal and Thabalke, Baloki , DhiruMajra and JabuMajra, and this clan gives many warriors like Sardar Tara Singh Gahiba Of Dallewalia ,SardarBhanga Singh Thanesar , Bhanga Singh Of Dharamsinghwalaetc .
Distribution in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh
Most of the people of this tribe(Kang) live in north India, mostly in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. It is believed by many local people of Pubjab and people of Jat (Kang) tribe that their Ancestors (Jathere) were based at village Dholi-Moli near Balachor, Just close to the Chandigarh-Jalandhar highway in Punjab about 70 kms from Chandigarh. They also have a place of worship at this village which is only for Kang people. Twice every year they have a ceremony (one at very next day of diwali and one in year when all other people go to their ancestor place) at this village where they even have public lunch and bull races to praise their ancestors.
They are said to be in parts of Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and variously known as Kang, Kank, Kankas and Kangri. In the census of 1881, in Rohtak district they were 786 in numbers.( source–The 1881 Census.-By Sir Denzil Ibbetson).In the folklore,it is said that their oldest village was Keharpur or Keharpura near Delhi from where the clan went over to various places
- Villages in Jalandhar district –
Kang Sahbu, Kang Sahibrai, Kangna, are villages in Nakodartahsil in Jalandhar district in Punjab, India.
Kang Araian, Kang Jagir, Kangniwal are village in Phillaurtahsil in Jalandhar district in Punjab, India.
Kang Kalan, Kang Khurd are villages in Shahkottahsil in Jalandhar district in Punjab, India.
According to B S Dhillon the population of Kang clan in Jalandhar district is 5,400.
- Villages in Hoshiarpur district
Kang is village in Dasuatahsil in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab.
Kang named village is in Hoshiarpurtahsil in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, India.
In Hoshiarpur district the Kang population is 1,590.
Villages in Firozpur district-
In Firozpur district the Kang population is 2,400.
Villages in Nawanshahr district-
Kang, Kangraur villages in Nawanshahr tahsil in Nawanshahr district in Punjab.
Villages in Fatehgarh Sahib district
Now a small town – Khamanon in Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab has a substantial population of Jats with the Kang Gotra. Master Manjit Singh Kang, was a well known school Principal who was also Numberdar and member of the Block Committee.
- Distribution in Haryana
Village in Sirsa district
Bhavdin,
- Distribution in Up
Villages in Hapur district
Atuta
Distribution in Pakistan
Kang – The Kang are one of the larger Jat clans. They claim descent from Jogah, who was also an ancestor of the Sohal and NattJats. They are found in Lahore, Shaikhupura, Sialkot, Gujrat, Sargodha, Narowal, Faisalabad and Sahiwal districts. Prior to partition, many Muslim Kang were also found in Amritsar, Firozpur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana districts.
According to 1911 census the Kang were principal Muslim Jat clan in districts:
Sialkot District – Kang (173)
Amritsar District – Kang (97)
Gujrat District – Kang (1,032)
Muzaffargarh District – Kang (629)
Dera Ghazi Khan District – Kang (10)
References :-
- The Ancient Geography of India: I. The Buddhist Period, Including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang. By Sir Alexander Cunningham
- Bhim Singh Dahiya, Jats the Ancient Rulers ( A clan study), p. 34 (Sanskrit- o?
- Bhim Singh Dahiya, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A clan study), p. 76