Self-image, Social Divisions and Social Position of the Khatris in the Punjab

This article traces the history of Khatris as a caste group in the Punjab, where, despite their small numbers, they remained visible through the millennia. The article addresses the issues of their self-image, ritual status, occupations and social divisions. It also throws light on their relative position vis-à-vis some groups in the four-fold order, besides the Khatris settled beyond the region. The bearing of ideology on the Sikh Khatris is discussed separately. The Muslim Khatris, generally called Khojas, have also to be noted. Based on a diverse range of sources in Sanskrit, Persian, Punjabi, Braj and English, this article questions the assumptions of the British ethnologists and emphasises the study of social groups and processes within a regional matrix.