Khap

A Khap is a community organisation representing a clan or a group of North Indian castes and clans.[1] They are found mostly in northern India, particularly among the village people of Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, especially Jats and Gurjars. But also amongst states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh[2] although historically the term has also been used among other communities. A Khap Panchayat is an assembly of Khap elders, and a Sarv Khap is an assembly of many Khap Panchayats and usually of different castes.[3][4]

Khaps are not affiliated with the formally elected government bodies and are instead concerned with the affairs of the Khap it represents.[5] It is not affiliated with the democratically elected local assemblies that are also termed Panchayat. A Khap Panchayat has no official government recognition or authority but can exert significant social influence within the community it represents.[6] The Baliyan Khap of Jats as led by Mahendra Singh Tikait until 2011 is one that has gained particular media attention.[7] Dahiya Khap is major khap of Jat community in Haryana.[8][9]

  1. ^ Hindustan Times
  2. ^ क्या है खाप पंचायत, क्यों है उसका दबदबा?, Atul Sagar, BBC 5 August 2009
  3. ^ Saini, Manveer (21 April 2014). "Haryana's biggest khap panchayat scripts history, allows inter-caste marriages". The Times of India.
  4. ^ Pradhan, M. C. (18 December 1965). "The Jats of Northern India Their Traditional Political System – II" (PDF). Economic and Political Weekly.
  5. ^ खाप पंचायतों का हृदय परिवर्तन! अंजलि सिन्हा, Sahara Samay, 26 Apr 2014 samaylive.com.
  6. ^ Kaur, Ravinder (5 June 2010). "Khap panchayats, sex ratio and female agency | Ravinder Kaur". Academia.edu. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Muzaffarnagar riots: A Jat family protected 70 Muslims in Fugna village". India Today. 14 September 2013.
  8. ^ Deswal, Deepender (7 March 2011). "Haryana's Dahiya khap, a body representing people of Jat community in Sonipat district, is organising a meeting to mark centenary celebrations in Sisana village on Monday". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  9. ^ "चौटाला परिवार को जोड़ने में दो खेमों में बटी दहिया खाप". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 4 September 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.