The Kambojs (Hindi: Kamboj, Urdu: Kamboh, Punjabi: Kamboj), also

Kamboh, are an ethnic community of the Punjab region. They may relate to the Kambojas,
an Iranian tribe known to the peoples of Iron Age India and mentioned in ancient Sanskrit
texts and epigraphy.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Kamboj is frequently used as a surname in lieu of the
sub-caste or the gotra name by many Kambojs of Punjab, India. Their Muslim counterparts
living in Pakistan mostly use the last name Kamboh instead of the gotra name. A good many
Muslim Kamboh are also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, especially in the town of
Marehra, and call themselves Zuberis.
During Muslim rule
During the early years of Islam in India, one of the groups of this clan embraced Islam at the
instance of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi (of Multan) and his son Shaikh
Sadruddin.[8]
Muslim Kambojs were influential during Lodhi and Moghul rule. Miyan Jumman Khan Kamboh
was "Hajib-i-Khas" (Special Lord of Bed Chamber),[9] Umar Khan Kamboh was Amir-i-Akhur
(Minister of Cavalry department)[10] and Miyan Ladan Khan Kamboh was an Imam[11] and
Royal Nadim of Sikandar Lodhi.[12] Shaikh Itmad-ul-Malik Sambhal was Amir-i-Arz
(Paymaster General) and then Prime Minister of Sher Shah Suri. General Shahbaz Khan
Kamboh was the most capable and trusted general of the Akbar.[13][14][15] He had been
"Mir Tozak" (Quarter Master General/Master of Ceremonies), "Mir Bakshi" (Lord Pay Master
General/Chief Military Adviser), and "Wakil" (Highest Mughal Administrative Officer, Prime
Minister) of Emperor Akbar.[16][17] As a Governor of Bengal in 1581, Shabaz Khan had
distinguished himself greatly and had commanded 9000 strong cavalry in Bengal when
operating in Brahmputra,.[18] Shaikh Gadai Kamboh had been "Sadru-s-Sadur" or "Sadar-iJahan" (Administrator General or Lord Chief Justice) in Akbar's reign.[19][20] Nawab
Saddullah Khan Chanyoti was the Prime Minister[21] and General Nawab Bahadur Kamboh
had been very active and intelligent military officer and Vizier (Minister) in the court of
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.[22] General Nawab Khair Andesh Khan held a mansab of 5000
horsemen during reign of Aurangzeb and of 6000 during Bahadur Shah's reign[23] and had
been governor of Katehr (Rohilkhand), Bihar, Etawah, Bengal, Kalabagh and Hamuiri at
different times of his life.[24][25][26]
Numerous other Kamboj are known to have occupied very key military and civil positions
during Lodhi, Pashtun and the Moghul reign in India. "The Sayyids and the Kambohs among
the Indian Muslims were specially favored for high military and civil positions during Moghul
rule".[27][28][29][30]
Taarikh Aal-e-Kambojia
"The Kambo, Indian Shaikh-zadas and local Saiyid nobles rose to prominence during the
period under review" (i.e. Lodi dynasty of Delhi).[31]
Muhammad Umar writes: "The (Muslim) Kamboh distinguished themselves by their courage,
generosity and high spirits. They were famous for their excellent manners and were
particularly gifted with wisdom and nobility....In terms of social stratification, the Kambohs
were counted among the Shaikhs.....Among the Indian Muslims, the Kambohs were regarded
as the noblest of all. However, perhaps with a view to maintaining the purity of their
descent, or because of pride of nobility, they confined their matrimonial relationships within
their own groups and did not establish marriage connections with other Muslim groups
including even the Saiyids and the Mughals. Some members of this clan like Shahbaz Khan
Kamboh, Nawab Abu Muhammad Khan, Bahadur Khan and Nawab Khair Andesh Khan rose to
high positions during the reign of Mughals" .[32]
Ain-i-Akbari of Abu-Al-Fazal Alami (Trans. H. Blochman) informs us that it was a matter of
distinction to belong to the Kamboh lineage during the reigns of Mughal emperors like Akbar
and Jahangir .[33][34][35][36]
The Kambohs held Nakodar in Jullundur[37][38] and Sohna in Gurgaon some centuries ago;
and the tombs and mosques that they have left (in Sohna) show that they must have

enjoyed considerable position.[39][40][41]

Present day....
Kambojs and Kambohs today are estimated to number around 1.5 million. The rest of the
original Kamboja tribe was assimilated into other social groups and castes of the Indian subcontinent. Consequently, many sub-caste names overlap with those of other communities of
northern India like the Khatris, Rajputs, Tarkhans, Jats, Brahmins, Arains and others. The
Kambojs of the north, by tradition, are divided into 52 and 84 clans. 52 line is stated to be
descendants of Cadet branch and 84 from the elder Branch. This is claimed as referring to
the young and elder military divisions under which they had fought the Bharata War.
Numerous of their clan names overlap with other Kshatriyas and the Rajput castes of the
north-west India, thereby suggesting that some of the Kshatriya/Rajput clans of north-west
must have descended from the Ancient Kambojas. The Kambojs/Kambohs practiced weaponworship in the past but the practice is now going out of vogue.[42]
Traditions
The Kambohs are stated to be the ancient inhabitants of Persia.[51]
The Sikh Kamboj of Kapurthala & Jullundur (Punjab) claim descent from Raja Karan.[52] They
also have a tradition that their ancestors came from Kashmir.[53]
Hindu Kambohs claim to be related to the Rajputs and to have come from Persia through
southern Afghanistan.[54] The Chapter III of Gazetteer of Muzaffarnagar (UP) based on
British India census reports of 1881/1891 etc. note that about 1200 Muslim and Hindu
Kamboj were living in Saharanpur who also claimed to be Rajputs. The Kamboj in Phillaur,
District Jullundur, too claimed to be Suryavanshi Rajputs.[55] The Kambohs of Bijnor claim
that they came from Trans-Indus country and Mr Purser accepts this as evidently true. Many
of the Bijnor Kambohs also have a tradition that they are of the same ethnic stock as the
Chattris or Khatris.[56] "In the Census of 1891, it is reported that the Kamboh, who lived
around Mathura in the United Province (Uttar Pradesh), were originally Kshatriyas".[57][58]
[59] The Rajasthan [district Gazetteers] asserts that the Kambohs are probably related to the
Khatris.[60] The Hindu Kambohs from Karnal claim their origin from Garh-Gajni. Their Pandits
still pronounce the following couplet at the phera during their marriage ceremony to give
information about their original home: Garh Gajni nikaas, Lachhoti Ghaggar vaas (Trans:
Originated from the fort of Gajni, and settled down in Ghaggar region (in Haryana or
Punjab)). One Gajni or Ghazni is located in Afghanistan, but based on another tradition of the
Karnal Kamboj, the eminent ethnographers like H. A. Rose and several other scholars have
identified this Gajni in Kambay in Saurashtra (port of Vallabhi)[61]
Muslim Kambohs have a tradition that they descended from ancient Kai dynasty of Persia, to
which the emperors Kaikaus, Kaikhusro, Kaikubad, Kai-lehrashab and Darius all belonged. On
the last king of the dynasty having been dethroned, and expelled from the country, he
wandered about some time with his family and dependents in the neighboring countries and
finally settled in Punjab.[15][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71]
Agriculturists
The modern Kamboj are still found living chiefly by agriculture, business and military service
which were the chief professions followed by their Kamboja ancestors some 2500 years ago
as powerfully attested by Arthashastra[72] and Brihat Samhita.[73] Numerous foreign and
Indian writers have described the modern Kambojs/Kambohs as one of the finest class of
agriculturists of India.[74] British colonial writers such as H. A. Rose and Denzil Charles J.
Ibbetson note the Kamboj and Yaduvanshi Ahirs agriculturists as the first rank husbandmen.
[75] They occupy exactly the same position in general farming as the Ramgarhias occupy in
general industry.
The Kambojs have made great contributions in agriculture and military fields. The majority of
Krishi Pandit awards in Rajasthan/India have been won by the Kamboj agriculturists.[76] Col
Lal Singh Kamboj, a landlord from Uttar Pradesh, was the first Indian farmer to win the
prestigious Padam Shri Award for progressive farming in 1968 from President of India.
According to M. S. Randhawa (Ex-Vice Chancellor, Punjab University[disambiguation

needed]), "For sheer tenacity and persistence no body can beat Kambohs".[77][78]
Supposed relationship with Arains
In the late 19th century a British colonial administrator proposed that the Arains were
Kamboj's who had become Muslims.[79][80][81][82] However, other British writers
discounted this viewpoint since many Kambohs were also Muslims.[83][84][85] Lt. Col. J. M.
Wikeley, in 1915, wrote a handbook for the Indian Army, Punjabi Musalmans, which
described the history of the people of Punjab and in which he rejected "any supposed
relationship between the Kambohs and the Arains.[86]