Taunk
Encyclopedia
Tank or Taunk or Taank or Taunque is a name of Rajput clans
Famous British historian Crooke (1916) maintains, the Tak Rajputs claim that they are Yaduvanshis and had martial relations with Yadava
s princess of Jaisalmer
.The community is distributed in the districts of Jodhpur
, Udaipur
and Tonk
., Kutch, Gujarat and Punjab, Haryana
& Uttar Pradesh
/ Kshatriya
clans like;Rathor
, Chauhan
, Sawaria, Vaghela, Jethwa
, Gohil
, Vadher, Solanki
, Parmar, Khodiyar, Vegad, Varu, Yadav
, Maru.
Although they have their Kuldevis in Kutch only, idols of whom they brought along with themselves when they migrated, whose temples are located mainly in 18 villages mentioned hereafter. Here they together established themselves at Dhaneti
after warfare in early 12th century.
They are identified together as Mistris . They were given 18/19 villages by then erstwhile ruler of Kutch.
These villages are namely :-Anjar
, Sinugra
, Madhapar
, Galpadar
, Kukma
, Khambhra
, Khedoi
, Lovaria, Hajapar
, Chandiya
, Jambudi
, Devaria, Kumbharia
, Nagalpar
, Vidi
, Nagor
, Reha
, Meghpar & Ratnal
.
These group of Kshatriyas besides being warriors were also skilled in building of beautiful and artistic Temples, Palaces, Dams and therefore also came to be known as Mistri
or Mistry
which means skilled persons especially in field of construction. The Tank of Kutch have their Kuldevi's Temple at Khambhra
and their Kuldevi is Brahmani
Maa. Tank of Sinugra
worship Chamunda
Mata as their Kuldevi, whose temple is in Village itself.
s and Kadia Kshatriyas
in Saurashtra region of Guajrat, especially in Halar
Region.
Saini or Yaduvanshi Taunks
Tank, Taunque, Tonk or Taunk surname is also commonly found among Saini
s in areas of submontane Punjab and Haryana
. According to one narrative, they are Shoorsainis and predominantly of Yaduvanshi Rajput descent who relocated to Punjab from Mathura , the capital of ancient Surasena Kingdom
, as part of Rajput troop movements to thwart Muslim invasions in Punjab. According to another narrative they are a composite group of Rajput clans, with Tak or Taank being one of them, whose forefathers fought Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri and other Muslim
Sultans and , on the defeat of the Rajputs, had to turn to agriculture in order to escape conversion and to preserve the honour of their women. According to the latter view this composite group of Rajput clans which was cut adrift from the larger Rajput group came to be called 'Saini
' in Punjab where it maintained its military Rajput character despite taking up of agriculture.
A native account from Tank Rajputs of Mainpuri
is Oudh (modern UP) collected by William Crooke confirms that there is a Tank clan in Yaduvanshi Rajputs , whence Sainis of Punjab also claim descent.
Some of the notable Saini Taanks of Punjab are as follows:
Suniyara or goldsmith Taunks
Tank is a common surname found among Goldsmits in Punjab, Haryana.
, Kenya
, Uganda
, Tanzania
and to lesser extent in USA and canada
.
Rajput clans
The Rajputs are a martial race and caste of the Indian subcontinent. They are a Hindu caste whose members generally consider themselves to belong to the Kshatriya varna ; however, Encyclopædia Britannica notes that their members have come from a variety of lineages, including from foreign...
Famous British historian Crooke (1916) maintains, the Tak Rajputs claim that they are Yaduvanshis and had martial relations with Yadava
Yadava
The Yadavas were an ancient Indian people who believed themselves to be descended from Yadu, a mythical king. The community was probably formed of four clans, being the Abhira, Andhaka, Vrishni, and Satvatas, who all worshipped Lord Krishna. They are listed in ancient Indian literature as the...
s princess of Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
.The community is distributed in the districts of Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
, Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
and Tonk
Tonk
Tonk as a place may refer to:* Tonk, India* Tonk, PakistanTonk as a person may refer to:*Yash Tonk, Indian actorTonk may also refer to:* Tonk * Tonk, an expression within logic - see logical harmony...
., Kutch, Gujarat and Punjab, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
& Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
Taunk in Kutch
Tank / Taunk are found in Kutch in large numbers, where they seem to have migrated along with other RajputRajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
/ Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
clans like;Rathor
Rathor
Rathor may refer to:* Rathore or Rathor, a Suryavanshi Rajput clan of India and Pakistan* Rathor, Pakistan...
, Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
, Sawaria, Vaghela, Jethwa
Jethwa
Jethwa is a name of a Kshatriya, Rajput clan that claim descent from Makardhwaja son of Lord Hanuman who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayana...
, Gohil
Gohil
Gohils are Suryavanshi Rajputs who have descended from the Guhilots of Mewar. As per the Sikarwar Khyat, Prince Shiladitya was born on Jesth Sudhi Chaturdashi of V.S 543 . He was the son of Emperor Aditya Sen and Queen Subhaga Devi. Though born at Chitor he was educated at Vallabhi...
, Vadher, Solanki
Solanki
The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....
, Parmar, Khodiyar, Vegad, Varu, Yadav
Yadav
Yādav refers to an umbrella group of traditionally non-elite pastoral communities, or castes, in India and Nepal which since the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has claimed descent from the mythological King Yadu as a part of a movement of social and political resurgence.The term 'Yadav' now...
, Maru.
Although they have their Kuldevis in Kutch only, idols of whom they brought along with themselves when they migrated, whose temples are located mainly in 18 villages mentioned hereafter. Here they together established themselves at Dhaneti
Dhaneti
Dhaneti or Dhanetee is village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is at a distance of about 26 km from Bhuj the Taluka and District Headquarter of Kutch...
after warfare in early 12th century.
They are identified together as Mistris . They were given 18/19 villages by then erstwhile ruler of Kutch.
These villages are namely :-Anjar
Anjar
Anjar may refer to:*Anjar, India, a town and municipality of India*Anjar, Lebanon, a town in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon...
, Sinugra
Sinugra
Sinugra or Shinoogra or Sinogra or Sinougra is a village near the town of Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is located 7 km from the nearest city Anjar...
, Madhapar
Madhapar
Madhapar is a large village located in south western Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. Bhuj is the regional hub of the town where the nearest airport exists...
, Galpadar
Galpadar
Galpadar is village in Gandhidham Tehsil of Kutch District of Gujrat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 3 km from Gandhidham, 11 km from Anjar and 51 km from Bhuj.-History:...
, Kukma
Kukma
Kukma or Kookma is a village near the Bhuj town, taluka in Kachchh District of Indian State of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of 16 kilometers from Bhuj, the headquarters of Kachchh District.-History:...
, Khambhra
Khambhra
Khambhra or Khamra is a village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is eight kilometres from the nearest town, Anjar.-History:...
, Khedoi
Khedoi
Khedoi is large village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 14 KM from nearest town Anjar.Village is again sub-divided into Nani-Khedoi and Moti-Khedoi...
, Lovaria, Hajapar
Hajapar
Hajapar is village in Bhuj Taluka of Kachchh District of Gujarat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 18 km from Bhuj. One nearby village is Reha.-History:...
, Chandiya
Chandiya
Chandiya or Chandia is a village near the town Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 18 km from nearest town Anjar.-History:...
, Jambudi
Jambudi
Jambudi is a village near the Bhuj, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of about 20 km from Bhuj Taluka and District Headquarter of Kutch.-History:...
, Devaria, Kumbharia
Kumbharia
Kumbharia or Kumbhariyu is village in Anjar Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is situated at a distance of 14 km from Anjar town & Taluka Headquarter.-History:...
, Nagalpar
Nagalpar
Nagalpur or Nagalpar is a small village in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. It comes under Anjar taluka.-History:About history of Nagalpar or Nagalpur it is one of the 19 villages established by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris as they are known in Kutch...
, Vidi
Vidi
Vidi or Videe or Virdee is a village near the town Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is at a distance of about 4 km from Anjar, the Taluka Headquarter.-History:...
, Nagor
Nagor
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:...
, Reha
Reha
Reha is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 15 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:About the history of Reha it is one of the 19 villages founded by Kutch...
, Meghpar & Ratnal
Ratnal
Ratnal is a village near the town of Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of about 15 km from Anjar.-History:...
.
These group of Kshatriyas besides being warriors were also skilled in building of beautiful and artistic Temples, Palaces, Dams and therefore also came to be known as Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....
or Mistry
Mistry
Mistry or Mistry may refer to :-*Mistri - a word used for master-craftsman, foreman in India.*Mistri - a caste of India.*Mistry - a surname used by persons of India or Indian origin.*Mistris of Kutch - another name for KGK Community of India....
which means skilled persons especially in field of construction. The Tank of Kutch have their Kuldevi's Temple at Khambhra
Khambhra
Khambhra or Khamra is a village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is eight kilometres from the nearest town, Anjar.-History:...
and their Kuldevi is Brahmani
Brahmani
In Hinduism, Brahmani is a kind and benevolent aspect of Devi, the Divine mother. Brahmani is associated with the Hindu creator god, Brahma as His consort or Shakti . She is one of the seven Mother Goddesses called Matrikas.-As Kuldevi:Many Kshatriya clans consider Her to be their Kuldevi...
Maa. Tank of Sinugra
Sinugra
Sinugra or Shinoogra or Sinogra or Sinougra is a village near the town of Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is located 7 km from the nearest city Anjar...
worship Chamunda
Chamunda
Chamunda , also known as Chamundi, Chamundeshwari and Charchika, is a fearsome aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother and one of the seven Matrikas . She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Durga...
Mata as their Kuldevi, whose temple is in Village itself.
Taunk in Saurashtra
Tank or Tank or Taank surname is also found among YadavYadav
Yādav refers to an umbrella group of traditionally non-elite pastoral communities, or castes, in India and Nepal which since the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has claimed descent from the mythological King Yadu as a part of a movement of social and political resurgence.The term 'Yadav' now...
s and Kadia Kshatriyas
Kadia kshatriyas
Kadia Kshatriyas are a minority group of the Hindu community in Gujarat State, India...
in Saurashtra region of Guajrat, especially in Halar
Jamnagar
Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city was built up substantially by Maharaja Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when the district was known as Nawanagar. The district lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch and is...
Region.
Tank in Punjab and Haryana
Tank, Taunque, Tonk or Taunk surname is also commonly found among Saini
Saini
Saini is a Rajput descent caste of India. Sainis, also known as Shoorsaini in Puranic literature, are now found by their original name only in Punjab and in the neighboring states of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh...
s in areas of submontane Punjab and Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
. According to one narrative, they are Shoorsainis and predominantly of Yaduvanshi Rajput descent who relocated to Punjab from Mathura , the capital of ancient Surasena Kingdom
Surasena Kingdom
Surasena Kingdom was ruled by Yaduvanshi kings as per the epic Mahabharata. It is said to be named after the King Shoorsen. The capital city of this kingdom, Mathura was founded by Shatrughna, the brother of Sri Rama the ruler of Kosala in Treta Yuga. He conquered this region after defeating the...
, as part of Rajput troop movements to thwart Muslim invasions in Punjab. According to another narrative they are a composite group of Rajput clans, with Tak or Taank being one of them, whose forefathers fought Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri and other Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Sultans and , on the defeat of the Rajputs, had to turn to agriculture in order to escape conversion and to preserve the honour of their women. According to the latter view this composite group of Rajput clans which was cut adrift from the larger Rajput group came to be called 'Saini
Saini
Saini is a Rajput descent caste of India. Sainis, also known as Shoorsaini in Puranic literature, are now found by their original name only in Punjab and in the neighboring states of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh...
' in Punjab where it maintained its military Rajput character despite taking up of agriculture.
A native account from Tank Rajputs of Mainpuri
Mainpuri
Mainpuri is a city and a municipal board in Mainpuri district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Mainpuri district and is situated to the north-east of Agra.-Geography:...
is Oudh (modern UP) collected by William Crooke confirms that there is a Tank clan in Yaduvanshi Rajputs , whence Sainis of Punjab also claim descent.
Some of the notable Saini Taanks of Punjab are as follows:
- Kartar Singh TaunqueKartar Singh TaunqueWing Commander Kartar Singh Taunque, then Hawai Sepoy 1st Class, became the first ever personnel of Indian Airforce to win a gallantry award. He won this award for a successful bombing raid during "Operations in Waziristan 1937-38". He was mentioned in despatches. Flt.Lt...
- Jagjit Singh TaunqueJagjit Singh TaunqueDr Jagjit Singh Taunque MBE, DL is the Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands. He has represented the Birmingham Inter Faiths Council on the University Court since 1995, becoming an Honorary Life Member of the Court in 1998...
- Uday Singh TaunqueUday Singh TaunqueSergeant Uday Singh Taunque was the first soldier of Sikh descent to die fighting in the Iraq War as part of the U.S. Army. His death in Iraq was widely reported in the Indian and American media.-Early Years:...
Suniyara or goldsmith Taunks
Tank is a common surname found among Goldsmits in Punjab, Haryana.
Tank Abroad
Tank, Taank, Taunk surname can be also found in migrant Indian populations in United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and to lesser extent in USA and canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.