Virk

Virk (pronounced Vir-rk) (Hindi: (विर्क), Punjabi: ਵਿਰਕ) is a Jat clan. The clan is spread across the Punjab region in Pakistan and northern India.

Prominent Virk Jats

* Sir Shehab-u-din Virk, remained Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of United Punjab province from 1926 to 1946. He could never had his own children.Fact|date=June 2008 He adopted his nephew, Waheed-u-din Virk, who first served in the World War II as a commissioned officer under Royal British Army, and later on became a famous lawyer in Pakistan. His children and grandchildren live in Lahore, Punjab.
* Nawab Kapur Singh Virk, was famous Jat Sikh Misl warriors leader in the 18th century in Punjab.
* Karora Singh Virk, was a famous Jat Sikh Misl leader of warriors in the 18th century in Punjab.
* Jathedar Teja Singh Chuharkana was a fighter against British Rule and one of the few responsible for India's freedom from the British.
* Sardar Nishan Singh Virk(village Balu, Karnal), who is enjoying 101st year of his life, is one of the few living freedom fighters in India. He has received several recognition awards from recent Presidents of India.
* Squadron Leader Kanwaljit Singh Virk (IAF) Son of Jathedar Teja Singh Chuharkana, and first Indian to break the Sound Barrier.Fact|date=June 2008 A Legendary Fighter Pilot in the Indian Air Force.
* Kulwant Singh Virk, Prominent Punjabi writer.
* NAZIR AHMAD VIRK Ex member of Pakistan National Assembly from Shiekhupura
* Khizar Ali Virk member Pakistan Punjab Assembly from Dist. Narowal
* Sardar Bahadur Buta Singh Virk was a Member Legislative Council and the Deputy Speaker of erstwhile Punjab. His family currently resides is Karnal and Chandigarh.

History

Virks in other ancient texts

According to the "Patanjali Bhashya" (4.6-114), "Ashtadhyayi" (l-6-155), "Mahabhasya"( 4-2-154) and "Kashikavarti" (1-1-175), Raja Virk Vardhan built forts in:

#Kasrud (present-day Mandsor) in central India
#Shakil (Sialkot)
#Sosaph
#Dathaaprastha
#Naudipur
#Koak
#Kandewa
#Mula
#Pava Datt
#Karkar
#Virkgary.

According to Thakur Yugendrapal, the Virks are the "Vahilkas" (they are believed to be the founders of Bahawalpur) who are mentioned in the Mahabharata and who took one-sixth of the income of the King Shalya, who was the king of the Madras and ruled over "Madradesa" (modern-day Sialkot). In the 4th century AD, they had a powerful kingdom. They were the contemporaries of the Gupta rulers. According to Brij Indra Bhaskar, in 428 AD, the Virk rulers performed a big Yagya near Bayana and constructed a pillar, on which they mentioned themselves as "Virks". Rock inscriptions of Yasodharman have been found in Mandsor. Their reign in Malwa came to an end in 462 AD.

Yasodharman was virk clan Jat

The Bijayagadh Stone Pillar Inscription of Vishnuvardhana shows that Yasodharman, the father of Vishnuvardhana, was a king of Virk gotra. [ [http://www.mssu.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Epigraphy/Gupta-Era/bijayagadh_stone_pillar.htm Bijayagadh Stone Pillar Inscription of Vishnuvardhana] ] [Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 254.] Thakur Deshraj and CV Vaidya have concluded that the inscription of Bijaygarh and Mandsaur prove that Yasodharman, the ruler of Malwa, was a Jat king of the Virk gotra ( clan). [Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 (Page 707)] CV Vaidya, History of Medieval Hindu India ]

Physical Attributes

Historically, the Virks had unique physical attributes. In the history books, they have been described as tall, fair, muscular, courageous and loyal. ^{[Citation Needed]} (Note: Courageous and loyal are not physical attributes). These physical and mental attributes made them ideal candidates for recruitment in the armies of various Kings and Maharajas. They served in the British Army, and still comprise a sizeable portion of the Pakistani and Indian armies.

Virks in the Punjab

Controversy Surrounding the Virks

Traditionally Virks have been associated with horse and buffalo trading throughout the Punjab. This account of the Virk clans historical role in the Punjab has recently gained increasing support with the discovery of 17th century texts written by Bhai Gurdas. However, speculation remains regarding the extent these actions as well as the accuracy of this account.

Sheikhupura

According to the historians, the present-day city of Sheikhupura in the province of Punjab (Pakistan), was the site of Virkgarh till the Mughal emperor, Jahangir built the city of Sheikhupura. The epical ancestor of Virks, Raja Virk Vardhan, was a ruler of the area with its capital being the present-day city of Sialkot, Punjab (Pakistan). The eastern extent of his Raj included [Amritsar] (India) which, still, belongs to the Virks.

Manes:

Manes is the other jats known for features such as tall, fair, muscular, courageous and loyal.Manesmostly lives in (Sheikhupura Distt. of western punjab(pakistan)).In India (Rasida,Narwana(Jind),Singhankhera(Bareilly distt.UP),Shekupura(karnal).Zira distt.).Gopal Singh Manes(Chend) and Baal Singh Manes(Chend) are the brave names of the Manes peoples.Gurbaj Singh Manes was one of the famous name in the Tarai(Uttranchal & UP) region for his goodworks.Sukha Singh Manes is the name known for their truthfulness and bravery.Several Manes lads are on a high-flies because of their attitude.Gagandeep Singh Manes(Son of Janpal Singh Manes & Grandson of Gurbaj Singh Manes) is a software enggineer working with a Redalkemi(Chandigarh)is a future hope for Manes's.

Jauharabad

Most of them are working on their agricultural land. They have a good social and political position in the society (ref:word of mouth)

Muslim and Sikh Virks

Whether Muslim or Sikh, Virks always took pride in being members of the Great Jats. The majority of Virks on the western side of Punjab converted to Islam while the majority of Virks on the eastern side of Punjab converted to Sikhism. The famous Virk chieftan, Nawab Kapur Singh founded the Dal Khalsa and, later, divided it into twelve "Misls." He belonged from the "Fyzallapur" village which remained his headquarters. This village was, later, renamed as "Singhpur". The Misl that he headed was, consequently, known as the "Singhpuria Misl."

Virks in the British Period

In Punjab (British India), the Virks held very high positions in the British Indian Army. Before the Partition of India, Sir Shahab-ud-Din, a member of the Punjab Assembly and Secretary of the Jat Sabha, was a Virk Jat who belonged to Tar village in Sialkot.

Virk Jats Today

Today, one can find Virk Jats on both sides of the Punjab and also in foreign countries(US, Canada, Australia, England). In Punjab (Pakistan), a majority of Virks live in the Sheikhupura district and some are scattered in Sialkot District. There is a small village "Virk" in Sialkot inhabited by Virk Jats. Virks still control the city of Sheikhupura (the ancient Virkgarh) both, politically and economically. In India, Virks are mainly concentrated in the Karnal district of Haryana.Majority and some very prominent Virk Families are concentrated in villages around Tehsil Assandh, District Karnal and few are temporarily living in Patiala district.Virk from village kadiyal [pakistan] known as kadiyalia and mostly live in village Shekhupura district karnal. Some of them also identify themselves with their old town names like CHURKANIA(shekhupura in pakistan) r known as churkanias and many more people from Harchand(Sacha Sauda, Pakistan) are know as Harchandias, Virks from village Manga(Sheikhupura, Pakistan) are known as Mangai's, Virks from NavaPind(Pakistan) are known as NAVEPINDIYE and are presently settled in village Balu of district Karnal.virks from village CHHINA [sheikhpura] Pakistan are known as CHHINE and are presently living in village Sangrauli [Kaithal] and in Assandh.

Manes's before partion was in Chend(Sheikhupura,pakistan) known as Chendke,(know lives in Singhankhera(Bareilly distt. UP) Badde known as Baddyake,Demu known as Demuke,Ranike etc.Now lives in Villages of Haryana(Rasida,Maanikhera,Shekhupura,Manchoori etc) and in Punjab(patiyala,Zira ).

References

CitedUncited
* Ram Swarup Joon: History of the Jats, Rohtak, India (1938, 1967)
* History of Sandalbaar: Virk and Others
* Chintan PatelExternal links

* [http://www.mssu.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Epigraphy/Gupta-Era/bijayagadh_stone_pillar.htm Bijayagadh Stone Pillar Inscription of Vishnuvardhana]
* [http://www.mssu.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Epigraphy/Gupta-Era/mandasor_pillar.htm Mandasor Pillar Inscription of Yashodharman]