Cheema facts for kids
The Cheema (also spelled Chima) are a well-known group of people from the Jat community. They live in India and nearby Pakistan. Jats are a large and important group in the Punjab area. Cheemas are one of the main groups within the Jats.
Most Cheemas speak Punjabi. Many of them own large farms. Most Cheema families who are Muslims live in West Punjab (Pakistan). Many Cheema families who are Sikhs live in East Punjab (India).
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Cheema History
The Cheema tribe was once called "Shaka" in India. This name came from the Persians. The Shakas are mentioned in many old Indian texts, like the Puranas and the Mahabharata.
It is believed that there are three main "Royal Families" of Jats in each part of Punjab. In Indian Punjab, these are the Cheema, Sandhu, and Gill families (Sikh Jats). In Pakistani Punjab, they are the Chattha, Cheema, and Warraich families (Muslim Jats). Some stories say that Cheema and Chattha Jats are descendants of Maharaja Prithvi Raj Chohan, a powerful king of Delhi.
Alexander the Great in Punjab
Around 331 BC, Alexander conquered a large Persian empire. He then marched into what is now Afghanistan with his army. In 326 BC, Alexander entered the Punjab.
Alexander asked all the local leaders to meet him and accept his rule. Ambhi, the ruler of Taxila, agreed. Alexander then marched against the Sakas (who some believe the Cheemas are related to) and other mountain tribes. These tribes, known for their horse riding skills, bravely fought Alexander. Even their women joined the fight, choosing to die with honor.
After this, Alexander moved east to the Jhelum River. Here, King Porus refused to surrender. Their armies fought the famous Battle of the Hydaspes River. Porus's army fought hard but was defeated. When Alexander asked Porus how he should be treated, Porus famously replied, "Like a king treats another king." Alexander was so impressed that he returned Porus's kingdom and even gave him more land.
Alexander's army continued east to the Beas River. However, his soldiers refused to go further. So, Alexander turned back, following the Jhelum and Indus rivers to the Arabian Sea.
Later, other groups from Central Asia, like the Scythians and Kushans, also came to India. They established kingdoms and adopted local cultures and religions like Buddhism.
Muhammad bin Qasim's Invasion
The Chach Nama is an old story that talks about the invasion of Muhammad bin Qasim. This story is not always seen as a fully accurate historical text by modern historians.
Before Muhammad bin Qasim arrived, many Jats and Cheemas were treated unfairly by the Hindu king Raja Dahir. The Jats formed strong partnerships with the Muslim Arabs. They welcomed Muhammad bin Qasim's arrival. Muhammad bin Qasim defeated Raja Dahir with the help of Jats and other local groups.
It is said that Muhammad bin Qasim's rule brought some changes:
- People were allowed to practice their own religion freely.
- Hindus and Buddhists were given protected status.
- People were paid for property damaged during the fighting.
- Cow slaughter was banned in some areas to show respect to Hindus.
Cheemas Today
Today, the Cheema clan holds many political positions in Pakistan. They have members in the National Assembly of Pakistan and Senate of Pakistan from Punjab. Dr. Nisar Ahmad Cheema is a current leader in the national assembly. His family has been important in politics for over 60 years.
This Cheema family from Wazirabad has been very powerful. They have had many civil servants, judges, police officers, and even a President of Pakistan. Many Cheemas have also moved to other countries like America, Canada, England, and Australia. They have found success in various jobs, including aid work and armies.
Cheemas have strong political influence in areas like Gujranwala. Many Cheema families own large rice and flour businesses. For example, Ghulam Haider Cheema from Aroop once had a very big rice and flour business in Pakistan.
Late Sardar (Captain) Autar Singh Cheema was the first Indian national born in Pakistan to climb Mount Everest. He achieved this on May 20, 1965.
Many Cheemas settled in England after fighting in World War I and World War II for the British forces. They hoped this would help India gain freedom, but it did not happen immediately. About 1.3 million Indian soldiers served in World War I, and over 74,000 of them died.
The Cheema clan in Nurmahal (Cheema Kalan and Cheema Kurd) lives on land that once belonged to Noor Jahan, a Persian Queen and wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. It is said that the Queen's secret underground passages are on Cheema land today. Much of the Cheema land in Nurmahal was given to the clan for their bravery and dedication in the Indian armed forces and navy over centuries.
Cheemas in Ancient Texts
In the Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic. It mentions that the armies of the Kambojas, Yavanas, and Shakas fought together in the Kurukshetra War. This epic describes them as fierce and powerful warriors.
The Mahabharata also says that the Shakas, along with Kambojas and Yavanas, were originally noble Kshatriyas (a warrior class). However, they lost their high status because they did not follow certain religious rules.
In the Manusmriti
The Manusmriti is another old Indian text. It lists the Shakas with other groups like the Kambojas and Yavanas. It describes them as "degraded Kshatriyas" because they did not follow the traditional religious rules.
In the Puranas
Some ancient texts called the Puranas sometimes used less respectful terms for certain Jat groups. They were sometimes called "Rakshasas" (demons) if they did not show respect to Brahmins.
Cheema Geography
Cheema people are found in many places. They are most common in the Amritsar district of India. There are also 42 Cheema villages in the Patiala district. This area was once called "Chima des," which means "Cheema country."
When the British ruled Punjab, many Cheema people moved to Montgomery (Sahiwal) and Sandal Bar. This was because a large canal system was built there, making farming easier. Cheema villages are also found in Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, NurMahal, Moga, Ludhiana, and Sangrur.
In western Punjab, Cheema communities are generally not found beyond the Chaj Doab area. In eastern Punjab, they were not found past the Sangrur district until 1947. After the partition of Punjab in 1947, many Sikh Cheemas moved from Sialkot and Gujranwala to settle in Patiala, Karnal, and Sirsa. Some families also moved to areas like Udhamsingh nagar (Uttrakhand), Pilibhit, Puranpur, and Rampur (Uttar Pradesh). This region is sometimes called Mini Punjab.
In Pakistan, the Sialkot and Gujranwala districts have many Cheema people and villages. Some of these villages include Begowal, Verowala Cheema, Jamke Cheema, Tajokay Cheema, Adamkay Cheema, Bhopalwala, Sahowala, Kamalpur, and Lodikay Cheema. In Gujranwala, villages like Baddokey Cheema, Kot Inayat Khan, Delawar Cheema, Saroki Cheema, Bharoki Cheema, and Bankay Cheema are well-known. In Rawalpindi district, there is a village called Sui Cheemian near Gujar Khan with many Cheemas.
In southern Punjab, areas like Bahawalpur and Yazman have many Cheema families. They are numerous enough to elect several government officials.
In India, the Rupnagar and Mohali districts of Punjab state also have large Cheema populations. An example is the village of Salaura.
Images for kids
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Map of the Punjab region in 1909.
