Sodhi


Sodhi is a clan of Khatris who historically lived in both eastern and western Punjab.
Some notable Sikh Gurus, including Hari Das, Guru Ram Das, Prithi Chand, to Guru Arjan were from the Sodhi clan.

Origin

According to a legend, some of the descendants migrated to Sanaudh where the clan chieftain married the daughter of the king and had a son named Sodhi Rai whose descendants ruled over the Sanaudh region now known as east and west Punjab and Haryana and some parts of Himachal Pradesh in northern India.
The Sodhis of Anandpur held revenue-free lands in Anandpur Sahib and various other parts of Punjab. They were the ruling family of Anandpur Sahib.

History

At the time of the Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh awarded revenue-free grants to Sodhis, who were not strictly associated with any particular religion and usually "maintained a considerable number of horsemen". Towards the end of his reign, the total worth of their jagirs was 500,000 a year. Ranjit Singh lavishly patronised a descendant of Dhir Mahal, Sodhi Sadhu Singh, with a gift of several villages. The original copy of the Adi Granth, also known as the Kartarpuri Bir, is reported to be in the possession of the descendants of Sodhi Sadhu Singh at Kartarpur.

Notable people

Historical figures