Manpreet Badal releases book on ‘Khangura’ surname

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 10

A book titled ‘History of Khangura Surname and village Latala’ penned by Dr Gurdev Singh Sidhu was released here today.

Dr Sidhu has retired from Punjab Education Department after about 35 years service as a lecturer, Principal, Deputy Director and finally as Vice-Chairman, Punjab School Education Board.

Senior congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal formally released the book today.

The Punjabi book “History of Khangura Surname and Latala village” was researched by Dr Gurdev Singh Sidhu for over a period of two years and travelled far and wide, including two visits to Haridwar and various villages in Punjab and Haryana.

Speaking in the occasion, Jasbir Singh, ‘Jassi’, Khangura, a former MLA, said

Khangura is a surname of Punjabi jats, originating from the Chander Bansi Rajput clan.

‘Shri Krishan Bhagwan Ji’ also belongs to the same clan and from his fifth successor generation Raja Asmi Kanwar left Dwarka, Gujarat, and established a kingdom at Ghazni in Afghanistan. Some 200 years later in approximately 1,000 AD a man named Mandav Rav from this group returned to Mewat in India, which is in present day Haryana,” he added.

“During the time of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji the clan moved from Mewat to the nascent Sikh areas around Sutlej river and soon all Khanguras become baptised Sikhs. The original Khangura settlements were restricted to 10 odd villages including Latala, Punawal, Akbarpur, Khanpur, Bartiana, Todarhwal and Malakpur. Currently, the Khangura clan extends to approximately 30 villages in Punjab and Haryana,” added further Dr Sidhu.

Prominent Khanguras include:

Agarh Singh Khangura – One of the Sikh warriors who captured Lal Qila at Delhi in 1766.

Gurmukh Singh Kuka – Massacred with 66 others by the British at Malerkotla in 1872.

Kartar Singh Dukki – A freedom fighter

Baba Bhaan Singh Sunet – A gadri martyr

Sardar Bahadur Ranjit Singh – Multiple term Member of the Lok Sabha.

Bibi Naleb Kaur – Former MLA and former MP

Baldev Singh – Former MLA and former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

Prof Mohan Singh Khangura – Professor of music at Shanti Niketan University.

Jasbir Singh “Jassi” Khangura – former MLA

Dalbir Singh “Goldy” Khangura – INC candidate 2017 Punjab Assembly elections.

Manpreet confident of Cong’s victory  

Ludhiana: Manpreet Badal, senior Congress leader, said he was confident of the party’s win. He was in the city for a book release function. He said a strong Opposition was necessary and AAP would definitely emerge as a strong Opposition party in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. He said, “SAD is going to lose this time due to its own sins and those of  Sukhbir Singh Badal,” he added. — TNS