GAKKAR, a tribe inhabiting portions of the Hazara, Jhelum, and Rawal Pindi districts. They clahn to have been Mahomedans from Seistan, but they really were one of the oldest and most powerful of the Hindu dynasties of the Paujab. In combination with other rajas, they bravely opposed Mahmud on the plains of the Panjab. Their ancient boundaries were the Jhelum on the east, and the Indus on the west. They became Mahomedans shortly after Mahmud's invasions. They were friendly with Humayun and Akbar. They were kept down by the Sikhs, but have been friendly with the British. The Greek invaders found RawaI Pindi district in possession of a Scythic race of Takka in 327 B.C. 1300 years afterwards, the Musahnan conqueror found it inhabited by a fierce non - Aryan race of Gakkar. The Gakkar for a time imperilled the safety of Malimud of Ghazni. In 1008, Ferislita describes them as savages, addicted to polyandry and infanticide. Tho tide of Mahomedan con quest rolled on, but the Gakkars remained in possession of their submontane tract. In 1205 they ravaged the Panjab to the gates of Lahore. In 1206 they stabbed the 3fahomedan sultan in his tent ; and in spite of conversion to Islam by the sword, it was not till 1525 that they made their submission to the emperor Baber, in return for a grant of country. During the next two
centurica they rendered great services to the Mogliul dynasty against the Afghan usurpers, and rose to high influence in the Panjab. Driven from the plains by the Sikhs in 1765 A.D., the Gakkar chiefs maintained their independence in the 3fitrree (Marri) Hills till 1830, when they were crushed after a bloody struggle. In 1849, Rawal Pindi passed, with the rest of the Sikh territories, under British rule, but the Gakkars revolted four years afterwards, and threatened Murree, the summer capital of the Panjab, as lately as 1857. They now number only 10,153 persons, described by the British officers as a fine spirited race, gentlemen in ancestry and bearing, and clinging under all reverses to the traditions of noble blood. The Gakkar are not distinguish able from the Awan in personal appearance, both being very large fine men, but not exceedingly fair, inhabiting as they do a dry, bare, rather low country, hot in summer. At an early period of history they were given to infanticide.—Canipbell, p. 96 ; Ar. TV. F. L pp. 511, 519 ; Imp. Oa:. iv.