Sodhi

Sodhi (Punjabi: ਸੋਢੀ) is a Khatri clan from the Punjab region.^[1]^[2]^[3] Seven of the Sikh Gurus, from Guru Ram Das to Guru Gobind Singh were of Sodhi surname.^[1]^[4]^{[better source needed]}

Mythological origin

In the Bachittar Natak Guru Gobind Singh wrote the origin of Sodhi clan and described them as linear descendants of Lava, one of the twin sons of Sita and Rama. According to the 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 and Jammu & Kashmir^[3]^{[need quotation to verify]}

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 jaigirs was ₹500,000 a year. Ranjit Singh lavishly patronised a descendant of Dhir Mahal, Sodhi Sadhu Singh, with a gift of several villages.^[5] 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.^[6]^[7]

The Sodhis of Anandpur Sahib are descendants of Sodhi Suraj Mal,^{[citation needed]} one of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji's sons and brother of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The Sodhis of Anandpur held revenue free lands in Anandpur Sahib and various other parts of Punjab.^[8] They were the ruling family of Anandpur Sahib.^[9]

Notable People

Entertainment

Shruti Sodhi, Indian actress
Shellee Sodhi, Indian poet, film lyricist and writer.

Politics

Daya Singh Sodhi, Indian politician from BJP
Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, International shooter and politician

Sports

Balbir Singh Sodhi, murder victim of 9/11 attack in USA
Harvinder Sodhi, Indian first-class cricketer
Ish Sodhi, New Zealand-based international cricketer
Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, International shooter and politician
Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Ex International Indian cricketer And Captain of Indian under 16 World Cup winning team in 1998.
Ronjan Sodhi international shooter athlete, Asian Games Gold Medalist in double-trap
Surinder Singh Sodhi, Captain of Indian Hockey team who won the gold medal in 1980 Olympics .

Religion

Guru Ram Das, fourth Sikh Guru and founder of Ramdaspur.
Guru Arjan Dev, fifth Sikh Guru and creator of Adi Granth.
Guru Hargobind, sixth Sikh Guru and first to militarise Sikh.
Guru Har Rai, seventh Sikh Guru and the Guru who popularised katha of Gurbani (commentary).
Guru Har Krishan, the eighth and youngest Guru who helped cure people infected with diseases.
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru who was executed by Aurangzeb for standing up for the rights of Hindus.
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, who created the Khalsa, and passed the Guruship to the eternal Guru Granth Sahib.
Vadbhag Singh Sodhi, a Sikh military general and priest.

Fictional People

Roshan Singh Sodhi, fictional character in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Colonel Balbir Singh Sodhi, fictional character in Kohram played by Amitabh Bacchan
Ajeet Sodhi as politician, fictional character in Tabbar played by Ranvir Shorey

References

^ ^a ^b Singh, Prithvi Pal (2006). The history of Sikh Gurus. New Delhi: Lotus Press. pp. 52, 54. ISBN 81-8382-075-1.
^ "Sikism - Guru Ram Das". Britannica. 13 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b Harbans Singh, ed. (1992). The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism: S-Z. Punjabi University. p. 225. ISBN 978-81-7380-530-1.
^ W. H. McLeod (2009). The A to Z of Sikhism. Scarecrow Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-8108-6828-1.
^ Grewal, J. S. (1998). The Sikhs of the Punjab (Revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 115. ISBN 0-521-63764-3.
^ "Original copy of Guru Granth Sahib at Kartarpur". The Hindu. 30 August 2004. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
^ Daljit Singh. "Authenticity Of The Kartarpuri Bir (Updated)". Sikh Philosophy Network. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
^ Massy, Charles Francis (1890). Chiefs and Families of Note in the Delhi, Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat Divisions of the Panjab. Printed at the Pioneer Press.
^ Singh, Pashaura; Fenech, Louis E. (March 2014). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.

[:0-1] Singh, Prithvi Pal (2006). The history of Sikh Gurus. New Delhi: Lotus Press. pp. 52, 54. ISBN 81-8382-075-1.

[2] "Sikism - Guru Ram Das". Britannica. 13 May 2021.

[eos-3] Harbans Singh, ed. (1992). The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism: S-Z. Punjabi University. p. 225. ISBN 978-81-7380-530-1.

[4] W. H. McLeod (2009). The A to Z of Sikhism. Scarecrow Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-8108-6828-1.

[5] Grewal, J. S. (1998). The Sikhs of the Punjab (Revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 115. ISBN 0-521-63764-3.

[6] "Original copy of Guru Granth Sahib at Kartarpur". The Hindu. 30 August 2004. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2017.

[7] Daljit Singh. "Authenticity Of The Kartarpuri Bir (Updated)". Sikh Philosophy Network. Retrieved 22 August 2017.

[8] Massy, Charles Francis (1890). Chiefs and Families of Note in the Delhi, Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat Divisions of the Panjab. Printed at the Pioneer Press.

[9] Singh, Pashaura; Fenech, Louis E. (March 2014). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.

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