The Legacy of the Khatana Tribe
The Khatana tribe has a rich and enduring legacy in the region, with local lineage tracing back to the area of Hillan Kalai. Oral traditions recount that Mukadam Philia, a prominent ancestral figure, had two sons. One of these sons had seven sons of his own, while the other had one. This ancestral division is reflected in the ownership of a summer pasture—locally known as Dhokri—situated in the Lathong catchment area above the village of Solian. This hillock lies nestled at the base of Tatakutti, the highest peak in the Pir Panjal range, which straddles Poonch and Kashmir.
Tradition holds that half of this pastureland belonged to the descendants of the Khatana lineage, while the other half was granted to the Mahir lineage, into which a daughter of the family had married. Out of the seven brothers, four—Rusmat (my grandfather), Nek, Wali Mohad, and Azam—eventually settled in the village of Sheendara.
According to land records from Mohalla Charyan, these four brothers initially owned 32 kanals of land following their migration. Over time, their holdings expanded—though only three of the four brothers contributed to this growth. The fourth brother maintained residence at their winter dwelling, while the others continued the traditional practice of transhumance.
Each summer, the family would migrate to the high-altitude pastureland. I vividly remember the journey: the first day’s stop at Dara, the second at Lathong, the third at Solian, and finally arriving at Dhokri on the fourth day. The summer settlement consisted of houses built in a single straight line—a testament to both unity and resilience of the Khatana clan.