Majoka Or Manjotha (Ur:مجوکہ) is the name of a tribe originating from the Indian Subcontinent. in the Rajasthan, India and Punjab, Pakistan. The main concentration of the tribe is in the village of Haveli Majoka on the river Jehlum in Pakistan and Khatlabana, District Sri Ganganagar Rajasthan, India. The 'Majoka' tribe is considered to have originated in Rajputana and then moved to the Sindh province of Pakistan, near the towns of Larkana and Ratodero. From where they traveled north along the rivers to the present location.
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According to the traditions of the Majoka tribe, their roots can be followed back to a certain "Qutb Shah Awan" who is considered the ancestor of the famous Awan tribe which claims decent from the family of the Prophet Muhammad. Qutub Shah Awan is said to have married a Khokhar-Rajput princess and begot a son named "Muazam". His offspring were named "Muazam kay" (those of Muazam) accordingly. The name "Muazam" was mis-pronounced among the rajputs as "Muajam" so that his children were called "Muajam kay". Over the time this evolved to "Maujju Kay" and later to "Majoka".
Some of the descendants of Muazam left the Rajputana area for unknown reasons and moved westwards to the banks of the river Sindh. From there they turned north along the eastern banks of this river up to the area of Panjnad. Leaving Sindh, they moved further north until they reached the present area of residence on the western bank of the river Jehlum. It is said that this settlement happened around 400 years ago.
At that time, it is claimed, this area was under the sway of the Baluch tribesmen. The local Baluch chief resided at the town of 'Khawaja AbrooN' (خواجہ آبرءوں). He is said to have had a castle and an elephant. The chief asked the Majokas to come to his town and settle there under his rule. However, the Majoka tribe chose to remain at their place. Upon this the Baluch chief decided to attack them with his army of locals.
A fight ensued in which one Baluch was killed. The place at which the Baluch fell was called "Killi paT" (کلی پٹ) and considered the southern limit of the area of the Majoka tribe. This place is still known. The Majokas were led in the fight by a "Pir" (holy person) from the tribe of "Kanju", who are also settled in this area.
During the Sikh rule in Punjab, an internal fight broke out among the Majokas. Two chiefs, Fateh Muhammad and Ghazi from the Sub-division of Tajay (see below) collaborated with the governmental administrator of the area named "Mahram Bhatti" and expelled an opponent Ahmad son of Khan and his family. After some time, Ahmad was able to win some Majokas to his side. A first attempt at the life of Mahram Bhati with the help of a barber failed, but the second one was successful during which a fight took place and the Bhatti fell in a dried well. Ahmad returned to the village and gained power after the death of Fateh Muhammad and Ghazi, becoming the chief of Majokas.
After the conquest of Punjab by the British, land was demarked. For this purpose Ahmad son of Khan, then the chief of the tribe, went with the British officials. He showed them the following limits:
From Killi Pat to JahaniaN Shah in south. From JahaniaN Shah to Nihang the eastern boundary. From Nihang to Thathi Bakh Shah the northern and from there to Killi Pat the western limits.
It is said that Ahmad took bribe from a woman named Bhag Bhai to avoid her area to be included in Majoka territory. She is said to have presented him a jar of Milk, which was full of money and some milk at the top so the British would not see it. Ahmad felt the weight of the jar and gave in to her request. Similarly he is said to have given up another chunk of land for personal gains.
After the successful fight against the baluch, the Majoka tribe was divided into six families, each was alloted a portion of the land for settlement. These families were also encouraged to invite other Majokas, who had not yet joined this group at that time, to increase in number and gain power. The sub-divisions and their sub-families are as follows:
| Subdivision | Families |
|---|---|
| Tajay Kay تاجے کے | Lal لعل, Khuda Yar خدا یار, Khizr خضر, Yar یار, Ghazi غازی, Vero (1) ویرو |
| Nibal Kay نبال کے | Mohammad Yar محمد یار, Sher شیر, Gamay گامے, Khan خان, Barkhurdar برخردار, Haider حیدر |
| Umrany عمرانے | Umar عمر, Dilawar دلاور, Kheway کھیوے, Vero (2) ویرو |
| Ghuswal گھسوال | Khizar خضر, Jamal جمال, Sahib Khan صاحب خان |
| Rapokay رپوکے | Massan مسن, Lal لعل, Musa موسی, Sohara سوہارا, PahaRi پہاڑی |
| Ikial اکیال | Noor نور, Rangha رانجھا ,Kamal کمال, Massu مسو, Sultan سلطان, Hayat حیات, Budhay بڈھے, Rohalay روہیلے |
| Langri لانگری | Sultan سلطان, Langr لنگر, Samand سمند, Bakhay بکھے |
From among these families the Vero (both factions), Haider, PahaRi, Rohalay are considered to have been invited to join them. The whole subdivision of Langri is said to have been originally non-Majoka which was assimilated into the Majokas with time.
The Gazetteer of the Jhang District mentions Majoka as a village in 1883.[1]
HA Rose says in 1919 that Majoka are an agricultural clan present in the Shahpur area.[2]
JM Wikeley counts Majoka in tehsil Shahpur in 1968.[3]
G Tucker mentions a Majoka in Dera Ismael Khan district of the NWF Province of Pakistan in 1879.[4] This might be some offshoot of the same tribe.
The Majokas are now spread in many countries around the globe, including, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Middle East, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UK, USA to mention a few.