1st row: Malik Umar Hayat Khan, Maharaja Gulab Singh, Allama Mashriqi 2nd row: Sajid Mahmood |
| Regions with significant populations |
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| • Pakistan • India |
| Languages |
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• Punjabi |
| Religion |
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• Islam, Hinduism Sikhism |
| Related ethnic groups |
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Rajputs; other Indo-Aryans |
Rajputs were a dominant caste in Northwestern India, including the Punjab region, during the medieval period.
According to the 1911 census in British India, the total Rajput population in the Punjab was 1,635,578,[1] of which 1,222,024 (74.5%) were Muslim, 388,744 (24%) were Hindu and (24,810) (1.5%) were 1909. The region straddles the border between India and Pakistan and contains the "Five Rivers" - the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and the Jhelum River - all of which are tributaries of the Indus river. The people of the area are known as Punjabis and their language is also called Punjabi. The main religions of the Punjab region are Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism.
Punjabi Rajputs are spread throughout Punjab region, with Muslim Rajputs being principally in Pakistani Punjab while both Hindu and Sikh Rajputs are mainly found in Indian Punjab. The division of population along religious lines can be traced to the 1947 partition of India.
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The term Raja putra means the son of a Raja or king in Sanskrit.[2] In Punjab, the Rajputs can be loosely divided into five territorial groupings. The first grouping inhabited the territory that extended from the Yamuna valley to the Ghaghar, roughly what is the modern state of Haryana. Almost three quarters of them had converted to Islam, and these were referred to as Ranghar. They belonged mainly to the Chauhan and Tomar sub-divisions, which gave Delhi its most famous Rajput dynasties.
Next came the Rajputs of the south-west of Punjab, roughly the Seraiki speaking region comprising the modern Bahwalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan divisions. These tribes were hardly distinguished from the Jat clans in their neighbourhood, and for the most part belonged to the Bhatti of Jaisalmer and Bikaner, and their Panwar predecessors. The Rajput clans of the south-west had converted to Islam in their entirety.
The third group comprised the Rajput clans of the Salt Range, and the Pothohar Plateau, who were split into numerous clans, either descended from the Yaduvanshi dynasty of Kashmir, the famous Raja Salvahan of Sialkot, or the numerous Panwar tribes occupying the hills along the Jhelum River. Like the Rajputs of the south-west, these tribes had almost entirely converted to Islam. The only exception were some members of the Chib and Bhao tribes, found in Kharian, who had remained Hindu.[3]
The fourth group comprised the Rajputs of the Punjab Hills, the modern territory of Himachal Pradesh, Gurdaspur District and Hoshiarpur District. Some of these tribes are perhaps the most ancient of the Rajput tribes, the Katoch and the Pathania being the most famous, and were almost entirely Hindu, barring some clans of the lower hills, such as the Sulehria and Katil of the Katoch Clan, who had converted to Islam. The principalities of the Punjab Himalayas, were some of the oldest states in India.
The final grouping were the Rajputs of central Punjab, roughly the area of the Sandal Bar, Manjha, Malwa and Doaba. The Bhattis, Kharals and Sials predominated in the Sandal Bar, the Bhatti predominated in the Bhattiana region, the modern districts of Firozpur and Sirsa, and the Ghorewaha, Manj and Naru were found in the Sikh tract, who had held their own against the dominant Jat Sikh of the region.. In Amritsar and Lahore, the Rajputs were mainly Bhatti and Khokhar, with a sprinkling of Panwar and Chauhan. The Rajput clans were predominantly Muslim in this region, except along the borders with Rajasthan, where there were communities of Hindu Rajputs, such as the Shaikhawat and Rathore.[2]
The term Rajput is very rarely used on its own by the tribes that are indigenous to south west Punjab. In the Bahawalpur Division, the distinction between tribes of Jat status and Rajput status is blurred. Tribes such as the Soomra, Samma, Daher, Kharal, Saharan, Marral and Ghallu are sometimes referred to as Jat, and sometimes as Rajput. The only exception are the Saharan, Johiya and Wattu, who in popular estimation are always considered Rajput. Along the left bank of the Indus, from Rahim Yar Khan District to Mianwali District, the term is rarely used by the tribes, with the notable exception of the Tiwana and Noon of the Thal Desert, and the Bhachar of Wan Bachran, in Mianwali. It is only when one reaches the Salt Range, that term Rajput comes into common usage. In the lands across the Indus, in the North West Frontier Province, the Rajput disappears completely, and their place is taken by the Baluch and Pashtun. In the Dera Ghazi Khan District, the only indigenous tribe that calls itself Rajput, are the Jamra, who use the title Jam, indicating Sindhi ancestry. Across the Indus, in Muzafargarh, the Khera Sial, Dhanotar and Panwar are the only tribes that claim Rajput tribes. In Bahawalpur District, the Samma and Soomra are the principal Rajput tribes.[4] The Rajput makes a reappearance in the valleys of the Jhelum and Chenab, where the Chadhar and Sial are both tribes claiming Agnivanshi descent. In the Sandal Bar, the Waseer, Kharal, Wahiniwal, Wattu and Saharan, are all major Rajput tribes, the first two claiming to be Agnivanshi, while the next two claim to be Chandravanshi, claiming a common origin with the Bhatti. But Saharan claim from Lord Rama and become Suryavanshi Rajput and use title Shah, Rana, Chaudhary, Malik, Mahar. The upper part of the Sandal Bar, and the Bhattiore area of Chiniot District was a stronghold of the Bhatti tribe. Further along the Jhelum river valley, the Khokhar and Bhatti founds in great numbers.
Along the valley of the Sutlej river, the Wattu, Johiya, Baghela, Lodhra and Kathia are the predominant tribes. In and around the city of Multan, the Khokhar and Bhatti clans such as the Mitru, Kanju, Bosan and Noon predominate.[4]
The Pothohar Plateau and Salt Range is home to a large number of Rajput clans. The Rajputs are the largest ethnic group in the region, and are often referred to as the Rajah. The principal tribes are the Satti, Bhatti, Panwar, Minhas and Janjua. Many of these larger clans have splintered into numerous septs.[5][6]
In terms of distribution, the Bhatti, and their sub-divisions are the most widespread. Important clans of the Bhatti descent, include Jodhras of Attock District, the Hattar of Chakwal and Jhelum districts, the Gungal of Rawalpindi District and Jhelum districts, the Nagrial and Nagrawal and the Mamyal of Rawalpindi District.
In terms of historical prominence, the Janjua were the historical overlords of the region, until overwhelmed by the Ghakkars. Important Janjua subdivisions include the Dulal, Gaharwal, Dhamial and Ranial. The Minhas are an important clan in the eastern half of the Pothohar Plateau, with their sub-divisions, the Mair of Chakwal,the Hafyal, the Kanyal and Nagyal of the Rawalpindi and Jhelum districts.
The Panwar are after Bhatti, the most numerous clan in this region. The Panwar themselves are found in the Pabbi Hills. Important Panwar clans include the Bangial, Dhudhi, Narma, Sohlan, Hon, Baghial and Bhakral. The Bhakral are, after the Janjua are perhaps the most important Rajput clan in Rawalpindi District. The Katoch, a clan found generally in Jammu and Himachal Pradesh, has two sub-divisions, the Chib of the Jhelum Pabbi and the Ratial of Rawalpindi District.[5]
In additions to these clans, there are also a number of other clans, such as the Alpial, a clan of Manj Rajputs, found in Rawalpindi and Attock districts, the Jalap and Khokhar of Pind Dadan Khan, and Chauhan found throughout the Pothohar Plateau.
Other Rajput clans in the region include the Mathyal, Sulehria, Langrial, Khingar, Sehngral, Ghik, Malal, Bhutial, Jamsral, Sainswal, Bijnial, Ramial, Hayal, Janjil, Tharjial, Khumbal, Bharial, Hafyal,Dogra, Salhal,Mangeal, Johad, Adhial, Kurar, Jhottial, Mair-Minhas, Tuh, Chanial, Bhatti-Mehra, Bhatti-Kanjial,Dogra, Bhatti-Jangal, Bhatti-Badhuer, Bhatti-Shaikh and Toor.
The Rajput of central Punjab historically occupied a region extending from Faisalabad in the west to Patiala in the east. According to the traditions of the various tribes, they are connected with the Rajputs of Rajasthan. Their no historical records giving the account of the migration of the various Rajput tribes into the region. But tradition points the Ghorewaha to be the earliest inhabitants of the region. The Ghorewaha are said to be Kachwaha Rajputs, who emigrated from Rajasthan, during the period of Mohammed Ghori. Their original territory was the Beas Sutlej Doab. Other important tribes of this region are the Manj, Naru, Taoni, and Varya. In the districts of Amritsar and Lahore, the predominant tribes were the Ghumman, while in Sialkot District, the Rajputs of central Punjab met those of the hills. The Ghummans predominated in the plains, while the Sulehria, Minhas and Bhao were found in the hilly part of the district. In the south, the Bhattiana region, covering the modern Firuzpur and Sirsa districts, was home to the Bhatti, and related tribes such as the Dogar, Johiya, Mahaar, Naipal, and Wattu.[7]
The Rajput clans of the what is now Himachal Pradesh, as well as the districts of Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur remained Hindu. The Punjab Hill states were centres of some of the oldest Rajput states in India. The Hindu Rajputs of Gurdaspur and the Jammu region are referred to as the Dogras. Prior to the partition of India, Dogra settlements also extended to Gujrat and Sialkot, where there were settlements of Bajju, Bhao, Chib, Manhas, and Sulehria Rajputs.[8]
The Rajputs of the Jammu border are confined to the hilly areas of Indian Punjab. They are classified on loose and ever shifting system of hypergamous grades. Thus in Jammu region, the Rajput are divided into four grades, with the Rajput of the first grade not giving wives to those clans who are considered not to be of the first grade, and so on. In addition to this division, they are also divided by the traditional division of Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi and Agnivanshi. Here is a list of clans, starting with those deemed as first class:[2]
The First Grade Suryavanshi clans
The First Grade Chandravanshi clans
These clans are equal to each other in superiority. The second class clans are as follows:
Second Grade Suryavanshi Clans
Second Grade Chandravanshi clans
Third Grade Chandravanshi clans
Fourth Grade Chandravanshi Clans
Rajput clans of the Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi sub-divisions intermarry; and Chandravanshi clans intermarry with each other. Each grade takes wives from a grade lower than itself. The only exception are the Chattari Jamwal, who do not take wives from the Manhas, as both clans descend from a common ancestor. While the Rakwal only give their daughters to the Jamwal and Manhas.[9]
The Ambarai, Manhas, Chib, Bhao and Jarral intermarry with each other, and gives wives to the Rajput clans of the First Grade. While the Rakwal, Sulehria, Charak, Baghal, Langeh, Bojwal , Andotra intermarry, and give daughters to the Rajput clans of the first And Second classes, and receive daughters from the Rajput clans of the fourth class. In Gurdaspur District, the Hindu Rajputss are found mainly in the hilly regions, along the border with Jammu and Kashmir. Culturally, they are very close to the Dogras, and like them have a system of hypergamous marriages. The following are the main clans, shown under the two sub-divisions, Chandravanshi and Suryavanshi.
In Gurdaspur, the clans are divided into the kahri, or those who take wives and give wives to a particular clan, and the dohri or those who take wives and exchange wives with each other. The general rule in the community is that a higher clan should not give its daughter in marriage to a lower clan, but are allowed to take wives from the lower clans. Thus, the Tangral can take wives from the Katil, Lalotra and Kohal, and give wives to the Jarral, Sulehria and Indauria, the Kohal take wives from the Katil and Thakkar, and the Sulehria give wives to the Manhas, but take them from the Gahotra, Katil and Lalotra. This system of hypergamous marriage was discarded when the clans of the Jammu hills converted to Islam.[2]
The Hindu Rajput of Hoshiarpur District and Himachal Pradesh are divided into numerous tribes, which are sub-divided into numerous sects. The tribes are split in six status groups : 1) Mian 2) Rajput 3) Thakur 4) Rathi 5) Rana
The following are the Rajput tribes of the first grade: • Pathania • Katoch • Naru • Jaswal • Sibae • Dadwal • Kahluria • Kotlehria • Hinduria • Sirmuria • Mankotia • Mandial . Badwal The Guleria, Sabaia, Dadwal and Jaswal are branches of the Katoch tribe, but now intermarry with each other.[10]
The Punjabi Rajputs has a long martial tradition which has continued into modern times. Punjabi Rajputs, being recognised in history as the warrior aristocracy, prior to this they were designated by the British Empire as a Martial Race and recruited into the Imperial Army. Muslim Rajputs naturally engaged in the Pakistani military in strong numbers, reaching ranks of Generals and the highest grade of Chief of Staff such as 7th Chief of Army Staff General Tikka Khan, Narma, Rajput and the 10th Chief of Army Satff General Asif Nawaz Khan Janjua.
Some of the most respected officers of the Pakistan Army including its first General, PA 1, Muhammed Akbar Khan(Order of the British Empire), PA 2 General Muhammad Iftikhar Khan(designated to become the first C-in-C, but died in an aircrash), PA 12 Brig.General Muhammed Zafar(first Indian to become Commander of Cavalry) and PA 48 General Muhammad Anwar Khan (Pakistan's first E-in-C) all hail from this clan. General Anwar is considered the father of Pakistan's Corps of Engineers, and also served as Chairman OGDC.
Members of Punjabi Rajput tribes have the honour of receiving top military awards both in British India and in Pakistan.
Khudadad Khan (20 October 1888 – 8 March 1971) was the first native Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces. On 31 October 1914, at Hollebeke, Belgium, 26-year old Khan performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War.
Hilal-e-Kashmir is equal to Nishan-e-Haider. Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed received Hilal-e-Kashmir. He fought in the Kashmir sector during the 1948 War and embraced martyrdom.
Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu: نشان حیدر, translated as "Emblem of Haider, where Haider is the epithet of Ali and means Lion", abbreviated as NH), is the highest military award given by Pakistan. It is also known as or Hilal-e-Kashmir. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947. It is awarded to military personnel, regardless of rank, for extraordinary bravery in combat.[11] The award is considered to be the equivalent of the Victoria Cross, the Medal of Honor and the Param Vir Chakra. Its exclusivity may be gauged by the fact that since it was established only 10 awards have been made, along with one equivalent award. To date all awards have been made posthumously. Of the 10 recipients, 9 have been from the Pakistan Army, one has been from the Pakistan Air Force. Five Rajputs was awarded Pakistan's top military honour, the Nishan-E-Haider .
The majority of Punjabi Rajputs use their ancient Royal titles such as Raja, Rana, Rao and Rai. All these titles are originated from the ancient Sanskrit word Rajanya.
Many Punjabi Rajputs were also conferred titles by the Delhi Sultans and the Mughal Emperors such as Malik (Royal, King), Nawab ( Provincial Governor), Sirdar (Chief), Khan, Mian, Mirza (Royal prince), Chaudhry, and Sheikh (elder,king,prince of the tribe).
Most members of the Punjabi Rajput clans use the title 'Raja' as this title was used by most of the Rajput rulers from ancient times.
Rana is a princely title of Royalty. Muslim Rajputs in Pakistan mainly in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Sialkot use the title of Rana, The Hindu Rajputs in Nawanshahr and Balachaur use the title of Rana.
The majority of Raos in Pakistan are Muslim Punwar (Pawar) Rajputs. Raos can be found all across Pakistan and are found in large numbers in the Punjab Province. The Rao sahib of Raipur Rani ( Jagir ) had a recognised title of Rao Sahib.
Rai was a title of honor for certain Rajput rulers. The Ruler of the Princely State of Sangri, in the Panjab Hill States used the title of Rai Sahib. The title today is found mostly in the Pakistani Punjab.
This title was conferred to Muslim Ghumman Rajputs of Punjab, Pakistan.
This title is mainly used by the Sikh Minhas Rajputs. However, lately some Muslim Minhas Rajput clans in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab Sialkot and Chakwal have also started using this title due to various reasons. The Hindu Rajput Jagirdars of Nangla Jagir and Ramgarh Jagir had recognised titles of Sardar Sahib.[12]
Muslim Mair Minhas Rajput use the title of Khan. Raja Bhagir Dev was named Muhammed Mair after conversion to Islam and his descendants as Mair-Minhas Rajputs. Most of Muslim Mair Minhas use the title of Khan.
This title was conferred upon the 'Punjab Hill Chiefs' by the Mughal King, Jhangir and was used by most of the Rajput tribes in the Punjab Hills for many centuries. The elder brother was called Raja, whereas his younger brothers were called Mian. Lately, the Rajputs have decided to use 'Thakur' instead of this Mughal title.
The title Malik (meaning king) is used by a branch of the Jhelum Jodh branch of Janjua. Malik Darwesh Khan and Malik Hast (Asad) were known by these titles. Janjuas of Shadia Dist Mianwali are also referred to as Malik. (They are in dominance in Shadia and have the following sub clans; Mulkai Khel, Pattu Khel, Aziz Khel, Longi, Musi, Shah Mir Khel, Janu Khel, Ahmed Khel, Shah-wali Khel, Mehrwan Khel, Zaid Khel, Malu Khel and Sikandri Janjua.is also used by Khokhars and Khokhran, and refers to chiefs.
Sikh Rajputs have a long-standing tradition in Punjab and in Sikh history. During the Mughal era when many Punjabi families followed the teachings of the Guru and were baptized as Khalsa and joined the Guru's order of followers. Many Punjabi Rajput families also enrolled in the Guru's Army, or Khalsa Panth, and baptized as Khalsa Sikhs.
Baba Nidhan Singh of Hazoor Sahib, Bhai Sangat Singh Minhas, Bhai Bachittar Singh Minhas and many families whose kin are followers of Sikhism today. There are many Sikh Rajputs today with common Rajput family names.
Some Rajput villages in the Punjab region converted, wholly or partially, to Sikhism. The extent of conversion depended on the influence of Sikhism in that region. The majority of these villages are located in the central Punjab districts of Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Faridkot, Moga, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur. Yet, others have migrated from West Punjab districts of Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Montgomery, Lahore etc. after the partition of British India However, there are some Sikh Rajput villages in Ambala and Nalagarh districts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, as well.
There are Sikh Rajputs with from clans such as Minhas, Manhas, Bhatti, Bais, Ghumman, Chauhan, Parmar, Naru Parhar, Pawar, Rathore, Manj, Doad, Saroya, Sahi, Toor, Tiwana, Janjua, Jaswal, Rana,Salaria etc. spread across villages in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The medieval forts of Saroya Sikh Rajput Chiefs in the Punjab villages of Chukhiara, Bhungarni, Dihana and Bohan are evident of their heritage. While others, such as the ancestral fort of Minhas Sikh Rajputs of Daroli Kalan, Adampur Doaba and Heeon fort of Parmaras of Nadalon, Panjoura, Ajnoha were destroyed by Britisher.During later half of 19'th century the entire area came under the British control.
Banda reorganised the Khalsa Army and declared a war against the Mughal administration. From the Doaba region, he got help from Sikh Rajputs. Banda won almost half of the province and he offered Jagirs to his army commanders including the Rajputs, whose heirs are still holding their forts in the villages Chukhiara, Bhungarni, Dihana and Bohan.
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