Aulakh

Aulakh
Jat Clan
Location Punjab, India and Punjab, Pakistan
Language Punjabi, Urdu, Seraiki
Religion Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism

Aulakh (Hindi: औलख) (Urdu: اولکھ), also known as Ola (ओला) or Aula (औला) is a clan from the Jat people found in Pakistan Punjab, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Overview

H.A. Rose wrote in the volume II of his book [1] on Page 25

“ Aulakh, Aurak, a Jat tribe, whose headquarter appear to be in the Amritsar district, where they own a barah of, originally, 12 villages, but they found in the northern Malwa, as well as in Manjha. They are said to be of solar descent, and their ancestor lived in Manjha. But another story make their ancestor Lui Lak, and a Lunar Rajput. They are related to Sekho and Deo tribes with whom they will not intermarry.

In Amritsar, they give the following pedigree:- Ram Chandar- Kasab- Dhaul- Raghpat- Ude Rup- Pura- Majang- Markhanb- Goe- Mandal- Dhanich- Aulakh

This Would make them the Akin to Punnun. they are also found a Jat(Agricultural) tribe west of Ravi as far as Leiah. In Montgomery they are both Hindu and Muhammadan. The Muhammadan Aulakh of Leiah have a curious tale. Complaint was made to Humayun that Pir Muhmmad Rajan drank bhang, in defiance of the Quranic prohibition. So the emperor summoned the saint to Delhi and made him walk along a narrow path beset with poisoned swords, while a ferocious elephant Pursued him. But as he walked the steel turned to water and one of his disciples killed the elephant with a single bow of his staff. Among the courtiers was Raja Aulakh, a Punwar Rajput, who at once embraced Islam. The saint returented to Rajanpur Aulakh followed him, conquered the country from the Baluu Tribe and give it to the Pirs, on whom the emperor also conferred it in jagir, though the Aulakh continued to administer it until about 175 years ago, when their power declined.

”

Origin

Aulakhs claim Nagavanshi or Chandravanshi descent. According to Hindu mythology, Ayu was a Chandravansi ruler. Nine generations after him was born Alarva. Alarva had two sons namely Kaiyan and Nagas. Descendants of Nagas were called Nagavanshis. The Nagavansh had eight branches:

  1. Vasati or Vais
  2. Taxak or Takshak
  3. Aulakh
  4. Kalkal
  5. Kala, Kali, Dhaman, Kalkhande
  6. Meetha
  7. Bharshiv
  8. Bharhaich.

In Hindu mythology, one descendant of the Nagavanshi was Uluka who ruled in state of Uluka in the Dwapar Yuga. He was son of Kitava. He was king of a country and people of the same name. He was an ally of the Kauravas, and acted as their envoy to the Pandavas. The arrival of King Uluka into the Sabha ("Assembly") of Yudhishtra, has been mentioned in the Sabhaparva of the Mahabharata. The inhabitants of Uluka state might have been known as Aulakh or Aula or Ola.

History

The British rulers in colonial India considered Aulakhs good soldiers. In 1922 Sepoy Jassa Singh Aulakh Was Shot Dead By Henry Templar A British Officer for marrying one his sisters. Jassa Singh's wife Margaret later committed suicide. There were many folk songs devoted to these lovers during the 1930s and 1950-40s.

Geographic distribution

The clan is spread all over Northern India, and is found in many villages of AMRITSAR District of PUNJAB. Three well-known Aulakh villages SOHAL THATHI , SOHAL are located in the Majha district outside of Taran Tarn. Aulakh mostly resides in Indian Punjab. After the Partition of India most of Aulakh Muslims among those 12 villages migrated to Pakistan, and settled in the central Punjab specially in Sheikhupura and villages near the town Safdarabad. They can also be found in the villages of Lahore, Shadipura (Lahore), Burewala (Gaggo), Sargodha, Gujranwala, Layyah, Sahiwal and Rajanpur.

Religion

In Pakistan Punjab they are mostly muslim. In Punjab state, they are mostly Sikhs. In Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Aulakhs are mostly Hindus. Sikhs mostly spell the name as Aulakh. Hindu Jats of this gotra spell their name as Ola or Aula mostly in Rajasthan.

Notable Aulakhs

S.HARBANS SINGH SOHAL,CHAIRMAN,CO-OPERATIVE BANKS,AMRITSAR

References

  1. ↑ H. A. Rose. "A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West frontier province.". Open Library. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  2. ↑ Roopinder Singh (2002). Arjan Singh: Marshal of The Indian Air Force. Rupa & Co. ISBN 8171679382.
  3. ↑ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Opinions
  4. ↑ Aulakh Family Network
  5. ↑ Aulakh Family Network
  6. ↑ Aulakh Family Network

See also