Dhamial Rajputs
The Dhamial Rajputs of the Pothohar Plateau are a branch of the Janjua Rajput clan.
History
The Punjab in the pre-Mughal era was one of much civil wars between many kingdoms and new dynasties began to spread their dominions over other crumbling dynastic houses.
In the early thirteenth century, the Janjua chieftain, Raja Mal Khan rose to prominence. He increased his dominion over Hazara (later renamed Amb through his son Raja Tanoli, Jhelum through his son Raja Jodh, parts of Kashmir through Raja Khakha, Rajghar (later renamed Malot) Chakwal through his eldest Raja Bhir and what is today known as the Kahuta district through Raja Kala Khan. Tarikh-e-Alfi of the Ghorids makes a mention of the rise to power of Raja Mal.
According to Lepel H. Griffin
On the death of their father, they determined to divide the country called, from Raja Mal, the Maloki Dhan between them. Jodh took the Salt Range near about the Makrach, and captured the town of Makshala from a colony of Brahmins (Mohyals)...He changed its name to Makhiala and built a fort there and two tanks for rain water. ... Wir Khan, took the possession of Khura near modern Pind Dadan Khan.[1]
The descendants of Raja Jodh continued to rule this region through various interruptions until the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Raja Bhir meanwhile took over the Malot (Rajghar) state from his father.
It was in this tradition that Raja Bhir's later descendant, Raja Malu Khan, allying his cousin Raja Mubarak Khan who was the descendant of Raja Jodh Khan, gained control of the region of Dhamial and Ranial.
References
- ↑ Griffin, Lepel H. (1910). Chiefs and Families of note in the Punjab 2. Lahore Press. p. 254.
- Baburnama Eng. trans., Annette S Beveridge (London, 1922), ii, p379,80.
- The Gazetteer of the Rawalpindi District (Sang-e-Meel, 2001, Lahore, p105).
- Panjab Castes (Denzil Ibbetson, Delhi, 2002, p132, p149, p154).