The origins of tribes across Pakistan and Hindustan

[Joe Shearer]

@Joe Shearer Are there any original Kshatriya caste left that can trace their lineage to 500 BC or so? I am not talking of Rajputs,Jatts,Gujjars who are of Indo-Scythian, Pahlava Indo-Parthian, and Huna in origin (at least in part)?

are there any original Kshtariya clan still left in UP,Bihar from the Mahajanapda era?

Not one that can be authenticated. Genealogies exist, that claim that various Rajput clans are of Paurava/Kaurava descent. The most polite way to react is to ignore these claims.

 

[Juggernaut_Flat_Plane_V8]

Not one that can be authenticated. Genealogies exist, that claim that various Rajput clans are of Paurava/Kaurava descent. The most polite way to react is to ignore these claims.

So it seems the most sensible way to see Hindu society as Brahmins and Non-Brahmins along with the large mysterious shadow of Rajputs looming in the background? and various groups being given arbitrary designations (Kshatriya,Martial Race) as per the designs and convenience of the ruling elite?

and may be even Pakistani PDF ers may find this of interest too:

The White Hun invasions of India seems to have had much more catastrophic effect than any subsequent Islamic Turkic/Timurid/Pashtun invasion.....There remains no other proper Kshatriya caste from Attock to Cuttack who can trace their history reliably beyond 5th century invasions...and they also seem agglomerate under the catch-all phrase of Rajputs......I think the last of Indo-european nomads just poured into the subcontinent as Central Asia became the territory of the Turkics


This is an interesting line from a fun website called the Listverse that I read earlier this year. It seems even in 21st century, Westerners have more of an interest in reconstructing authentic Indian history than Indian themselves

"
In the mid-fifth century, Central Asian warriors known as the “White Huns” descended upon the Indian subcontinent. Until the arrival of Muslim conquerors in the 12th century, these Huns became the ruling class of Pakistan and Northern India. The foreign conquerors were absorbed into Hindu culture. However, the Hun invasions broke the local chain of historical tradition. Some sources go so far as to say, “No authentic family or class traditions go back beyond the Huns.”

https://listverse.com/2017/02/27/10-incredible-mysteries-of-the-huns/


by the way What about the Khatris? Can they be counted as pre-Huna Kshatriyas ? or they are another group of pretenders?

 

[Proudpakistaniguy]

In general principle, I agree with you, but I would still be ginger about using the word as a descriptor. It might be taken as an insult, by those who denigrate Dalits. If you called me Dalit, I wouldn't care; I am a sat-shudra according to Baudhayan in any case.

I really wish you hadn't used that particular put-down.

My frankness is due to my sense that I am discussing this with a peer, with an educated and sensitive person; I would not have said so to a green bhakt.

In a more positive vein. The marked portion of your reply made me burst out laughing, because that is the precise definition of caste; anyone who behaves like a Brahmin, including one who was born to Dalit parents, is a Brahmin; anyone who was born to Brahmin parents and behaves like something else (there is no caste known as Dalit) is that something else. For something else, you can substitute the rather formal and unrealistic Kshatriya or Vaisya.

Bang on.

You read this bold part. Is not this ok to insult those who are insulting or degrading others? They should have taste of their own medicine . I am not someone who is obsessed with caste/clan/tribe which are least important or relevant to me in modern world but i love to read about history and past incidents/kingdoms of our region just to satisfy my own curiosity etc

 

[Joe Shearer]

You read this bold part. Is not this ok to insult those who are insulting or degrading others? They should have taste of their own medicine . I am not someone who is obsessed with caste/clan/tribe which are least important or relevant to me in modern world but i love to read about history and past incidents/kingdoms of our region just to satisfy my own curiosity etc

I have to concede your point reluctantly. You are right.

@Juggernaut_is_here

The question of the Khatri puzzles me. I just don't know what to make of them. Need to study this longer.

 

[Proudpakistaniguy]

So it seems the most sensible way to see Hindu society as Brahmins and Non-Brahmins along with the large mysterious shadow of Rajputs looming in the background? and various groups being given arbitrary designations (Kshatriya,Martial Race) as per the designs and convenience of the ruling elite?

and may be even Pakistani PDF ers may find this of interest too:

The White Hun invasions of India seems to have had much more catastrophic effect than any subsequent Islamic Turkic/Timurid/Pashtun invasion.....There remains no other proper Kshatriya caste from Attock to Cuttack who can trace their history reliably beyond 5th century invasions...and they also seem agglomerate under the catch-all phrase of Rajputs......I think the last of Indo-european nomads just poured into the subcontinent as Central Asia became the territory of the Turkics


This is an interesting line from a fun website called the Listverse that I read earlier this year. It seems even in 21st century, Westerners have more of an interest in reconstructing authentic Indian history than Indian themselves

"
In the mid-fifth century, Central Asian warriors known as the “White Huns” descended upon the Indian subcontinent. Until the arrival of Muslim conquerors in the 12th century, these Huns became the ruling class of Pakistan and Northern India. The foreign conquerors were absorbed into Hindu culture. However, the Hun invasions broke the local chain of historical tradition. Some sources go so far as to say, “No authentic family or class traditions go back beyond the Huns.”

https://listverse.com/2017/02/27/10-incredible-mysteries-of-the-huns/


by the way What about the Khatris? Can they be counted as pre-Huna Kshatriyas ? or they are another group of pretenders?

I don't know how much truth in it but read this perspective

Rajputs, Jats, Gujars, and other tribes/sub-branches of the region are descended from a blend of Central Asian tribes known as Scythians (Sakas), Hephthalites (Hunas), and others mixed with the natives. The Hindu mythological claims of their origin is nothing more than myths. These Central Asian tribes were originally mostly worshippers of the sun, fire, etc. and once they migrated to Indus Valley later many converted to Buddhism . It was much later on that some converted to Shaivism, Sauraism, etc. (or were absorbed into Brahmanism)... followed by most converting to Islam... followed by some converting to Sikhism.


Before the advent of Islam, but after the Aryan migrations, several invasions and mass migrations of the Central Asian tribes named as the Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, Huns and Gujjars took place in the Punjab (and other parts of Pakistan). The last two tribes i.e. the Huns (White Huns/ Epthalites) and Gujjars arrived in the 5th century AD when Hinduism had revived under the Gupta Empire but had not fully succeeded in crushing the influence of Buddhism. As the Gupta Empire collapsed under the impact of Hun invasions, it caused deep consternation among Brahmins in view of their failure to eliminate Buddhism while the Gupta power supporting them in this task had disappeared. Therefore, they began to make overtures to the new arrivals who were valiant, vigorous and warlike. They were offered the rank of Kshatryas in the Hindu fold, a position only next to that of the Brahmins and confers the responsiblity of rulership.

In the course of time the leading groups of Huns were absorbed in the Hindu fold as Kshatryas while Jats, who were the descendants of the remaining groups of Huns, occupied a lower strata of society. But the present day Jats and Rajputs also include the descendants of the previous invaders..... the Sakas and the Kushans and even of earlier races. Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, White Huns, and Gujjars were ethnically Iranian. In fact, Huns (White Huns/Hepthalites) are also called Iranian Huns to differentiate them from the other Mongoloid Huns who invaded Europe. The word Gujjar is derived from Khazar and Jat from Gatae who inhabited around the Caspian Sea and migrated towards northwest South Asia.

Todd assigns Scythian origin to the Rajputs. Scythians came to be known as Sakas in South Asia, and were absorbed in the Hindu fold as Kshatriyas. Sakas, Yavannas (Greco-Bactrians), Pallavas (Parthians) ultimately became Kshatriyas. The Huns are known to have been regarded as one of the 36 clans of Rajputs. However, except for the Huns, all others had mostly adopted Buddhism mixed with their religions (like Saka sun-worship).

Almost 60% of the population of the Punjab comprises of Rajputs and Jats and the various branches of their race such as Awans, Khokhars, Ghakkars, Khattars, Janjuas, Arains, Gujjars, etc. though the Awans, Khokhars and Khattars claim common ancestry from Qutb Shah who is said to have come from Ghazni with Mahmud Ghaznavi, scholars hold the view that they were most probably converted by Qutb Shah during Mahmud Ghaznavi's reign and were not his descendents. This tendancy of claiming foreign origin by some of the local tribes is not uncommon. Even admittedly Rajput tribes of famous ancestry such as the Khokhar, have begun to follow the example of claiming connection with the Mughal conquerors of India or the Qureshi cousins of the Prophet.

A branch of the Wattu Rajputs of the Sutlej by an affection of peculiar sanctity, have in the course of a few generations become Bodeas and now deny their Rajput and claim Qureshi origin. There is a Kharral family lately settled in Bahawalpur who have begun to affect peculiar holiness and to marry only with each other and their next step will certainly be to claim Arab descent.

However, a significant number of Punjabi tribes are indeed descended from Afghan, Turkic, Arab, Mughal and Iranian Muslim invaders/migrants. Even those who are of local origins but claim foreign Muslim ancestory, might have partial ancestory derived from them. But all in all, the foreign Muslim ancestory element among Punjabis does not exceed more than 20% of their population.

According to Thomson, Awans are a Jat race and were converted to Islam by Mahmud Ghaznavi. In several districts of the Punjab they are registered as Jats. Mr. Thomson in his Jehlum Settlement report adduces many strong reasons in support of his conclusion that the Awans are a Jat race who came from passes west of D.I.Khan. Griffin also agrees to the local Muslim origin of Awans while Cunningham holds that Janjuas and Awans are descended from Anu and calls them Anwan. Another scholar Wilson is of the view that Awans are of indigenous Hindu/Buddhist/Pagan/Animist origin. In the genealogical tree of the Nawabs of Kalabagh, who are regarded heads of the Awans, there are found several native names such as Rai, Harkaran, etc.

As regards Gujjars, the well known scholar Cunningham thinks that they are descended from Scythian (Saka) and Yue-Chi (Kushan) tribes who invaded Pakistan in the first century BC and in the first century AD respectively. Other scholars believe that they are descended from a Central Asian Turkic people called Kazars. Since the tribe migrated from Caspian Sea which is called Bahr-e-Khizar it was named Khizar, Guzar, Gurjar, Gurjara or Gujjar. The name Hazara was given to the district by these Guzara tribes. The name Gujjar, according to another version, is derived from the words 'Gau' and 'Char' meaning cattle grazers.

Though Arains claim Iranian descent, they too are generally considered of Rajput origin, but Rajputs having Scythian-Kushan-Hun origins are indeed related to Iranians. According to the Punjab Gazetteer, the Arains of sahiwal District themselves pointed out that they are Surajbansi Rajputs originally settled around Delhi. Arains of Ghaggar Valley say that they were Rajputs living on the Panjnad near Multan. Mr. Pursr writes that they are usually supposed to be Muslim Kambohs. the Jullander Arains themselves say that they are descended from Rai Chajju of Ujjain. Kambohs claim descent from Raja Keran who was related to him.

Similarly, Ranghars and Meos are described to be of Rajput/Jat origin who were converted to Islam during the time of Qutbuddin Aibak. Kahutas are a mixed Mughal and Rajput tribe. Khattars are related to Awans and Jats.

Khokhars are sometimes returned as Jats and sometimes as Rajputs. Col. Davis notes that many of the social customs of the Khokhars of Shahpur denote Hindu origin. Eastern Punjab Khokhars themselves claim Jat-Rajput origin. Only some of the West Punjab Khokhars claim Arab origin.

Gen. Cunningham identifies the Ghakkars with Gangaridae of Dionysius and holds them to be descendents of Yueti or Tokhari Scythians (sakas).

In Pakistan, Rajput and Jat tribes are so mixed up that it is difficult to distinguish one from the other at many places and in several cases. Some of the Rajput tribes are probably of Jat origin and vice versa. In southwest Punjab the name Jat includes a most miscellaneous congries of tribes of all sorts. Its significance tends to be occupational: to denote a body of cultivators or agriculturists. Even tribes which bear well-known Rajput names are often classified as Jats in the Punjab. Anyway, the origin of both is the same as stated earlier.

Gen. Cunningham and Maj. Todd agree in considering the Jats of Indo-Scythian stock. Maj. Todd classifies Jats as one of the great Rajput tribes. They belong to one and thesame stock.... they have been, for many centuries, so blended and so intermingled into one people that it is practically impossible to distinguish them as separate wholes. At present distinction is social rather ethnic. The same tribe Rajput in one district and Jat in another according to the position in local tribes... During census many of the Jats entered, as third heading, the name of the Rajput tribe from which they claim to have sprung.

The Jats in ancient times inhabited the whole valley of the Indus down to Sind.... They now form a most numerous as well as the most important section of the agricultural population of Punjab.

Beyond the Punjab, Jats are chiefly found in Sind where they form mass of the population.

The main (Muslim) Rajput tribes of the Punjab are: Bhatti, Punwar, Chauhan, Minhas, Tiwana, Noon, Chib, Gheba, Jodhra, Janjua, Sial and Wattu etc. While the important (Muslim) Jat tribes are: Bajwa, Chatta, Cheema, Randhawa, Ghammon, Buta, Kahlon, Gil, Sehota, Taror, Waraich, Summa, Wahla, Bhutta, Malhi, Sukhera, Alpials, Dahas, Langah, Ranghar, Meo, Awan, Khokhar, Ghakkar, etc. But some of these Rajput tribes are classified are Jats and vice versa.

Punjab has had its periods of prosperity and poverty in a regular cycle. Before the arrival of Muslims, Punjab along with the other regions/provinces of present day Pakistan was leading a separate existance from that of India, and kingdoms based in its territories or in the NWFP often ruled over most of northern India. Kushan, Saka, Bactrian and Hun Kingdoms with their capitals at Peshawar, Taxila and Sialkot respectively, ruled over large parts of northern India for centuries.

 

[Juggernaut_Flat_Plane_V8]

@Proudpakistaniguy Brilliant write up..confirms What I suspected

20% of the Paternal genes in Punjab descend from Islamic invasions
may be around 10-20% from the Scythian,Kushana,Huna,Parthian invasions

and around 16% from the original Aryan invasion

-------The mix of Central Asian genes in Indo-Aryan Pak Punjab would be around 46-56%----------------------


while regarding India upper caste Hindu in North-West

10% from Scythian,Kushana,Huna,Parthian invasion
16% from original Aryan invasion
----The Mix of Central Asian genes in North Western Republic of India would be around 26%---------------------


This for you as well as @Joe Shearer as to how one tribe pushes the other out of central Asia and all of them follow like a train to the subcontinent

 

[Joe Shearer]

I don't know how much truth in it but read this perspective

Rajputs, Jats, Gujars, and other tribes/sub-branches of the region are descended from a blend of Central Asian tribes known as Scythians (Sakas), Hephthalites (Hunas), and others mixed with the natives. The Hindu mythological claims of their origin is nothing more than myths. These Central Asian tribes were originally mostly worshippers of the sun, fire, etc. and once they migrated to Indus Valley later many converted to Buddhism . It was much later on that some converted to Shaivism, Sauraism, etc. (or were absorbed into Brahmanism)... followed by most converting to Islam... followed by some converting to Sikhism.


Before the advent of Islam, but after the Aryan migrations, several invasions and mass migrations of the Central Asian tribes named as the Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, Huns and Gujjars took place in the Punjab (and other parts of Pakistan). The last two tribes i.e. the Huns (White Huns/ Epthalites) and Gujjars arrived in the 5th century AD when Hinduism had revived under the Gupta Empire but had not fully succeeded in crushing the influence of Buddhism. As the Gupta Empire collapsed under the impact of Hun invasions, it caused deep consternation among Brahmins in view of their failure to eliminate Buddhism while the Gupta power supporting them in this task had disappeared. Therefore, they began to make overtures to the new arrivals who were valiant, vigorous and warlike. They were offered the rank of Kshatryas in the Hindu fold, a position only next to that of the Brahmins and confers the responsiblity of rulership.

In the course of time the leading groups of Huns were absorbed in the Hindu fold as Kshatryas while Jats, who were the descendants of the remaining groups of Huns, occupied a lower strata of society. But the present day Jats and Rajputs also include the descendants of the previous invaders..... the Sakas and the Kushans and even of earlier races. Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, White Huns, and Gujjars were ethnically Iranian. In fact, Huns (White Huns/Hepthalites) are also called Iranian Huns to differentiate them from the other Mongoloid Huns who invaded Europe. The word Gujjar is derived from Khazar and Jat from Gatae who inhabited around the Caspian Sea and migrated towards northwest South Asia.

Todd assigns Scythian origin to the Rajputs. Scythians came to be known as Sakas in South Asia, and were absorbed in the Hindu fold as Kshatriyas. Sakas, Yavannas (Greco-Bactrians), Pallavas (Parthians) ultimately became Kshatriyas. The Huns are known to have been regarded as one of the 36 clans of Rajputs. However, except for the Huns, all others had mostly adopted Buddhism mixed with their religions (like Saka sun-worship).

Almost 60% of the population of the Punjab comprises of Rajputs and Jats and the various branches of their race such as Awans, Khokhars, Ghakkars, Khattars, Janjuas, Arains, Gujjars, etc. though the Awans, Khokhars and Khattars claim common ancestry from Qutb Shah who is said to have come from Ghazni with Mahmud Ghaznavi, scholars hold the view that they were most probably converted by Qutb Shah during Mahmud Ghaznavi's reign and were not his descendents. This tendancy of claiming foreign origin by some of the local tribes is not uncommon. Even admittedly Rajput tribes of famous ancestry such as the Khokhar, have begun to follow the example of claiming connection with the Mughal conquerors of India or the Qureshi cousins of the Prophet.

A branch of the Wattu Rajputs of the Sutlej by an affection of peculiar sanctity, have in the course of a few generations become Bodeas and now deny their Rajput and claim Qureshi origin. There is a Kharral family lately settled in Bahawalpur who have begun to affect peculiar holiness and to marry only with each other and their next step will certainly be to claim Arab descent.

However, a significant number of Punjabi tribes are indeed descended from Afghan, Turkic, Arab, Mughal and Iranian Muslim invaders/migrants. Even those who are of local origins but claim foreign Muslim ancestory, might have partial ancestory derived from them. But all in all, the foreign Muslim ancestory element among Punjabis does not exceed more than 20% of their population.

According to Thomson, Awans are a Jat race and were converted to Islam by Mahmud Ghaznavi. In several districts of the Punjab they are registered as Jats. Mr. Thomson in his Jehlum Settlement report adduces many strong reasons in support of his conclusion that the Awans are a Jat race who came from passes west of D.I.Khan. Griffin also agrees to the local Muslim origin of Awans while Cunningham holds that Janjuas and Awans are descended from Anu and calls them Anwan. Another scholar Wilson is of the view that Awans are of indigenous Hindu/Buddhist/Pagan/Animist origin. In the genealogical tree of the Nawabs of Kalabagh, who are regarded heads of the Awans, there are found several native names such as Rai, Harkaran, etc.

As regards Gujjars, the well known scholar Cunningham thinks that they are descended from Scythian (Saka) and Yue-Chi (Kushan) tribes who invaded Pakistan in the first century BC and in the first century AD respectively. Other scholars believe that they are descended from a Central Asian Turkic people called Kazars. Since the tribe migrated from Caspian Sea which is called Bahr-e-Khizar it was named Khizar, Guzar, Gurjar, Gurjara or Gujjar. The name Hazara was given to the district by these Guzara tribes. The name Gujjar, according to another version, is derived from the words 'Gau' and 'Char' meaning cattle grazers.

Though Arains claim Iranian descent, they too are generally considered of Rajput origin, but Rajputs having Scythian-Kushan-Hun origins are indeed related to Iranians. According to the Punjab Gazetteer, the Arains of sahiwal District themselves pointed out that they are Surajbansi Rajputs originally settled around Delhi. Arains of Ghaggar Valley say that they were Rajputs living on the Panjnad near Multan. Mr. Pursr writes that they are usually supposed to be Muslim Kambohs. the Jullander Arains themselves say that they are descended from Rai Chajju of Ujjain. Kambohs claim descent from Raja Keran who was related to him.

Similarly, Ranghars and Meos are described to be of Rajput/Jat origin who were converted to Islam during the time of Qutbuddin Aibak. Kahutas are a mixed Mughal and Rajput tribe. Khattars are related to Awans and Jats.

Khokhars are sometimes returned as Jats and sometimes as Rajputs. Col. Davis notes that many of the social customs of the Khokhars of Shahpur denote Hindu origin. Eastern Punjab Khokhars themselves claim Jat-Rajput origin. Only some of the West Punjab Khokhars claim Arab origin.

Gen. Cunningham identifies the Ghakkars with Gangaridae of Dionysius and holds them to be descendents of Yueti or Tokhari Scythians (sakas).

In Pakistan, Rajput and Jat tribes are so mixed up that it is difficult to distinguish one from the other at many places and in several cases. Some of the Rajput tribes are probably of Jat origin and vice versa. In southwest Punjab the name Jat includes a most miscellaneous congries of tribes of all sorts. Its significance tends to be occupational: to denote a body of cultivators or agriculturists. Even tribes which bear well-known Rajput names are often classified as Jats in the Punjab. Anyway, the origin of both is the same as stated earlier.

Gen. Cunningham and Maj. Todd agree in considering the Jats of Indo-Scythian stock. Maj. Todd classifies Jats as one of the great Rajput tribes. They belong to one and thesame stock.... they have been, for many centuries, so blended and so intermingled into one people that it is practically impossible to distinguish them as separate wholes. At present distinction is social rather ethnic. The same tribe Rajput in one district and Jat in another according to the position in local tribes... During census many of the Jats entered, as third heading, the name of the Rajput tribe from which they claim to have sprung.

The Jats in ancient times inhabited the whole valley of the Indus down to Sind.... They now form a most numerous as well as the most important section of the agricultural population of Punjab.

Beyond the Punjab, Jats are chiefly found in Sind where they form mass of the population.

The main (Muslim) Rajput tribes of the Punjab are: Bhatti, Punwar, Chauhan, Minhas, Tiwana, Noon, Chib, Gheba, Jodhra, Janjua, Sial and Wattu etc. While the important (Muslim) Jat tribes are: Bajwa, Chatta, Cheema, Randhawa, Ghammon, Buta, Kahlon, Gil, Sehota, Taror, Waraich, Summa, Wahla, Bhutta, Malhi, Sukhera, Alpials, Dahas, Langah, Ranghar, Meo, Awan, Khokhar, Ghakkar, etc. But some of these Rajput tribes are classified are Jats and vice versa.

Punjab has had its periods of prosperity and poverty in a regular cycle. Before the arrival of Muslims, Punjab along with the other regions/provinces of present day Pakistan was leading a separate existance from that of India, and kingdoms based in its territories or in the NWFP often ruled over most of northern India. Kushan, Saka, Bactrian and Hun Kingdoms with their capitals at Peshawar, Taxila and Sialkot respectively, ruled over large parts of northern India for centuries.

Brilliant note, but I cannot see much merit in your last paragraph. It is self-contradictory.

You can't have your cake, and eat it too.

@Proudpakistaniguy Brilliant write up..confirms What I suspected

20% of the Paternal genes in Punjab descend from Islamic invasions
may be around 10-20% from the Scythian,Kushana,Huna,Parthian invasions

and around 16% from the original Aryan invasion

-------The mix of Central Asian genes in Indo-Aryan Pak Punjab would be around 46-56%----------------------


while regarding India upper caste Hindu in North-West

10% from Scythian,Kushana,Huna,Parthian invasion
16% from original Aryan invasion
----The Mix of Central Asian genes in North Western Republic of India would be around 26%---------------------


This for you as well as @Joe Shearer as to how one tribe pushes the other out of central Asia and all of them follow like a train to the subcontinent

Disappointing; leaves you perched on the edge of your chair.

There was little about the border marches of India, which were tantalisingly off screen.

Also I disagree with the depiction before the Kushan Empire.

@Proudpakistaniguy
@Juggernaut_is_here

Thank you both for the delightful exchange. I enjoyed reading them, and learning from them. I have to start my day, starting with deciding what to eat and cooking, but hope to return and see some more good things.

 

[Juggernaut_Flat_Plane_V8]

okay this is my final post on this thread..donot want to keep you guys away from your real life

@Joe Shearer Sir You can compliment it with this video..I have time stamped it from the invasion of the Graeco-Bactrians ....and you can enjoy it till the rise of Harshavardhana..all total a solid 2:30 minutes of entertainment and here they also show tribes streaming in from Central Asia, though Central Asia proper is cut off from this video just as subcontinent proper was cut off from the previous video

 

[qamar1990]

Arain, the true Arain are the best people in the entire region.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Cow milkers wouldn't undastand.

 

[qamar1990]

Cow milkers wouldn't undastand.

veggie farmers do tho eh??
would u like an onion my friend??

 

[lastofthepatriots]

veggie farmers do tho eh??
would u like an onion my friend??

It's quite the opposite milkman. We provide the onions to you.

 

[qamar1990]

It's quite the opposite milkman. We provide the onions to you.

yeah you guys are the salad tossers for sure.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

yeah you guys are the salad tossers for sure.

You sound upset.

 

[Pakistani E]

You sound dalit to me . Every dalit pretend to be brahmin on internet but Mr dalit you should not talk about stuffs which you dont know. Now let me educate you about history of Janjua Rajputs


The Janjua Rajputs are a branch of the ancient Pandava Dynasty. The Pandavas were a Chandravanshi Kuru branch of the ancient Vedic Aryans of India descending primarily from the legendary vedic King Pururava (also known as Puru) and lived in about the 14th century BC. "General Alexander Cunningham of India concluded the Janjua to be of Aryan origin" (Panjab Castes, Sir Denzil Ibbetson, Delhi 2002, p99). Arjuna, the famous Pandava Kshatriya hero of the Mahabharata epic is known as the most prominent father of this dynasty. Prince Arjun was the first cousin of the famed Hindu prince Lord Krishna and married Krishna's sister, Subhadra, to extend his dynasty. "It was Prince Arjun who carried out Krishna's funeral rites" (Arjuna in the Mahabhrata by Ruth Cecily Katz, University of South Carolina, 1989, back matter).

The apical ancestor of the Janjuas - Maharaja Janamejaya (until c. 1000 BC), King of Hastinapur [the capital of which was Indraprasta (modern day Delhi)] who was the great grandson of Arjuna Pandava (through his father Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu son of Arjuna). Maharaja Janamejaya was also known as the "Serpent Killer" after the famous mass revenge killing of all snakes and the "Nagas" people - people possibly of Tibetan origin who were rulers of a nearby state responsible for the assassination of his father Parikshit. His descendants were also known historically as the Pandavas and the Pauravas.

India's other name Bharat or Bharat-Varsh is actually named after a forefather of the Pandava dynasty, Bharat (until c. 1300BC). Bharat-Varsh means "Kingdom of Bharat" ("Recruiting, Drafting, and Enlisting (Military and Society, 1)"Peter Karsten, 1998, USA, p119). The Mahabharata epic is a narration which records a war between Bharat's later descendants the Pandavas and their cousins the Kauravas for the throne of Hastinapur. This epic is also believed to be the world's longest poem and Janamejaya was responsible for the retelling of it. The Pandavas were also known as Pauravas after another prominent ancestor Puru.

The Pauravas ruled Kekaya which was widely known as the Kingdom of the Puru/Pauravas Clan and it was Rai Por or more popularly known in the west as King Porus who fought Alexander the Great in 326 BC (in what is now Jhelum, Pakistan) in the famed Battle of the Hydaspes. It is said: “Unlike Darius, Porus fought aboard his elephant until the end..In victory Alexander treated Porus with the dignity reserved for a great warrior reinstating him a vassal king and sealing the bond of friendship” (The Horse in the Ancient World by Ann Hyland 2002 Sutton Publ.,p161). According to Arian, Alexander is said to have asked King Porus "How would you like me to treat you?" to which Porus famously replied "As a Raja (king)". The answer touched Alexander, who in return allowed the Raja of the Pauravas to retain his Kingdom (Alexander the Great - Nick McCarty, Carlton Books, 2004, p111). The "List of Indian monarchs" gives an account of the period of rule of the Bharata-Puru-Pandava-Pauravas-Janjua Shahi phase from approx 1600BC to 1026AD.

It must also be noted here that although the Janjuas are essentially Pandavas, the famous Jarral Rajput, a powerful Rajput dynasty who ruled Rajaur for well over 600 years were also Pandavas by origin through Nanak Rao, the brother of "Maharaja of the Kurus" Janamejaya. A known scion of the Pandava dynasty through Janamejaya became a very well known and recognised warrior king in his time. His name was Rai Janjua Paal. He was famous for his conquests and warlike temperament and was believed to be the last emperor of Hastinapur. He named his branch as Janjua henceforth and this name has remained in his dynasty. From about 964AD, the Janjua chief Parambhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Paramesvara Sri Jayapaladeva (Epithets known from the Bari Kot inscriptions) succeeded the Brahmin Hindu Shahi Emperor Bhimdev. The Janjua Shahiya emperors now ruled from Ghandar (Kandahar of Afghanistan) to the whole of Punjab in what was known as the second phase of the Hindu Shahiya or the Janjua Shahi Dynasty.

Famed ethnologists and Indo researchers Sir Alexander Cunningham (Coins of Medieval India Reprint. Varanasi:1967 p56,p62), Elliot and Dowson (The History of India as told by it's own historians [Indian repr.1962].vol.i, p.22,425-26) and Sachau (Alberuni's India London 1914, vol.ii, p393-94) led research into the origins of the Pala Hindu Shahiya, the second dynasty that succeeded the initial Brahmin Dev Shahiyas. Through independent research they concluded that the origins of Emperor Jayapala Shah was in fact in the Janjua Rajput. In 1973's Al-Biruni International Congress in Pakistan, Dr Hussain Khan presented a paper in called "An Interpretation of Al-Biruni's Account of the Hindu Shahiyas of Kabul" which also confirmed the same findings. Finally, the Janjuas own genealogy records the names of the Janjua Shahi Jayapala as well as the continued descendants of his House (Gazetteer of the Jhelum District, Lahore 1904, p93).

Jayapala was challenged by the armies of Sabuktigin and his son Sultan Mahmud towards the end of his reign as emperor. According to the Minháj ad-Dīn in his chronicle Tabaqát-i Násiri (Tabaqát-i Násiri, H. G. Raverty's trans., Vol.1, p.82), writes a testament to the political and powerful stature of Emperor Jayapala Shah, "Jayapála, who is the greatest of all the ráis (kings) of Hind..." Upon being captured after a fierce battle with Sultan Mahmud, Jayapala was ransomed and upon his release, "he ordered the construction of a funeral pyre. Mounting and setting it alight, he nobly perished in the flames" (The Last 2 Dynasties of the Sáhis Prof. Abdur Rehman, Delhi Renaissance publishing house. p147). Misra wrote:"Jaypala was perhaps the last Indian ruler to show such spirit of aggression, so sadly lacking in later Rajput kings" (R.G.Misra, Indian Resistance to Early Muslim Invaders Up to 1206 AD, Anu Books, repr.1992).

Jayapala's son, prince Anandapala who ascended the throne (in about March/April 1002AD) already proved an able warrior and General in leading many battles prior to his ascension. According to Adáb al-Harb (p.307-10) in about 990, "the arrogant but ambitious Raja of Lahore Bharat, having put his father in confinement, marched on the country of Jayapála with the intention of conquering the districts of Nandana, Jailum and Tákeshar." Jayapala instructed prince Anandapala to repel the opportunist Raja Bharat. Anandapala defeated Bharat and took him prisoner in the battle of Takeshar and marched on Lahore and captured the city and extended his father's kingdom yet further. During Anandpala's reign many losses were incurred on his kingdom by the Ghaznavids. During the battle of Chach between Sultan Mahmud and Anandapala, it is stated that "a body of 30,000 Gakhars fought alongside as soldiers for the Shahi Emperor and incurred huge losses for the Ghaznavids" (The Last 2 Dynasties of the Sahis Prof. Abdur Rehman, Delhi 1988,p152). It is also mentioned in the same text that "the Gakhars (or Khokhars) formed a very significant force in the armies of the Sáhis". Despite the heavy losses of the enemy, he eventually lost the battle and suffered much financial and territorial loss. This was Anandapala's last stand against Sultan Mahmud. Anandpala eventually signed a treaty with the Ghaznavid empire in 1010AD and shortly a year later died a peaceful death. R.C Majumdar (D.V. Potdar Commemoration Volume, Poona 1950, p.351) compared him ironically to his dynasty's ancient famous ancestor "Porus, who bravely opposed Alexander but later submitted and helped in subduing other Indian rulers." And Tahqíq Má li'l-Hind (p 351) finally revered Anandapala in his legacy as noble and courageous.

Tirlochanpála, the son of Anandapala, ascended the throne in about 1011AD. Inheriting a reduced kingdom, he immediately set about expanding his kingdom into the Siwalik Hills, the region of the Rai of Sharwa. His kingdom now extended from the River Indus to the upper Ganges valley. According to Al-Biruni, Tirlochanpála "was well inclined towards the Muslims" and was honourable in his loyalty to his father's peace treaty to the Ghaznavids. He later rebelled against Sultan Mahmud and was eventually assassinated by some of his own mutinous troops in 1021-22AD, an assassination which was believed to have been instigated by the Rai of Sharwa who became his arch-enemy due to Tirlochanpala's expansion into the Siwalik ranges (The Last 2 Dynasties of the Sahis Prof. Abdur Rehman, Delhi 1988,p166). Trilochanpala was romanticised in Punjabi folklore as the Last Punjabi ruler of Punjab.

Bhímapála, son of Tirlochanpala, succeeded his father in 1021-22AD. He was referred to by Utbí (vil.ii, p.151) as "Bhīm, the Fearless" due to his courage and valour. Considering his kingdom was at its lowest point, possibly only to the control of Nandana, he admirably earned the title of fearless from his enemy's own chronicle writer. He is known to have led the battle of Nandana personally and seriously wounding the Commander of the Ghaznavid army Muhammad bin Ibrahim at-Tāī. He ruled only five years after his father before meeting his death in 1026AD. Bhimpala's remaining descendants, Rudrapal and his brothers Diddápála and Anangapāla had settled in Kashmir and played a major role in the court of Kashmirian king Ananta (1028-63AD). According to the Rājtarahginī (vii, p.145), Rudrapal proved himself extravagant in personal valour by crushing the rebels of the king, as commander in chief of the Kashmiri royal army. Al-Biruni, despite living under Sultan Mahmud's grace, praises the house of Jayapala: “ We must say that in all their grandeur, they never slackened in the ardent desire of doing that which is good and right, that they were men of noble sentiment and noble bearing ”. In Kalhana in Rājtarahginī, writes of the Janjua Shahis: “Where is the Shahi dynasty with its ministers, its kings, and its great grandeur? ... The very name of the splendor of Shahi kings has vanished. What is not seen in dream, what even our imagination cannot conceive, that dynasty accomplished with ease ”.

Raja Dhrupet Dev Janjua ruled Mathura state in about 1150AD. Dhrupet Dev was also the ruler of the Mandu fort of the Siwalik hills. He was well known for being a Pandava descendant through Prince Arjun's great grandson Maharaja Janamejaya. Raja Dhrupet's rule of Mathura ended in 1195AD when Qutb-ud-din Aybak, the general of the Ghorid army, attacked Mathura and exiled the ruling royal family. According to Mohyal historians (Gulshan-e-Mohyali) Raja Dhrupet's younger brother Raja Shripat Dev, accompanied the exile back to the Siwalik hills. Shripat Dev later, "established his dominion at Katasraj (old name Namaksar) in Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan, Distt. Jhelum." The Mohyal commanders in chief of the Janjua army at this point were Rai Tirlok Nath Bali and Bam Dev Bhimwal (Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province by Horace Arthur Rose, 1990, p134). Regarding the Janjuas' descent from the Pandavas dynasty, the Bali and Bhimwal generals of Raja Dhrupet Dev of Mathura, recorded that the Janjua Raja Dhrupet Dev was the descendant of Emperor Janamejaya. "This reference was recorded in 1195AD" (Culture and Political History of Kashmir by Prithivi Nath Kaul Bamzai, MD Publ. Ltd., 1994, p637, p669, p670). Sir Lepel H Griffin K.C.S.I. had also recorded in the early 1900s "the Janjuas were Pandavas in origin" (Punjab Chiefs, L.H.Griffin, 1909 Lahore, p213).

Raja Dhrupet Dev was the father of a famous Janjua Chief Raja Ajmal Dev Janjua who embraced Islam in the 12th century and rose to become the next rising force of the Janjua Rajput. He followed the Islamic tradition of changing his name after conversion but was better known as Raja Mal Khan. He was among the first Muslim Rajputs recorded in Indian history. Raja Mal's conversion took place whilst he was in his teens and he inclined towards Islamic philosophy of the Sufis brought by the Dervishes of the Chistiya order, before the armies of Shahabudin Ghauri entered into the Indian Potohar Plateau. Raja Mal Khan migrated from Mandu fort in the Siwalik Hills to the Koh-i-Jud and settled at Rajgarh which he later renamed Mal-Kot (Malot). He re-conquered the Salt Ranges of Punjab to establish the dominion which his forefathers lost almost two centuries earlier to the Ghaznavids (Journal of Central Asia Vol. XIII. No.1, 1990,p.78). [Malot was originally called Shahghar or Rajghar - meaning home of the Shahis/Kings but was later changed to Malot (Mal-Kot) in recognition of its famous King, Raja Mal.]

The Tarikh-e-Alfi of the Ghorids mentions the rebellious behaviour of Raja Mal Khan towards the Delhi Sultanate. It records that a "Rai Mal" of the mountains between Lahore and Kabul excited a rebellion against them and intercepted communications between Lahore and Ghazni (Chronicles of Early Janjuas Dr Hussain Khan, iUniverse, 2003, p16). There is still today remnants of an ancient fort in Malot, Chakwal which was initially built by the Shahis and later rebuilt by Raja Mal Khan. It is also inscribed that the last Hindu Shahi prince Raja Mal embraced Islam at this place. Raja Mal Khan was also the first ruler to begin the mining of salt in the Salt Ranges of Kallar Kahar and in the Khewra Salt Mines of Punjab which is currently the world's second largest salt mine. Other Janjua descendants include Ranial/Dhamial Rajputs, Tanoli Rajputs (also spelt Tanaulis/ Tanawalis), Pulowal Rajputs, Hindwal Rajputs and Khakha Rajputs who are essentially the descendants of Raja Bhir, Raja Tanoli and Raja Khakha respectively. Raja Bhir, Tanoli, Khakha, Jodh and Kala are all sons of the famous Janjua chief, Raja Mal Khan Janjua. (for further details see Chakri Rajgan - Home )

The Janjua Rajputs are a prominent tribe of Punjab (both Pakistani and Indian Punjab). They have a history that spans centuries through various notable rulers, tribal chiefs, princes and kings since the time of the Mahabharat to the present age through Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan -General Asif Nawaz Khan Janjua. They were amongst the earliest Rajput converts to Islam and established their own Riyasats (kingdoms) during the 12th century which up until the early 19th century remained in their respective control. Janjuas rebelled against the Delhi Sultanate in the early 13th century and also later aided the Mughal conqueror Babur's route into India with other allied mountain tribes and served in the Mughal army in their conquests of India. Many forts within Punjab are still remnant of their royal past, such as the Kusak fort, Sohava fort, Girjaak fort in Makhiala Jhelum, Malot fort in Chakwal District, Nagi fort, Dalowal fort, Dhandot fort, Kath Saghral and Masral fort, Dhak Janjua fort, Akrand fort and many more. They have played a major part in Punjabi history in their regions through their alliances and rebellions with invaders and other mountainous warrior tribes.

Thanks that was very detailed. Although there are some points I disagree with what I've been told by my elders, it seems to be that everyone in Punjab is either a Jatt or Rajput. I wonder what happened to the previous inhabitants and if there are any clans/tribes that can be classified as indigenous (Pre Rajput/Jatt migration).