Johiya
Encyclopedia
Johiya also known as Joia, Joiya, Joyia, Joya, Joyea, and Joeya, is a Chandravanshi Rajput
clan in Northern India and Pakistan. The Johiyas are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans
or eka. In ancient chronicles, they are described as "Lords of Jangladesh
", a region that included Haryana
, Bhattiana
, Bhatner, and Nagor
. They also held, in common with the Dahiya
clan with whom their name is often coupled, the banks of the Indus and Sutlej
Rivers near their confluence.
The Jat
s also have a clan named Johiya. The Jat branches of the Johiya clan are Khichar
, Kulhari
, Gaina
, and Mahla
. They live in Rajasthan
, Uttar Pradesh
, and Haryana.
The Joiyas are identified with the Yaudheya
or Yaudheya Gana
, who were an ancient tribal confederation that lived in the area between the Indus and Ganges Rivers. They find mention in Pāṇini's Ashtadhyayi and Ganapatha. There are other references to them namely in Mahabharata
, Mahamayuri, Brihat-Samhita, Puranas
, Chandravyakarana and Kashika. As references are spanned from writings of early period to the medieval period, the chronology of Yaudheyas perhaps spans from as early as 500 BCE till 1200 CE. They were at the height of their power from about 200 BCE to 400 CE.
According to tradition, King Yayati
's fourth son was Anu, and Anu's eighth son was Maharaja Mahamana. Ushinar was the son of Mahamana, and he was the ruler of most of the Punjab
. Ushinar the Anavi King, after his arrival in the Punjab, probably established himself at Multan
. After the death of Ushinar, his Anavi kingdom was divided among his five sons. Their modern representatives, the Punjabi tribe of the Joyas, still live in this part of the province. They were known to the Greek authors in the time of Alexander the Great. Ushinar's son was Nrig and Nrig's'son was Yaudhey, ancestor of the Yaudheya clan.
The earliest mention of Yaudheyas is in Ashtadhyayi (V.3.116-17 and IV.1.178) by Pāṇini, (c.500 BCE) where Yaudheyas are mentioned amongst the ayudhajivin sanghas or "republics that live by force of arms". Later, the Junagadh rock inscription (c. 150 CE) of Rudradaman I
acknowledged the military might of the Yaudheyas "who would not submit because they were proud of their title 'heroes among the Kshatriyas'", although the inscription explains that they were ultimately vanquished by Rudradaman.
Some of the Puranas (e.g. Brahmanda, Vayu, Brahma and Harivamsha) describe the Yaudheyas as the descendants of Ushinara and Nrigu.
The Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta
also mentions the Yaudheyas. Varahamihira
in his work Brihatsamhita (XIV.28 and XVI.22) placed them in the northern division of India.
Alexander Cunningham
, a historian, connects the foundation of the town of Ajudhan or Ayodhaunne with the name "Yaudheya" or "Ajudhiya". Al-Idrisi, the author of the Nuzhat-ul-Mushtak, compiled near the end of the 11th century, says that "From Multan to the vicinity of Mansura, the country is occupied by a warlike race, called Nadha". Cunningham identifies these people with the modern Johiyas, whom James Tod
includes amongst the 24 ruling races of Rajputana. He stated that this race inhabited the same areas as the Dahia or Dahers, who are now extinct, but in fact both these tribes are still found around Bahawalpur
.
Yaudheya coins and coin-moulds, often depicting the god Karttikeya, are found in large numbers in northwestern India. Based on these finds, the Yaudheyas' territory is believed to have included Sutlej
, Depalpur, Satgarha, Ajundhan, Kahror and Multan in the west, Bhatner, Abhor, Sirsa, Hansi, Panipat and Sonapat in the east, and Kangra in the north. Even Haryana
and Punjab may have been part of their territory.
Rivers in the Sonepat fort of Rohtak
in Haryana
. These coins are inscribed with the Sanskrit
phrase Yaudhey Ganasya Jay.
The Yaudheys or Joiyas were known for their bravery. They fought with the Guptas
and the Mauryas
and defeated the Kushans
. They occupied ancient areas like Marwar
, Jodhpur
, and Jaisalmer
in present-day Rajasthan
. Rang Mahal, a ruined city near Ganganagar
, was one of their capitals.
The town of Samana
was founded by Rai Saman Joiya around 1000 AD.
writes in his book Early Chauhan Dynasties that the Johiyas had matrimonial relations with the Chauhans of Ajmer
. Raja Simhabala Johiya of Marot
was the maternal uncle of Maharaja Vigraharaja, the grandfather of Prithiviraj Chauhan, and as well as his chief general. Simhabala's sister Sudhava was married to Raja Arneraja. According to Ramavallabha Somani in his book Prithviraj Chauhan and His Times, Simhabala Johiya ruled Marot from 1160–1175, and after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan, Marot was captured by the Turks and the Johiyas were expelled from it.
by the Sufi saint Hazrat Baba Fareed Shaker Gunj in the 12th century. Baba Fareed blessed Lunan by saying "Lunan, dunan, chaunan," i.e., "may Lunan's posterity multiply". These three brothers wrested the fortress of Bhatinda from the Slave Kings of Delhi
and ruled its territory, along with Sirsa and Bhatner.
s. Bikaner rose to become a prominent state while the Johiyas were reduced to the status of rustic chiefs.
Dhadhi Bahadara, an eminent poet, composed a work popularly called Vira Mayana, which describes the conflict between the Rathores and the Johiyas from 1370 to 1412. This poem is very popular in Marwar, particularly in Malani and Shergardh.
Before their state in Jangladesh
was annexed by the Rathores, the Joiyas had hundreds of villages under their rule. The Bikaner History states that the Johiyas and Khichis had 140 villages in Singhana, which were seized by Rao Sri Bikaji in 1488. Sher Singh was their ruler and Bhuroopal was their capital. Sher Singh's military skill made the conflict difficult for the Rathores. Rao Bika
, the Rathore ruler, then aligned himself with the Godara
Jats, the most powerful of the six cantons of Jats ruling over Jangladesh. Bika and the Godaras attacked the Joiyas and defeated them. The greatest battle between the Rathores and the Joiyas was fought at the village of Dhaka near Sidhmukh
.
In the middle of the 16th century, the Rathores expelled the Johiyas from Bikaner with the help of Mughal Emperor Akbar. According to Ain–i-Akbari, volume II section 195, Johiyas were the predominant caste in the mahals (districts) of Sirsa, in the sarkar
of Hisar Firozah, in the Bhatti (Watto) and Joya pargana
s of the sarkar of Dipalpur and in Rajpur, Shergarh, Fathpur and Kahror in the sarkar of Bet Jalandhar Doab, where the semi-independent state of Fathpur (Vehari) was founded by Raja Fateh Khan Joiya. The Multan Gazetteer says that Fateh Khan Joiya was in revolt against Sher Shah Suri, the governor of Multan. Haibat Khan Niazi was sent against him and he was forced to leave Pakpatan and fled to Fatehpur. Local legend says that Malik Fateh Khan Joya, chief of Fatehpur, refused to pay revenue to the subahdar
of Khai Ali Hussain, who lived at Shitabgarh. Ali Hussain attacked him and they met in single combat at Halim Khichi, in which Ali Hussain was killed. In the same period Rai Jalal-ud Din and Rai Kamal-ud-Din Joiya, two brothers, were sent against one Khar Bhatti, who was in revolt at Kahror, by the Dehli darbar, and after defeating him, they held his land in tenancy from the Delhi sovereign.
. He founded Salim Garh, which he gave to Pir Shauq Shah whence it became Mari Shauq Shah and founded a second Salim Garh. It was destroyed on Aurangzeb's orders, but on its ruins his son Fareed Khan I founded Shehar Fareed in Bahawalpur
. After the downfall of the Mughal Empire, the Johiya chiefs continued for some time to pay tribute at Multan
, and Nawab Wali Muhammad Khan Khakwani, its governor, married a Johiya girl, Ihsan Bibi. Thus he secured their adherence, which enabled him to find refuge among Admera and Saldera Johiyas when the Marhattas took possessions of Multan in 1757 AD. The Johiyas under Fareed Khan Joiya II revolted against Saleh Mohammad Khan, whom the Marhattas had appointed the governor of Multan, and plundered his territory. In 1772, when Ahmad Shah Abdali had expelled the Marhattas from Multan, he reappointed Wali Mohammad Khan to its governorship and the Joiyas submitted to him. Under the Emperor Zaman Khan, however, the Joiyas again rose in rebellion, and at the instance of the governor of Multan, Nawab Mubarak Khan of Bahawalpur annexed the territory of Fareed Khan II.
During this time, four brothers – Lagan, Mangan, Luddan and Lal – colonized the country around Luddan
. Daulat Khan Joyia and his descendants (Daulatanas) ruled this area and Kahror till 1754, when Amir Mubarik Khan Abbasi conquered it and made it part of Bahawalpur. In Sirsa, Johiyas ruled and even helped the Bhattis in taking Bhatnair from the Rathores. After the great famine of 1783, this area was devastated and a great migration took place. This vacuum was filled by the British adventurer Thomas Cook, who ruled this area for a few years, and later by Marhattas and finally the British. Johiyas, mostly Hindu, still live in this area; the Muslim Johiyas migrated to Pakistan and are settled in Pakpattan and Sahiwal districts.
, Marubhumi (in northern Bikaner and Bahawalpur) and Sairisaka.
Joiyas septs are very numerous; there are 46 principal septs alone. Of these the more important are the Bhaderas, Lakhweras, Nihalkas, Ghazi Khananas,and Jalwanas, whose ancestor was designated Naik-o-Kar Bhai, "the Virtuous Brothers", by Abdullah Jahanian, a Muslim saint. Most of the Joiya septs are eponymous, their names ending in -ka and sometimes in -era.
The other principal septs are Akoke, Bhalana, Firozke, Hassanke, Jamlera, Jhagdeke, Jugeke, Lakhuke, Langahke, Mihruke, Mummunke, Panjera, Ranuke, Duleka, Qasimka, Sabuke, Shaikhuke, Sanatheke, Shahbake, Admera, Sulehra, Makhdoomana, Mamdere, Bedane, Salyere, Taghere, Belane, Abhrere, Malere, Sangere, Adlane, Surere, Madere, Bhaon (a subdivision of the Jalwana), Fatwere, Bhikrane, Ajere, Wazirke, Chaweke, Jhodheke, Sahuka, Saldera. Aibak, Mahars, Klassi, Shinki, Jhandeke, Latifi, Yarela, Ledhra and Sanwrepotre.
, from the edge of Wattu
territory nearly as far down as the confluence with the Indus through the Bahawalpur and Multan Divisions of present-day Pakistan. Though the Bhattis cut them off from Kabror, and later they lost their semi-independence when their possessions formed part of the Bahawalpur state, they hold a tract in Bikaner on the bed of the old Ghaggar River
just below Bhatner, their ancient seat. Shorkot was also their ancient abode, but now their numbers there are few. Johiyas are also found on the middle Sutlej River in Lahore
and Ferozpur, and on the lower Indus River in Derajat and Muzaffargarh
.
The Johiyas are therefore widespread in the Punjab Province
of Pakistan, where they inhabit the districts of Bahawalnagar
, Bahawalpur
, Faisalabad
, Gujranwala
, Hafizabad
, Lodhran
, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakpattan
, Multan
, Sahiwal
, Vehari
, Okara
, Kasur
, Sheikhupura
, Nankana Sahib
, Sargodha
, Khushab
, Muzaffargarh
, Layyah
, Bhakkar
, Rajanpur
, Dera Ghazi Khan
and Mianwali
. In Khushab District, the Johiyas subgroups of Ainu and Haveli Chiraq are the most prominent landlords. A few historians say that a people found in the Salt Range
of northern Punjab identify themselves with the Yaudheya.
Johiyas are also present in northern areas of the Sindh
province in Pakistan and in India, where they are concentrated in the states of Punjab, Harayana, Uttar Pradesh
and Rajasthan
.
The Joiyas may use different surnames according to their region. In Faisalabad Division
they use the name Rana; whereas in Multan Division
they use Malik and Nawab. Titles that the Johiyas use with their names include Mian, Khan, Raja, Nawab, Rana, Malik, Rao, Rai, and Sardar.
As a tribe, the Johiya are classed as both Rajput
s and Jats. In Amritsar
they are classed as Rajputs and in Shahpur
as Jats. In Pakistan, they are considered a Punjabi
tribe. The Muslim Johiyas in Uttar Pradesh are known as Johiya Khanzada
.
In Sindh Pakistan Joiyas are Known as JOYO. they are classed as Rajput(Seraiki and Sindhi speaking) such as Mohammad Ibraheem Joyo,Khaki Joyo,Taj Joyo,Nawaz Joyo
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clan in Northern India and Pakistan. The Johiyas are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans
Rajput clans
The Rajputs are a martial race and caste of the Indian subcontinent. They are a Hindu caste whose members generally consider themselves to belong to the Kshatriya varna ; however, Encyclopædia Britannica notes that their members have come from a variety of lineages, including from foreign...
or eka. In ancient chronicles, they are described as "Lords of Jangladesh
Jangladesh
Jangladesh also known as Jangal Pradesh was a historical region in north, north-western and north-eastern Rajasthan state in northern India. It included the present-day districts of Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh....
", a region that included Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Bhattiana
Bhattiana
Bhattiana is a tract of land lying in the region of the Indian states of Haryana and Punjab.- Origin of name :This geographical area derives its name from the clan of Bhatis, who are Rajputs...
, Bhatner, and Nagor
Nagor
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:...
. They also held, in common with the Dahiya
Dahiya
Dahiya or दहिया, classically called the Dimures , is a clan of Jats and Yaduvanshi Ahirs found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in India.-Distribution:...
clan with whom their name is often coupled, the banks of the Indus and Sutlej
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
Rivers near their confluence.
The Jat
Jat people
The Jat people are a community of traditionally non-elite tillers and herders in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in late medieval times, and subsequently into the Delhi Territory,...
s also have a clan named Johiya. The Jat branches of the Johiya clan are Khichar
Khichar
Khichar or Khichad is gotra of Jats found in Jhunjhunu, Churu, Nagaur, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Sikar districts in Rajasthan state in India. Veerbhan Khichar was the founder of Sikar city in Rajasthan. They are also found in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts in Haryana. Khichars are believed to be...
, Kulhari
Kulhari
Kulhari or Kularia/Kuladia is a gotra of Jats found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.-History:It is a branch of the Johiya Jats. Kulhari Jats ruled in the Marwar area in the 11th to 12th century. Bahipal was their king and Kot-Marot was their capital. There was a fort also at Kot-Marot...
, Gaina
Gaina
Gaina or Gainan is a gotra of Jats found in District Ajmer and Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. Gaina Jats are also found in Marwar region of Rajasthan. They were rulers of some republics in Didwana area in Nagaur. Probably a group of Johiya Jats was known as Gaina...
, and Mahla
Mahla
Mahla or Mahalawat or Mahlan or Mahlania is a gotra of Yaduvanshi Ahirs and Jats found in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, in India.They are Sikh in the Punjab, and Hindu in the other states....
. They live in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, and Haryana.
Origin
Yaudheya
Yaudheya or Yaudheya Gana was an ancient confederation who lived in the area between the Indus river and the Ganges river. They find mention in Pāṇini's Ashtadhyayi and Ganapatha. There are other references to them namely in Mahabharata, Mahamayuri, Brihatsamhita, Puranas, Chandravyakarana and...
or Yaudheya Gana
Gana
The word ' , in Sanskrit, means "flock, troop, multitude, number, tribe, series, class" . It can also be used to refer to a "body of attendants" and can refer to "a company, any assemblage or association of men formed for the attainment of the same aims".In Hinduism, the s are attendants of Shiva...
, who were an ancient tribal confederation that lived in the area between the Indus and Ganges Rivers. They find mention in Pāṇini's Ashtadhyayi and Ganapatha. There are other references to them namely in Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, Mahamayuri, Brihat-Samhita, Puranas
Puranas
The Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
, Chandravyakarana and Kashika. As references are spanned from writings of early period to the medieval period, the chronology of Yaudheyas perhaps spans from as early as 500 BCE till 1200 CE. They were at the height of their power from about 200 BCE to 400 CE.
According to tradition, King Yayati
Yayati
Yayati was a Puranic king and the son of king Nahusha and one of ancestors of Pandavas. He was a great scholar of Vedas. He had five brothers, Yati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti. He had two wives, Devayani and Sharmishtha. Devayani was the daughter of Shukracharya, the priest of Asuras ....
's fourth son was Anu, and Anu's eighth son was Maharaja Mahamana. Ushinar was the son of Mahamana, and he was the ruler of most of the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
. Ushinar the Anavi King, after his arrival in the Punjab, probably established himself at Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
. After the death of Ushinar, his Anavi kingdom was divided among his five sons. Their modern representatives, the Punjabi tribe of the Joyas, still live in this part of the province. They were known to the Greek authors in the time of Alexander the Great. Ushinar's son was Nrig and Nrig's'son was Yaudhey, ancestor of the Yaudheya clan.
Literary and epigraphical references
Rudradaman I
Rudradaman I was a Saka ruler from the Western Kshatrapas dynasty. He was the grandson of the celebrated Sah king Chastana. Rudradaman I was instrumental in the decline of the Satavahana Empire.- Mahakshatrapa :...
acknowledged the military might of the Yaudheyas "who would not submit because they were proud of their title 'heroes among the Kshatriyas'", although the inscription explains that they were ultimately vanquished by Rudradaman.
Some of the Puranas (e.g. Brahmanda, Vayu, Brahma and Harivamsha) describe the Yaudheyas as the descendants of Ushinara and Nrigu.
The Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta
Samudragupta
Samudragupta , ruler of the Gupta Empire , and successor to Chandragupta I, is considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses in Indian history according to Historian V. A. Smith. His name is taken to be a title acquired by his conquests...
also mentions the Yaudheyas. Varahamihira
Varahamihira
Varāhamihira , also called Varaha or Mihira, was an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer who lived in Ujjain...
in his work Brihatsamhita (XIV.28 and XVI.22) placed them in the northern division of India.
Alexander Cunningham
Alexander Cunningham
Sir Alexander Cunningham KCIE CSI was a British archaeologist and army engineer, known as the father of the Archaeological Survey of India...
, a historian, connects the foundation of the town of Ajudhan or Ayodhaunne with the name "Yaudheya" or "Ajudhiya". Al-Idrisi, the author of the Nuzhat-ul-Mushtak, compiled near the end of the 11th century, says that "From Multan to the vicinity of Mansura, the country is occupied by a warlike race, called Nadha". Cunningham identifies these people with the modern Johiyas, whom James Tod
James Tod
Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod was an English officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar.Tod was born in London and educated in Scotland, later joining the East India Company as a military officer. He travelled to India in 1799 as a cadet in the Bengal Army where he rose...
includes amongst the 24 ruling races of Rajputana. He stated that this race inhabited the same areas as the Dahia or Dahers, who are now extinct, but in fact both these tribes are still found around Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur , located in the province of Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs and counted as part of the Rajputana states...
.
Numismatic evidence
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
, Depalpur, Satgarha, Ajundhan, Kahror and Multan in the west, Bhatner, Abhor, Sirsa, Hansi, Panipat and Sonapat in the east, and Kangra in the north. Even Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
and Punjab may have been part of their territory.
During the Middle Kingdoms
The Yaudhey people inhabited the areas on the banks of the Satluj River. The coins of the Yaudhey clan have also been found in the areas between the Satluj and the YamunaYamuna
The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
Rivers in the Sonepat fort of Rohtak
Rohtak
Rohtak City is a Municipal Corporation in Rohtak district that styles itself as the "Heart of Haryana". It is located 70 km Northwest of New Delhi and 210 km South of the state capital Chandigarh at the NH 10...
in Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
. These coins are inscribed with the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
phrase Yaudhey Ganasya Jay.
The Yaudheys or Joiyas were known for their bravery. They fought with the Guptas
Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed approximately from 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the...
and the Mauryas
Maurya Empire
The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in ancient India, ruled by the Mauryan dynasty from 321 to 185 BC...
and defeated the Kushans
Kushan Empire
The Kushan Empire originally formed in the early 1st century AD under Kujula Kadphises in the territories of ancient Bactria on either side of the middle course of the Oxus in what is now northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and southern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.During the 1st and early 2nd centuries...
. They occupied ancient areas like Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
, Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
, and Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
in present-day Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. Rang Mahal, a ruined city near Ganganagar
Ganganagar
Sri Ganganagar , also called Ganganagar , is the northernmost city of Rajasthan in western India. It is the administrative headquarters of Ganganagar District.-History:...
, was one of their capitals.
The town of Samana
Samana, India
Samana is a city and a municipal council in Patiala district in the Indian state of Punjab.Before Independence, Samana was a part of Patiala Kingdom . Now it is a part of Patiala District of Punjab .- Geography :...
was founded by Rai Saman Joiya around 1000 AD.
Connection with the Chauhan Rajputs
Dasharatha SharmaDasharatha Sharma
Professor Dasharatha Sharma was an Indologist and a noted expert in the history of the Rajasthan region in India. He was born in the Rajasthani city of Churu and studied at Churu, the city of Bikaner in Rajasthan and at the University of Delhi. Prof. Sharma had degrees of Master of Arts in...
writes in his book Early Chauhan Dynasties that the Johiyas had matrimonial relations with the Chauhans of Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
. Raja Simhabala Johiya of Marot
Marot
Marot is a city district in Bahawalnagar District in the Province of Punjab, Pakistan. This city is situated at the border of India and Pakistan. The population of the city is estimated 20,000, with some 280,000 in the entire district...
was the maternal uncle of Maharaja Vigraharaja, the grandfather of Prithiviraj Chauhan, and as well as his chief general. Simhabala's sister Sudhava was married to Raja Arneraja. According to Ramavallabha Somani in his book Prithviraj Chauhan and His Times, Simhabala Johiya ruled Marot from 1160–1175, and after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan, Marot was captured by the Turks and the Johiyas were expelled from it.
Conversion to Islam
Three Johiyas, the brothers Lunan, Ber and Wasul, were converted to IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
by the Sufi saint Hazrat Baba Fareed Shaker Gunj in the 12th century. Baba Fareed blessed Lunan by saying "Lunan, dunan, chaunan," i.e., "may Lunan's posterity multiply". These three brothers wrested the fortress of Bhatinda from the Slave Kings of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and ruled its territory, along with Sirsa and Bhatner.
Conflicts with the Bika, Rathores and Mughals
Lakhkho, son of Lunan, headed a confederation of Joiyas, Bhattis, and Waryas against the Bika, the founders of Bikaner, but were defeated by the powerful RathoreRathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
s. Bikaner rose to become a prominent state while the Johiyas were reduced to the status of rustic chiefs.
Dhadhi Bahadara, an eminent poet, composed a work popularly called Vira Mayana, which describes the conflict between the Rathores and the Johiyas from 1370 to 1412. This poem is very popular in Marwar, particularly in Malani and Shergardh.
Before their state in Jangladesh
Jangladesh
Jangladesh also known as Jangal Pradesh was a historical region in north, north-western and north-eastern Rajasthan state in northern India. It included the present-day districts of Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh....
was annexed by the Rathores, the Joiyas had hundreds of villages under their rule. The Bikaner History states that the Johiyas and Khichis had 140 villages in Singhana, which were seized by Rao Sri Bikaji in 1488. Sher Singh was their ruler and Bhuroopal was their capital. Sher Singh's military skill made the conflict difficult for the Rathores. Rao Bika
Rao Bika
Rao Bika was the founder of the city and principality of Bikaner in present-day Rajasthan. He was a scion of the Rathore clan of Rajputs. He was a son of Rao Jodha, founder of the city and principality of Jodhpur....
, the Rathore ruler, then aligned himself with the Godara
Godara
Godara may refer to:*Godara , a gotra or surname found in Jat community in India.*"Godara",a place in Afghanistan...
Jats, the most powerful of the six cantons of Jats ruling over Jangladesh. Bika and the Godaras attacked the Joiyas and defeated them. The greatest battle between the Rathores and the Joiyas was fought at the village of Dhaka near Sidhmukh
Sidhmukh
Sidhmukh is a town of historical importance located in Churu district of Rajasthan, India. It was the capital of Kaswan Jat rulers of Jangladesh....
.
In the middle of the 16th century, the Rathores expelled the Johiyas from Bikaner with the help of Mughal Emperor Akbar. According to Ain–i-Akbari, volume II section 195, Johiyas were the predominant caste in the mahals (districts) of Sirsa, in the sarkar
Sarkar (country subdivision)
Sarkar is an historic administrative unit, used mostly in the Muslim states of the South Asia. It was a territorial division of a Suba or province. A Sarkar was further divided into territorial divisions for the administrative purpose which were called Mahallas or Parganas. The Mahallas or...
of Hisar Firozah, in the Bhatti (Watto) and Joya pargana
Pargana
A pargana is a former administrative unit of the Indian subcontinent, used primarily, but not exclusively, by the Muslim kingdoms.Parganas were introduced by the Delhi Sultanate, and the word is of Persian origin. As a revenue unit, a pargana consists of several mouzas, which are the smallest...
s of the sarkar of Dipalpur and in Rajpur, Shergarh, Fathpur and Kahror in the sarkar of Bet Jalandhar Doab, where the semi-independent state of Fathpur (Vehari) was founded by Raja Fateh Khan Joiya. The Multan Gazetteer says that Fateh Khan Joiya was in revolt against Sher Shah Suri, the governor of Multan. Haibat Khan Niazi was sent against him and he was forced to leave Pakpatan and fled to Fatehpur. Local legend says that Malik Fateh Khan Joya, chief of Fatehpur, refused to pay revenue to the subahdar
Subahdar
Subahdar was one of the designations of a governor of a Subah during the Mughal era of India who was alternately designated as Sahib-i-Subah or Nazim. The word, Subahdar is of Persian origin...
of Khai Ali Hussain, who lived at Shitabgarh. Ali Hussain attacked him and they met in single combat at Halim Khichi, in which Ali Hussain was killed. In the same period Rai Jalal-ud Din and Rai Kamal-ud-Din Joiya, two brothers, were sent against one Khar Bhatti, who was in revolt at Kahror, by the Dehli darbar, and after defeating him, they held his land in tenancy from the Delhi sovereign.
Since the 17th century
Salim Khan Joiya rose to power in the time of AurangzebAurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
. He founded Salim Garh, which he gave to Pir Shauq Shah whence it became Mari Shauq Shah and founded a second Salim Garh. It was destroyed on Aurangzeb's orders, but on its ruins his son Fareed Khan I founded Shehar Fareed in Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur , located in the province of Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs and counted as part of the Rajputana states...
. After the downfall of the Mughal Empire, the Johiya chiefs continued for some time to pay tribute at Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
, and Nawab Wali Muhammad Khan Khakwani, its governor, married a Johiya girl, Ihsan Bibi. Thus he secured their adherence, which enabled him to find refuge among Admera and Saldera Johiyas when the Marhattas took possessions of Multan in 1757 AD. The Johiyas under Fareed Khan Joiya II revolted against Saleh Mohammad Khan, whom the Marhattas had appointed the governor of Multan, and plundered his territory. In 1772, when Ahmad Shah Abdali had expelled the Marhattas from Multan, he reappointed Wali Mohammad Khan to its governorship and the Joiyas submitted to him. Under the Emperor Zaman Khan, however, the Joiyas again rose in rebellion, and at the instance of the governor of Multan, Nawab Mubarak Khan of Bahawalpur annexed the territory of Fareed Khan II.
During this time, four brothers – Lagan, Mangan, Luddan and Lal – colonized the country around Luddan
Luddan
Luddan is a town in Pakistan, located on the bank of the Sutlej. Luddan is a rich agriculture area, with cotton, maize, rice and sugarcane being major crops.-Notable connections:* Mumtaz Ahmad Doltana, former Chief Minister of West Pakistan, was born here....
. Daulat Khan Joyia and his descendants (Daulatanas) ruled this area and Kahror till 1754, when Amir Mubarik Khan Abbasi conquered it and made it part of Bahawalpur. In Sirsa, Johiyas ruled and even helped the Bhattis in taking Bhatnair from the Rathores. After the great famine of 1783, this area was devastated and a great migration took place. This vacuum was filled by the British adventurer Thomas Cook, who ruled this area for a few years, and later by Marhattas and finally the British. Johiyas, mostly Hindu, still live in this area; the Muslim Johiyas migrated to Pakistan and are settled in Pakpattan and Sahiwal districts.
Septs
R. C. Majumdar, D. C. Sarcar and Alexander Cunningham are of the view that the phrase dvi-tri dvit on Yaudheya coins refers to the second and third divisions of the tribe. The three divisions were Lakvira or Langvira, worshipers of the lingo or viru; Madhovira or Madhera, the drinkers of the intoxicating madh, or honey drink; and Adamvira or Admera, the sons of the red man Adam. These historical references suggest that the Yaudheya or Johiya armies were led by Lakhwera, Madhera and Admera. Bela Lahiri suggests that their three centers were at RohtakRohtak
Rohtak City is a Municipal Corporation in Rohtak district that styles itself as the "Heart of Haryana". It is located 70 km Northwest of New Delhi and 210 km South of the state capital Chandigarh at the NH 10...
, Marubhumi (in northern Bikaner and Bahawalpur) and Sairisaka.
Joiyas septs are very numerous; there are 46 principal septs alone. Of these the more important are the Bhaderas, Lakhweras, Nihalkas, Ghazi Khananas,and Jalwanas, whose ancestor was designated Naik-o-Kar Bhai, "the Virtuous Brothers", by Abdullah Jahanian, a Muslim saint. Most of the Joiya septs are eponymous, their names ending in -ka and sometimes in -era.
The other principal septs are Akoke, Bhalana, Firozke, Hassanke, Jamlera, Jhagdeke, Jugeke, Lakhuke, Langahke, Mihruke, Mummunke, Panjera, Ranuke, Duleka, Qasimka, Sabuke, Shaikhuke, Sanatheke, Shahbake, Admera, Sulehra, Makhdoomana, Mamdere, Bedane, Salyere, Taghere, Belane, Abhrere, Malere, Sangere, Adlane, Surere, Madere, Bhaon (a subdivision of the Jalwana), Fatwere, Bhikrane, Ajere, Wazirke, Chaweke, Jhodheke, Sahuka, Saldera. Aibak, Mahars, Klassi, Shinki, Jhandeke, Latifi, Yarela, Ledhra and Sanwrepotre.
Geographic distribution
The Johiyas are still present all along the banks of the SutlejSutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
, from the edge of Wattu
Wattu
The Wattoo or Wattu are Muslim Rajput tribe found in Punjab, Pakistan.-History and origin:Accoding to some traditions, the Wattoo are descended from a Rajah Junhar, a descendant of the famous Raja Salvahan of Sialkot. This Raja Junhar settled in Bhatner, where he had two sons, Jaipal and Rajpal...
territory nearly as far down as the confluence with the Indus through the Bahawalpur and Multan Divisions of present-day Pakistan. Though the Bhattis cut them off from Kabror, and later they lost their semi-independence when their possessions formed part of the Bahawalpur state, they hold a tract in Bikaner on the bed of the old Ghaggar River
Ghaggar-Hakra River
The Ghaggar-Hakra River is an intermittent river in India and Pakistan that flows only during the monsoon season. The river is known as Ghaggar before the Ottu barrage and as the Hakra downstream of the barrage...
just below Bhatner, their ancient seat. Shorkot was also their ancient abode, but now their numbers there are few. Johiyas are also found on the middle Sutlej River in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and Ferozpur, and on the lower Indus River in Derajat and Muzaffargarh
Muzaffargarh
Muzaffargarh is a city in southwestern Punjab, Pakistan, located on the bank of the Chenab River. The Town of Muzaffargarh was founded in 1794 by the Governor of Mulran Nawab Muzaffar Khan.The Meaning of Muzaffargarh is "Fort of Muzaffar" because the old town lies inside the walls of a fort built...
.
The Johiyas are therefore widespread in the Punjab Province
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
of Pakistan, where they inhabit the districts of Bahawalnagar
Bahawalnagar District
Bahawalnagar District is a district of Punjab province in Pakistan. The district is situated on the border, before the independence of Pakistan, Bahawal Nagar was a part of Bahawalpur state governed by the Nawab of Bahawalpur...
, Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur District
Bahawalpur District is one of the districts of Punjab, Pakistan. According to the 1998 Census of Pakistan it had a population of 2,433,091 of which 27.01% were urban Bahawalpur district covers 24,830 km². Approximately two-thirds of the district is covered by the Cholistan Desert, which...
, Faisalabad
Faisalabad District
Faisalabad District is one of the districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 5,429,547 of which almost 42% were in Faisalabad City....
, Gujranwala
Gujranwala District
Gujranwala District is a district in Punjab, Pakistan.- History :The village of Asarur which has been identified as the location of Taki, an ancient town, visited by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsiang contains immense ruins of Buddhist origin...
, Hafizabad
Hafizabad District
Hafizabad District is located in Punjab, Pakistan. Hafizabad was made a district in 1991; formerly, it was a tehsil of Gujranwala District. It is situated in the central Punjab and is known for its rice industry on the agricultural side and cotton textile industry on the industrial side...
, Lodhran
Lodhran District
Lodhran is a district in the Punjab, Pakistan, located on the northern side of River Sutlej. It is bounded to the north by the districts of Multan, Khanewal and Vehari, to the south by Bahawalpur District, to the east lie the districts of Vehari and Bahawalpur; while district Multan lies on the...
, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakpattan
Pakpattan District
Pakpattan District is a district of Punjab Province in Pakistan, Pakpattan is the district capital. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, it had a population of 1,286,680 of which 14% were urban...
, Multan
Multan District
Multan District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 3,116,851 of which 41.64% were urban. Its capital is the city of Multan....
, Sahiwal
Sahiwal District
Sahiwal District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. As of 1998, it had a population of 1,843,194 people, 16.27% of which were located in urban areas. Since 2008, Sahiwal District along with Okara District and Pakpattan District has comprised the Sahiwal Division...
, Vehari
Vehari District
Vehari District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan - the city of Vehari is the capital of the district. The district was created in 1976 out of the three tehsils of Multan District . The name Vehari means low lying settlement by a flood water channel...
, Okara
Okara District
Okara District is a district of Punjab, Pakistan. The Multan Road connects the district capital, Okara with tLahore 110 km away. Okara began as a small town about 40 km from the city of Sahiwal. It later become a city in its own right. According to the 1998 census, the district had a...
, Kasur
Kasur District
Kasur District or Qasur District is one of the districts in the province of Punjab, Pakistan It came into existence on 1 July 1976. Earlier it was part of Lahore District....
, Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura District
Sheikhupura District is a district of Punjab province, Pakistan. Sheikhupura is the headquarters of Sheikhupura District. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the district had a population of 3,321,029 of which 25.45% were urban....
, Nankana Sahib
Nankana Sahib District
Nankana Sahib is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Nankana Sahib is the principal town of the district. The district of Nankana Sahib is located about 75 kilometres west of Lahore and about 55 kilometres east of Faisalabad.-Administration:The area around Nankana Sahib was formerly a...
, Sargodha
Sargodha District
Sargodha District is a district of Punjab province, Pakistan, the capital of the district is Sargodha. It is an agricultural district, wheat, rice, and sugarcane being its main crops. The Sargodha district and region are also famous for citrus fruit; kino is a newly developed variety...
, Khushab
Khushab District
Khushab District is a rural tribal district located in Punjab, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census, the population was 905,711 with 24.76% living in urban areas. The district consists of 3 tehsils: Khushab, Nurpur, and Quaidabad, as well as a sub-tehsil Naushera...
, Muzaffargarh
Muzaffargarh District
Muzaffargarh is a district in the south of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Saraiki Waseb. It is spread over an area of 8,249 km². Muzaffargarh District lies in the strip between the rivers Chenab and Indus, which pass along the Eastern and Western boundaries respectively of...
, Layyah
Layyah District
Layyah District is a district in the Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the southern part of the province. The capital is Layyah.-History:...
, Bhakkar
Bhakkar District
Bhakkar is a District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The district was created in 1981 with Bhakkar city as the capital. It is located between 31° 10' and 32° 22' N. and 70° 47' and 72° E. with an area of , most of it lies in the desolate plain of the Thal, but the Kachhi or strip of...
, Rajanpur
Rajanpur District
Rajanpur District is a district of Punjab province in Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 1,103,618 of which 14.27% were urban. Its administrative centre is the town of Rajanpur.-History & geography:...
, Dera Ghazi Khan
Dera Ghazi Khan District
Dera Ghazi Khan is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The district covers an area of 5,306 m² and it is a long narrow strip of country, 198 m...
and Mianwali
Mianwali District
Mianwali is a district in the northwest of Punjab province, Pakistan. It borders eight districts: Attock District in the north, Chakwal District in the northeast, Khushab District in the east, and Bhakkar District in the south, while Lakki Marwat lies to the west, Kohat and Karak districts to the...
. In Khushab District, the Johiyas subgroups of Ainu and Haveli Chiraq are the most prominent landlords. A few historians say that a people found in the Salt Range
Salt Range
The Salt Range is a hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to the Indus, across the northern portion of the Punjab province. The Salt Range contains the great mines of Mayo, Khewra, Warcha...
of northern Punjab identify themselves with the Yaudheya.
Johiyas are also present in northern areas of the Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
province in Pakistan and in India, where they are concentrated in the states of Punjab, Harayana, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
Religious and clan affiliations
The Johiya clan includes Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims.The Joiyas may use different surnames according to their region. In Faisalabad Division
Faisalabad Division
Faisalabad Division was an administrative division of the Punjab Province of Pakistan, until the reforms of 2000 abolished the third tier of government. At abolition it contained the following districts: Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Chiniot....
they use the name Rana; whereas in Multan Division
Multan Division
Multan Division was an administrative division of the Punjab Province of Pakistan, until the reforms of 2000 abolished the third tier of government.-History:Multan Division was created during British Rule in the subcontinent...
they use Malik and Nawab. Titles that the Johiyas use with their names include Mian, Khan, Raja, Nawab, Rana, Malik, Rao, Rai, and Sardar.
As a tribe, the Johiya are classed as both Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s and Jats. In Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
they are classed as Rajputs and in Shahpur
Shahpur, Uttar Pradesh
Shahpur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Muzaffarnagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Geography:Shahpur is located at . It has an average elevation of 237 metres .-Demographics:...
as Jats. In Pakistan, they are considered a Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
tribe. The Muslim Johiyas in Uttar Pradesh are known as Johiya Khanzada
Johiya Khanzada
The Johiya Khanzada are a Muslim community found in eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are a sub-group within the larger Khanzada community. The Johiya are found mainly near Chail and Khairagarh, in Allahabad District. They a cluster of eighty four villages, known as chaurasi...
.
In Sindh Pakistan Joiyas are Known as JOYO. they are classed as Rajput(Seraiki and Sindhi speaking) such as Mohammad Ibraheem Joyo,Khaki Joyo,Taj Joyo,Nawaz Joyo