Ranial Rajputs
Encyclopedia
The Ranial Rajputs of Rawalpindi are a branch of the Janjua Rajput clan. The Janjua Rajput (Punjabi ਜਨ੍ਜੁਅ, Urdu: جنجوعہ) (also spelt Janjuha, Janjuah) is a royal warrior clan of Northern India and Pakistan. They are known as the most Valiant Kshatriyas (Warriors) of Punjab. Their warlike nature and dominant rule of their kingdoms against other tribes earned them a powerful reputation in Western Punjab, the Jhelum Valley of Kashmir.The Janjua is a dominant warlike clan of the Punjab and has played a key role throughout Punjabi
history - from becoming one of the first Rajput clans to convert to Islam
to being the first to begin salt mining in the Salt Range of Western Punjab plains. They aided the Mughal conqueror Babur
conquest of India, as well as today providing many soldiers and highly decorated generals to the Pakistani Army.
Under the British Raj of India, they were designated as a "Martial Race" and provided strong numbers to the British Imperial Army and fought in both World Wars.
The Gazetteer of the Rawalpindi District records, "They (Janjua) are very proud of their ancestry, make good soldiers...they are usually addressed as "Rája", and stand very high in social rank." (Sang-e-Meel, 2001, Lahore, p105).
Panjab Castes also confirms, "Dominant tribe of proud position, such as the Janjúa, have retained their pride of lineage and their Rájpút title...and always addressed as Rája." (Denzil Ibbetson
, Delhi, 2002, p. 132, p. 149, p. 154).
Ranial Rajputs were easily recognised by their many features. Characteristics that include smooth skin, long eye shape and fair colour.
"High courage, patriotism, loyalty, honour, hospitality and simplicity are qualities which at once must be conceded to them." - Col. James Tod, classical British writer on Rajputs and their History.
In the early thirteenth century, the Janjua chieftain, Raja Mal Khan rose to prominence. He increased his dominion over Hazara (later renamed Amb
through his son Raja Tanoli
, Jhelum through his son Raja Jodh, parts of Kashmir
through Raja Khakha
, Rajghar (later renamed Malot) Chakwal
through his eldest Raja Bhir and what is today known as the Kahuta
district through Raja Kala Khan. Tarikh-e-Alfi of the Ghorids makes a mention of the rise to power of Raja Mal.
According to Lepel H. Griffin, in Chiefs and Families of note in the Punjab (Lahore, 1910, ii, p254),:
The descendants of Raja Jodh continued to rule this region through various interruptions until the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
. Raja Bhir meanwhile took over the Malot (Rajghar) state from his father.
It was in this tradition that Raja Bhir's later descendant, Raja Malu Khan, allying his cousin Raja Mubarak Khan who was the descendant of Raja Jodh Khan, gained control of the region of Dhamial and Ranial.
s employed a sudden military onslaught to conquer the areas of Ranial and Dhamial. Through the repute of their military success, they were able to win the neighbouring gentry over to their own side and established good relations with them.
Raja Malu took the area of Hayal Ranial whilst Raja Mubarak took the Dhamial plain. Interestingly, Raja Malu's offspring were known as the Rajas of Ranial and Raja Mubarak's offspring likewise, were known as the Rajas of Dhamial. This later culminated in the recognition of these two branches as simply Ranial Rajas and Dhamial Rajas.
Being neighbours, they taxed their subjects separately, but followed common and shared policies on other matters such as the supply of soldiers to the Mughal emperors, cultivation and trade. A tradition which is maintained to this day in modern day Pakistan. However Dhamial in itself gained greater prominence but through the shared input of both branches. Today, there is an established military base in Dhamial.
Raja Mal Khan, the Janjua king
|
Raja Bhir, the elder son of Raja Mal Khan
|
Raja Acharpal (later converted to Islam and was renamed Raja Ahmed Khan)
|
Raja Sunpal
|
Raja Islam-ud-din
|
Raja Noor-ud-din
|
Raja Daulat Khan
|
Raja Hans Khan
|
Raja Malu Khan (during Jehangir’s reign [1605-28])
Some of Raja Malu Khan's descendants have also spread to Nambal, Chand Tehsil and Malot, Chakwal (the ancestral kingdom of Raja Bhir who inherited it from his father, Raja Mal Khan.
Raja Malu Khan was one of five brothers. The other brothers were:
The Ranial Janjua Rajputs should not be confused with the Ranyals of Azad Kashmir which are a distinctly different Jat tribe.
s employed a more diplomatic approach and appointed the Ranial chiefs as Deputy Officers in charges of Village Matters, Land Areas and Taxations. This also continued during the British Raj
era.
To the Rajput, war was traditionally the only occupation and the sword was the only weapon.
However, in more recent times the Ranial Rajas have also had to adopt to the changing environment, the new weapon is education.
With the same royal blood running through their veins as helped their great ancestors to establish their empires and with knowledge and great pride in their ancestry, Ranial Rajas have continued to make a significant contribution to the many communities in which they have settled.
The third generation of the UK-migrated Ranial Rajas have achieved high levels of education and become Barristers, Doctors, Pharmacists, Chemical Engineers, Lecturers and Technology Consultants.
Ranial Rajas in the UK can be found in the following locations London,Birmingham, Coventry,Walsall,Derby and Burton On Trent.
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...
history - from becoming one of the first Rajput clans to convert to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to being the first to begin salt mining in the Salt Range of Western Punjab plains. They aided the Mughal conqueror Babur
Babur
Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother...
conquest of India, as well as today providing many soldiers and highly decorated generals to the Pakistani Army.
Under the British Raj of India, they were designated as a "Martial Race" and provided strong numbers to the British Imperial Army and fought in both World Wars.
The Gazetteer of the Rawalpindi District records, "They (Janjua) are very proud of their ancestry, make good soldiers...they are usually addressed as "Rája", and stand very high in social rank." (Sang-e-Meel, 2001, Lahore, p105).
Panjab Castes also confirms, "Dominant tribe of proud position, such as the Janjúa, have retained their pride of lineage and their Rájpút title...and always addressed as Rája." (Denzil Ibbetson
Denzil Ibbetson
Sir Denzil Charles Jelf Ibbetson KCSI was an administrator in British India and an author. He served as governor of the Central Provinces and Berar from 1900 to 1902....
, Delhi, 2002, p. 132, p. 149, p. 154).
Ranial Rajputs were easily recognised by their many features. Characteristics that include smooth skin, long eye shape and fair colour.
"High courage, patriotism, loyalty, honour, hospitality and simplicity are qualities which at once must be conceded to them." - Col. James Tod, classical British writer on Rajputs and their History.
History
The Punjab in the pre-Mughal era was one of much civil wars between many kingdoms and new dynasties began to spread their dominions over other crumbling dynastic houses.In the early thirteenth century, the Janjua chieftain, Raja Mal Khan rose to prominence. He increased his dominion over Hazara (later renamed Amb
Amb (princely state)
Amb was a princely state of the former British Indian Empire. In 1947, by the Indian Independence Act 1947, the British abandoned their supremacy, and following the Partition of India Amb's Nawab decided to give up his state's independence by acceding to the new country of Pakistan...
through his son Raja Tanoli
Tanoli
The Tanoli are a Hazarewal tribe of the Tanawal valley, Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Although not usually acknowledged as Pashtuns, the Tanoli have to an extent assimilated many Pashtun cultural features and become Pashtunified. Tribally allied with the Pathans,. The...
, Jhelum through his son Raja Jodh, parts of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
through Raja Khakha
Khakha
The Khakha Rajputs of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan are clan of Muslim Rajputs who have inhabited the Kashmiri region since the 13th century after the conquer of Janjua warlord Raja Khakha of the region of Upper Jhelum Valley of Kashmir.They are a branch of the powerful Janjua Rajput dynasty of Northern...
, Rajghar (later renamed Malot) Chakwal
Chakwal
Chakwal is the capital of Chakwal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located 90 km south-east of the federal capital, Islamabad and is named after Chaudhry Chaku Khan, chief of the Mair Minhas tribe from Jammu, who founded it in 1525 CE during the era of the Mughal Emperor, Zaheerudun Babur...
through his eldest Raja Bhir and what is today known as the Kahuta
Kahuta
Kahuta is a town and tehsil in the Rawalpindi District of Pakistan's Punjab Province. According to Pakistan's 2008 census, Kahuta tehsil has a population of approximately 160,000....
district through Raja Kala Khan. Tarikh-e-Alfi of the Ghorids makes a mention of the rise to power of Raja Mal.
According to Lepel H. Griffin, in Chiefs and Families of note in the Punjab (Lahore, 1910, ii, p254),:
- "On the death of their father, they determined to divide the country called, from Raja Mal, the Maloki Dhan between them. Jodh took the Salt RangeSalt RangeThe 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...
near about the Makrach, and captured the town of Makshala from a colony of Brahmins (MohyalMohyalMohyal is the name of an endogamous ethnic group that originates from the Gandhara region and consists of seven Brahmin lineages of that area that left the usual priestly occupation of Brahmins long ago to serve as soldiers and in government services.The...
s)...He changed its name to Makhiala and built a fort there and two tanks for rain water..... Wir Khan (also spelt Bhir), took the possession of Khura (also spelt Khewra) near modern Pind Dadan Khan."
The descendants of Raja Jodh continued to rule this region through various interruptions until the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
. Raja Bhir meanwhile took over the Malot (Rajghar) state from his father.
It was in this tradition that Raja Bhir's later descendant, Raja Malu Khan, allying his cousin Raja Mubarak Khan who was the descendant of Raja Jodh Khan, gained control of the region of Dhamial and Ranial.
The Janjua conquest
According to the Tehreek-e-Janjua (Sahiwal Press, v1, p224), these two RajaRaja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
s employed a sudden military onslaught to conquer the areas of Ranial and Dhamial. Through the repute of their military success, they were able to win the neighbouring gentry over to their own side and established good relations with them.
Raja Malu took the area of Hayal Ranial whilst Raja Mubarak took the Dhamial plain. Interestingly, Raja Malu's offspring were known as the Rajas of Ranial and Raja Mubarak's offspring likewise, were known as the Rajas of Dhamial. This later culminated in the recognition of these two branches as simply Ranial Rajas and Dhamial Rajas.
Being neighbours, they taxed their subjects separately, but followed common and shared policies on other matters such as the supply of soldiers to the Mughal emperors, cultivation and trade. A tradition which is maintained to this day in modern day Pakistan. However Dhamial in itself gained greater prominence but through the shared input of both branches. Today, there is an established military base in Dhamial.
The Ranial Rajput family tree
The Ranial Rajputs are linked ancestrally to the Janjuas through Raja Malu Khan, who was a descendant of Raja Bhir as illustrated below:Raja Mal Khan, the Janjua king
|
Raja Bhir, the elder son of Raja Mal Khan
|
Raja Acharpal (later converted to Islam and was renamed Raja Ahmed Khan)
|
Raja Sunpal
|
Raja Islam-ud-din
|
Raja Noor-ud-din
|
Raja Daulat Khan
|
Raja Hans Khan
|
Raja Malu Khan (during Jehangir’s reign [1605-28])
Some of Raja Malu Khan's descendants have also spread to Nambal, Chand Tehsil and Malot, Chakwal (the ancestral kingdom of Raja Bhir who inherited it from his father, Raja Mal Khan.
Raja Malu Khan was one of five brothers. The other brothers were:
- Raja Sadu Khan: His descendants are settled in the area of Sehel Tehsil and Pindi Gheb.
- Raja Nadyam Khan: His descendants are in Harajpur Pind and Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil.
- Raja Babul (who was the Minister of Maral Garh): His descendants are settled in the Murali district in Chakwal
- Raja Jangu Khan: His descendants are settled in Dana, Khanpur and Dadan Chey.
The Ranial Janjua Rajputs should not be confused with the Ranyals of Azad Kashmir which are a distinctly different Jat tribe.
Ranial Rajas today
During the age of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the rule of the Ranials came to an end. However, the SikhSikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s employed a more diplomatic approach and appointed the Ranial chiefs as Deputy Officers in charges of Village Matters, Land Areas and Taxations. This also continued during the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
era.
- Raja Ghulam Mehdi Khan of Ranial was an officer in charge of land and a magistrate during the BritishBritish EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
period. Raja Ghulam Mehdi Khan did not have any male offspring. His nephew, Colonel Lehrasab Khan is a noteworthy local personality. - Raja Hassu Khan of Ranial was also a Deputy Officer in Charge of Land Areas; he was a brave man of fame and prominence in the region.
- Raja Pervaiz Akhtar of Ranial great grandson of Raja hassu has been the ex candidate for the elections of nazim ranial.He holds a great position in the area and is esteemed a lot by the people.His haveili rajgan is considered fort of ranial.
- Subedar Raja Zaman Ali of Nambal was a well known local personality. His sons Raja Mushtaq Hussain and Raja Ali Asghar have settled in the UK whereas his other son Doctor Raja Liaquat Ali has settled in Canada. His youngest son Master Raja Ali Akhtar is still settled in Nambal.
- Raja Mohammad Ibraheem of Nambal who is also related to this family is a famous poet.
- Raja Mohammad Irshad of Islamabad who is also related to this family is the owner of Nambal Poultry farms in Sihala.
- Raja Irshad Hussain the famous poet of the UK who has been on Television on numerous occasions is the son in law of Raja Ali Asghar.
- Raja Basharat the famous poet of Birmingham is also a member of this family.
To the Rajput, war was traditionally the only occupation and the sword was the only weapon.
However, in more recent times the Ranial Rajas have also had to adopt to the changing environment, the new weapon is education.
With the same royal blood running through their veins as helped their great ancestors to establish their empires and with knowledge and great pride in their ancestry, Ranial Rajas have continued to make a significant contribution to the many communities in which they have settled.
The third generation of the UK-migrated Ranial Rajas have achieved high levels of education and become Barristers, Doctors, Pharmacists, Chemical Engineers, Lecturers and Technology Consultants.
Ranial Rajas in the UK can be found in the following locations London,Birmingham, Coventry,Walsall,Derby and Burton On Trent.
See also
- Muslim RajputsMuslim RajputsMuslim Rajputs or Musulman Rajputs are Muslims belonging to the Hindu Rajput Kshatriya groups of Indian subcontinent, who converted to Islam.-History:...
- RajaRajaRaja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
- Janjua
- KhakhaKhakhaThe Khakha Rajputs of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan are clan of Muslim Rajputs who have inhabited the Kashmiri region since the 13th century after the conquer of Janjua warlord Raja Khakha of the region of Upper Jhelum Valley of Kashmir.They are a branch of the powerful Janjua Rajput dynasty of Northern...
- GaharwalGaharwalThe Gaharwal or sometimes pronounced Kahrwal are a Rajput clan, found in Punjab, Pakistan. According to the 1931 Census of India, they numbered approximately 1,600.-Locality:The Kahrwal are found in the Kahuta Tehsil of the Rawalpindi District....
- Demography of Rawalpindi DistrictDemography of Rawalpindi DistrictThe Demography of Rawalpindi District, a district of Punjab in Pakistan, has undergone significant changes over the years. It has been affected by turmoil in the surrounding countries....
- NambalNambalNambal also known as Nambel, Numbal, Nambal Shareef is a village located on the outskirts of the small town Doberan Kalan in the Kallar Syedan Tehsil of Rawalpindi district of Pakistan....