Thakial Rajputs
Encyclopedia
The Thakial Rajputs are a prominent Muslim Rajput tribe of Azad Kashmir
and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. In addition they can be found in the Poonch
and Rajouri provinces of Kashmir. They live in large numbers in Bagh
, Thub Thakyalan Muzaffarabad
and Kotli
districts. Fatehpur Thakiala
is named after them.
and Raja Agnigarba who came to Ayodhya and founded a small state on the banks of River Tawi. The Dogra
Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir
belong to Jamwal
clan. Minhas
or Manhas Rajputs are also an offshoot of this clan. It is said that one Raja Malan Hans took up agriculture and left the throne to his younger brother, Raja Suraj Hans. Since that time Rajputs who took up agriculture are styled Minhas, whereas the name 'Jamwal' is confined to the royal branch.
The Thakials are named after a Raja Jothar Singh
Thakial who established the Bhimber
state in the northern Punjab at the foothills of the Himalayas
. It remained an independent state for thousands of years under the Thakial rule until the fourteenth century.
The last Thakial Maharaja of the State was Siripat. It was at this time that Partab Chand, a prince of Kangra started his journey from Kangra to Bhimber
. When he reached the hill tops near Bhimber, Partab Chand observed that it was very difficult to capture the state. He set a camp there and named this hilltop as Kangra and the village still exists by the same name even today. Partab Chand stayed for a long time with his troops on the hilltop waiting for a suitable opportunity to attack and capture the state but this did not arise as he had run short of supplies for his men.
Partab Chand sent his soldiers in disguise with his own jewellery to go down to the markets of Bhimber to get the much-needed supplies. His men went to a jeweller who was astonished when he saw the royal jewels. The Maharaja of Bhimber
, Siripat Thakial learned about the men with the royal jewels and found out about the deployment of the Kangra troops on hill top. He sent his ambassador to Partab Chand which resulted a friendly meeting between the Partab Chand and the Maharaja of Bhimber
.
Maharaja Siripat Thakial had a daughter but no sons. He married the princess with the oldest son of Partab Chand, the Raj Kumar Chib Chand. On the death of Maharaja Siripat, the Raj Kumar Chib Chand became the Maharaja of Bhimber. From this union, of the Thakial princess(rani) and Raj Kumar Chib Chand, the Chib
Rajput clan emanates. Raja Dharam Chand was the seventh Raja of the Chib Chand line. He converted to Islam
and was named as Raja Shadab Khan of Bhimber. He was killed by Ibrahim Lodhi and his tomb still exists on the hills of Bhimber by the name of Baba Shadi Shaheed
.
After Chib Chand became the ruler of the state, some Thakials conspired to overthrow Chib Chand which resulted in Chib Chand executing some leaders and driving others out of the state.
The Thakials who were driven out of the Bhimber state by Chib Chand settled in the area north of Bhimber, currently known as Fatehpur Thakiala
. This area was ruled by the Jayrah clan.
Among the Thakials was a man of great stature and resolve named Rusmi Dev. Rusmi Dev lived in a place called Thakar Dhooli in the village Dhuruti in Fatehpur Thakiala
. There are many stories about Rusmi Dev; among them being the one where he fought and killed an evil jinn
. It is said that he was travelling across the Pir Panjal mountains when he met an old holy man who told him to return to his home for he would one day will become a ruler and also told him that he will convert to Islam.
The relationships between the Thakials and the Jayrah were not good and war broke out between the two clans. The Jayrah clan was defeated and Rusmi Dev became the ruler. Islam was spreading all over India during this time and under growing influence of Islam in the Subcontinent Rusmi Dev converted to Islam and changed his name to Rustam Khan. On his death Rustam Khan was buried in Dhuruti, a village in Fatehpur Thakiala and every year a gathering is held at his shrine where people in their hundreds go to pay homage.
As with other Muslim Rajputs, they hold the title of Raja
, which is the ancestral title of the Rajputs since the times of the Mahabharata
and some have additional titles like Sardar
, which was conferred upon them by the rulers of latter days.
in Azad Kashmir
, Abbotabad in the North West Frontier Province and Gujarkhan, Muree and Rawalpindi
in Punjab. The descendents of other three sons, Bagh Khan, Kangi Khan and Kaloo Khan live in the Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir
. Bagh Khan’s descendents are known as Baghal
.
District Bagh [Thub Thakyalan]. The Tehsil Fatehpur Thakiala
in the Kotli District
is named after them.
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. In addition they can be found in the Poonch
Poonch
Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the Mahābhārata evidence, and the evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang, the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas...
and Rajouri provinces of Kashmir. They live in large numbers in Bagh
Bagh
Bagh is the chief town of Bagh District in Azad KashmirBagh, the district headquarters of district Bagh is 100 Kilometers from Muzaffarabad via Kohallah & 80 Kilometers via Suddhen Gali, 205 Kilometers from Islamabad and 48 kilometers from Rawalakot. This town is situated on the confluence of two...
, Thub Thakyalan Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in Muzaffarabad District on the banks of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers...
and Kotli
Kotli
Kotli is the chief town of Kotli District, in the Pakistani-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Kotli is linked with Mirpur by two metalled roads, one via Rajdhani, and the other via Charhoi...
districts. Fatehpur Thakiala
Fatehpur Thakiala
Fatehpur Thakiala is one of the three tehsils, , of Kotli District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is also referred to as Nakyal.-History:...
is named after them.
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History
They are of the Suryavanshi lineage and legend claims they are descended from Rama, a mythical king of Ayodhya. Thakial tradition links them to JamwalJamwal
Jamwal is a suryavanshi Rajput clan of Chattari lineage in Jammu and Kashmir that claims solar origin by direct descent from Sri Rama Chandra of Raghav Rajput clan. Jamwal traditions state that their ancestor, Raja Agnigarba, came from Ayodhya and founded a small state on the banks of River Tawi...
and Raja Agnigarba who came to Ayodhya and founded a small state on the banks of River Tawi. The Dogra
Dogra
The Dogras are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group in South Asia. Being a diversified group, the Dogras include both Savarnas such as Brahmins, Rajputs and Non-savarnas. The Dogras also incluide merchant castes such as Mahajans...
Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
belong to Jamwal
Jamwal
Jamwal is a suryavanshi Rajput clan of Chattari lineage in Jammu and Kashmir that claims solar origin by direct descent from Sri Rama Chandra of Raghav Rajput clan. Jamwal traditions state that their ancestor, Raja Agnigarba, came from Ayodhya and founded a small state on the banks of River Tawi...
clan. Minhas
Minhas
Minhas or Manhas or Minhas-Dogra is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan from the Punjab region and Jammu & Kashmir in India and Pakistan. It is an off-shoot of Jamwal-Dogra Rajputs, the founders of the city and state of Jammu and its rulers from ancient times to 1948 CE...
or Manhas Rajputs are also an offshoot of this clan. It is said that one Raja Malan Hans took up agriculture and left the throne to his younger brother, Raja Suraj Hans. Since that time Rajputs who took up agriculture are styled Minhas, whereas the name 'Jamwal' is confined to the royal branch.
The Thakials are named after a Raja Jothar Singh
Singh
Also see SinhaSingh is a common title, middle name, or surname in Northern India and South India used by sikhs warriors and kings. eg. Man Singh I, Maharana Pratap Singh. It is derived from the Sanskrit word Siṃha meaning "lion and used by Ahir kings of Nepal". It is also used in Sri Lanka by...
Thakial who established the Bhimber
Bhimber
Bhimber is the chief town of Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir. The town is situated on the border between Azad Kashmir and Pakistan at a distance of about 50 km from Mirpur, about 48 km from Gujrat and about 166 km from Islamabad.-History:...
state in the northern Punjab at the foothills of the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
. It remained an independent state for thousands of years under the Thakial rule until the fourteenth century.
The last Thakial Maharaja of the State was Siripat. It was at this time that Partab Chand, a prince of Kangra started his journey from Kangra to Bhimber
Bhimber
Bhimber is the chief town of Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir. The town is situated on the border between Azad Kashmir and Pakistan at a distance of about 50 km from Mirpur, about 48 km from Gujrat and about 166 km from Islamabad.-History:...
. When he reached the hill tops near Bhimber, Partab Chand observed that it was very difficult to capture the state. He set a camp there and named this hilltop as Kangra and the village still exists by the same name even today. Partab Chand stayed for a long time with his troops on the hilltop waiting for a suitable opportunity to attack and capture the state but this did not arise as he had run short of supplies for his men.
Partab Chand sent his soldiers in disguise with his own jewellery to go down to the markets of Bhimber to get the much-needed supplies. His men went to a jeweller who was astonished when he saw the royal jewels. The Maharaja of Bhimber
Bhimber
Bhimber is the chief town of Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir. The town is situated on the border between Azad Kashmir and Pakistan at a distance of about 50 km from Mirpur, about 48 km from Gujrat and about 166 km from Islamabad.-History:...
, Siripat Thakial learned about the men with the royal jewels and found out about the deployment of the Kangra troops on hill top. He sent his ambassador to Partab Chand which resulted a friendly meeting between the Partab Chand and the Maharaja of Bhimber
Bhimber
Bhimber is the chief town of Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir. The town is situated on the border between Azad Kashmir and Pakistan at a distance of about 50 km from Mirpur, about 48 km from Gujrat and about 166 km from Islamabad.-History:...
.
Maharaja Siripat Thakial had a daughter but no sons. He married the princess with the oldest son of Partab Chand, the Raj Kumar Chib Chand. On the death of Maharaja Siripat, the Raj Kumar Chib Chand became the Maharaja of Bhimber. From this union, of the Thakial princess(rani) and Raj Kumar Chib Chand, the Chib
Chib
The Chib Rajput , is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan found in the northern parts of India and Pakistan. They are mostly a Kashmiri or Punjabi tribe found in both India and Pakistan...
Rajput clan emanates. Raja Dharam Chand was the seventh Raja of the Chib Chand line. He converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and was named as Raja Shadab Khan of Bhimber. He was killed by Ibrahim Lodhi and his tomb still exists on the hills of Bhimber by the name of Baba Shadi Shaheed
Baba Shadi Shaheed
Hazrat Sheikh Baba Shadi Shaheed Rehmat Ullah Alae was a Sufi Saint. He is thought to be the first Chib Rajput convert to Islam from the hand of Hazrat Pir Sufi Jaffar also known as Meera Pak from Bharot Sharif. During the reign of Ibrahim Lodi. He was a famed wise man who was requested to...
.
After Chib Chand became the ruler of the state, some Thakials conspired to overthrow Chib Chand which resulted in Chib Chand executing some leaders and driving others out of the state.
The Thakials who were driven out of the Bhimber state by Chib Chand settled in the area north of Bhimber, currently known as Fatehpur Thakiala
Fatehpur Thakiala
Fatehpur Thakiala is one of the three tehsils, , of Kotli District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is also referred to as Nakyal.-History:...
. This area was ruled by the Jayrah clan.
Among the Thakials was a man of great stature and resolve named Rusmi Dev. Rusmi Dev lived in a place called Thakar Dhooli in the village Dhuruti in Fatehpur Thakiala
Fatehpur Thakiala
Fatehpur Thakiala is one of the three tehsils, , of Kotli District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is also referred to as Nakyal.-History:...
. There are many stories about Rusmi Dev; among them being the one where he fought and killed an evil jinn
Jinn
Jinn are supernatural beings in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings.Jinn may also refer to:* Jinn , a Japanese band* Qui-Gon Jinn, a character in the Star Wars universe...
. It is said that he was travelling across the Pir Panjal mountains when he met an old holy man who told him to return to his home for he would one day will become a ruler and also told him that he will convert to Islam.
The relationships between the Thakials and the Jayrah were not good and war broke out between the two clans. The Jayrah clan was defeated and Rusmi Dev became the ruler. Islam was spreading all over India during this time and under growing influence of Islam in the Subcontinent Rusmi Dev converted to Islam and changed his name to Rustam Khan. On his death Rustam Khan was buried in Dhuruti, a village in Fatehpur Thakiala and every year a gathering is held at his shrine where people in their hundreds go to pay homage.
As with other Muslim Rajputs, they hold the title of Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
, which is the ancestral title of the Rajputs since the times of the 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....
and some have additional titles like Sardar
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
, which was conferred upon them by the rulers of latter days.
Distribution
Rustam Khan had four sons and their decedents are the modern day Thakials. His oldest son was called Sangi Khan, whose decedents live in Muzafarabad and BaghBagh
Bagh is the chief town of Bagh District in Azad KashmirBagh, the district headquarters of district Bagh is 100 Kilometers from Muzaffarabad via Kohallah & 80 Kilometers via Suddhen Gali, 205 Kilometers from Islamabad and 48 kilometers from Rawalakot. This town is situated on the confluence of two...
in Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
, Abbotabad in the North West Frontier Province and Gujarkhan, Muree and Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
in Punjab. The descendents of other three sons, Bagh Khan, Kangi Khan and Kaloo Khan live in the Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
. Bagh Khan’s descendents are known as Baghal
Baghal
Baghal, covering an area of 312 km² and currently a part of Himachal Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj...
.
District Bagh [Thub Thakyalan]. The Tehsil Fatehpur Thakiala
Fatehpur Thakiala
Fatehpur Thakiala is one of the three tehsils, , of Kotli District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is also referred to as Nakyal.-History:...
in the Kotli District
Kotli District
Kotli is one of the eight districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Kotli the chief town of the district, was originally a minor town between Mirpur and Muzaffarabad, but has recently seen major growth.- Administration :...
is named after them.