Jarral

The Jarral Rajputs (Urdu: جـرال راجپوت, also spelled Jaral. Jarral, Jerral) are a Muslim Rajput tribe of Azad Kashmir and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. They are well known for being the last longest ruling royal dynasty of Rajouri in Kashmir which only ended in the mid 19th century with the advent of the British Raj.

They hold the title of Raja, which is their ancestral royal title since the times of the Mahabharata as well as the title of Mirza, which was conferred upon them by the Mughal emperor of India, Shah Jahan.

They ruled Rajouri through various successive rulers and also played a major part in the development of the region of Rajouri, until the modern day.

The Jarrals are descendants of the ancient Pandavas through prince Arjuna, who was the valiant and brave hero of the Mahabharata. His grandson, Maharaja Parikshit, the Emperor of Hastinapur, was assassinated by the Naga (serpent) people. Upon his death, his eldest son, Janamejaya was made the Emperor of Hastinapur.

Emperor Janamejaya's younger brother, Prince Kakshasena established a separate independent kingdom at Indraprastha, which later rose to become a dominant force in its own right.

With the passage of time, the Bactrian and Scythian invasions of northern India, this Pandava branch established a kingdom at Kalanaur in what is now the modern-day district of Gurdaspur in Punjab (India) establishing the first capital of the Jarral Dynasty.

Jarral Rajputs are known as the descendants of the Pandavas and their branch was named after their apical ancestor, Raja Jir Rao, a Rajput descendant of the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. The Jarrals are therefore a brother tribe to the illustrious Janjua Rajputs of Punjab.

Kalanaur was later captured in the 12th century by the armies of the Ghorid empire after a battle with the Jarral Rajas. Jarral Rule over Rajouri was the longest in history-almost 647 years. this is the longest any dynasty rules in united India or in its Princely states.

Relations with the Ruling Empires of Kashmir

Jarrals and Rulers of Kashmir 1349 to 1820 AD

In 1349, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir and inaugurated the Salatin-i-Kashmir or Swati dynasty. For the next five centuries, Muslim monarchs ruled Kashmir, including the Mughals, who ruled from 1526 until 1751, then the Afghan Durrani Empire that ruled from 1747 until 1820. Jarral Dynasty in Rajouri was never challeneged by any outside force or different rulers up to 1820. No taxation/ changes were imposed on Jarral rule by any Hindu or Muslim ruler over Kashmir. Jarrals lived in harmony with other castes and religions. That year, the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir and the struggle between the Sikhs and Jarrals began.

Jarrals and the Mughals 1526 to 1750 AD

The Jarral Rajas of Rajouri accepted Mughal rule and even helped the Mughals in their conquests of the country.During this time the title 'Mirza' was conferred to Jarrals for bravery and assistace in the Mughal's conquests. Raja Mast Khan, a Jarral ruler received lands yielding revenues of Rs. 50,000 from the Mughal Emperor Akbar for his services rendered in conquests and campaigns.

A few inter-marriages took place between Royal Jarrals and Royal Mughals during this era.This was due to both clans understanding the need to remain and share of power hence allowing both sides men to marry opposite clans women. It brought them power, respect and stability. Although many Jarrals were married to Mughal women but they were not highly ranked Moghals while Shah Jahan requested the Jarral King, Raja Tajuddin Khan for the hand of his daughter, princess Nawab Bai Begum (also known as Raj Mahal Begum) for the Mughal prince, Muhiuddin Muhammed (who later became Emperor Aurangzeb). Nawab Bai was the only lady of Jarrals with status to marry into the Moghals. She was the second wife of Emperor Aurangzeb and bore two sons and a daughter namely Muhammad Sultan and Moazzam Shah a.k.a. Shah Alam Bahadur Shah-1. He became the Emperor of Mughal Empire after the death of Aurangzeb. The name of the daughter was Badarunnisa who died at the age of 19 years in 1673 and was a very pious princess. Prince Mohammad Sultan who was the eldest son died in 1676 in a supervised detention as he had revolted against his father Emperor Aurangzeb.

Jarrals and the Sikh Rule 1813 to 1846 AD

The period of the rise of the Sikhs to prominence and the Jarrals' relationship with them was one of turbulence, resistance, support and eventually rebellion.

In 1813, Raja Aghar Khan, came into conflict with Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He resisted, but was defeated, captured and later died in prison. His brother, Raja Rahimullah Khan was allowed a Jagir (estate) of 12,000 rupees.

In 1839-40, Raja Rahim Ullah Khan, Raja of Rajaur deputed his son Mirza Yahya Khan to lead a force of 500 men from Rajauri to accompany the Khalsa Force and the British Army to Peshawar and Kabul to suppress the uprising of the Afghans. Rajauri Force under his command successfully accomplished tasks of maintaining peace in the area of Ali Masjid where it stayed for about six months.

In 1845, on the request of Lahore Darbar, Mirza Yahya Khan led Rajauri Force of 1000 men placed under Sheikh Imam-Ud-Din's brigade to assist two armies of Prime Minister Raja Lal Singh and Sardar Tej Singh poised for the battles at Moodkee and Ferozshah against the British. The battle of Moodkee was fought on December 18, 1845, between the British, 12,000 strong, with 42 guns, under Sir Hugh Gough, and the Sikhs joined by their allies 30,000 strong, with 40 guns, under Sardar Tej Singh. The British loss was 872 killed and wounded, among the former being Generals M'Caskill and Sir Robert Sale. Mirza Yahya Khan was wounded during the battle at Moodkee.

On December 20, 1845, after the battle of Moodkee, Rajauri Force was quickly moved to join Lal Singh's army near Ferozshah. The combined forces of Sikhs and their allies fought with valor and determination. British Forces were contemplating laying down their arms and victory was a step away when Raja Lal Singh, the Prime Minister of the Punjab rode away from his Sikh and Allied Forces an act abhor by the Punjabis and the historians even today.

Excerpts from the book "The Last Sunset" Battle of Ferozshah

Governor General Sir Henry Hardinge and C-in-C General Sir Hugh Gough were quite aware that army's morale was low and would not stand another attack by the Sikh army.

Assuming the worst, Governor General Sir Hardinge sent instructions to his political Secretary Robert Cust and Frederick Currie to destroy all papers of the state.

While jubilant war cries of the Sikhs 'Jaikaras' and Muslims 'Allah Ho Akbar' intermingled with the blowing of the bugles and beating of the drums rang out above the sounds of the battle indicated victory over the British.

Brig Asburnham recorded later, 'I paced up and down and thought how the very fate of the British Empire seemed hanging on a thread.'

At that moment of victory on the night of 21/22 December, Lal Singh abandoned his army and left Ferozshah along with Ghorcharras. The Sikh army still fought bravely expecting Sardar Tej Singh to join the battle with his army which he never did. Both had already connived with the British that they will abort from the battle field if assured protection.

Commander-in-Chief General Sir Hugh Gough writes:

"Policy, however, precluded me publicly recording my sentiments on the splendid gallantry of our fallen foe, or to record the acts of heroism displayed not only individually, but almost collectively by the Sikh Sardars and army; I declare, were it not from a deep conviction that my country's good required the sacrifice, I would have wept to have witnessed the fearful slaughter of so devoted body of men".

Punjab would have had remained independent and out of the clutches of the British, had it not been the treacherous acts of Raja Lal Singh (Prime Minister of Punjab) and General Sardar Tej Singh commanding combined forces of Sikhs and its allies. One rode away and the former ordered retreat converting Victory into Defeat.

Raja Rahimullah Khan made friends with the Maharaja and was employed in many military expeditions, including one against Kashmir which proved successful, and for which he received a jagir worth Rs 50,000. This was held by him until his expatriation in 1841, when he made an assassination attempt on the life of the Dogra chieftain, Maharaja Gulab Singh

—Punjab Chiefs

Dogra Rule 1846 to 1947

In March 1846 AD, after the defeat of the Sikhs in the First Anglo-Sikh War, under the terms of "The Treaty of Amritsar", Maharaja Gulab Singh bought the whole of Kashmir from the British, which included the Rajouri Kingdom.Two Muslims rulers (Jarrals from Rajouri and Chibbs from Bimber) fought with the Dogra Rulers and were defeated. Other Muslim rulers of other estates neither aided other independent rulers nor rebelled against the Dogras. This defeat resulted in Jarral Royal family being relocated to punjab away from Rajouri.

The outgoing Royal Jarrals negotiated special concession with the Dogras and British Raj in which all Jarrals would remain in Rajouri except immediate ruling family who would move to new land provided in Punjab. The Jarrals who stayed in Rajouri would carried on their normal ranks in administration (Zaildari Nazam)under this agreement.

See also

• Pandavas
• Ghumman Rajputs

References

• See: Political History of Ancient India, 1996, pp 133, 219/220, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee; A History of India, pp 269–71, N. R. Ray, N. K. Sinha.
• Mahabharata 7.4.5.
• Rait Per Qadmon Ke Nishan (Footprints on Sand) by Raja Kaleem Ullah Khan, pub in 1992
• Chiefs of Punjab and Families of Note by Major W.L. Conran and H.D. Craik (ICS) –1909 & 1940
• History of the Punjab Hill States by John Hutchison and Jean Philippe Vogel
• The Old Cities of Punjab by Abdul Rehman
• Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab by Govt. of Punjab pub in 1940
• History of Rajgaan Rajaur by Mirza Zafar Ullah Khan pub in 1907
• British Raj in Punjab from 1847 to 1947 by Ian Talbot
• Tuzke Jahangiri 17th century
• Shahjahan Nama pub during Emperor Shahjahan's period in the 17th century
• The Punjab Chiefs by Sir Lepel H.Griffin, 1909 Lahore
• History of Punjab by Kanya Lal, 1875, Lahore
• "A HISTORY OF SEPOY WAR IN INDIA 1857-1858" by John William Kaye 1876
• Travels to Cashmere by H.T. Vigne Volume-1 & 2, 1833
• Travels in Kashmir & the Punjab by Baron Charles Von Hugel 1830 pub in 1846
• Hodson's Horse by Cardew 1876
• Mehr-e-Munir by Pir Sahib Golra Sharif Pir Mehr Ali Shah with reference to H.E. Lt. Colonel Raja Atta Ullah Khan of Wazirabad.
• Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladakh 1890
• Gazetteer of The Gujranwala District, Jagirdars and Leading Families, 1883–84
• Gazetteer of Gujranwala District, 1873 & 1936
• Travels in the Hamalayan Provinces of Hindustan & the Punjab Volume-II by William Moorcroft & George Trebeck 1819-25
• Chiefs of Punjab Hills States by J. Hutchison
• Genealogy of Indian Princely States by Henry Soszynski. http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/
• Rajouri Govt. of India website
• Testimonials published by Punjab Govt. 1900
• Jarrals websites under Google search engine and History of Jarrals
• Captive Princess: Zebunissa by Annie Krieger Krynicki (Sitara-e-Imtiaz)
• James W. Laine, Shivaji, Hindu King in Islamic India, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2003
• Muasir e Alamgiri, page 46
• A. V. William Jackson (ed.), History of India, Vol. IV, The Grolier Society Publishers, London, Baroda Edition 1903, page 148.
• Email pictures sent by Mr. Muzaffar Mir in 2006.
• The Mughal Throne (The Saga of India's Great Emperors) by Abraham Eraly-2003
• Indian History 712-1526
• Later Mughals 1707-1739 by William Irvine
• Sir Umar Hayat Khan Tiwana by Ghulan Rasool Mehr Chapter-5

• Rajput Qabail by Raja Sarwar Sulehria page 31.
• 2nd Muhammad shahbaz jarral barcelona Spain in book of Nasim hijazi Qaisar-o-Kasra