Johal

Map showing land under dominion of White Huns - Johals, c. 520 AD.

Johal (also known as Jovals, Jauvla, Jauhal Jauhla) is a prominent Jatt family clan originally from from North India. The Johals are Jat found both in Punjab, India and Punjab, Pakistan.

Most of the Johal clan/family members now reside in England, Canada, and United States. They are considered to be one of the most powerful and prominent Sikh families in Europe, Asia, and N. America.

History

Lineage

Johals are cohal direct descendent's of Hepthalites, also known as White Huns. White Huns were a division of the Massagetae, who invaded North India during A.D. 460-470. Thomas Watters (British Acting Consul General in Korea from (1887-1888) [51] writes "----country (North-West of India) was conquered by the Yeta (White Huns), i.e., the Yets or Gats apparently near the end of our fifth century. The Yeta, who were a powerful people in Central Asia, in the fifth century, are also said to have been of the Yue-Chi (Kushan) stock---". The leader of the White Huns called "Toramana" was throned in A.D. 495 and established his capital at Sakala (modern Sialkot, Punjab). According to Inscriptions, the full name of the king was Maharaja ("Great King) Toramana Shaha JAUVLA (Jauhal).

Later, In A.D. 510, Mihirakula succeeded his father as the "Great" king. Sir Cunningham says Jauvla was the name of their tribe or clan. According to him, the name of the Jabuli tribe of the White Huns is still preserved in Zabulistan (land of Jauvla, today's Zabul) and their language called "Zauli" also still existed in the tenth century A.D. [45]. Furthermore, White Huns or Jauvla are the direct ancestors of dark-age times Jat clan name called "Jauhla" and modern days "Johals". Jat Sikhs called Johal could be found in several western countries, today.

In A.D. 520 Mihirakula succeeded his father Toramana Jauvla. In turn Mihirakula was succeeded by his son called Ajitanjaya and after the disintegration of their Indian empire the Jauvala or Johals secured for themselves Zabulistan or Jabulistan. It is interesting to note the remarks of Sir Cunningham [45] concerning the reading of a coin of White Huns "But in the two Pahlavi legends of the reverse I read on the left ----and to the right Zaulistan (Jaulistan)". This says it very well that the actual name is "Jaulistan" (land of Jauls or Johals) instead of "Zabulistan".

Theory of origin

History shows that between the range of 1000 to 3000 years ago (1000 B.C. through 1000 A.D.), Central Asian tribes classified as Indo-Iranian/Indo-European/Indo-Aryan migrated into both Europe and South Asia. These tribal names stayed intact in some places which were settled such as India due to a strong tradition of heritage preservation. (Alternatively, these tribes may have originated from South Asia and spread into Central Asia)

In general the Nordic and Celtic tribes went into Scandinavia and Northern Europe earlier, while the Slavic groups of tribes migrated into Northern Asia. Later on, such tribes as the Scythians, Alans, Sarmatians and the Huns also spread. Germanic tribes, perhaps as related to the Nordic, came latest in contemporary history. The Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, etc. overran the faltering Roman Empire. All of these have presupposed common "Aryan" descent from the original Indo-European inhabitants of Central Asia. Indo-Iranian is the preferred term, as Iran translates literally to 'Aryan' and has the most ancient verifiable civilization of the Aryan groups.

Alexander The Great also introduced Greek influence into the South Asian region at around the same time as the Scythians. It is noteworthy that he skirmished with Scythians along the way (and is reputed to have built the Caspian Gates).

In contemporary scholarship, the Jats of Northern India (found today in the Punjab region of Pakistan and India) are opined to be from the Scythian, Saka, White Hun, Yuezhi, Parthian, Greco-Bactrian migrations/settlements/invasions into the region in the immediate period starting from a few centuries B.C. to a few centuries A.D. The history of the individual tribes would shed more light on their specific ancestry.

Historians, anthropologists, and military leaders alike from the British Empire remarked on the physical, cultural, and linguistic similarity between the Jatts and other Indo-European groups nearby such as the Pashtun of Afghanistan. The caucasian look as it was known at the time, though not predominating through the entire group as it did with the Pashtun, was common amongst the Jatts.

Religion

Sikh Johals

A few of Johals converted to Sikhism during the period of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, during his four journeys. As time passed, more and more converted to Sikhism but Sikhism became a "official" religion of Johals during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjab). Most of Johals now-a-days are Sikhs.

Others

Johals who belong to Anglicanism can be found in Great Britain, and Protestant Johals can be found in Germany, especially in Jutland.

Prominent Johals

• Baljit Singh Johal - Honrary Chairman Business Advisory Council Washington D C USA
• Harpreet Singh Johal - Western Vice President Scotiabank
• Janmeja Singh Johl - Artist and documentor of punjab
• Harjit Singh Johal - Software Engineer Godrej
• Amana Johal - jatt of punjab.
• Jagir Singh Johal - Transport Manager in Oman at Double Crown Group of Industries and agriculture Engineer also since 25 years.
• Professor Kuldip Singh Johal - MBA (Doctorate in Business Administration), Brunel University
• Ekamjot Singh Johal - Head of S.D.S.P.P.S students union, Punjab
• Darbara Singh - Former Chief Minister,Punjab
• Sardara Singh - Ex Vice Chairman Planning Commission Punjab
• Satwant Singh - IAS Municipal Commissioner,Jalandhar
• Dr. Kuldeep Kaur Johal - Doctorate in Plant Pathology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, INDIA, Senior Mycologist, Fremont, California
• Asa Singh - Order of British Columbia, Canadian Billionaire, Chairman of Terminal Sawmill Group, University of British Columbia Board of Governors, Director of BC Children's Hospital
• Narinder Singh - Chairman of West Coast Panthers
• Piara Singh - Lord and Mayor of Leicester, UK
• Surinder K. - Lord and Mayor of Banbury, UK
• Aman - 2006 Young Artist Award Winner
• Terry Avtar Singh Johal - CEO MD ,World Financial Group. President of Indo canadian Business Association of Canada
• Sardara Singh - Ex-Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University, Hoshiarpur
• Harjeet Singh - Founder and Chairman of UnderFivePounds.com, Inc., Youngest Millionare in Britain
• Amandeep Singh - Famous Asian Golfer
• Dilbagh Singh Johal - Civil Judge, Punjab
• Dr. D.S. Johal - President of G.N University
• H.S. Johal - Chairman Planning Board of New Jersey
• Jaswinder Singh - Politician, Liberal Party of Canada
• Amrit Shahbaz Singh Johal - Pilot
• Bill Johal - MD of Bee Services UK
• Aarun Johal - Former child genius from Derby currently studying Economics at University of Birmingham
• Manvir Johal - Mixed Martial Arts
• Harmandeep Singh Johal - jatt of punjab and lover of Mandeep Kaur Dhillon
• Perminder Johal - British Property Developer
• Dr. Navroop Singh Johal
• Abhineesh Johal- MBA, CA UK
• Sardar Bhagwaan Singh Johal- Famous Sikh Scholar - Announcer
• Bindy Johal- Famous indo-canadian gangster

See also

• List of sports persons

Parminder Singh Johal. Inter-national Basketball player.