Janjua

The Janjua (also spelt janjua'', Junjua, Janjuah'') is a Rajput clan found predominantly in Pakistan's Punjab Pothohar Plateau.

History

Connection with the Hindu Shahis

The 10th century Arab historian Masudi mentioned that in his time the kings of Gandhara were all called "" (which has been variously read ''Hajaj'', ''J.haj'' or ''Ch'hach''), while the area of Gandhara itself was called "country of the ''Rahbūt''" (Rajputs). Elliot transliterated the character to "Hahaj" and Cunningham had it equated to the Janjua tribe/clan, who were held to be descendants of Juan-Juan Khaganate. Rahman doubts this theory and instead transliterates to "J.haj", an Arabicised form of ''Chhachh'', which is even today the name of the region around the Hindu Shahi capital of Hund.

Delhi Sultanate Period

The Janjuas were allies of the Mongols during the reign of Balban, who launched a punitive expedition to the region, capturing a large number of horses. The author of the Tarikh-i Mubarak Shahi states that two sons of Raja Jodh waited on the Dehli Sultan and converted to Islam during this period, transpiring that the Janjuas went over to Balban. Janjuas continued allying themselves with the Mongols, but the region of Koh-i-Jud was ravaged for the first time by the Mongols during the Alai era for refusing to act as a guide for the Mongols. Sultan Alauddin, considering the Janjuas as his co-religionists, kept all the northern forts under their custody and acknowledged their suzerainty in the region.

Mughal period

In the 16th century, the Mughal Emperor Humayun was usurped by the Pashtun king Sher Shah Suri, who constructed the Rohtas Fort in Punjab to check Humayun's entry into Hindustan, and also to keep a check on the local tribes including Gakhars as well as Janjuas.

Sikh period

The expansion of the Sikh Empire, spearheaded by Ranjit Singh, was met with a rebellion by the Janjua Sultan of Watli, Sultan Fateh Muhammad Khan. A six-month siege of Kusuk Fort in Watli followed and this was ended when the inhabitants ran short of water.

The ''Kala Khan'' branch of Rawalpindi Janjuas fortunes were also eclipsed by the rise of the Sikh Empire.

British period

By the time the British Raj took an interest in conquering the Sikhs in 1848–49, they were joined by opportunistic tribes such as the Janjua, Gakhars and Awans who had lost control of their centuries-old ancestral kingdoms to the imperial Sikh Empire and sought revenge. Tai Yong Tan says that "Besides being impressed with their track record, the British saw in them, with their traditional and historical enmity against the Sikhs, an effective counterpoise against the latter."

The Janjua rebellion against the Sikh Empire was a political rebellion, as the Janjua were initially keen allies to the Sukerchakia Misl.

During the nineteenth century, they were listed as a martial race. During this period, due to their high aristocratic status, the Janjuas refused to serve in any regiment that was not commanded by either a Janjua or another commander of equal social standing. This preference was honoured by the British when selecting regiments for them.

References

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Punjabi tribes
Social groups of Pakistan
History of Pakistan
Tribes of Rawalpindi District