Johiya Rajaputras: Jangladesh & South Punjab

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Joiya Rajput:

Johiya (also known as Joia, Joiya, Joyia, Joya, Joyea, Joeia and Joeya, claims to be a Chandravanshi Rajput clan in Northern India and Pakistan.
The Jats also have a clan named Johiya.

Joiya or Joiya is a Rajput clan of Northern India and Pakistan.
Joiya are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans or ‘Eka’. In ancient chronicles they are described as “Lords of Jangladesh,” as a tract which comprehended Hariana, Bhattiana, Bhatner and Nagor. They also held, in common with Dahiya with whom their name is always coupled, the banks of the Indus and Sutlej under their influence.

Origin:

Joiyas are identified with Yaudheya or Yaudheya Gana who were an ancient tribal confederation who lived in the area between the Indus river and the Ganges river. They are mention in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi and Ganapatha. There are other references of them namely in Mahabharata, Mahamayuri, Brihat-Samhita, Puranas, Chandravyakarana and Kashika. References span from writings of early medieval period, and the chronology of Yaudheyas from as early as 500 BCE till 1200 CE. They were in zenith of their power from about 200 BC to 400 A.D.

The Joiyas during the Middle Kingdoms:

The Yaudhey people inhabited the areas on the banks of the Satadru (Sutlej) river which latter became part of the princely state of Bahawalpur in today’s province of Punjab (Pakistan).

The coins of the Yaudhey clan have also been found in the areas between the Sutlej and the Yamuna rivers in the Sonepat fort of Rohtak in the state of Haryana in India. These coins are marked in Sanskrit as “Yaudhey Ganasya Jay”. The Yaudhey clan was also in existence during the Mahabharata period.

The Yaudheys or Joiyas were known for their bravery. They fought with the Guptas, the Mauryas and the Kushans. They occupied ancient areas like Marwar, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. Rajasthan.Rang Mahal was their capital (ruined city near Ganganagar in India). Rang Mahal culture is spread over in Ghaggar valley and its painted wares are quite different from that of the Harappan period.

The Joiya and the Rathore Rajputs:

Before their state in Jangladesh was annexed by the Rathores, the Joiyas had six-hundred villages under their rule. Sher Singh was their ruler and Bhuroopal was their capital and was a great warrior. He gave a tough fight to the Rathores. Rao Bika, the Rathore ruler then aligned himself with the Godara Jats.

The Godara Jats were the most powerful of the six clans of Jats ruling over Jangladesh. Bika along with the Godaras attacked the Joiyas and defeated them. The greatest war between the Rathores and the Joiyas was fought at the village of Dhaka near Sidhmukh.
In the middle of 16th century they were expelled from Joiya capitalof Bikaner by the Rathore rulers with the help of Mughal Emperor Akbar. According to Ain –i-Akbari, volume II section 195,Joiyas were the predominant caste in Mahals(districts)of Sirsa, in Sarkar of Hisar Firozah and in Rajpur, Shergarh, Fathpur and Kahror in Sarkar of Bet Jalandhar Doab, where semi independent state of Fathpur (Vehari) was founded by Raja Fateh Khan Joiya/Joyia. Lateron Daulat Khan Joyia and his descendants (Daulatana) ruled this area and Kahror till 1754,when Amir Mubarik Khan Abbasi conquered and made this area as part of Bhawlalpur state. In Sirsa Joiyas ruled and even helped Bhattis in conquering Bhatnair from Rathores. History of Bhatnair tells us that this fort has been ruled by Joyias, Chayal, Bhatis and Rathores. Though after the great famine of 1783,this area was devastated and migration took place.

This vacuum was filled by the British adventurer Thomas Cook, who ruled this area for few years and latter on taken by Marhattas and finally annexed by the Britishers. Joyias (mostly Hindus) are still living in this area. Moti Chand Joiya was MP in Harayana assembly, whereas Muslim Joiyas migrated to Pakistan and are settled in Pakpattan and Sahiwal districts. The Holy shrine of Hazrat Sultan Mahmood Joiyas is in district Ferozpur and revered by Muslims and Hindus alike.

Conversion to Islam:

Johiyas were converted to Islam by the well known sufi saint Hazrat Baba Fareed Shaker Gunj, in 12th century, whose shrine is in ,Ajoodhun and from whom the place derives its modern name of Pakpattan (District in Punjab, Pakistan), meaning ‘the ferry of the pure ones’.”

Baba Fareed converted three Joiya brothers, Lunan, Ber and Wasul to Islam and blessed Lunan saying “Lunan, dunan, chaunan,” i.e., “may Lunan’s posterity multiply”. These thee brothers captured the fortress of Bhatinda from the Slave Kings of Delhi and ruled its territory, with Sirsa and Bhatner independently.

Joiya Sects:

There are numerous Joiya sects totaling somewhere around 46 in number. Of these the more important are the Bhaderas, Lakhweras, Daultanas, Nihalkas, Ghazi Khananas and Jalwanas, their ancestor having been designated Naik-o-Kar Bhai or the Virtuous Brothers, by Abdullah Jahanian, a Muslim saint. Most of the names of the Joiya sects end with a -ka or -era.

The other principal sects are Akoke, Bhalana, Bhatti, Firozke, Hassanke, Jamlera, Jhagdeke, Jugeke, Lakhuke, Langahke, Laleke, Mihruke, Mummunke, Panjera, Ranuke, Sabuke, Shaikhuke, Sanatheke, Shahbake, Admera,Malkera, Sahuka and Saldera.

Joiya:

1.Lakhwara
2.Sauka
3.Daultana
4.Lalika
5.Lukhoka
6.Akoka
7.Momoka
8.Saldara
9.Gatara
10.Gazikhanana

References:

Majumdar, R. C. (1977). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 129–130, 231. ISBN 9788120804364.
Jump up ^ Gupta, Parmanand (1989). Geography from Ancient Indian Coins & Seals. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 20, 63. ISBN 9788170222484.
Dasgupta, K.K. A Tribal History of Ancient India: A Numismatic Approach, Calcutta, 1974.
Lahiri, Bela Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 BC - 320 AD), University of Calcutta, 1974.
Vedic and Aryan India by H. S Bhatia.
Pargiter, F.E. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition Motilal
Banarasidass, Delhi, 1972 pp.109
Junagadh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman I, accessed on 23 March 2007.
Rosenfield, “The dynastic art of the Kushans”, p132
Rapson, “A catalogue of the Indian coins in the British Museum”, p.lx Source
Allahabad Posthumous Stone Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta, accessed on 23 Marah, 2007.
Allan, John A Catalogue of the Indian Coins in the British Museum (Ancient India), London, 1936, Pl. XXXIX.22
Allan, John A Catalogue of the Indian Coins in the British Museum (Ancient India), London, 1936, Pl. XXXIX.22
Rose HA Lesser Known Tribes of NW India and Pakistan, New Delhi, 1870
Rose, H.A. Lesser Known Tribes of NW India and Pakistan. Delhi 1890.
Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934.
Dasgupta, K.K. A Tribal History of Ancient India: A Numismatic Approach, Calcutta, 1974.
Lahiri, Bela Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. - 320 A.D.), University of Calcutta, 1974.
Bahawalpur gazetteer.
Vedic and Aryan India by H. S Bhatia
Imperial Gazetter Sirsa
District Vehari
Sandal Bar by Ahmed Ghazali
Dastan-e- Daultana by Wakil Anjam
History of Bhatanier by Hari Singh Bhatti

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