Kanyals
Encyclopedia
PAWAN KANYAL
The Kanyal or sometimes spelt Kanial, are tribe of both Jats and Rajputs status, found in the Punjab
province of Pakistan, and also in Azad Kashmir
, kumaon . In the Kumaon
region of Uttarakhand
, the Kanial are a Hindu
Rajput
clan]].
, India
and trace their descent to Jambu Loachon, the founder of the city of Jammu. He had a son named Raja Puran Karan, from whom the tribe claims descent. The word aal means of the lineage in several South Asia
n languages, thus the tribe are Karanyaal, or the descendants of Karan. Over time this was corrupted to Kanyal. They are thus a branch of the Manhas Rajput tribe. At sometime in the distant past, the Kanyal of the Pothohar region converted to Islam
.
In the Kumaon
region of India
, the Kanials have various stories about the emergence of the tribe. According to the traditions of the Kanyal, they originated from the town of Kanyalichina in Pithoragarh district
, and established settlements in Kanda in Bageshwar district], and Didihat in Pithoragarh district
of Uttrakhand. They are a clan of Hindu
Pahari Rajput
s.
Further Kanyal or Kanial tribes in the Rawalpindi District
have always been considered as a high ranking clan of the Rajput tribe. They have been settled for hundreds of years in the Rawalpindi District
, and have gained a reputation as being one of the major tribes in the whole of the eastern part of the Pothohar region. Kanyals like other Rajput
clans originally gained a degree of infamy for brutally murdering neighbouring tribes on several occasions. Although there has been no trouble for a while now, they are still considered as a martial tribe. The area surrounding Gujar Khan holds the main villages of the Kanyal tribe, such as Dhera Kanyal and Mohra Kanyal.
Generally in Rawalpindi, the tribe is considered Rajput
, while in the other districts such Gujrat
they are considered Jats, and have historically intermarried with neighbouring tribes such as the Thathaal
and Bangial
.
, Jhelum
and Rawalpindi
Districts of Punjab
, basically throughout the eastern half of the Pothohar region. They are also a few settlements across the Salt Range
in Bhakkar District
. In Azad Kashmir
, they are found in southern districts of Mirpur
and Bhimber
.
, where the village of Kanyal in Bhakkar District
is an important centre of the tribe.
Villages Eastern and Western kanyalanwala near Harnoli in district Mianwali
and Jal near Douaba are also Kanyal tribe population areas.
In the Kumaon region of uttrakhand in India,they are found in kanyalichina in Pithoragarh district
,
In Punjab
, they are found mainly in Gujar Khan Tehsil
and Jhelum District
.
Dhera Kanial and Mohra Kanial are important villages in Rawalpindi Tehsil.
Habib Kanial, Kanial, Dhera Kanial, Mohra Kanial, Sahot Kanyal, Dhok Kanyal, Atit Kanial, Dhaia Kanial and Dhok Manna
are part of a cluster of Kanial villages in Gujar Khan Tehsil
. It is Gujar Khan
and neighbouring Dadyal
, which has the highest concentration of the tribe
Mohra Kanial and Dhok Kanial are important villages in Jhelum District
.
Mohra Kanyal village in Dadyal
Tehsil of Mirpur District
, is an important centre of the tribe in Azad Kashmir
.
The Kanyal or sometimes spelt Kanial, are tribe of both Jats and Rajputs status, found in the Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
province of Pakistan, and also 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...
, kumaon . In the Kumaon
Kumaon
Kumaon usually refers to:* Kumaon division, an administrative division of the state of Uttarakhand in Northern India* Kumaon Regiment, a highly-decorated regiment of the Indian Army* Kumaon University, in Nainital, Uttarakhand, India...
region of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, the Kanial are a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clan]].
History and origin
According to their tradition, the Kanyal originate from JammuJammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and trace their descent to Jambu Loachon, the founder of the city of Jammu. He had a son named Raja Puran Karan, from whom the tribe claims descent. The word aal means of the lineage in several South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n languages, thus the tribe are Karanyaal, or the descendants of Karan. Over time this was corrupted to Kanyal. They are thus a branch of the Manhas Rajput tribe. At sometime in the distant past, the Kanyal of the Pothohar region converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
In the Kumaon
Kumaon
Kumaon usually refers to:* Kumaon division, an administrative division of the state of Uttarakhand in Northern India* Kumaon Regiment, a highly-decorated regiment of the Indian Army* Kumaon University, in Nainital, Uttarakhand, India...
region of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the Kanials have various stories about the emergence of the tribe. According to the traditions of the Kanyal, they originated from the town of Kanyalichina in Pithoragarh district
Pithoragarh District
Pithoragarh district is the easternmost Himalayan district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is naturally landscaped with high Himalayan mountains, snow capped peaks, passes, valleys, alpine meadows, forests, waterfalls, perennial rivers, glaciers and springs. The flora and fauna of this area...
, and established settlements in Kanda in Bageshwar district], and Didihat in Pithoragarh district
Pithoragarh District
Pithoragarh district is the easternmost Himalayan district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is naturally landscaped with high Himalayan mountains, snow capped peaks, passes, valleys, alpine meadows, forests, waterfalls, perennial rivers, glaciers and springs. The flora and fauna of this area...
of Uttrakhand. They are a clan of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Pahari Rajput
Pahari Rajput
The term Pahari Rajput refers to a number of Pahari-speaking Rajput clans found along the southern slopes of the Pir Panjal in Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani administered Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand....
s.
Further Kanyal or Kanial tribes in the Rawalpindi District
Rawalpindi District
Rawalpindi is a district of Pakistan in the north of the Punjab province which contains the city of Rawalpindi. The district has an area of . It was part of Rawalpindi Division, until the year 2000 when the division was abolished...
have always been considered as a high ranking clan of the Rajput tribe. They have been settled for hundreds of years in the Rawalpindi District
Rawalpindi District
Rawalpindi is a district of Pakistan in the north of the Punjab province which contains the city of Rawalpindi. The district has an area of . It was part of Rawalpindi Division, until the year 2000 when the division was abolished...
, and have gained a reputation as being one of the major tribes in the whole of the eastern part of the Pothohar region. Kanyals like other Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clans originally gained a degree of infamy for brutally murdering neighbouring tribes on several occasions. Although there has been no trouble for a while now, they are still considered as a martial tribe. The area surrounding Gujar Khan holds the main villages of the Kanyal tribe, such as Dhera Kanyal and Mohra Kanyal.
Generally in Rawalpindi, the tribe is considered Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
, while in the other districts such Gujrat
Gujrat District
Gujrat is a district of Punjab Province in Pakistan. It is an ancient district located in between two famous rivers, the Jhelum and Chenab. Because of its proximity with the rivers the land is good for cultivation with rice and sugar cane as main crops...
they are considered Jats, and have historically intermarried with neighbouring tribes such as the Thathaal
Thathaal
Thathal , also referred to as Thothal and Thathiyal , is a Rajput/Jatt clan of the area between Salt Range, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Narowal district, Kharian Pubbi and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan. Thathals are also found in Hoshiarpur and Himachal Pradesh, India...
and Bangial
Bangial
The Bangial, or sometime spelt Bangyal are a tribe of Rajputs found principally in the Potohar region of Punjab, Pakistan. They also to be a found in the Jhelum, Gujrat and Gujranwala districts of the Punjab.-History and origins:...
.
Distribution
They are found mainly in GujratGujrat District
Gujrat is a district of Punjab Province in Pakistan. It is an ancient district located in between two famous rivers, the Jhelum and Chenab. Because of its proximity with the rivers the land is good for cultivation with rice and sugar cane as main crops...
, Jhelum
Jhelum District
Jhelum District is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According the 1998 census the district had a population of 936,957, of which 31.48% were urban. Jhelum is known for providing a large number of soldiers to the British and later to the Pakistan armed forces due to which it is also known as...
and Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi District
Rawalpindi is a district of Pakistan in the north of the Punjab province which contains the city of Rawalpindi. The district has an area of . It was part of Rawalpindi Division, until the year 2000 when the division was abolished...
Districts of Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, basically throughout the eastern half of the Pothohar region. They are also a few settlements across the Salt Range
Salt Range
The Salt Range is a hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to the Indus, across the northern portion of the Punjab province. The Salt Range contains the great mines of Mayo, Khewra, Warcha...
in Bhakkar District
Bhakkar District
Bhakkar is a District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The district was created in 1981 with Bhakkar city as the capital. It is located between 31° 10' and 32° 22' N. and 70° 47' and 72° E. with an area of , most of it lies in the desolate plain of the Thal, but the Kachhi or strip of...
. 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...
, they are found in southern districts of Mirpur
Mirpur District
Mirpur District is a district in the disputed and divided state of [Jammu and Kashmir]. The district is named after the main city, Mirpur. The District of Mirpur has a population of 371,000 and covers an area of . The district is mainly mountainous with some plains...
and Bhimber
Bhimber District
Bhimber is the southernmost of the eight districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir it borders Indian-administered Kashmir to the east. The district is located between Latitude: 32-48 to 33-34 and Longitude: 73.55 to 74-45, and has an area of 1516 km². The chief town is Bhimber.-History:The area is...
.
Villages
The Kanyal are found as far south as the Thal DesertThal Desert
The Thal desert is situated in Punjab, Pakistan. It is vast area mainly between the Jhelum and Sindh rivers near the Pothohar Plateau. Its total length from north to south is 190 miles, and its maximum breadth is while minimum breadth is 20 miles. This region is divided into the districts of...
, where the village of Kanyal in Bhakkar District
Bhakkar District
Bhakkar is a District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The district was created in 1981 with Bhakkar city as the capital. It is located between 31° 10' and 32° 22' N. and 70° 47' and 72° E. with an area of , most of it lies in the desolate plain of the Thal, but the Kachhi or strip of...
is an important centre of the tribe.
Villages Eastern and Western kanyalanwala near Harnoli in district Mianwali
Mianwali
Mianwali is the capital city of Mianwali District and situated in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. The city is located on the eastern bank of the Indus River...
and Jal near Douaba are also Kanyal tribe population areas.
In the Kumaon region of uttrakhand in India,they are found in kanyalichina in Pithoragarh district
Pithoragarh District
Pithoragarh district is the easternmost Himalayan district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is naturally landscaped with high Himalayan mountains, snow capped peaks, passes, valleys, alpine meadows, forests, waterfalls, perennial rivers, glaciers and springs. The flora and fauna of this area...
,
In Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, they are found mainly in Gujar Khan Tehsil
Gujar Khan Tehsil
Gujar Khan Tehsil, head-quartered at Gujar Khan, is one of the seven Tehsils of Rawalpindi District in the Punjab province of Pakistan...
and Jhelum District
Jhelum District
Jhelum District is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According the 1998 census the district had a population of 936,957, of which 31.48% were urban. Jhelum is known for providing a large number of soldiers to the British and later to the Pakistan armed forces due to which it is also known as...
.
Dhera Kanial and Mohra Kanial are important villages in Rawalpindi Tehsil.
Habib Kanial, Kanial, Dhera Kanial, Mohra Kanial, Sahot Kanyal, Dhok Kanyal, Atit Kanial, Dhaia Kanial and Dhok Manna
Dhok Manna
Dhok Manna is a village in Rawalpindi District. It is located at 33°8'30" North, 73°10'20" East. Most of the population belong to the Gujjar and Kanyal tribe....
are part of a cluster of Kanial villages in Gujar Khan Tehsil
Gujar Khan Tehsil
Gujar Khan Tehsil, head-quartered at Gujar Khan, is one of the seven Tehsils of Rawalpindi District in the Punjab province of Pakistan...
. It is Gujar Khan
Gujar Khan Tehsil
Gujar Khan Tehsil, head-quartered at Gujar Khan, is one of the seven Tehsils of Rawalpindi District in the Punjab province of Pakistan...
and neighbouring Dadyal
Dadyal
Dadyal or Dadyaal is a town situated in the Mirpur district of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The town consists of more than 70 smaller villages. Like much of the Mirpur District, Dadyal has descendants of inhabitants that emigrated to the United Kingdom between the 1950s and 1980s...
, which has the highest concentration of the tribe
Mohra Kanial and Dhok Kanial are important villages in Jhelum District
Jhelum District
Jhelum District is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According the 1998 census the district had a population of 936,957, of which 31.48% were urban. Jhelum is known for providing a large number of soldiers to the British and later to the Pakistan armed forces due to which it is also known as...
.
Mohra Kanyal village in Dadyal
Dadyal
Dadyal or Dadyaal is a town situated in the Mirpur district of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The town consists of more than 70 smaller villages. Like much of the Mirpur District, Dadyal has descendants of inhabitants that emigrated to the United Kingdom between the 1950s and 1980s...
Tehsil of Mirpur District
Mirpur District
Mirpur District is a district in the disputed and divided state of [Jammu and Kashmir]. The district is named after the main city, Mirpur. The District of Mirpur has a population of 371,000 and covers an area of . The district is mainly mountainous with some plains...
, is an important centre of the tribe 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...
.