Domaal Rajputs

The Domaal Rajputs are a Muslim Rajput tribe found principally in the divided district of Poonch in Jammu & Kashmir, as well as Rajouri District in Indian-administered Kashmir and Bagh District in Azad Kashmir.^[1]

There are 8,000 Domaals in India and 28,000 in Pakistan.^{[citation needed]}

History

According to their traditions, there was once a Mala Rajput who went to Kargil. There, he contracted a marriage with a Buddhist woman. The community claims descent from the progeny of this marriage. There are also a number traditions as to the origin of the Domaal tribe. One makes them out to be a branch of the Janjua Rajputs. Another connects them with the Chib tribe of Bhimber, and according to this claims, the Domaal descend from two brothers Dharam Chand and Puran Chand. Dharam Chand on a visit to Delhi converted to Islam. For this action, he was excommunicated by members of his tribe. They chose his younger brother Puran Chand as the new chief of the tribe. He too latter converted to Islam, and took the name Dom Khan. The Domaal are the descendants of Dom Khan, the suffix aal among Pahari Rajput clans signifies descent. According to some sources, they account for 35% of the population in Rajauri Tehsil.^[2]

The community occupies the southwestern slopes of the Pir Panjal range. Their villages are found along the slopes of hills overlooking a number of tributaries falling into the Poonch River and Chenab River.^[1]

Notable Domaal Rajputs include Sardar Feroz Khan (father of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Khan Karelvi), Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan (former Prime Minister and President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir), Sardar Mahmood Khan, and Sardar Karamdad Khan (former Chairman Phagwari Azad Kashmir).

According to one tradition, there was once a Mala Rajput who went to Kargil. There, he contracted a marriage with a Buddhist woman. The community claims descent from the progeny of this marriage. There are also other traditions as to the origin of the Domaal tribe. One makes them out to be a branch of the Janjua Rajputs. Another connects them with the Chib tribe of Bhimber, and according to this tradition, the Domaal descend from Purabh Chand. Dharm Chand and Purabh chand were two brothers hailing from the 7th generation of Raja Chib Chand of Bhimber Pakistan. Dharm chand the elder brother of Purabh chand first embraced Islam at Delhi and could not return to Bhimber because of familial conflicts. It is also believed that he was killed on the way while retuning to Bhimber. When the members of the community came to know that Dharm chand embraced Islam at Delhi, they made Purabh Chand the king of the Bhimber. Later on Purabh chand also converted to Islam after becoming the King of Bhimber and changed the name from Purabh chand to Dom Khan, (second son of his father) thus Domal Rajputs claimed their descendency from Raja Dom Khan, after some time he migrated from Bhimber and settled in Rajouri Village Rajdhani. Raja Dom Khan was buried at Narrouni a small village Near Rajdhani. Domal Rajputs still celebrate his death anniversary every year by offering Fateha at his grave. Domal Rajputs reside in various villages of Manjakote block of Tehsil Rajouri and constituting about 35% of total Muslim Population of Tehsil Rajouri.[2]

The community occupies the southwestern slopes of the Pir Panjal range. Their villages are found along the slopes of hills overlooking a number of tributaries falling into the Poonch River and Chenab River.[1]

Notable Domaal Rajputs include Sardar Feroz Khan (father of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Khan Karelvi), Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan (former Prime Minister and President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir), Sardar Mahmood Khan, and Sardar Karamdad Khan (former Chairman Phagwari Azad Kashmir).

See also

• Ethnic groups of Azad Kashmir
• Muslim Rajputs
• Jammu & Kashmir

References

1. ^ ^{a b} People of India: Jammu & Kashmir (Volume XXV), editors K N Pandita, S.D.S Charak and B.R. Rizvi 2003. ISBN 8173041180
2. ^ • Socio-Cultural and Economic Changes among Muslim Rajputs: A Case Study of Rajouri District in J&K by DR. M. MAZAMMIL HUSSAIN MALIK Vol. 3, Issue 11 Epilogue, November 2009 www.epilogue.in