Manj

For the administrative subdivision of Iran, see Manj District.

Manj (or Manjj) are a[ Rajput/ jat] sub-clan from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Basically they are agriculturist,

The Indo-Aryan languages

The Indo-Aryan languages (within the context of Indo-European studies also Indic) constitutes a branch of the Indo-Iranian languages, itself a branch of the Indo-European language family.Indo-Aryan languages, includes punjabi and Urdu which is widely spoken by manjs.

Origin and history

Raja Salvihana, 3100 years from Krishna, from whom he was 26th in descent, had 84 sons, among whom were Tavesar, ancestor of the Tunwars, Ras Tavas, ancestor of the Taonis of Ambala, and Bisal, ancestor of the Bhattis. Rana Jundal, the 7th in descent from Bisal, ruled Bhatner. His son Achhal founded Jaiselmer. From him are decended the Manj and Bhatti tribes (see table below).

The Manj are the most widely distributed of all the sub-montane Rajputs. They hold the southwestern portion of Jullunder and the northwestern portion of Ludhiana, The Manj say that they are Bhatti Rajputs, descended from Raja Salvahan (Salivahana), father of Raja Rasalu of Sialkot. Some 600 years ago (14th Century) Shaikh Chachu and Shaikh Kilchi, two Manj Rajputs, are said to haved settled at Hatur in the southwest of Ludhiana, whence their descendents spread into the neighboring country; and the Jullunder traditions refer their conquest of the tract to the time of Ala-ud-din Khilji. As, however, they state that Tulsi Das (Tulsi Ram) was converted (to Islam) by Hazrat Makhdum Shah Jahaniya of Uchh, who died in 1383 A.D., it would appear that if the tradition has any foundation, Ala-ud-din Sayyid must be meant. Tulsi Ram assumed the name Shaikh Chachu (Reference: excerpts from the 1883 and 1892 Census Reports by Ibbetson and Maclagan)

After the dissolution of the Delhi empire the Manj Rais of Talwandi and Raikot ruled over an extensive territory south of the Sutlej, till dispossessed of it by the Ahluwalia Sikhs and Ranjit Singh; and even earlier than this the Manj Nawabs of Kot Isa Khan had attained considerable importance under the emporers. North of the Sutlej the Manj never succeeded in establishing a principality; but they had a large tract of country in the southwest of Jullunder District about Talwan, Nakodar, and Malsian, and held much of it in Jagir under the Mughals, but were dispossessed by Tara Singh Geba and the Sindhanwalia Sikhs.The Manj in Nabha claim to be descendents of Tulsi Ram (Tulsi Das or Shaikh Chachu), a descendent of Banni Pal, who flourished under Aurangzeb, and did much to allay the dissensions of the time. He earned many honors by military service and held charge of the Raikot State and a large part of the area now occupied by the Phulkian States (Nabha, Patiala, and Jind). See Sardar Wali Mohammed Khan's Page for the Manj Rajput Pedigree.The Manj are now all Musalman, though many were still Hindu after the time of Shaikh Chachu. In Ferozepur they still disallow karewa. Their genealogists live in Patiala, as do the Bhatti of Jullunder. In the Ain-i-Akbari the Manj are wrongly shown as Main, a title which is said to belong properly to the Ghorewaha of Ludhiana. See table below.(In the Kangri dialect the word Manj is said to mean 'in the middle')Manj of Jullunder.

Rana Jundal's son Achhal founded Jaisalmer. From him are descended the Manj and Bhatti Tribes. The following table appears in the Jullunder District Gazetteer of 1904.

"Rai Kalha III of Raikot, who appears to have been a ruler of very great ability, extended his power up to Ludhiana.He established independent power over the whole of Jagraon (the place of the Rais) and the greater part of Ludhiana Tahsils, and also a large portion of the Ferozepur District." The last chief of the Rai family of Raikot was Khan Bahadur Rai Inayat Khan Ref: Ludhiana Dist Gazetteers 1888-1904,Rajas Of Punjab 1870 by Sir Lepel Griffin, Chiefs of Punjab 1890,1909,1940.

Tulsi Das or Shaikh Chachu, who flourished under muslim rulers. He earned many honors and held charge of the Raikot State and a large part of the area later occupied by the Phulkian States.

Mughal Empire

After the dissolution of the Mughal Empire, the Manj Rais of Talwandi and Raikot ruled over an extensive territory south of the Satluj, till dispossessed of it by the Ahluwalia Sikhs and later by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Historic location

Manj Rajputs held large swaths of territory in Halwara, which is a township in Punjab state in India. Located in the Ludhiana District close to Village Toosa , Halwara lies on the Mullanpur-Raikot road. It is also famous for its Air Base.it is 33 km from ludhaina 15 km from mullanpur 6 km from sudhar. Recently there were plans to build an international airport in the city. The air force base was under plans to be converted, however the idea was dropped after much debate.

Religion Era

The Manj Rajputs are mostly Muslim, though minority remains Hindus after the time of Shaikh Chachu, and few are of the Sikh faith in Indian Punjab; they still disallow karewa.

Heritage havelies in Halwara Village

Ghore wali Haveli (Horse wali Haveli) is one old heritage haveli still existing. It is called so because the original owner used to climb up the stairs on his horse. Legend goes that he had build the ground floor, but then filled it with mud and build the present structure on top of it. It has its own well inside the forward courtyard. The owner of this haveli was Sardar Rai Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Father of Sardar Rai Muhammad Aslam Khan. Rai Aslam Khan later migrated to Pakistan after partition and his family still lives in mauza Adam Sahaba Rahimyar Khan district of Punjab, Pakistan.

Tulsi Das or Shaikh Chachu, who flourished under Aurangzeb, He earned many honors by military service and held charge of the Raikot State and a large part of the area later occupied by the Phulkian States.

Previous Settlement

There are many Manj families resided in the district of Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat,before partition. all are regarded jat in the region and they are actively involved in agricultural activities. many Manj families have migarated from India after Partition and settled in the province of Punjab,Pakistan. There are a few villages of Sikh Manj rajputs in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Fatehgarh sahib districts of Punjab (India), Manj use the title of Chaudhry,Rai,Rana,Khan.There are many Manj families resided in the district lahore alot of Manj Rajput live in the Villages of disrect Lahore Pakistan (KAMASS,MAL,SULTANKE,BHAI KOT, MANIK,PAJIAN,RAIWIND,MANGA MONDI) and many other village in Lahore disrect.They saleted in here after the Partition they belong from PATILA state.Many Manj Rajput from Indiain Punjab PATIALA state the village (BHADAL WADH).Some faimiles of Manj Rajput sateled in Kamalia city they belong to (BHADAL WADH)Punjab India.

Post-Partition Resettlement Pakistan

• Faisalabad District
• Gujranwala District Rana Imran Aslam Khan 0300 4862786 Journalist At Gujranwala .
• Rahim Yar Khan District
• Sahiwal District
• Sargodha District
• Sheikhupura District
• Sidhupur District
• Toba Tek Singh District

• before partition settlement.
• Mandi Bahauddin District
• Gujrat District

Non resident Pakistani

• Congo Democratic Republic
• Hong Kong
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

External links

• Homie Khan's Namdar Page With Information On Manjj Rajputs
• [1] Indo-Aryan peoples