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Revision as of 22:43, 14 August 2006 by 72.78.181.133 (talk) (→Among Dalits)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Atwal (also Attwal or Athwal) is a clan name or Gotra of Jats from the Punjab region of Northern India and Pakistan.
Atwal is a clan primarily of Dalits that has merged with Jatts through intermarriage. Overtime they have started to call themselves as Jatt. Many Jatts have outcaste Atwals and consider Atwal to be "degraded" Jatts for marrying into Dalits.
Among Dalits
Atwal is also the name of a Dalit clan/sub-caste in the Punjab. I don't believe it that Atwals' were ever Dalits.
Religion
After settling in West Punjab, many Atwal Jats converted to Islam although most Atwals in India are Sikh. Their villages of origin are Khurdpur, Shankar and Hakimpur, in the Doaba region of Punjab (India).
Atwals today
Members of the clan were originally based in villages in northwest India. Due to emigration during the 20th century, members can be found around the world, including in the United Kingdom, the U.S.A. and Canada.
Famous Atwals
- Arjun Atwal, prominent Indian golfer