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Revision as of 01:48, 29 September 2012 by Wavelength (talk | contribs) (inserting space after closing parenthesis—WP:MOS#Brackets and parentheses)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Jat Clan: Atwal | |
| Distribution | Punjab (India) and Punjab (Pakistan) |
| Descended from: | Rajput |
| Branches: | None |
| Religion | Sikhism, Hinduism and Islam |
| Languages | Punjabi |
| Surnames: | Atwal in India and Chaudhary in Pakistan |
Atwal (also Attwal or Athwal or Antal or Anttal) (Hindi: अटवाल, Punjabi: ਅਟਵਾਲ) is a clan name or Gotra of Jats from the Punjab region of Northern India and Pakistan. Atwal is derived from the Sanskrit word Attalika meaning 'high hill-tops'. People living there were called Atwals.
Religion
Most Atwals in India are Sikh. Their villages of origin are Ottal (Distt Nawan Shahar),Pharala, Khurdpur, Shankar, Hussianpur, Chitti and Hakimpur, in the Doaba region of Punjab (India). The largest strength is probably in the village Pharala Distt Nawan Shahar, Bhagauran Distt Nawan Shahar, Bir Puadh PO Phagwara Distt Kapurthala, Village Chitti PO Nakodar, Distt Jalandhar , Karyam village Distt Nawan Shahar in Punjab and the village Sahibana Distt Ludhiana. Atwals in Pakistan are Muslims and reside in the Punjab region of Pakistan. They are found in one of the most beautiful cities in Asia called Muree in Pakistan, a mountainous area and an extremely popular resort for tourists.
History
The Mahabharata Tribe - Atavisavara - Refers to the tribes of mid- Vindhya region, and may be identical with the Atavikah mentioned in the Puranas and the Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta. Mentioned in geography of Mahabharata (VI.10.46).
The Mahabharata Tribe - Atavisavara may be identified with Jat Gotra - Atval (अटवाल) of Jats from Punjab.
Atwals are one of the oldest Jat tribes, settling in the Punjab region during the Mahabharat era. They are mentioned Sabha Parva of Mahabharata, Vayu Purana and Markandeya Purana. They are also mentioned in the Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta under the name Ātvika. Mahabharata mentions them. The phrase Prithvi Sarva Smelecchatavika shows that they were associated with the Mlecchas from the west.
There is unanimity among historians that Atwals used to herd camels, so they were originally known as the Oonthan wale, which changed over time to Atwal. They inhabited the Ambala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala districts of the Punjab, some settling as far west as Sialkot, Multan, Jhang, Montgomery, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur in West Punjab, what is now Pakistan. After settling in West Punjab, many Atwal Jats converted to Islam although most Atwals in India are Sikh. Atwals are also found in large numbers in Amritsar and Gurdaspur.
H.A. Rose considers Atwals to be descendants of the Panwar and that they came to East Punjab from Multan. Jats, Khatris, Rajputs and Dalits have a common background and Atwal is a well-known and ancient sub-caste of Jats.
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., Australia, Canada, Oman and Hong Kong. Atwal today are living in large scale in shimla H.P.
Notable Atwals
- Arjun Atwal, Indian golfer
- Navtej Singh Atwal, President , Punjab Youth Club (Hong Kong)
- Tanveer K. Atwal, child actress appeared in The Matrix Revolutions (2003) as Sati
- Sh. A.S. Atwal, IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jalandhar. Shot dead at the gate of Golden Temple, Amritsar on 25.04.1983 by Sikh militants.
- Councillor Gurdial Singh Atwal Councillor in Birmingham city council United Kingdom
- Harjeet Atwal, Punjabi Writer. His books include classic hits such as One Way
- Bachan Athwal, headlined newspapers around the world after being convicted and having a life sentence imposed on her for the 'honour' killing of her daughter-in-law.
- Aran Singh Atwal, Currently Playing for Bombay United, Top Goal scorer in 2011/12 season of EPL With 4 goals in 45 games.
See also
References
- Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Adhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998
- PUNJAB YOUTH CLUB (HONG KONG)
- Birmingham Councillor Information
- BBC,Life for murder plot grandmother, London, 2007