Dhamial (Jat)

The Dhamial or sometimes pronounced Dhamyal, are a tribe found in Punjab, Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. According to the 1931 census the numbered 9,500 of which Jats numbered 1,500 and Rajputs, 8,000.(see Dhamial)

History

The tribe claims to connected with the Janjua Rajputs, and claim descent from Raja Dhami Khan Janjua.

The Dhamial are of both Rajput and Jat status, as are many tribes of the Pothohar region. Historically, the Rajput branch received daughters in marriage from the Jat section but did not give girls to them. Traditionally, members of aRajput tribe did not touch the plough, but employed other communities to till their fields. Those members of the Dhamial tribe that took to agriculture became part of the Jat community. They account for themselves as having come originally from Ghazni to the Sialkot District, from whence they went to Dhamiak (Jhelum Tehsil) where they built a fort.

They are chiefly found in the Rawalpindi District but also in Gujrat District, Jhelum District and Attock District of the Punjab and Mirpur District of Azad Kashmir. In Azad Kashmir, the Dhamial are entirely Jat, being the second largest Jat tribe in the state.

The Dhamial have no connection with the Dhanyal ,the two tribes being quite distinct.

Villages

In Jhelum District, Dhamial Jats are found in Mamuri Dhamial, Dheri Dhamial and Rakha Dhamial. The town of Dhamiak remains a centre of the tribe in Jhelum.

In Gujar Khan Tehsil, they are found in Dolmi Dhamial and Dhamial. In Rawalpindi Tehsil, they are found in Sher Dhamial village.

See Also