Ratial

The Ratial are Muslim Rajput tribe, found in Rawalpindi and Attock districts of Punjab, Pakistan.

History & Origin

There are two traditions as to the origin of the Ratial tribe.

According to a tradition, the tribe are descended from Khattar Khan, the ancestor of the Khattar tribe. Khattar Khan had six sons, Jand Khan,Isa Khan, Sarwar Khan, Firoz Khan, Sehra Khan and Pehru Khan. AbOUT three generations after his death, the tribe lost Nilab but they took possession of the open country between Rawalpindi and the Indus which became known by thename of Khattar. The descendents of Jand Khan took possession of the district called after them Jandal between Khushhalghar and Nara. From Feroz Khan has the Drek family descended. His great- grandson was Ratnah from whom have descended the clan known as Ratial.

Another tradition makes Ratnah out to be a Katoch Rajput, who left Kangra in the 15th Century and settled in Potohar region, and converted to Islam. His descendents are known the Ratial.

The Ratial were for sometime overlords of a large part of the present Rawalpindi District. A well-known Janjua chief of Ratala in Gujar Khan Tehsil, Mirza Atta Mohammad Khan was known by the title of Mirza (Persian title of Prince of the blood) and was a renowned tribal chief of Ratala during the early to mid 20th century. His great grandfather Raja Abdullah Khan (descendant of Malik Darwesh Khan), being displaced by the upheaval of the Sikh conquest of Garjaak and Darapur took his remaining army and conquered the region of Ratyal from a Ratial chief who was loyal to the Sikh empire. His domain was over seven large villages consisting of Mughal Kayanis, Jatts and Gakhars. He defeated the Ratial Chief and renamed it Ratala.

Villages

Their principle villages are Ratial, Bher Ratial and Jairo Ratial, in Rawalpindi District.

See Also

• Punjabi Rajput
• Potohar