Johiya

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Johiya (जोहिया) Johil (जोहिल) is a gotra or clan of Jats. This gotra started after vansha. They are originally Yaudheya jats. Their area was Churu division. The area on the banks of Sutlej river upto Bahavalpur in Pakistan was Johiyawar (जोहियावाड़).^[1]

They are found in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. They are derivatives of Yaudheya clan. The Yaudheys were very famous democratic clans. Dilip Singh Ahlawat has mention it as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia. ^[2]

Origin of Johiya

The Mahabharata Tribe - Ekashana/Jyoha (ज्यॊह) Brought tributes to Yudhisthira (II.48.3).

खशा एकाशनाज्यॊहाः परदरा थीर्घवेनवः

पशुपाश च कुणिन्थाश च तङ्गणाः परतङ्गणाः (II.48.3)

The Mahabharata Tribe - Jyoha (ज्यॊह) may be identified with Jat Gotra - Johiya (जोहिया).

Samrat Yayati's fourth son was Anu. Anu's eighth son was Maharaja Mahamana. Ushinara was son of Mahamana and he was ruler over most of Punjab. Ushinara's son was Nriga and Nriga's son was Yaudheya. The Yaudheya clan has originated from him. Johiya is derived from Yaudheya.

In Mahabharata period

The Yaudhey people inhabited over areas on the banks of Shatdru River, the present site of Bahawalpur State. The coins of Yaudhey have been found in areas between Sutlej and Yamuna rivers in Sonipat fort of Rohtak. These coins are marked in Sanskrit “Yaudhey Ganasya Jay”. Yaudhey were there during Mahabharata period also.

As per Puranic version the Yaudhey Jats are condidered to be descendants of Maharaja Yudhisthira. One of Maharani of Yudhistar was named Yaudheyee. This shows Yaudhey to be an ancient Jat clan. Inscription of Yaudheys in Bharatpur state shows that they had democratically elected head that was titled Mahasenapati.

During ancient times

The Yaudhey or Johiyas were known for bravery. They struggled with Guptas, Mauryas and Kushans. They were occupying ancient areas like Marwar, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer etc.

Rulers in Jangladesh

Before their state was annexed to Rathores in Jangladesh, Johiyas had 600 villages under their rule. Sher Singh was their ruler and Bhuroopal was their capital. Sher Singh was a great warrior. He gave a tough fight to Rathores. Bika aligned Godaras with them. The Godara Jats were the most powerful of six cantons of Jats ruling over Jangladesh. Bika along with Godaras attacked the Johiyas in which Johiyas were defeated. Bika could get the state of Johiyas with great difficulty. Infact Bika could defeat Johiyas only after he conspired and killed Sher Singh. The biggest war between Rathores and Johiya Jats was fought at Dhaka village near Sidhmukh.

Johiyas at present

Johiya Jats are at present settled in Jadiya, Joda pinaula, Dhawalak, Jadiyal, Johal etc villages of Jalundhar region. In Uttar Pradesh they are found in large number in Dhakauli, Patauli, Augat, Sahadpur, Milak, Bhatpur etc. villages of Meerut region.

The branches of Yaudheya or Johiya at present are Kulhari (Kularia),Khichar and Mahil. Some Yaudheya people adopted Islam also.

References

1. ↑ Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudee, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998 p.246
2. ↑ Dilip Singh Ahlawat: Jat viron ka Itihasa

• Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934.
• Jat Samaj, Agra - January, February (2001)

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