Majhail

Majhail ( Punjabi: ਮਝੈਲ) is the term used for people belonging to the Majha region of Punjab.[1] Majhail by some can be more specifically characterized as a gotra or clan of Jats belonging to the Majha region. Majhail's are extremely proud of being from Majha, an area rich with history of warriors and prominent figures in Sikhism. The "Majhail's are the stout-hearted inhabitants of the Majha belt dominated by Sikhs, whose forefathers had borne the brunt of every foreign invasion from the north-west, never losing their courage amidst the indiscriminate killings."[2] The Majhail's are famous for their strong build and their hard-working attitude as many are in the army or very far away from their homes on farms or ranches.[3]Majhail's have historically been the first line of defense for India from external aggression.

Majhail Districts

The following districts' constituents are classified as Majhail.

Majhail districts of Punjab, IndiaMajhail districts of Punjab, Pakistan
AmritsarLahore
GurdaspurGujranwala
Tarn TaranHafizabad
PathankotKasur
Gujrat
Narowal
Sheikhupura
Sialkot

Origin

The Majhail Jats are the descendants of "Kathians" who were known for their highest reputation for courage, skill and honour in the art of war and whose legend goes back to the time of Pauravas in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE.[4] The "Kathians" or "Cathaeans" or "Kath" Jats were known to be daring, brave and courageous and their capital was a city of Sankala/Sangala during Mahabharata period which is currently known as Sialkot.

"Before Alexander’s raid in India, Majhails inflicted a defeat on the valiant Paurava, and who, though hopelessly outnumbered by the Greeks, fought Alexander the Great by the sakata-vyuha, or ‘waggon-formation,’ which the Greek phalanx could not pierce, and who refused to submit formally. The Greek writers call them “Kathians” and describe them as a nation, residing to the east of Hydraotes or the Ravi river, the present districts of Lahore and Amritsar of the West Pakistan and Indian Punjab, respectively. The Kathians themselves enjoyed the highest reputation for courage and skill in the art of war."[4]

Notable Majhail

References
  1. Dhillon, Amarjit Singh (2010). The Jat People & Dhillons in History. Indo-Canadian Friendship Society.
  2. "The bloody history of Punjab's new district". One India News. 14 June 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  3. Raj Academy Archived November 5, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Singh, Sirdar Kapur. "The Sikh Raj". The Sikh Coalition. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  5. "South/Southeast Asia Library – UC Berkeley Library". Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  6. Singh, Raj Pal (1998). Banda Bahadur and His Times p. 22. Harman Pub. House, 1 Aug 1998.
  7. http://centralsikhmuseum.com/today-in-sikh-history-5th-september/
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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