Mohyal History

Mohyals always believed that that their ancestors ruled over, and protected, the Indian frontier regions (Bulldogs of the Borders). For a hundred years written, published and read by Mohyals only, Mohyal History remained the private Gospel of Mohyal Community. In 1986, Sh. P. N. Bali rendered a signal service by writing his book MOHYAL HISTORY in English. Its chapter on the history ‘A Constellation of Seven Castes‘, largely followed the pattern of the earlier works in Urdu. This book was like a mirror to the Mohyal intelligentsia – a new generation of Mohyals, more educated and with a wide horizon by virtue of the high positions they held in various government departments and professions. The traditional anecdotal narration, without any authentication of our ‘seemingly’ tall claims, was an irksome lacuna for them. Outsiders also pointed fingers terming our claims delusory and “mere fiction, created by those who had no knowledge …” (Prof. S. K. Sinha, Tribune , 21 September, 1990). It was in this depressing milieu that I started digging into old records – outside our own history books.

Patient research, carried out in many renowned libraries in the country on my own (it was before the age of internet), revealed startling results. Mohyals had been understating their claims. Their ancestors ruled in Sind, Afghanistan and Punjab, for long periods, with ‘power and glory’. The Indians inflicted a humiliating defeat on the world-conquering Arabs (698 CE) and did not yield access to the strategic Khyber Pass to Muslim arms for three more centuries.  The foreign rulers had, in a massive cover up, kept this not-so-pleasant history of this area and era under tight wraps: Mohyal History, a substantial part of this unparalleled, glorious Indian resistance, thus also remained concealed for a thousand years. Now you can read the full story in our book AGHANISTAN REVISITED: The Brahmana Hindu Shahis of Afghanistan and The Punjab (c. 840-1026CE) published by the General Mohyal Sabha, Delhi in 2010. Any Indian will be proud that Indian History is not a litany of defeats. Indians, defeated, and then blocked the march of world conquering Muslim arms for more than three centuries, before losing to the Sultanate of Gazni. Any Mohyal will find a justification for his traditional Mohyali self-esteem – the Mohyaliyat.

This research has changed, and charged, the atmosphere. Mohyal intellectuals are now seriously engaged in enlarging the frontiers of Mohyal History and trying to present it in suitable formats for different sections of society: history buffs; the educated class; short summary, for a quick grasp of the main picture; all this to be available in English for some and in Hindi for others. There has commenced a torrent of literature to meet the insatiable craving of Mohyals for this knowledge. After Afghanistan Revisited by R. T. Mohan (2010), followed Mohyal Chhibbers in Indian History by Pawan Bakshi and others (2011), Echoes Among Ruins: Revisiting the Brahmin Dynasty of Ancient Sindh by Vinay Mehta (2012) and the forthcoming latest, but possibly the greatest, Guardians of the Gate: A Military History of the Mohyals Fighting Brahmans (2017) by Maj. Gen. Dr. G. D. Bakshi (Retd.) SM, VSM.  Additionally, there are booklets: The Synopsis of Mohyal History/Mohyal Itihas Praveshhka; and History of Mohans Based on Pothi Rai Seegarh and Jangnama Mohanan – being distributed free in thousands, so as to reach each Mohyal family.

Twenty first century NEW WAVE Mohyal Historiography is not a denunciation of what was written in the twentieth. Instead it is scientifically researched confirmation of the traditional claims of Mohyal History. We only request the diehards to refrain from repeating indefensible myths like sending Ashvathama and his six friends to Arabia; and also refrain from creating new myths to inebriate the credulous simple folks with sentimental lullabies. History is not fiction and Mohyals can look into their past, its highs and its lows, with pride.

We propose to introduce you to the full gamut of this corpus of Mohyal History and invite you to be a part of this renaissance through discussion, the way you feel rewarding. Anyway we assure you that, your self-esteem – Mohyaliyat – will be a few notches higher from this knowledge.

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There are some headings on the right hand side. With the help of undermentioned indicators, you can select an appropriate topic to commence your browsing:

HISTORY AT A GLANCE: These are small size write ups to introduce you to Mohyal History by giving you a brief overview.

MOHYAL HISTORY – MAIN: This is the main section, giving in detail the well-researched and authenticated history of Mohyal Sovereigns – as published in the Research Magazines and books.

MOHYAL ITIHAS – HINDI: for those who are not very comfortable with the English medium.

RESISTANCE AND MARTYRDOM: Foot prints of Mohyals and their sacrifices during the Medieval and British Periods, resisting the foreign rule.

HISTORY OF GMS: Establishment of General Mohyal Sabha (G.M.S) at Lahore in the 1890’s, its rehabilitation after 1947 and its functioning at present.

BOOKS AND ARTICLES: Books published about Mohyal History and where to get them. Some old articles, published in the media, may also be included.

ARCHIVES: Inscriptions, Coins, Compliments to Mohyal Sovereigns – and other heritage material, needing to be preserved.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Nothing is being recorded about achievements after the Phoenix like rise of Mohyals, following their mass migration due to Partition of India in 1947. Write-ups are invited for this section – as also any valuable in-puts about other sections.