The Ambota Vanshavali

From state revenue records · Gotra Shandilya · Caste Bryah (Varaha) · Village Ambota, district Una · Recorded 26 May 1967

The fullest Indian genealogical record of the Varaha Rajput line is the Vanshavali of the Ambota family, lodged with the Indian Revenue Department and reproduced in the British-era Punjab State Gazetteers. The transcription below is from the formal record of 26 May 1967, presented to Chaudhary Hukma Singh and prepared by Chaudhary Bakkaram. The English notes preserved with the original document are reproduced verbatim.

The Vanshavali

Vanshavali, Rajput caste — Bryah (Varaha) — Gotra Shandilya — Darad Ambota.

1. Raja Manr
2. Raja Mohar
3. Rayi Dala
4. Rayi Kalo Chand
5. Rayi Jaikar
6. Rayi Ghapat
7. Rayi Sanpat
8. Rayi Bahopat
9. Rayi Gamoon
10. Raye Hameer (he settled the district Jahal, area of Bhatinda)
11. Raye Jagat Singh (after him Rana was the new title)
12. Rana Beep
13. Rana Basoo
14. Rana Shamshair Jang
15. Rana Heelay
16. Rana Adheer
17. Rana Paharrya
18. Rana Otam
19. Rana Jaikar
20. Rana Laloo
21. Rana Karam Chand
22. Rana Reekhoo
23. Rana Doata
24. Rana Bantoo
25. Rana Meegh
26. Rana Daryan
27. Rana Nanoo
28. Rana Daweedas
29. Rana Sassi Chand
30. Rana Karam Chand (here the title of Rana ended)
31. Chaudhry Jahjar (he came from Arniala and settled in Anboota)
32. Chaudhry Bahadur (Meerak)
33. Chaudhry Maan (he had two sons: Gopal and Saaloo)
34. Chaudhry Bahopat (Chaudhry Mohin was in children of Chaudhry Bahopat)
35. Chadhry Golian (Chaudhry Tajiya was in children of Chaudhry Golian)
36. Chadhry Pehlad
37. Goohro · Kolapa · Diyanat · Gamandi · Hasan · Zorawar

Notes from the original record

Note 1. The kingdom of Raja Andarpal was located on some distance of Badri Narain’s Teerarth. Luka, Shamla and complete area of Daira Doon was in his occupation. His capital was in Bhatinda. But due to cruelty and brutality of Muslim rulers, Rai Kalo Ram inhabited in Jhal Kakra. Generation of other sire Goya Rai Devi Chand, took shelter in the north east 16 to 17 miles away from Bhatinda. But Kalo Ram has no descendants. That is why Charrat Singh occupied Jahal Kakra.

Note 2. Mahindar Pal has no descendants. Rai Kalo Ram populated Jhal Kakra. After his death, in the filiation of Jugandar Pal, Charat Singh occupied Jahal Kakra.

Note 3. Chaudhary Jahjar Chand came from Arniala and populated in Aamotia.

Reading the Vanshavali

Three things are worth noticing in this record. First, the title progression — Raja → Rayi → Rana → Chaudhary — tracks the political descent of the family from sovereign kingship in the early medieval period through landholder status in the late medieval period to revenue chieftaincy under the Mughal and British administrations. Second, the explicit naming of Bhatinda as Raja Andarpal’s capital ties the Vanshavali to the historical chronology of the Hindu Shahi retreat after 1026 CE: the family is the survivor lineage of the post-Trilocanapala Bhatinda kings. Third, the move “from Arniala” to “Anboota” (Ambota) by Chaudhary Jahjar Chand fixes the Shivalik settlement to the early Mughal period, consistent with the wave of forced conversions under Aurangzeb that displaced surviving Hindu Shahi-Varaha clansmen east into the hills.

For the wider migration narrative see Final Settlement — Bhatinda, Sirhind, Ambota.