Wattu
Encyclopedia
The Wattoo or Wattu are Muslim Rajput tribe found in Punjab, Pakistan.
. This Raja Junhar settled in Bhatner, where he had two sons, Jaipal and Rajpal. Jaipal was the ancestor of the Bhattis, while Rajpal was the ancestor of the Wattoo. They are said to have converted to Islam
at the hands of the famous Sufi saint Baba Farid of Pakpattan
.
Other sources have suggested the conversion to Islam from Hinduism
took place in the reign of Firuz Shah Tughluq
.
Rajah Khiwa, was the ruler of Haveli Lakha near Sahiwal
, was the first of their tribe to become a Muslim
. He was succeeded by the famous Wattoo chief, Lakhe Khan. His descendents are known as the Lakhwera Wattoo. They then spread from Sahiwal along the banks of the Sutlej, settling as far east as Sirsa. The Sirsa settlement was started by one Fazildad Rana, who settled in the district in the early 18th Century. The tribe was pastoral at that time, taking their herds of cattle from Fazilka
to Okara
, and back. The Wattoo chiefs rose against the British in the 1857 War of Independence.
In the 19th Century, almost all their tradition grazing grounds in the valley of the Sutlej
were subject to canal colonization by the British
authorities.
The Wattoo clan in Bahwalpur has a different tradition of their origin. They claim descent from Wattoo, 8th in descent from Rajah Jaisal, the founder of Jaisalmer. Wattoo left Jaisalmer
, and settled along the banks of the Sutlej river, in what is now south Punjab, Pakistan. They then converted to Islam during the reign of Firuz Shah Tughluq
, the Sultan of Delhi.
, the Wattu extended as far east as Sirsa, in modern day Haryana
state. There were sizeable colonies in Fazilka
in what is now Punjab, India. All of these communities migrated to Pakistan
in 1947.
In what is now Pakistan
, Wattoo were found all along the Sutlej
valley, from Okara
to Lodhran
. Some Wattoo had crossed the Ravi
and settled in what is now Faisalabad District
.
The Wattoo tribe is now found in the following districts; Okara District
, Pakpattan District
, Bahawalnagar District
, Shekhupura District, Multan District
, district nankana sahib, chak wattwan 638 gb Faisalabad District
, Khushab District, Bahawalpur District
. and Mianwali District
.
Some Wattoo are also present in Chunian,a small district near Lahore.
History and origin
Accoding to some traditions, the Wattoo are descended from a Rajah Junhar, a descendant of the famous Raja Salvahan of SialkotSialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
. This Raja Junhar settled in Bhatner, where he had two sons, Jaipal and Rajpal. Jaipal was the ancestor of the Bhattis, while Rajpal was the ancestor of the Wattoo. They are said to have converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
at the hands of the famous Sufi saint Baba Farid of Pakpattan
Pakpattan
Pakpattan is the capital city of the Pakpattan District in the Sahiwal Division in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Pakpattan is one of the ancient cities of Pakistan. It is the city that has the shrine of the well-known Sufi of all times, Baba Fareed...
.
Other sources have suggested the conversion to Islam from Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
took place in the reign of Firuz Shah Tughluq
Firuz Shah Tughluq
-External links:*...
.
Rajah Khiwa, was the ruler of Haveli Lakha near Sahiwal
Sahiwal
Sahiwal is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative centre of Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and is the city between Lahore and Multan...
, was the first of their tribe to become a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. He was succeeded by the famous Wattoo chief, Lakhe Khan. His descendents are known as the Lakhwera Wattoo. They then spread from Sahiwal along the banks of the Sutlej, settling as far east as Sirsa. The Sirsa settlement was started by one Fazildad Rana, who settled in the district in the early 18th Century. The tribe was pastoral at that time, taking their herds of cattle from Fazilka
Fazilka
Fazilka is a city and a municipal council and 22nd newest district in the state of Punjab, India and recently declared as District on July 27, 2011 consisting three subdivisions Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar besides three sub-tehsils Arniwala Sheikh Suban, Sito Guno and Khuian Sarwar.- History...
to Okara
Okara, Pakistan
Okara is the capital city of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The name Okara is derived from Okaan, a name of a tree, the city is located south-west to the city of Lahore and is famous for its agriculture-based economy and cotton mills...
, and back. The Wattoo chiefs rose against the British in the 1857 War of Independence.
In the 19th Century, almost all their tradition grazing grounds in the valley of the Sutlej
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
were subject to canal colonization by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
authorities.
The Wattoo clan in Bahwalpur has a different tradition of their origin. They claim descent from Wattoo, 8th in descent from Rajah Jaisal, the founder of Jaisalmer. Wattoo left Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
, and settled along the banks of the Sutlej river, in what is now south Punjab, Pakistan. They then converted to Islam during the reign of Firuz Shah Tughluq
Firuz Shah Tughluq
-External links:*...
, the Sultan of Delhi.
Distribution
Prior to the partition of IndiaPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, the Wattu extended as far east as Sirsa, in modern day Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
state. There were sizeable colonies in Fazilka
Fazilka
Fazilka is a city and a municipal council and 22nd newest district in the state of Punjab, India and recently declared as District on July 27, 2011 consisting three subdivisions Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar besides three sub-tehsils Arniwala Sheikh Suban, Sito Guno and Khuian Sarwar.- History...
in what is now Punjab, India. All of these communities migrated to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1947.
In what is now Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Wattoo were found all along the Sutlej
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
valley, from Okara
Okara, Pakistan
Okara is the capital city of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The name Okara is derived from Okaan, a name of a tree, the city is located south-west to the city of Lahore and is famous for its agriculture-based economy and cotton mills...
to Lodhran
Lodhran
Lodhran is the chief city of Lodhran District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located on the northern side of River Sutlej.-Administration:...
. Some Wattoo had crossed the Ravi
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....
and settled in what is now Faisalabad District
Faisalabad District
Faisalabad District is one of the districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 5,429,547 of which almost 42% were in Faisalabad City....
.
The Wattoo tribe is now found in the following districts; Okara District
Okara District
Okara District is a district of Punjab, Pakistan. The Multan Road connects the district capital, Okara with tLahore 110 km away. Okara began as a small town about 40 km from the city of Sahiwal. It later become a city in its own right. According to the 1998 census, the district had a...
, Pakpattan District
Pakpattan District
Pakpattan District is a district of Punjab Province in Pakistan, Pakpattan is the district capital. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, it had a population of 1,286,680 of which 14% were urban...
, Bahawalnagar District
Bahawalnagar District
Bahawalnagar District is a district of Punjab province in Pakistan. The district is situated on the border, before the independence of Pakistan, Bahawal Nagar was a part of Bahawalpur state governed by the Nawab of Bahawalpur...
, Shekhupura District, Multan District
Multan District
Multan District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 3,116,851 of which 41.64% were urban. Its capital is the city of Multan....
, district nankana sahib, chak wattwan 638 gb Faisalabad District
Faisalabad District
Faisalabad District is one of the districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 5,429,547 of which almost 42% were in Faisalabad City....
, Khushab District, Bahawalpur District
Bahawalpur District
Bahawalpur District is one of the districts of Punjab, Pakistan. According to the 1998 Census of Pakistan it had a population of 2,433,091 of which 27.01% were urban Bahawalpur district covers 24,830 km². Approximately two-thirds of the district is covered by the Cholistan Desert, which...
. and Mianwali District
Mianwali District
Mianwali is a district in the northwest of Punjab province, Pakistan. It borders eight districts: Attock District in the north, Chakwal District in the northeast, Khushab District in the east, and Bhakkar District in the south, while Lakki Marwat lies to the west, Kohat and Karak districts to the...
.
Some Wattoo are also present in Chunian,a small district near Lahore.