Mohyal (alternate spellings include Muhiyal, Muhial, Mhial, Mohiyal or Mahjal) is the name of an endogamous ethnic group that originates from theGandhara region and consists of seven Brahmin lineages of that area that left the usual priestly occupation of Brahmins long ago to serve as soldiers and in government services.
Despite their classification as Brahmins in the Hindu varna system, they strictly refrain from working as priests — often to the point of excommunicating those who break that tradition. They also do not adhere to many customs and taboos observed by other Brahmin groups, and their regional history and specific customs mark them as a distinct ethnic group also.
Most Mohyals are Hindus. Many are Sikhs - largely as a result of the role played by Mohyals in the formative days of the Sikh religion and also because of a tradition once popular in Mohyal families of bringing up the eldest male child as a Sikh. A small percentage are Muslims.
This ethnic group consists of seven clans listed below with their gotras (lineages):
- Bali: Parashar
- Bhimwal: Kaushal
- Chhibber/Chibber:Bhrigu
- Dutta/Datta/Dutt/Datt: Bharadwaja
- Lau: Vasishtha
- Mohan: Kashyap
- Vaid: Dhanvantri/Bharadwaja
Certain families of Segan Brahmins also consider themselves part of the Mohyal Brahmins because of their historical engagement in military and civil administration.
The General Mohyal Sabha, with it headquarters at New Delhi is the apex body of Mohyals, to which about 75 local mohyal sabhas in different parts of India are affiliated.
Some Mohyal Brahmins migrated eastward and became as some sub-divisions of brahmin Brahmins, some of whom are also descendants of Hussaini Brahmins and mourn the death of Imam Hussain. Brahmin Brahmins and Tyagi/ Mohyal Brahmins have an affinity and brotherhood for each other. Brahmin Brahmins, of whom many, though not all, belong to the Saryupareen Brahmindivision of Kanyakubja Brahmins.
Currently, a documented history of Mohyals is mostly derived from oral history and a few historical records.
The known written works include the following:
- Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali (Selected works of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati), Prakashan Sansthan, Delhi, 2003.
- Bali Nama (Persian) by Rattan Chand Bali
- Mirat-ul-Mohyali (Urdu, 1870s.)
- Islah-e-Mohyali (Urdu, 1908) Raizada Rattan Chand Vaid
- Mohyal History (Urdu, 1940) Chuni Lal Dutt
- Gulshan-e-Mohyali (Urdu, 1920s) Raizada Hari Chand Vaid
- Jang Nama - An account of the Mohans by Har Bhagwan Lau
- Tawarikh-e-Vaidaan - (Punjabi) A history of the Vaids
- The history of the Muhiyals: The militant Brahman race of India (English,1911) by T.P. Russell Stracey
- Mohyal History (English, 1985) by P.N. Bali
There have also been in existence many ballads extolling the feats of Mohyals, for many centuries. The sustained existence through the centuries is attributed to the fact that in the past Mohyals used to patronize bards that were devoted to memorizing these ballads and passing them on from generation to generation.
Stracey mentions that the Mohyals are primarily a military class, divided into seven clans that have been prominently associated with the government and sometimes rulership of the country. They have also figured at some early period of history in the affairs of Arabia, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Persia. At the time of his writing he states that they were spread from Afghanistan andPunjab to Bihar.
With most men either in established militaries or mercenaries, the Mohyals developed a warlike culture and reputation over the last millennium. Hamid Hussain has said that:
A group of chivalrous Hindus called Muhiyals are very well at par with Pushtuns and Rajputs. Muhiyals have been rulers of territories in the present day Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. They are essentially a military race, which have served as soldiers throughout the centuries. They have a reputation of courage, loyalty and bravery. Muhiyals are composed of seven clans; Datt, Vaid, Chibbar, Bali, Muhan, Lau and Bhimwal. Though small in numbers but all these clans have a rich military history. In India, they are also called ‘Hussaini Brahmins’ as Muhiyals proudly claim that though being non-Muslim, a small number of them fought in the battle of Karbala on the side of Hussain. Muhiyals are very close to Pushtuns in their character. For centuries, they never or seldom paid in their revenue until coerced by a military expedition involving a number of casualties on both sides. On one occasion, they fought three sanguine battles against Babur's army as they refused to surrender a khatri girl to Mughals who had sought their protection. The testament to their chivalry is the fact that during Muslim rule, they were the only non-Muslim group on whom the title of Khan or Sultan was ever bestowed. During British rule, a number of them were residing in the military belt of Campbelpur, Rawalpindi and Jhelum area. A number of Muhiyals served with distinction in British Indian army especially cavalry. They served in many regiments especially 9th, 11th, 13th, and 19th Lancers, 3rd, 4th and 15th Punjab Cavalry and Guides Cavalry.
The legend mentions the place where he stayed as Dair-al-Hindiya, meaning "The Indian Quarter", which matches an Al-Hindiya in existence today. The Dutts have traditionally been referred to as Hussaini Brahmins since times immemorial Munshi Premchand's novel ‘Karbala’ also mentions about Hindus fighting for the sake of Imam Hussain, and refers to them as descendants ofAshwatthama, who the Dutt clan considers to be an ancestor. This legend occupies an important part in the Dutt clan's oral history, and is considered a source of pride for them.