Rawal
Rawal (also spelled Raval) or Raol originally is a (regional) variation -like Rawat- of the Hindi princely ruler title Ra(d)ja(h) (literally "king"[1]) used in some princely states in Rajputana and Western India (notably Gujarat), and is now also used as a caste designation or surname by several communities in Southern Asia.They can be also classified as general category "Brahmins". A village near Sumer has people filled with surname- Rawal of General Category.Also a Kashmiri pandit surname.
Princely titles
Notable (but non-salute) states using this title for their ruling prince were, both under the colonial Mahi Kantha Agency (in the third -high- of seven classes of states) and in present Gujarat :
- the Raol of Malpur
- the Raol of Mansa
Maharawal
This 'Western' equivalent of the higher (gradually deflated) Hindi title Maharaja (literally 'great king') was notably used by three salute states in Rajputana (presently in Rajasthan), all entitled to a (high-ranking) Hereditary gun salute of 15-guns :
- the Maharawal (also called Maharaja) of Jaisalmer
- the Maharawal of Banswara
- the Maharawal of Dungarpur
and one in Gujarat, entitled to a (rather low-ranking) Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11-guns personal) :
- the Maharaol (or Maharawal) of Bari(y)a
As a surname
As a surname, "Rawal" is found among multiple communities in India.
- Gurjars or Gujjars[2]
- Rajputs[2]
- Marathas[3] The Nambudiri priests of the Badrinath and Kedarnath were given the title of "Rawal" by the king of Garhwal in 1776[4][5]
- Raval (also known as Rawal or Raval Yogi), an Indian caste categorized among the Other Backward Classes[6][7]
- Rawal, a caste found in Pakistan and Pakistani diaspora; its members claim to be the original rulers of Rawalpindi[8][9]
- Jat
Individuals named rawal
People with the title or surname Rawal include (in alphabetical order):
- Bappa Rawal, legendary ruler of Mewar kingdom India
- Rahul Rawal, legendary ruler of Mewar kingdom India
- Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Nepali politician
- Jam Rawal, ruler of Kachchh princely state in India
- Jayakumar Jitendrasinh Rawal, Indian politician
- Jitendra Jatashankar Rawal, Indian astrophysicist
- Kalpana Rawal, Kenyan lawyer and judge
- Lal Bahadur Rawal, Nepali politician
- Nisha Rawal, Indian model-actress
- Paresh Rawal, Indian actor
- Rajendra Rawal, Nepali footballer
- Rawal Jaisal, ruler of Jaisalmer state in India
- Rawal Mallinath, folk hero of Rajasthan, India
- Rawal Ratan Singh, ruler of Mewar state in India
- Sanjay Rawal, American documentary film director
- Sashi Rawal, Nepali pop singersinger
- Vaibhav Rawal, Indian cricketer
- Vipul K Rawal, Indian scriptwriter
Other uses
Groups of people
- Rawal Bhil, a clan of Bhils
Places
- Rawal lake, a reservoir in Pakistan
- Rawal Express, a Pakistani train service between Lahore and Rawalpindi
- Rawal, Uttar Pradesh
References
- Lindsey Harlan (1992). Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives. University of California Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-520-07339-5.
- A. N. Bharadwaj (1994). History and culture of Himalayan Gujjars. Jay Kay Book House.
- S. R. Maitra (1998). K. S. Singh (ed.). People of India: Rajasthan. Popular Prakashan. pp. 811–814. ISBN 978-81-7154-769-2.
- James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8.
- J. P. Singh Rana (1997). Himalayan Heritage. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 8. ISBN 978-81-7533-026-9.
- Gopal Krishna (2003). K. S. Singh (ed.). People of India: Gujarat. XXII. Popular Prakashan. pp. 1194–1197. ISBN 978-81-7991-106-8.
- S. P. Agrawal; J. C. Aggarwal (1991). Educational and Social Uplift of Backward Classes: At what Cost and How? : Mandal Commission and After. Concept Publishing Company. p. 227. ISBN 978-81-7022-339-9.
- T. N. Madan (1 July 1995). Muslim communities of South Asia: culture, society, and power. Manohar in association with the Book Review Literary Trust. p. 132. ISBN 978-81-7304-090-0.
- The Ranking of Brotherhoods: The Dialectics of Muslim Caste among Oversees Pakistanis by Pnina Werbner pages 103 to 145 in Muslim Communities of South Asia by T N Madam Manohar publications 1995 page 127