History of the Walias
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia is the FIRST Ahluwalia (or Walia) from where all the Walias and Ahluwalias in the World have decended from. It is a known fact that all the sects of Ahluwalias decended from Jassa Singh Kalal (Ahluwalia). In some parts of Himachal Pradesh, India, Ahluwalias and Walias are still referred to as Kalal. When I did some study on Kalals, I found out that they
were from Turkistan (modern Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, North India, and China). It is very hard to get information on the Kalals, as not very many of them are left. I am planning to go to these countries sometimes this year, and also will be going to Ahluwal in Pakistan. Hopefully I will be able to get more information. I have also learned that in Hardwar there is a place where you can find out about your ancestors back upto the 1600's. I went there and found out my ancestors upto about 1755. Sardar Jassa Singh Ji has been mentioned in there, but how I am related to him was still not very clear. There are thousands of books that those 'Purohits' have to go through, that it's almost impossible to find the exact details. (Purohit is the person who keeps a record of families by village name, and my Village is SAROKI in Gujranwala). Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia is also the one who laid the foundation stone for the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Finally, it must be mentioned, that Walias and Ahluwalias are Sikhs and Hindus. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was Kalal, originally from a Hindu background, who became a Sardar (Sardar means Leader). Sardars were the fighting force created by Hindus during the invasion period of India. Every Hindu family used to make their eldest son a Sardar, to fight for the cause and protection of Hindus. This tradition is still followed in many families. There are still Kalals all over the world, who are Hindus. Only the descendents of Jassa Singh Kalal are now known as Walias and Ahluwalias. A lot of Ahluwalias don't use their last name as Ahluwalia or Walia, instead they use their Gotra, or even the name of the village that they were born in, or are originally from. This seems to be a tradition that is being followed from the old days when Jassa Singh Ji started using Ahluwalia (from Ahluwal). Some of the Gotras under Ahluwalia are
Aakre
Ashkal
Banal
Bhawrishi
Bhagat
Bhambral
Bhandari
Bhar
Bharoo
Bejagade
Bimat
Bontra
Caprahaan
Chandwaan
Channi
Dhaul
Diwan
Harshyaan
Hoon
Jaardi Jaiswal
Janvathiya
Jari
Jaspal
Joshan
Judge or Jaaj
Josh
Kaath
Kandel
Kannu
Kapoor
Kent
Kher
Ludhatia
Madhvati
Malhi
Mali
Malihan
Malik
Mumick or Mamik Nagi
Neel
Pabra
Paintal
Paul or Pal
Rana
Rekhi
Rosha
Ratra
Sadd
Sand or Sandh
(This is Me)
Sambhi
Sigat
Sikand
Shrikant
Sulhyan
Talwar
Tulsi
Yashpal
