Rawal (title) explained

Rawal (also spelled Raval) or Raol is a regional variation of the Hindi princely ruler title Raja/Radjah (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.

Surnames

As a surname, "Rawal" is found among multiple communities in India.

• ^{[2] [3] [4]} for example Bappa Rawal.
• The Nambudiri priests of the Badrinath and Kedarnath were given the title of "Rawal" by the king of Garhwal in 1776^{[5] [6]}
• Raval (also known as Rawal or Raval Yogi), an Indian caste categorized among the Other Backward Classes^[7]
• Rawal, a surname used by some Thakuri and Chhetri people living in Karnali and Lumbini province of Nepal.
• Rawal, a gotra of Gurjar's found in Pakistan and Pakistani diaspora; its members claim to be the original rulers of Rawalpindi^{[8] [9]}

See also

• Rawal (caste)

Notes and References

1. Book: Lindsey Harlan . Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives . 1992 . University of California Press . 978-0-520-07339-5 . 28 .
2. Book: A. N. Bharadwaj . History and culture of Himalayan Gujjars . 1994 . Jay Kay Book House.
3. Book: Naravane, M. S.. The Rajputs of Rajputana: A Glimpse of Medieval Rajasthan. 1999. APH Publishing. 978-81-7648-118-2. en.
4. Book: SANJAY, RAJENDRA. Bappa Rawal. 1971-04-01. Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd. 978-81-89999-95-7. en.
5. Book: James G. Lochtefeld . The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M . registration . 2002 . The Rosen Publishing Group . 978-0-8239-3179-8 . 78 .
6. Book: J. P. Singh Rana . Himalayan Heritage . 1997 . M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. . 978-81-7533-026-9 . 8 .
7. Book: S. P. Agrawal . J. C. Aggarwal . Educational and Social Uplift of Backward Classes: At what Cost and How? : Mandal Commission and After . 1991 . Concept Publishing Company . 978-81-7022-339-9 . 227 .
8. Book: T. N. Madan . Muslim communities of South Asia: culture, society, and power . 1 July 1995 . Manohar in association with the Book Review Literary Trust . 978-81-7304-090-0 . 132 .
9. http://cis.sagepub.com/content/23/2/285.extract The Ranking of Brotherhoods: The Dialectics of Muslim Caste among Oversees Pakistanis