The Domaal Rajputs are a Muslim Rajput tribe found principally in the divided district of Poonch in Jammu & Kashmir, as well as Rajouri District in Indian-administered Kashmir and Bagh District and Chikar in Azad Kashmir.
Contents
History
According to their traditions, there was once a Mala Rajput who went to Kargil. There, he contracted a marriage with a Buddhist woman. The community claims descent from the progeny of this marriage. There are also a number traditions as to the origin of the Domaal tribe. One makes them out to be a branch of the Chib tribe of Bhimber, and according to this claims, the Domaal descend from two brothers Dharam Chand and Puran Chand. Dharam Chand on a visit to Delhi converted to Islam. For this action, he was excommunicated by members of his tribe. They chose his younger brother Puran Chand as the new chief of the tribe. He too latter converted to Islam, and took the name Dom Khan. The Domaal are the descendants of Dom Khan, the suffix aal among Pahari Rajput clans signifies descent. According to some sources, they account for 35% of the population in Rajauri Tehsil.
The community occupies the southwestern slopes of the Pir Panjal range. Their villages are found along the slopes of hills overlooking a number of tributaries falling into the Poonch River and Chenab River.