Grewal 2878406 226027014 2008-07-16T14:30:45Z 86.96.227.70 /* Famous Grewals */ {{Unreferenced|date=May 2008}} {{about|the Indian clan|the Canadian politician|Gurmant Grewal}} '''Grewal''' (pronounced: gurray-waal) (also '''Garewal''', '''Gaharwal''', '''Gaherwal''', '''Ghurwal''', '''Gharwar''' or '''Gahrawar''') is one of the many last names of early [[Jat people|Jat]] tribes that played an important historical role in [[Sikh]] history who later adopted Sikhism. '''Grewal''' is a [[clan]] of the [[Jat people]] and found in the states of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Rajasthan]] in [[India]]. == History == The Grewal community are the descendants of the Chandel Rajputs of Bilaspur in [[Himachal Pradesh]] (North India). They share their family tree with [[Chandel]] Rajputs. Chandels are one of the 36 royal castes of Rajputs. At one time, Chandels ruled over [[Bundelkhand]]. This state fell in the middle of rivers [[Yamuna]] and [[Narmada River|Narmada]]. They had their fort at [[Kalinjar]]. They came into Punjab in around 1469 AD. The main villages of the Grewals are Narangwal, Gujjarwal, Mehma Singh Wala, BHATTIAN, NOOR WAALE ,Sarabha, Daad, Lalton Kalan, Thakkerwal, [[Andlu]] and [[Qila Raipur]] among a lot others; there are another 70 smaller villages around these three, all in the district of [[Ludhiana]]. [[Guru Hargobind]] visited Gujjarwal in 1631 AD. Grewals converted to [[Sikhism]] at this time. It is said that one of the Chandel Rajput kings, named Bairsi had a son named Grewal from a Jat woman, from where the name started. Located south of the Sutlej River, the Grewals came under British rule early even as Maharaja Ranjit Singh consolidated the Sikh Empire all the way to [[Kabul]].The Grewal villages with a rural middle class prospered and established schools which led to further progress. Education became the passport for the Grewals to travel and obtain positions across the [[Punjab region|Punjab]] and also relieve pressure on the small land holdings. They also joined the [[British Indian]] army and fought in wars from Mesopotamia to Germany. == Grewals today == Most of the Grewals are settled in the district of Ludhiana and Patiala in Punjab. Today, many Grewals can be found abroad, mainly in countries such as [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[USA]], [[United Kingdom]], [[New Zealand]], [[Germany]], [[Hong Kong]] and throughout [[Africa]]. Baljeet Singh Grewal - First Consular Manager at the Australian High Commission, New Delhi, India. == Famous Grewals == *[[Chaudhry Wazeer Udeen GREWAL(WD GREWAL)]]Late From PAKISTAN faisal abad *[[Chaudhry Niaz ahmed GREWAL]] Son Of WD GREWAL FAISAL ABAD PAK *[[Alexi Grewal]] - first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in cycling. *[[Gurmant Singh Grewal]] - Former Canadian Member of Parliament has held many records in Parliament including being one of the few opposition MP's to enact a bill into law. Often referred to as the "Iron Man" of the Canadian Parliament. *[[Harnam Singh Grewal]] - Field hockey Olympian, former commanding officer of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) *[[Kartar Singh Sarabha Grewal]] - celebrated Sikh [[Indian independence movement]] leader, martyr and [[hero]]. *[[Nina Grewal]] - Canadian Member of Parliament and former Vice-Chair of the Status of Women Committee in the House of Commons. *[[Simi Garewal]], famous [[Bollywood]] actress. ==References== * Ram Swaroop joon: History of Jats, India == External links == * [http://www.lalton.com A website about Village Lalton Kalan, Famous & historical village of Grewals] * [http://www.qilaraipur.org A website about the Qila Raipur area] * [http://www.gujjarwal.com A website about Village Gujjarwal, Prominent and historical village of Grewals] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Pakistan]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in India]] [[Category:Social groups of India]] [[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]] [[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]] [[Category:Punjab]] [[Category:Jat]] [[Category:Jat clans]] {{Tribes and Clans of the Jat People}} {{ethno-stub}} [[sv:Garewal]]