Mian Babban
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The 19th century British author Alexander Cunningham was the first one who conjectured that Hindu Shahis were Janjua Rajputs. After his his work, Janjuas made the claim that Hindu Shahi kings were from their tribe. Some authors utilized Alexander Cunningham's work without any proper research of their own and repeated his statement that Hindu Shahis were Janjuas.
Cunningam is of opinion that the title "Hahaj" of the sovereigns of "Gandhara" mentioned by 10th century Arab geographer Masudi , is none other than Janjua. He further says that Masudi mentions Gandhara to be the country Rajputs and Janjuas of Punjab also call themselves Rajputs so Hindu Shahis were none other than Janjuas of Punjab.
When i examined the primary source i.e Masudi's book, i found clear mistakes by Alexander Cunningham. In the manuscript the word is حححى which according to the English translator must be جحج Jahaj or Hahaj. The word does not resemble Janjua جنجوعہ from any angle. There is not any medieval text which shows Janjua to be written as Jahaj جحج at any point in history. In the actual text , its not Gandhara but Al-Kandahar (القندهار) , which is the city of present-day Afghanistan. And its not Rajput but Al-Rahyut ( الرهیوط). The translator thinks it must be Al-Rahbut (الرهبوط), and Alexander consulting that English translation has declared it to be Rajput.
The most authentic source on the period is Al-Beruni's Tarikh-i-Hind and according to him King Jaypala and other Hindu Shahi kings were Brahmans.
Cunningam is of opinion that the title "Hahaj" of the sovereigns of "Gandhara" mentioned by 10th century Arab geographer Masudi , is none other than Janjua. He further says that Masudi mentions Gandhara to be the country Rajputs and Janjuas of Punjab also call themselves Rajputs so Hindu Shahis were none other than Janjuas of Punjab.
When i examined the primary source i.e Masudi's book, i found clear mistakes by Alexander Cunningham. In the manuscript the word is حححى which according to the English translator must be جحج Jahaj or Hahaj. The word does not resemble Janjua جنجوعہ from any angle. There is not any medieval text which shows Janjua to be written as Jahaj جحج at any point in history. In the actual text , its not Gandhara but Al-Kandahar (القندهار) , which is the city of present-day Afghanistan. And its not Rajput but Al-Rahyut ( الرهیوط). The translator thinks it must be Al-Rahbut (الرهبوط), and Alexander consulting that English translation has declared it to be Rajput.
The most authentic source on the period is Al-Beruni's Tarikh-i-Hind and according to him King Jaypala and other Hindu Shahi kings were Brahmans.
