Rohilla

Rohilla refers to the Rohilla people, a community of Pashtun (Afghan) origin who became prominent in the Rohilkhand region of north-central India in the 18th century. The term is linked to Rohilkhand, a historical tract roughly corresponding to parts of present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit.

Origins and polity: In the early 18th century, Pashtun clans migrated into Rohilkhand and established local chieftains who formed a loose Rohilla confederacy. Leaders such as Hafiz Rehmat Khan Bareli emerged as prominent figures, forging a regional polity with centers like Bareilly. The Rohillas maintained a distinct identity amid the competing spheres of the weakened Mughal court, the Nawabs of Awadh, and the rising Marathas.

Decline and integration: As Mughal authority declined, Rohilla power fluctuated with shifting alliances and conflicts. A campaign involving the Nawab of Awadh and the expanding influence of the British East India Company culminated in the Rohilla War, after which Rohilla rule diminished and much of Rohilkhand was reorganized under Awadh and British suzerainty. In the following decades, the region saw the emergence of states such as Rampur, whose rulers traced their lineage to Rohilla lineages and continued to govern under British paramountcy until 1947.

Culture and legacy: The Rohillas are predominantly Sunni Muslims who trace their heritage to Pashtun ancestry, and over time they adopted regional languages such as Urdu and Hindi. They maintain clan networks and a distinct regional identity within Uttar Pradesh. Today, Rohilla history remains a notable part of the heritage of Rohilkhand, reflected in place names, historical records, and regional memory.