Related link – The History of Lohanas and the Thakrar Family Surname Arvind Thakrar

The Ruler Loharana Kshatriyas turned Vaisyas around AD 1300 • Veer Jasraj killed Mahmud Gazni’s father Sabuk-tigin in Kabul

Dr.Hari Desai  

While reading the book banned in Pakistan, “Jinnah of Pakistan” by a celebrated Historian Stanley Wolpert, one sentence increased curiosity: “The exact date of the flight of Jinnah’s ancestors (from Persia) is unknown.” This led to the study of the history of golden era of Lohana community and its conversion from ruling Kshatriya caste to trading Vaishya caste; spreading influence over social strata world over. Mohmmad Ali Jinnah, the Father of Pakistan, whose grand-father, Poojabhai Thakkar from Moti Paneli of Kathiawad, had to embrace Islam i.e. Shi’ite Muslim Khoja. The roots of the disciples of the Isma’ili Aga Khan and Hindu Lohanas are in Persia, modern-day Iran and both fled Persian persecution to western India.

Lohana’s history begins with king Raghu, who belonged to the Suryavanshi lineage, since they worshiped the Sun(Surya). King Dasharath was grandson of Raghu. He had four sons with Rama being the eldest. The descendents of Rama and one of his two sons, Luv, the Lohanas were not only the rulers in Afghanistan and modern-day Pakistan but also in Kashmir for more than three centuries. The Gandhar Desh(Kandahar in Afghanistan) and Kekay Desh( Iran) had matrimonial alliances with ancient Indian States like Ayodhya, notes Historian Dr. Sharad Hebalkar in “Bharatiya Sanskriti ka Vishwsanchar”. He adds : “Raghuvanshi Kings of Aryavarta(India) used to come to extend military support to Gandhar and Kekay. During one of such incidents, King Dasharath and the Princess Kaikeyee had met.” She was the Princess of Kekay-King Ashwapati.

Under the instruction of King Rama of Ayodhya, his younger brother, Bharat, defeated the Gandharva ruler of Gandhar (modern-day Kandahar, Afghanistan) and established Takshashila, now popularly called Taxila, and Pushkarpur, Peshawar of these-days. Bharat returned to Ayodhya, handing over these towns to his sons Taksh and Pushkar respectively. The descendent of Pushkar, Kapiraj, established Kapisha, present-day Kabul, and ruled over it along with the newly established towns, Samarkand and Bukhara (in Modern-day Uzbekistan).The Greek Emperor, Alexander the Great, called Sikander , wanted to conquer the world. He was defeated by King Porasraj, who was a descendent of Kapilraj. The Greek soldiers, who never wanted to return, joined the army of Poras. They married the Raghuvanshi daughters and their descendents are called “Bhanushalis”, according to Parimal Nathwani, a journalist turned President of Reliance Industries. The rulers of Samarkand-Bukhara, Raghuranas, established Loharkot in the hilly valley of Leh to settle down. They had Leh or Loh States as republics and were called Lohranas. Gradually, they were named Lohanas. In the history book of Lohana, Prof. Narottam Palan confirms that Rajatanginini(Rivers of Kings) by Kalhana, which narrates the history of Kashmir rulers, does mention the Lohar rulers of Kashmir from 1003 AD to 1339 AD(336 years). Of course, their roots are found in Lohan region of Sindh.

In “Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir”, Jagmohan, who was the Governor of Jammu – Kashmir and also Union Minister in Vajpayee government, gives description of Lohana rule established by the Princess Didda of Loharin. She “was married to the second Gupta King, Ksema Gupta(AD 950-958)and dominated the Kashmir scene for about 50 years, first as queen, then as regent for her son and grandsons, and finally a direct ruler.” “Before her death, Queen Didda was able to manipulate the crown for Samgramaraja, a member of her family from Lohara-the principality to which she herself belonged before her marriage. Thus, a new dynasty, the first Lohara dynasty(AD 1003-1101), came into being. With this the Kshatriyas came to rule Kashmir.”

The track record of the Lohana Didda was not that popular but she ruled with iron fist. Jagmaon notes : “She conferred favours, including physical, to the courtiers and senior functionaries of the kingdom, and then got rid of them, sometimes through secret killings. She is even believed to have caused the death of her three grandsons.”
Even in Kashmir during the time of Samgramaraja(AD1003-28), Sultan Mahmud of Gazni attacked after defeating Trilochanapala of the Shahi kingdom and tried to capture the heaven on the earth unsuccessfully. Rulers of Afghanistan were known as Shahis as they were descendents of Kidarkushans who in turn had descended from Kushans. Kushans are believed to be descendents of Kush, the other son of Rama. From Kabul, now the capital of Afghanistan, to Pataliputra, now Patna, was ruled by Kanishka the Great of Kushan dynasty during the second century.

Prof. Palan says, after 12th century in Punjab and after 1340 in Kashmir, when last adopted Lohana ruler Ramji lost, no Lohana remained Kshatriya. “Till the time the descendents of Luv were Kshatriya, they were Loharana. After they turned Vaishya, they became Lohana.” The turning point was 1300 i.e. before Veer Jasraj fought Changez Khan, the Mongol warrior. Between 1350 and 1450, under the influence of Peer Yusufuddin some Lohan families became Memon. Sant Uderalal tried to stop conversion. The period of 1450-1550 was the period of Lohanas migrating from Sindh to Kutch and Saurashtra. Life of Jasraj is an example of courage and valor of Lohar Ranas because he killed Sabuk-tigin, father of Mahmud Gazni in 997 in his own court in Kabul, in the presence of his courtiers and still escaped with his party. Sabuk-tigin was originally a Hindu slave converted to Islam.

Even today both the communities, Lohanas and Khojas, accept their common roots and forefathers.

Jalarambapa(1800-1881) of Virpur is considered the first person who created a bond between all the Lohanas. Kanji Odhavji Hindocha did extensive research on the Lohana community which led to establishment of Shree Lohana Mahaparishad in 1910. In 1938, Harubhai Thakkar happened to interact with Khan Abdul Gafar Khan, a popular Congress leader, at Haripura in south Gujarat, where the 51st Convention of Indian National Congress was organized. Harubhai could gather the history of the ancestors of the Hindu Pakhtoons of Waziristan being Raghuvanshi Lohars. A small booklet on the history of Lohanas titled “Raghuvanshi Lohana Gnyatino Itihas” by Prof. Palan is brought out in 2013 by Lohana Mahaparishad. Prof. Palan gives excellent information about the historical evolvement of the community and does mention further scope to work on the history of Lohanas in a scientific manner. Even the volume “Raghuvanshi Asmitano Unmesh”, brought out by Mahaparishad under the guidance of Prof. Palan(82) and Kanu Acharya(67), makes an interesting reading but gives stray facts on the historical development of the community. Lohana Mahaparishad, the world body of Lohanas, under the leadership of Yogesh Lakhani, brought out various publications in 2013 and the team of the present President, Pravin Kotak, is also actively working on the synergy of the community. There is hardly any country where the community has not spread the wings.

Next Column : Rift between Morarji and Justice Chagla
(The writer is a Socio-political Historian. E-mail : haridesai@gmail.com)

Lohanas (from Wikipedia) (Persian: لامياحاءأنأ, Gujarati: લોહાણા, Sindhi: لوها ڻا, Hindi: लोहाना) or ‘Master of Swords’ are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group and are a suryavanshi Kshatriya^{[citation needed]} community ofIndia that originated in Iran and Afghanistan. In India, they mainly reside in Gujarat, Mumbai and other parts of the country. They have also spread to all parts of the world.

Languages Indo-Aryan languages, primarily Gujarati,Kutchi, Sindhi and Hindi. Also English in the UK,USA and Canada, Arabic in Afghanistan.Swahili is spoken as a second language by some Lohanas in East Africa. Religion Primarily Hinduism. Those who converted toIslam are referred to as Memons or Khojas and are now separate independent communities.

[edit]Overview

Originally Lohanas were a prominent community of the Kshatriya jatt caste (Sanskrit क्षत्रिय Kshatriya) that originated in Iran and Afghanistan^{[citation needed]}, then in the region of Punjab and later on migrated to Sindh and present day Gujarat state in India around 800 years ago^{[citation needed]}. As administrators and rulers, Kshatriya Lohanas jatt were assigned with protecting the people, and serving humanity. Over time, however, as a result of economic and political exigencies, the majority of Lohanas are now mainly engaged in mercantile occupations.

Some of the Lohanas converted to Sunni Islam, they are called Memon (Gujarati: મેમણ).

Ismaili Dai’ Pir Sadardin converted many of them to the Ismaili sect of Islam. They are known as “Khoja” (ethno Khawaja).

[edit]History

[edit]Early History

The Lohanas, also known as Thakkar (and hence often holding surnames including Thakkar and Thakrar ), trace their roots in history right up to the emergence of Aryans^{[citation needed]}, a linguistic of Indo-Iranians in the Indian sub-continent (which then included today’s Afghanistan). It is believed by Legend that the Lohanas are descendants of the hero Rama (Raghuvanshi, descendant of King Raghu), who bore two sons: Luv (Also spelled as Lava) and Kush. From the elder son Luv, the Lohanas are supposed to be originated along with Kurmi (later settled in North-East and some Western part i.e. UP, Undivided Bihar, MP, Gujrat, Maharashtra of India.)

Descendants of Kush are known as Kushwaha. His younger son Luv was given the North (uttar Kaushala) of his kingdom (Refer :Valmk Ramayan Uttar Kand sarg 107), which came to be, called Luvalka or Luv’s land consisting of present day Lahore (Pakistan) as it’s Capital.

Luv is portrayed in the Ramayana as a great warrior. In one of the episodes of the Ramayana even though he is a mere boy in the hermitage, he brings the entire army of his father Lord Rama (under the command of his uncle Laxman) to a standstill by the prowess at archery (of course along with his older brother Kush). His descendants too were cast in the same mould, but they were not satisfied with Luvalka and pushed to the west and annexed today’s Afghanistan and adjoining areas.

Around 580 BC., when king Bimbisara ruled over Bharat (India), the society came to be divided into different communities based on their occupation. One of their communities was called Kshatriyas and King Luv’s descendants were classed with them and came to be known as Luvanam, which was also referred to as Luvana. The Luvanas from Loharghat became known as Loharana (masters of swords; or iron (“Loha”) chiefs (“Rana”)), which later became Lohana.

Chinese traveller Fa-hien, who visited India between 414 and 399 B.C., calls Lohanas a brave community ruling the northwest territory of India,^[4] in his diary. Another Chinese traveler, Kurmang who came in the eleventh century A.D. speaks of a Lohana kingdom as a mighty power. Historian Burton writes Lohanas were brave people and says they were spread over today’s Baluchistan (Pakistan), Afghanistan and eastern fringes of Central Asia. Col. Todd, who delved into history of Rajasthan, describes Lohanas as one of the oldest Kshatriya community.

The likely reason for this title of bravery is that they were the first line of defense for the Indian subcontinent in the direct path of invaders from northwest like Persians, Macedonians, Huns, Mughals, etc. Meanwhile, Muhammad established Islam. His followers spread out in different directions to establish his religion world-wide and in due course they turned East towards India.

Between the 7th and 11th century the Lohanas held their grounds in Afghanistan, blocking the advent of Islam eastwards. In the 11th century, they finally had to fall back and moved initially to the Sindh province of today’s Pakistan, where again for over two centuries they provided the frontline of defense against the invading hordes. Finally, at the turn of the 13th century, the Loharana king, Chahir Ray, was betrayed by his confidant Kualnger, who turned traitor for a large fortune in gold and gems. The Lohana kingdom disintegrated into smaller segments. After the community split, a new leader emerged who again unified the Lohanas. Veer Jashraj, who is revered as Veer Dada Jashraj, was born in the city of Lohar (today’s Lahore in Pakistan), which was the capital of Lohargadh. His domain extended from Lahore to Multan (also in Pakistan today).

As the folklore goes, Mongol invader Changez Khan, attacked Multan and was killed by Dada Jashraj, Rana of Lohargadh.

This finds mention in Mongol folklore, which say, “King of Mongols was killed by Mirana, the tiger of Multan fort”. His descendants who proudly carry the surname of ‘Mirana’ preserve the memory of this great warrior king. Dada Jashraj was also treacherously killed when only 28 – a life so short but full of heroic deeds.

After the death of Dada Jashraj, the decline of Lohana kingdom began and their reign at Lohargadh ended. King Dahir ruled for a while from Narayankot (today’s Hyderabad, Sindh). After his demise in a war against Muslims, Narayankot and Sindh fell to Muslims. It was around this time that some Lohanas converted to Islam. Many migrated to far-off regions like Kutchchh, Saurashtra and Gujarat and gradually became a trader community like Agarwals and Baranwals.

[edit]Recent history

In 1422 AD, 700 Lohana families comprising of some 6178 converted to Islam at the hands of one Yusuffuddin Qadri in Thatta Sindh — these are now known as Memons.

It was around this time, that Uderolal who is revered as Jhulelal (by Sindhis) or Dariyalal (by Gujaratis), son of Ratanchand Thakur and Mata Devki of Nasarpur, about 90 miles from Narayankot (now Hyderabad, Sindh) took on the mantle of Lohana leadership. Uderolal fought with Muslim chief Mirkshah, and initiated him into the true meaning of religion. Uderolal won the freedom of religion for Hindus from the Muslim rulers and devoted the rest of his life to spiritual and community service. Today Uderolal is revered as Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis, both Hindus and Muslims visit the site of his samadhi.

The Lohanas felt their identity was increasingly threatened in Sindh and they began to migrate towards Kutchchh, Saurashtra, Gujarat and even as far as Thailand.^[5] In Gujarati, Lohanas performing the puja (ritual worship) of Dariyalal are known as Pujaras and Dariyalal’s descendants as Ratnani.

Famous warriors once, Majority of Gujarati Lohanas took to trade and business. However, their mettle as warriors past was again tested in 1764, when Gulam Shah Kora attacked Kutchchh and they had to account for themselves in the battle of Zora. Lohana women fought alongside their men in this battle and the land of Kutchchh is strewn with memorial stones marking the deaths of Lohanas. A saying in Gujarati eulogies Lohana women thus: Only Rajputani, Loharani and Miyanai bring forth gem of children.

[edit]Lohanas today

Lohana culture has diverged over the centuries between different regions. Thus there are significant differences between the culture, professions and societies of Sindhi Lohanas, Kutchi Lohanas and those of Gujarati Lohanas.

Gujarati Lohanas gravitated towards trading since the eighteenth century. A large number of Hindu Lohana from Gujurat migrated to theBritish colonies of East Africa during the early part of the 20th century. Gujarati Lohanas in East Africa were great entrepreneurs. The Ruparelia, Madhvani, Mehta and Jobanputra families being the prominent industrialists in Uganda. The descendants of these East African settlers have moved to either Kenya and Tanzania or Great Britain in recent decades. Many of them can be found in North West London andLeicester.

Today, a good number of Gujarati Lohanas reside in Gujarat and in other parts of India. In Gujarat, many of them are in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat. Outside Gujarat, they can be found in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore, Mangalore, Kolkata, Varanasi, New Delhi. and other major Indian cities. Also, Gujarati Lohanas own the majority of food businesses, especially “farsan marts,” in Ahmedabad and Vadodara. They also have a noticeable share in other businesses. A significant number of Gujarati Lohanas also reside outside India.

Sindhi Lohanas, including the Bhaiband community, were primarily engaged in Agriculture, Industries and Professional Services before thePartition of India. However, after the partition, Sindhi Lohanas dispersed throughout the world, and having lost their agricultural property, have focused on Industry, Trading and Professional Services. The Khudabadi Sindhi Swarankar (Sonara) community, also affiliated with the Sindhi Lohana faction of the warrior Kshatriya caste of Hindu society, were mostly in the jewellery business. In fact, the 1911 Encyclopedia Brittanica stated in the article about Sindh that:

“

More than half of the Hindus are Lohanas, originally traders, who have almost monopolised government service and the professions.[6][7][8]

”

Lohanas are still to be found in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are now Islamic states. In Afghanistan, they still maintain their Hindu religious identity and are known as Lokhathra. The Lohanas who keep their Hindu identity in Sindh are known as Sindhi Lohana.

Those Lohanas who converted to Sunni Islam are known as Memons. Those who converted to Shia Ismaili Nizari Islam or became IsmailiNizari Muslims are known as Khojas. Many of them retain their Hindu surnames from which many are ancient Persian surnames. Among them was the creator of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, whose father’s name was Jinabhai Poonja and grandfather was Poonja Gokuldas Meghji, a Hindu Bhatia from Paneli village in Gondal state in Kathiawar.^[9]

Not only Khoja Ismaili Muslims but Memon Sunni Muslims also retain their Hindu and Persian surnames, among the most famous of these isLakhani.Some of the major groups derived from the principal professions they follow or the crafts they practice, for example, the cattle-breeding group takes the significant name of Gawli, derived from a Sanskrit word for cow. The names of the shepherd castes seem to be derived from words meaning sheep. Such is at least the case with Gadaria from ‘gadar’, on old Hindi word for sheep. Many others of these major groups called castes bear merely tribal or ethic names. Such are for example: Arora, Gujjar, Lohana, Bhatia, Meena, Bhil, Dom,Oraon, Munda, Santal, Koch, Ahir, Mahar, Nayar, Maratha, Gond, Khond, etc.^[10]

[edit]Notable Lohanas

• Shree Jalaram Bapa

• Guru Nanak^[11]

• Late Shree Premjibhai Bhawanji Thacker – (1) prominent Lawyer of Kachchh District (2) Member of Raj Shabha – 1952 (3) Advisor to Chief Commissioner of Cutch C State 1956-1958 (4) Deputy Minister P. W. D.Departement in State of Bombay 1958 – 1960 (5) Minister P. W. D. in Gujarat State 1958 – 1960 (6) Cebinet Minister for Revenue and Law and Justice portfolio in Gujarat State 1967 – 1972 (7) Member of Gujarat Legisletive Assebmble – 1975-1976 (8) Pionior of Kachchh Rastra Bhasha Prachar Samiti and Today’s developed Kachchh visionary.

• Padmabhushan (Late) Shri K. J. Somaiya, Industrialist

• Lord Dolar Popat, founder of TLC Group also known as Lord Popat of Harrow.

• Yogiji Maharaj: 4th spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan

• Dr. S. K. Somaiya, Industrialist and Philanthropist

• Kal Penn

• Lekhraj Kripalani founder of the BKWSU

• Nanjibhai Kalidas (Badiyani) Mehta 20th century business tycoon and founder of The Mehta Group

• Gopaldas Kotecha– Gopaldas Madhawji Empire in Pemba, Tanzania (1938–1969)

• Shriti Vadera– Baroness and UK Government Minister.

• Manubhai Madhvani

• Dr.Heenal Raichura – UK youngest doctor at the age of 22 ^[12]
• Rao Bahadur Sheth Curumsey Damjee

• Jaydev Unadkat-Indian Cricketer.

• Sagar Thakker – Investment Banker, Industrialist and Philanthropist
• Uday Kotak – Investment Banker
• Cheteshwar Pujara – Cricketer
• Bhairavi Raichura – T V Actress
• Karishma Tanna – T V Actress
• J.D.Majethia – Gujarati film star , T V Actor and producer ( producer of serial like Baa, Bahu aur Baby and Sara bhai vs Sara bhai
• Deven Bhojani – T V Actor( Gattu)
• Mr Shashikant Lakhani (Lawyer & ex Minister Gujarat State)
• Mr Kirit Somaiya ( B J P leader Mumbai)
• Mr Shailesh Bathiya (Leading Chartered Accountant)
• Cheteshwar Pujara : 1st Lohana to play Test Cricket for India…

 http://www.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/32540.html

[edit]See also

• Kshatriya
• Memon
• Agham Kot – A settlement also called Agham Lohana, as Agham was the name of the Lohana chieftain of the area.^[13]

Harshil kotak-student Shree Chatrabhujbhai Juthabhai Kotak-1st lohana president,bussinessman,social worker,president ofcloth merchant’s association and sister to Lt. Shrimati Indira Gandhi

[edit]References

• Lohana Matrimonial website for all Lohana’s
• History at Lohana Online
• Lohana History at the Lohana Community UK Website
• Search Online Lohana Thakkar Raghuvanshi Bride Groom Lohana Community Matrimonial Website

Oonk,G, The Changing Culture of Hindu Lohanas in East Africa, in Contemporary Asians Studies, 13, 2004, 83-97.

[edit]External links

• Lohanas: People of India: Maharashtra, Volume 2 – By Kumar Suresh Singh, B. V. Bhanu, Anthropological Survey of India
• Lohana Matrimonial website for all Lohana’s
• Global Lohana Professionals Business Networking Group
• Ruparels/Kutchi Lohanas (Bhatt at Bhuj) gave History
• Lohana Times
• Lohana Samaj of USA
• JOIN US: Search Online Lohana Raghuvanshi Thakkar Bride Groom Lohana Community Matrimony Website
• Lohana
• At SnapGalaxy – Photos of the Third Annual Kite Flying Festival organized by Lohana Association of Greater Chicago
• Lohana Community East London
• Lohana Association of Greater Chicago
• Shree Lohana Seva Samaj Maputo Mozambique
• Shree Lohana Association Birmingham
• Lohana Community.org
• [1]
• Lohana Matrimonial website for all Lohana’s
• Shree Lohana Community Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Detail history of Lohana
• [2] Raghuvanshi’s Portal