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Banga is a subcaste of the Saini community has a long and rich history in India. The Saini(Shoorsaini) community as a whole is believed to be descendent from the ancient Kshatriya warrior class and is traditionally associated with military service and landownership.

Geographical Distribution

The Banga subcaste is primarily found in Northern India. There is stronghold of Banga Saini's is region in Jalandhar and Nawan Shahr districts of Punjab where they are among the leading land owning group. The caste hierarchy in Punjab varies by the region. In Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Jalandhar, Sainis are ranked on top and are a very influential and affluent group. The MP of Hoshiarpur was generally always a Saini before the seat became reserved.

Origin and Identity

On The Hills Banga clan name is also found among Dogra Rajputs as "Bangwai". Almost 100% of Saini clans are same as that of Hill Rajputs and both groups are of identical descent. The only difference is that Saini villages fell in Muslim ruled areas where Rajputs were being actively converted to Islam or forced to marry their girls with them. This led to Rajputs on the plains starting to hide their Rajput identity to avoid persecution. Due to this reason Saini's and Mahton's (aka Sikh Rajputs) gradually cut adrift from Rajputs on hills and adopted farming identity even though both tribes are of proven Rajput descent (SS Gahlot, 1989;Hugh Kennedy Trevaskis, 1928).

Prominent Figures

Ajay Banga, Manvinder Banga and their Father Lt.General HS Banga

Few prominent Banga Saini's in public space are Dr. Indu Banga (renowned historian of Punjab).Ajay Banga (President of the World Bank/Ex Master Card CEO) and Manvinder Banga (the Chairperson of UK Government Investments/Ex CEO of Unilever). Lt.General Harbhajan Singh Banga (retd), the father of Banga brothers, is also a decorated army general, Harindarpal Banga(Founder of Caravel Group in HongKong),Navpreet Banga(Punjabi Actress),Gurdyal Kaur Banga Wife of Subedar Joginder Singh Sahnan.

Harry-Banga

Navpreet-Banga

Indu-Banga

Additional DIG of CRPF, Hari Ram Banga, is another prominent Banga Saini police officer decorated for gallantry.

Connection to Banga Town

The town Banga is also named after Banga Rajputs or Saini's. Currently, it is a Jat dominated town the town was given to Mann Jats during Akbar's era where they later became "Darbari Jats". There a number of Banga Saini dominated villages still around this town.

Overall, the Banga subcaste of the Saini community is a proud and vibrant community with a rich history and culture. While specific individuals from the subcaste in medieval.All this would tell you that Banga's are people of formidable standing, education and influence.

Banga Name Meaning According to: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022_____

Indian (northern states): Saini (gardener) and Kayastha(Kayastha in certain parts were considered either as Brahmins or equal to Brahmins.)name of a subgroup of the Kayastha community from Banga region in Jalandhar district. West Frisian: possibly from Bawnga from Bau(w)inga a habitational name from a farmhouse originally belonging to a certain Bave or Bouwe and his kin formed with the patronymic suffix -ing and genitive plural ending -a. Galician: habitational name from a place called Banga in Ourense province Galicia (Spain). Latvian: apparently from the vocabulary word banga ‘surf wave’.