Labana: Difference between revisions

Lobanas (or Labana) are a tribe which live all over India. Labanas have their own language called "Lubanki" which is a dialect. However, this language is only spoken by Labanas outside the Punjab, state of India. The Labanas of Punjab and Haryana are mostly Sikhs and speak mainly Punjabi or Hindi.

Historical Background

ORIGIN

The term Lobana appears to have been derived from LUN ("salt") and the BANA ("trade"). The Lobanas were the great salt-carrying and salt-trading community. They were occasionally called Banjaras. Locally, they were known by different names in parts of the Panjab. In Ambala district, for example, on account of their versatility in adopting different vocations, the lobanas were called "Bahrupias"

It is said that Lobanas are of Turkish origin they travel from Turkey toward India and that is why they are also called "Banjaras" because during travel they have to set up some buisness on their way

Different views are prevalent about the origin of the Lobanas.

In Ludhiana and Jhang districts, the Lobanas claimed to be the descendants of Chauhan Rajputs of Jaipur and Jodhpur.

In Gujrat district, they claimed to be Ragubansi Rajputs. The Lobanas of Kangra and Hoshiarpur districts claimed their origin from the Gaur Brahmins of Pilibhit. A good number of them traced their origin from Gaur Brahmins who came to the Panjab from Ranthambore in Aurangzeb's time.

It appears to be more appropriate to regard the Lobanas as a sub-division of the great Banjara tribe, forming one of their Principal sub-castes.

SIKH HISTORY

Baba Makhan Shah, Lakhi Shah, Bhai Kuram & many more Lobanas name are include in sikh history.

View Article Lobanas (During guru's period)

After Guru's period

During the MISL period, the Lobanas joined the services of various MISLDARS. They mostly served in the Bhangi, Ramgarhia, Shaheed and Ahluwalia MISLS. Some of them were in the ruling class of the Ahluwalia Misl. During the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Lobanas were recruited into the Khalsa Army. They proved to be good soldiers.

During the eighteenth century the Lobanas began to follow a settled way of life. There are many instances regarding their settlement as cultivators by the Sikh rulers to extend cultivation. The Lobanas of Lower Indus, Gujranwala and Jhang, for instance, settled as cultivators during the Sikh rule. In Kangra district, the Lobanas ascribed their settlement by Raja Dharam Chand and Langrapal. In the early nineteenth century, the Lobanas had established their own important villages. For instance in Gujrat district, they had three villages named Bazurgwal, Khori Dunna Singh and Tanda. Tanda was a well-known Lobana settlement. It was situated on the land of Moth-sa-duddin which was a part of chhachhan TAPPA.

Wherever the Lobanas settled they mainly named their villages as Tandas. Tanda in Lobanki dialect means a travelling body or gang. In Kangra district the Lobanas had four hamlets each called Tanda. In this way the Lobanas replaced their nomadic and pastoral life by settled way of life. By the mid-nineteenth century, the Lobanas at some places owned not only parts of villages, but also entire villages and even groups of villages. They were chiefly found in the Panjab during the Sikh rule.

Originally, the Lobanas were transporters and carriers. They supplied grains and other things of necessity in different parts of country. They had their own pack of animals. The trade was conducted in the shape of caravans and was responsible for security particularly in the dangerous tracts like forests and deserts. It was his duty to arrange fodder and make other administrative arrangements. He lived like a prince and wore a chain of pearls hanging from the neck.

Under the Sikh rule, majority of the Labanas continued their former occupations on traditional pattern. Bulk of them earned livelihood as professional carriers and only some of them as traders. Cattle-trade was also prevalent among them. In the business management, they could not compete with the Khatris and Aroras. Their position was similar to few other carrying and trading communities like Bhabras, Prachas and Khojas. Like the other trading communities the Lobanas also harvested profits from the expansion of trade. Thus their financial position gradually improved. The improvement in their economic condition paved the way for upward social mobility among the Lobanas.

In the late eighteenth century some of the Lobanas followed pastoral pursuits. Under the Sikh rule, the Lobanas were entering the agrarian hierarchy. This process was accelerated by the agrarian policy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to extend cultivation. The general policy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh towards the agrarian classes was guided by the security and development of revenues. The grants of waste land were given to new cultivators. Among other factors this gave an opportunity to the Lobanas to become agriculturists. For example, the Lobanas of Lower Indus settled as agriculturists during the period of Diwan Sawan Mal. Similarly, the Lobanas of Gujranwala and Jhang districts entered the agrarian hierarchy when the state repaired and dug the perennial an inundation canals. The land was given to them by Maharaja Ranjit Singh at nominal rent. They acquired proprietorship of the waste land cultivated by them. Thus, the Lobanas became peasant-proprietorship in some districts of the Panjab towards the end of the Sikh rule. Considering the premium attached to the possession of land in a predominantly agrarian society, this may be traced as signifying upward social mobility.

In retrospect, we see that the Lobanas became a well-known community in the Panjab towards the end of the Sikh rule. Their financial position gradually improved under the Sikh rule. A good number of the Lobanas followed pastoral occupation. They began to enter in the agrarian hierarchy by making the best use of facilities provided by the state. But majority of the Lobanas still continued with their traditional occupations.

Clans In Lobanas

Ghotra( Or Ajrawat Or Lakhman), Multani, Labana, Sujlana, are main clans mostly found and well known.

Other Clans are Badwalie, Belia, Bhagtaun, Bhonie, Dahgre, Danie, Dara Shah, Datla, Dhandsi, Dotal, Fatra, Ghare, Gojalia, Gujars, Jullon, jTatra, Kankanya, Kharrie, Khera, Khasarya, Kulwana, Lahoriae, Lavana, Lohana, Lulia, Makhan Shahi, Maniani, Mathaun , mathaunie, Mochie, Nanaut, Narowal, Padurgi, Palsiya, Parwal, Pelia, TAdra, Wamial, Wamowal

GEOGRAPHY

Country:India

Continent:Asia

Region:South Asia

Population in India:355,000

Largest States on file:

Punjab (283,000), Haryana (16,000), Rajasthan (11,000), Jammu and Kashmir (10,000), Uttar Pradesh (10,000), Delhi (8,000), Maharashtra (3,600), Uttaranachal (3,300), Chandigarh (2,200), Madhya Pradesh (1,900),

LANGUAGE

Primary Language: Panjabi, Eastern (318,000 Speakers)

Secondary Languages:

Hindi (4,500), Harauti (20), Mewari (10), Pahari-Potwari: Punchhi (Unknown), Haryanvi: Bagdi (Unknown)

Dialect - Lubanki

Lobanas Personalities

Sant Baba Prem Singh

Sant Prem Singh worked for the uplift of the Lobana community in the first half of the twentieth century. He was an important social, political and religious leader of the Lobanas.

Born in 1882 at Khori Dunna Singh, a village in Gujrat district, he went to Morala Sahib in his early age and learnt Panjabi and KIRTAN. In 1908 he was nominated as SANT of the DERA by Baba Bishan Singh. Henceforth he took keen interest in his community. He regarded education as the best means of upward social mobility. Many schools were started under his guidance. He was the prominent leader of Vihar Sudhar Movement. Sant Prem Singh preached Sikhism enthusically and remained a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee from 1926 to 1950. He also became the member of its executive committee in 1948.

Sant Prem Singh was an active Lobana participant in the Akali Movement. He sent a Jatha of 25 Lobanas for the Morcha under Giani Chet Singh. He contested for the membership of Legislative Assembly and was elected twice, in 1937 and then in 1946. He remained its member upto his death in 1950.

Sant Majha Singh (1866-1971)

He was born at Maksudpur in Kpurthala state in 1866. His parents died in his childhood. Compelled by the circumstances he had to take shelter in Dera Hoti Mardan. After a long service he became a SANT second in command in 1912. He became prime SANT in 1937.

Sant Majha Singh paid his attention to eradicate the social evils. He preached the gospel of Sikhism. After partition, his contribution to the Lobana community in the fields of education and social reforms is praiseworthy. He died in 1971.

Sardar Bahadur Mehtab Singh Galowal

Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Sardar Bahadur Mehtab Singh was born in 1854 at Galowal, Tehsil Dasuya, district Hoshiarpur. After getting some education, he joined the army. He was recruited in the 1st Sikh Regiment in 1874. On account of good performance he became Subedar Major. He won many medals and got allotment of 5 squares of land in Chak 115 in Shahpur district and was also honoured with the title of ' Sardar Baahadur'.

Mehtab Singh's services for the Lobana community i the army and agriculture are well-known. Firstly, he was able to create separate companies of the Lobanas in the 48th Pioneers in 1901 and 12 Bengal Pioneers in 1903. Secondly, due to the efforts the Lobanas of ten districts were included among the agricultural tribes of the Punjab in 1906.

Dr. Sunder Singh

He was born in 1870 at Bazurgwal in Gujrat district. After fetting middle standard education he joined Lahore Medical School and got the degree of Local Native Doctor in 1893. He joined regular as a Sub-Assistant Surgeon in Burma and was promoted first to Assistant Surgeon and then to a Civil Surgeon in 1912. He retired from service in 1920 and came back to India.

After retirement Dr. Sunder Singh devoted his whole time for the betterment of the Lobana community. He also assisted Sant Prem Singh in Vihar Sudhar Movement. On the educational side, he played an important role for the establishment of Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Lobana High School, Tanda in Gujrat district. He remained the secretary of that institution upto his death in 1940. He opened two primary schools in his own village one for boys and the other for girls. In these schools free education was given to the poor. Later, one school was upgraded as Middle School. He died in 1940.

Sardar Bahadur Gopal Singh

Sardar Gopal Singh was born in 1862 at Nurpur Lobana in Kapurthala state. He got knowledge of Urdu, Pesian, English and Gurmukhi in his early career. He joined army in 1882 but left it in order to manage the estate awarded to his father in Lahore district.

During the First World War, he sent maximum recruits from the Lobana community. Recognising his services, two squares of land in chak 28 in Chunnian tehsil of Lahore district and five squares in te Okara tehsil of Montgomery district were awarded to him. He was honoured with the title of 'Sardar Bahadur' in 1916. From 1919 to 1922 he remained a member of the Punjab Legislative Council.

Gopal Singh supported the planned programmes for the uplift of the Lobanas. He did a lot to establish Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Lobana High School at Tanda in 1921. He Participated in the VIHAR SUDHAR LEHAR. In 1928, he arranged Vihar Sudhar Conference at Chak No. 37 Pattoki in Lahore district. He died in 1947 at Nurpur Lobana.

Bawa Harnam Singh

Bawa Harnam Singh was born on 10 June 1915 at Khori Dunna Singh in Gujrat district. He passsed matriculation examination from Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Lobana High School, Tanda, in 1921. For higher education he joined Khalsa College, Amritsar. After sometimes he migrated to Sikh National College, Lahore. He did his B.A. from the same institution in 1936.

After study he participated in the programme chalked out for the uplift of Lobana community. In order to preach against social evils and bring socio-religious awakening among the Lobanas, he started a weekly, 'Prem Sandesh', in 1942. After 1950, he dominated Lobana community. He was elected M.L.A. a number of times and taken in the Akali Ministry as Minister of State for Agriculture and Forests in 1970. He died in 1981.

Major Sharam Singh

Major Sharam Singh was born in 1901 at Dhamkin in Lahore district. He got his primary education from his village, middle from Sharaqpur and did matriculation from Lahore. For higher education he joined Khalsa College, Amritsar and passed F.A. in 1918. Afterwards, he joined education core in the army as an Havaldar in 1920. He was promoted as jamedar in 1928, Subedar in 1932, Subedar Major in1934, Liutenant in 1939, Captain in 1945 and Major in 1948. He retired as Major in 1963.

While in service he extended support to the programmes for the uplift of the Lobana community. He had a keen desire to spread education in the community and gave financial assistance for this purpose. He encouraged female education and set an example by sending his own daughters for higher education in good institutions.

Occupationally his contribution to the Lobanas was really praiseworthy. He taught and qualified many young boys of the community for taking service in the army. Due to his efforts many Lobanas joined army.

After retirement, in order to bring socio-cultural awakening among the Lobanas he started a monthly 'Lobana Sewak' in 1955. This journal continued uptil 1960. His health deterioted afterwards and he died in 1963.

Chaudhary Lakhi Singh

Chaudhary Lakhi Singh was born on 1 January 1902 at Tanda in Gujrat distrct. He did B.A. and passed various degrees related to accounts. He joined service as Financial Adviser and Accounts Office in the Custodian and Rehabilitation Department in 1920. On 17 January 1960 he retired as Examiner Local Fund Punjab.

Keenly interested in the spread of education he worked as the secratary of Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Lobana High Schools, Tanda, established a middle School named Lakhi Singh Middle School in 1931 and gave financial assistance to Lobana educational institutions.

He had a great interest in writings. He wrote various books like Accout and Audit, Municipal Laws, Civil Service Regulations, Fundamental and Supplementary Rules.

Chaudhary Lakhi Singh was close to Sant Prem Singh. He preached against social evils and unique features of Lobana culture.

After retirement, he took active part in politics. He was elected a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly as an Akali candidates in 1962. He died on 1 January 1977 at Miani Afghanan in Hoshiarpur district.

Giani Chet Singh

Giani Chet Singh was born in March 1902 at Bhakhrewali, Gujrat district. He learned Punjabi from the village Granthi. but he got primary education in Urdu medium. Under the guidance of Pundit Narain Singh he studied many Granths in Urdu and Hindi. In 1919, he analysed Sri Guru Granth Sahib under the guidance of Giani Amir Singh Ji at Amritsar.

In 1921 Giani Chet Singh went to Dera Morala Sahib. He supported the Vihar Sudhar Movement, educational and religious programmes arranged under the guidance of Mahant Prem Singh. A good number of the Lobanas were baptised by him. He was appointed a head-granthi in Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Gujranwala in 1936. In 1944 he was appointed a granthi in Sri Harimandar Sahib Amritsar. he bacame the head-granthi of the same institution on 10th February 1963 and retired from this post in 1974.

Politically, Giani chet Singh participated in the Akali Movement. He led a JATHA of 25 Lobanas for Pheru Morcha and was imprisoned on 7th April 1924. He was punished for 6 months imprisonment and sent to Multan Jail. He is still alive.

Giani Harcharan Singh

Giani Harcharan Singh was born in March 1904 at Nangal Lobana in Kapurthala Sate. He passed middle standard examinationfrom Anglo-Vernacular English School, Nadala in 1921. He did Giani in 1926. Then he joined Shaheed Sikh Missionary College started by shiromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee in 1927 and studied there for two years. He also taught in same institution in 1929-30.

Giani Harcharan Singh was important leader of the Vihar Sudhar Lehar in the third decade of the twentieth century. He was the stage secretary of Vihar Sudhar conference arranged at Khokharwali in Sialkot district in 1925. He was ont of the close associates of Sant Prem Singh. His role in the politics is also noteworthy. He took part in the Non-Cooperation and Akali Movements and was imprisoned on 20th March 1922. He supported Sant Prem Singh in his elections for the Legislative Assembly in 1936 and 1946. He is still alive.

Bibi Jagir Kaur

Bibi Jagir Kaur, ex-President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee belongs to the Labana community, and is the daughter-in-law of this household.

Gulzaar Lahoria

Gulzar lahoria a famous punjabi singer is also a lobana. He have done wonderful job in two latest albums i.e Dilan de mamle & Ishq Parahiyaan

Lobana Villages

AMRITSAR DISTRICT : Doburji, Pandori and Verka

GUJRANWALA DISTRICT : Chakian, Daliyanwalik, Dholan, Garala, Gunaur, Kajikot, Kurikot, Mandiran, Manjpur, Mirzapur, Garala, Nangal Dunna singh and Wando.

GUJRAT DISTRICT : Hatka, Bazurgwal, Baramla, Bhakhrewali, Buddhan, 28 Chak, Gujgrain, Khori Dunna Singh, Mehsam, Peroshah, Qila Sura Singh, Quankh, Surkhpur and Tanda.

GURDASPUR DISTRICT : Balarhwal, Behrampur, Bheni Paswal, Bhulechak, Dhianpur, Chak Shreef, Dhupsari, Galrhi, Ghot Phokhar, Jago Chak Tanda, Jhanda Lobana, Khojkipur, Kri Afgana, Kishanpur, Kotli, Manchopra, Mari Buchian, Mari Tanda, Mehre, Mirthal Tanda, Naushehra Nalbandhan, Nawan Pind Bahadur, Nirsiha, Saidowal Khurd and Shaale.

HOSHIARPUR DISTRICT : Budhabarkt, Chuhrian, Galowal, Himatpur, Khurdan, Mahadpur, Naraingarh, Passitbet, Salohpur, Tahli, Tanda Ramsahai, Terkiana and Uchi Bassi.

JALANDHAR DISTRICT : Bhatnura, Narohi, Patial and Rajpura.

JHANG DISTRICT : Chak No. 485.

KANGRA DISTRICT : 4 Tandas

LAhORE DISTRICT : 37 Chak Pattokji, Gopal Singh Wala, Paar Sadh, Shahpur Kanjra, Innobhati Jhugian Khasrian.

LUDHIANA DISTRICT : Balbgarh, Dholanwal, Garhi Fazal, Gopalpur, Lubangarh, Mangli Tanda, Rur, Sasrali and Tanda Kishan Singh.

LAYALLPUR DISTRICT : 13 Chak, 447 Chak, 476 Chak and 444 Chak, 115 G.B., 441 G.B., 77 G.B., 32 G.B., 202 G.B., 358 G.B., 301 G.B., 84 G.B., 518 G.B.

MULTAN DISTRICT : 24 Chak, 34 Chak, 36 Chak, 45 Chak, 50 Chak, 86 Chak, 88 Chak and 90 Chak.

SARGHODHA DISTRICT : 115 Chak South, 113 Chak South, 133 Chak S.B., 135 Chak S.B., 109 Chak S.B.

SHEIKHUPURA DISTRICT : Awan, Babakwal, Bhago Dial, Bhukanpur Aar Da, Bhukanpur Paar Da, Nangal Bhuchar, Nangal Bawa, Bohar Wala Ahiya(Ahiya Khurd), Ahiya Nagar Kalan, 32 Chak, 41 Chak, 48 Chak, Dhamkian, Dinga, Fatrehan, Garangwala, Ghuchli, Hitkipur, Kharial, Lubanwala, Mangat, Manjwala, Mansa Singh Da Ahiya, Maschak, Mehmatpur, Mikhowal, Mirpur, Muradpur, Najar Purana, Niranjani, Paarda Ahiya, Pindidass, Qaji Murali, Ratniwala, Bukanwal, Saad Amba, Sarawan, Shaam Ke, Sharihpur, Sindiala, Tibba Toria, Wadda Najar, 22 Chak, 23 Chak.

SIALKOT DISTRICT : Bhagowal, Bhodi, Chhana Atalgarh, Garhi Bhura, Khokharwali, Kunanpur, Nangal Shahu, Rajja, Shana Gopalpur, Baradari.

Other Parts

Other parts of India

Besides Punjab, these tribes are also found in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharastra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and Gujarat. In these areas, they may not necessarily follow Sikhism.

References

• http://lobanas.googlepages.com/

• http://www.labana.org/

• http://surnamesslist.googlepages.com/