Labana

Infobox caste
caste_name=Labana
classification=tribe
subdivisions=-
populated_states=Punjab and other parts of India
languages=Lubanki, Punjabi, Hindi and its dialects
religions=Sikhism, Hinduism & Islam Labanas are an Indian tribe. The Labanas of Punjab and Haryana are mostly Sikhs.

History

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The Labanas in the Punjab are equal to Jats in social standing and are a Landholding caste here. According to British records 33% of them were Kesh Dhari Sikhs and were found primarily in the Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot areas. The Labanas along with the Khatri, Arora, Suneaar,Tarkhans and many others saw the highest conversions into Sikhism during the 1881-1891.

History has it that LabanaJatt's exist in the world today. They are of equal standing and regarded highly in society. Many recite themselves as "Jatt" to prevent complexities.

Source = Transformation of the Sikh Society (Ethene K. Marenco) p. 120

The Jat and Lobana castes of Sikhs possess in a high degree in military support.Source = Studies on military transport By George Armand Furse P. 215

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Origin

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According to Para Singh Tanda Of Labana Sewak Jan 2008, Labanas were once part of the Rajputs (a warrior caste), he attributes the name laban to use of iron (loh) in the armor they wore. Some people from among these warriors started trading to earn their livelihood in times of peace with the result that the name altered to Vanzaras (trade/transport). They first traded in food grains. When the army was in action they would supply foodstuff to the front lines using mainly Oxen or Bulls (thagha) as pack animals or to pull their wagons laden with the supplies necessary to keep an army on the move. Travernier in his book, "Travels of India" wrote that an ox or bull can carry weight of around 300 to 500 pounds.

The kaafila was of 10,000 to 12,000 thagaas in which they took rice, wheat, salt, etc. Colonel Gulcharan singh said, "the lobanas took products from all over India to the harbours of Soorat to be sent to ports scattered around the world on ships that were often owned by Lobanas. Makhan Shah Labana was the maalik (owner/master) of many ships. Travernier also wrote that one Lobana owned at least 100 to 200 thagaas. The Sardar of a kaafila (caravan) was known as a Naik (also a modern term of rank in the Indian army). In the past the Naiks would wear a garland of diamonds and pearls around there neck.

They were fast walkers too because of dhagaas walk so fast. Lobanas had to travel a lot for trade so they learned a lot about geographical areas and the needs of the people in those areas. Lobanas were also used by kings for the demand study of their people of kingdom. and also used by old kings as intelligence or spies. Gulcharan Singh also claims that both Tipu Sultan and the Duke of Wellington were also labanas. lubanki the dielect of labanas have mixture of Rajasthani Gujrati & Marathi. The bodies of lobanas were fit and they were tall as they were fighters later they travel a lot. The Ladies of Lobanas were said to be beautiful and fair in colour. they were bold to as there husbands use to go out for trade so they control all activities household and were not like old women which use to live in purdah etc. they were not fearful. J.H Huttel in book the Tribe & caste wrote that " The ladies of labans were famous for beauty & Ghareloo Azadee and also put beautiful clothes."

In Ludhiana and Jhang districts, the Lobanas claimed to be the descendants of Chauhan Rajputs of Jaipur and Jodhpur.Fact|date=March 2007 In Gujrat district, they claimed to be Raghuvanshi Rajputs.Fact|date=March 2007 The Lobanas of Kangra and Hoshiarpur districts claimed their origin from the Gaur Brahmins of Pilibhit.Fact|date=March 2007 A good number of them traced their origin from Gaur Brahmins who came to the Punjab from Ranthambore in Aurangzeb's time.Fact|date=March 2007 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. for more details click www.labanas.com

The Lobanas are well-known in the history of the Punjab in general and that of the Sikhs in particular since the days of the last two Sikh Gurus.

ikh rule & Farmers

After Guru Harkrishan, there was a confusion about the identification of his successor. According to Sikh legends, Makhan Shah, a great merchant of the Lobana tribe, identified Guru Teg Bahadur as the successor of Guru Harkrishan. Makhan Shah was very helpful to Guru Teg Bahadur during his pontificate.

Another Lobana Sikh, Lakhi Shah, did valuable service to Sikhism in November 1675 by the cremation of Guru Teg Bahadur after his execution in Delhi. Afterwards Lakhi Shah, accompanied by his companions, went to Anandpur to pay homage to Guru Gobind Singh. It is said that his services were highly appreciated by Guru Gobind Singh.

The Lobanas participated in the battles fought by the tenth Guru. We know that Hem Singh. son of Lakhi Shah sacrificed his life in 1703 in the battle of Anandpur. After Guru Gobind Singh the Lobanas gave financial and military support to Banda Bahadur on his arrival in the Punjab. They joined Banda's army and took active part in the battles fought by him. Banda Bahadur consulted the Lobanas during his exploits like at Sadhaura. The Lobanas like Kaur Singh, Baj Singh and Bhagwant Singh occupied important positions in the army of Banda Bahadur.

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.

Lobanas are said to have nomadic roots and have been related to the Lambada or Labada tribe of Andhra among others, and there are some who believe that they are of the same stock as the Gypsies or Roma people in Europe.Fact|date=June 2007 Labana's also have been linked with Gypsies from Turkey. Though some had trading background too, currently most Labana's in Punjab are wealthy and rich and involved in agriculture.This is because they receive a lot of foreign money from NRI's and other sources.

ClansThe major Labana clans include [Garha] and most of them belong to Nangal Lubana Ghotra or Ajrawat, Baghiana,Bhagtana,Gujjar', Ghotra Lakhman, Multani, Labana, Sujlana, Maniani, and Chaniana.

Other Clans are Badwalie, Belia, bakhelia, Bhagtaun, Bhonie, Dahgre, Danie, Dara Shah, Datla, Dhandsi, Dharim, Dotal, Fatra, Gojalia, Gujars, Jullon, Tatra, Kankanya, Kharrie, Khera, Khasria, Kulwana, Lahoriae, Lavana, Lohana, Lohar, Luvar, Lulia, Makhan Shahi, Mathaun, mathaunie, Munder, Nanaut, Narowal, Padurgi, Palsiya,Parwal, Pelia, Adra, tarheem, Vakhil, Wamial, Wamowal, Lalia, Azrot

Labanas today

Today Lobana is a Landholding rich community among the high castes of punjab.Majority of the community people are settled abroad and had well settled businesses in foreign countries. The community people proved to be hard working and uplifted the community again to its pride which was in crisis during the partition and early years of the independence.The people are inclined towards getting their there children educated which happened to be a big problem for the one generation of community after the independence.Due to the lack of education and social development in one generation, the dowry system prevails at highest in the Lubana community.Overall the community is developing well and marching towards the zenith.

Demographics

The Labanas are found in different states of India. These are Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttaranachal, Chandigarh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Most of the Labanas speak Punjabi. Other languages include Hindi, Harauti, Mewari, Pahari-Potwari (Punchhi), and Haryanvi (Bagdi). Some Labanas also speak a language called Lubanki.

Clans

The major Labana clans include [Garha] and most of them belong to Nangal Lubana Ghotra or Ajrawat, Baghiana,Bhagtana,"Gujjar', Ghotra Lakhman, Multani, Labana, Sujlana, Maniani, and Chaniana. Other Clans are Badwalie, Belia,bakhelia,Bhagtaun, Bhonie, Dahgre, Danie, Dara Shah, Datla, Dhandsi,Dharim, Dotal, Fatra, , Gojalia, Gujars, Jullon, jTatra, Kankanya, Kharrie, Khera, Khasria, Kulwana, Lahoriae, Lavana, Lohana, Lulia, Makhan Shahi, Mathaun, mathaunie, Mochie, Nanaut, Narowal, Padurgi, Palsiya,Parwal, Pelia, TAdra,tarheem,Vakhil,Wamial, Wamowal,Lalia , Azrot

See also

* List of Labanas
* Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib
* Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadar

References

* Article on Lubanas by Jaswant Singh which appeared in 'Sikhstudies.org'
* Gurmat Parkash, October 2002 (pages 11-43) Monthly Journal of Dharam Parchar Committee, SGPC, Amritsar.
* Guru Shabad Ratankar Mahan Kosh.

External links

* http://www.labanas.com/
* http://www.lubana.com/
* http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/gurus/makhanshah.html
* http://www.sikh-history.com/literature/essays/gurladh.html
* http://www.srigurugranthsahib.org/guru-teg-bahadur/discovery.htm
* http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040622/main8.htm
* http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/movements/lobanas/lobanasVS.htm
* http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/gurus/TegBahadur/TegBahadur.htm