Labanas are a Punjabi tribe. The Labanas of Punjab region are mostly Sikhs, with a small minority of Muslims and Hindus.
Contents
History
According to British[citation needed] records 33% of the Labana were baptised Sikhs and were found primarily in the Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sialkot areas. The Labanas (along with many other groups) saw the highest conversions into Sikhism during 1881–1891.[1]
According to George Armand Furse, "The Jut and Lobana castes of Sikhs possess in a high degree the useful knowledge of the lading and care of beasts of burden".[2]
Origin
The name Laban may refer to the transport of salt. "The term Labana appears to be derived out from loon (salt) and bana means trade, and the lubana, Lobana or libana was doubtless the great salt-carrying and salt trading caste". Ancient Medieval The lobanas are of Rajput origin who took trade as profession in the medieval period on account of being displaced after repeated aggressions in the north western India. Now basically an agriculturist community spread over North Western India.[3]
Acc. to Gurmat Parkash, Magazine by SGPC, Lobana also means who wear Iron Dress, i.e. dress of Military person. They mentioned Lobana were Military persons who served in Guru's army.[4]
Labanki, the dialect of Labanas, is a mixture of Marwari, Saraiki, Gujarati and Marathi.[citation needed]
Role in Sikh History
After Guru Harkrishan, the eighth Guru of Sikhism, died in 1664, there was confusion about the identification of his successor. According to Sikh legends, Makhan Shah, a great merchant of the Labana tribe, identified Guru Teg Bahadur as the successor of Guru Harkrishan. Makhan Shah was very helpful to Guru Teg Bahadur during his pontificate. The Labanas participated in battles fought by the tenth Guru.
During the Misl period, the Labanas joined the services of various "Misldars".
During the eighteenth century the Labanas began to follow a settled way of life. The Labanas of Lower Indus, Gujranwala and Jhang, settled as cultivators during Sikh rule.
Wherever the Labanas settled they named their villages as Tandas. Tanda in Labanki dialect means a travelling body encampment. In Kangra district, the Lobanas had four hamlets, each called Tanda. 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 Punjab during the Sikh rule.
Labanas were listed as a martial race by the British.[citation needed]
Labanas are said to have nomadic roots but are not related to the Lambada or Labada tribe of Andhra. There are some who believe that they are of the same stock as the Gypsies or Roma people of Europe.[citation needed] Labanas have been linked with Gypsies from Turkey.[citation needed]
Labanas today
Today Labana is a landholding-rich community of Punjab. A large number of Labanas are settled abroad in western countries. The people are hard-working and uplifted the community again to its pride, which was in crisis during the early years of partition. Most Sikh Labanas are of western Punjab origin (now in Pakistan) and are called Panahi, while a smaller ratio are of East Punjab origin and are called Jaddi.
Demographics
The Labana Sikh community's main regions of concentration are: Tri State Area (NY City, New Jersey, Connecticut) and Michigan in the United States; the Greater Toronto Area in Canada; Brescia, Mantova, Pralboino in Italy; Hoshiarpur/Jalandhar/Kapurthala/Gurdaspur region in East Punjab and Ambala/Yamunagar/Pehowa/Naraingarh (Shapur) (Distt. ambala) region in Haryana. In addition, there is a sizeable Labana community present in California, Indiana, Illinois (USA); Frankfurt area (Germany); Birmingham, Southall (UK);Auckland(Newzealand) Jammu region (J&K); Mohali and Panchkula (Chandigarh); Karnal and Panipat region (Haryana); NCR (Delhi etc.); Rajasthan; Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, and Australia. In Nahan, Paonta Sahib (kolar)Distt Sirmour Himachal,Baddi Distt solan Himachal
Muslim Labanas (also called Rahmani) are scattered across Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Pakpattan, Gujrat, Sahiwal Sukkar, Rahimyarkhan, Khanpur, Bahawalpur, Hasilpur, Khanewal, Chichwatni and Lahore districts of Punjab in Pakistan.
Hindu Labanas live mostly in Himachal Pradesh (Kangra, Mandi, Sundernagar).
Most of the Sikh and Muslim Labanas speak Punjabi. Hindu Labanas speak other languages like Pahari-Potwari (Punchhi), Haryanvi (Bagdi), Harauti, and Mewari. The older generation of Sikh and Muslim Labanas used to speak a language called Labanki, which is now extinct.
Clans/Gots
The major Labana clans/gots include Ghotra or Ajrawat, Bawa, Baghyana,Gujjar', Ghotra Lakhman, Multani, Labana, Sujlana, Maniani, Chaniana and Gahra (most of Gahra's belong to Nangal Labana). Other Clans are Badwalie, Belia, bakhelia, Bhagtaun, bharpoda, Bhonie, Khatedia, Dahgre, Danie, Dara Shah, Datla, Dhandsi, Dharim, Dotal, Fatra, Fidda, Gojalia, Gujars, Jullon, jTatra,karsana, Kankanya, Kharrie, Khera, Khasria, Kulwana, Lahoriae, Lavana, Lulia, Makhan Shahi, Manhani/Maniani, Mathoan, mathaunie, Mochie, Nanaut, Narowal, Padurgi, Palsiya,Parwal, Pelia, TAdra, tarheem, tagarya, Vakhil, Wamial, Wamowal, Lalia, Azrot, Purbia, Tharimia, Ghare.karsana is not a common clan.They are from tahli village and are now found in nizampur village of distt kapurthala
Labana personalities
Makhan Shah Labana,Sukhwinder Singh Ghotra (Bollywood Singer), Mela Shah, Sant Baba Prem Singh Ji, Bibi Jagir Kaur. Balwinder Singh Fiddu (or Fidda) [5][6]
See also
References
- ^ Transformation of the Sikh Society (Ethene K. Marenco) p. 120
- ^ Studies on military transport By George Armand Furse P. 215
- ^ Raj Kumar (1 Jan 2008). Encyclopaedia Of Untouchables : Modern. Kalpaz Publications. p. 380. ISBN 81-7835-664-3. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- ^ SGPC Parkash. Gurmat Parkash. SGPC. p. 80. ISBN 81-7835-664-3.
- ^ http://www.harjitinternational.com/Photos/Old/gallery1/image8.htm
- ^ http://www.kabaddi.org/kabaddi/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=87
External links
- http://labanasamaj.in/
- http://labanasamajpratapgarhraj.blogspot.in/
- http://www.labana.org/
- 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
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