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Labana

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Labana , Lubana
ReligionsSikhism , Hinduism
LanguagesLubanaki, Lubani, Punjabi, Gujarati, Hindi
CountryPrimarily India
Populated statesPunjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan

Labana (Devanagari:लबाना, Gujarati: લબાના) (Also known as Lubana or Lavana ) are social and ethnic, landholding cast in India whose members are known to be traders, (transporters, carriers and loaders), and sometimes agriculturists. They are also known as Jatt in Punjab,[1] but the Labanas of Punjab region are mostly Sikhs.

Etymology and Origins

Labana is derived from Sanskrit words. Lun from Lavana(लवण), which means Salt, and Vana from Vanij(वणिज), which means Trade.[2] Lubana, Lobana or Libana was doubtless of the great salt-carrying and salt trading caste. The Lobanas traded as a profession in the medieval period. On account of being displaced after repeated aggression in north western India, Lobanas are now an agriculturist community spread over North Western India.[citation needed]

According to Sikh Magazine Gurmat Parkash (Published by SGPC), Lobana also means one who wears an iron dress, i.e. someone in military attire. They mentioned Lobana were Military persons who served in Guru's army.[3]

History

The people of Labana are an offshoot of Ikshvakus of Ramayana fame as well as Audumbaras or Damars[4]. In 1891 Census, they were categorized under Rajputs and are descendants of Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi Kshatriyas. It is believed that Labanas are from the Suryavanshi of Rama Chandra, King of Ayodhya and believed to be son of Lava.[citation needed]

In Ludhiana and Jhang districts, the Lobanas claimed to be the descendants of Chauhan Rajputs of Jaipur and Jodhpur.[citation needed] In Gujarat district, they claimed to be Raghuvanshi Rajputs.[citation needed] 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.[5][6]

Occupation

Originally, Labanas were traders and Carriers and were nomadic, like Banjaras, Lambadis. They use Animal-Powered transportation and move with entire families, cattle and dogs, around the country. Lakhi Shah Vanjara, famous Labana Sikh use Bullocks for Land Transportation during Mughal Rule.

Labanas were also engaged in Water Transportation. The famous Sikh is Makhan Shah, who had ships for transportation.

They were employed by various empires for transportation of War material. They served under empires of Mughals, British, Sikhs etc. Due to political disorders, it became difficult for Labanas to continue traditional occupation and began to settled around rivers. During Maharaja Ranjit Singh tenure, they entered into agriculture.[7]

The major setback to their traditional profession is introduction of Motor and railways by British, so there dependence on agriculture increased. For additional Income, they adopted military profession and served in both world wars and got lands and appreciation for their performances.

According to George Armand Furse, "The Jut and Labana castes of Sikhs possess in a high degree the useful knowledge of the lading and care of beasts of burden".[8]

Clan System

Main article: Labana Clans

Mostly the Hindu Labana have 11 Gotras and are mostly agricultural.[5][6] The Labana Gotra names are derived from places, profession, ritual and prominent personalities named for Multan city when they came to the Punjab region during Nadir Shah's invasion of India in 1739. Lubana clans or got are Ajrawat, Multani, Rath, Ghotra, Garha, Sandlas, Khasriye, Kundlas, Karsana, Patwalie, Pelia, Bhagtana, Badwal, Bawa, Lyallpurie, Maniani, Mathaun, Makhan shai, Mundar, Merawat, Lubana, Labana and Lavana.[9]

Culture

Language

Labanki, which once was the dialect of Labanas, is an extinct Indo-Aryan language. It was a mixture of Marwari, Saraiki, Gujarati and Marathi.[10][page needed]

Sikh Labanas

According to British records 33% of the Labana were baptized 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.[11][full citation needed]

Hindu Labanas

Hindu Labana have mostly settled around City of Dahod-Gujarat, Jhabua-Madhya Pradesh, Dungarpur-Rajasthan and north border of Maharashtra.

Reservation System in India

In India's reservation system, Labanas are classified as Other Backward Class in many states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh etc.[12][13]

Notable people

Main article: List of Labanas

Some notable names are here under:

See also

References

  1. ^ Page 171, THE LUBANAS OF PUNJAB, Kamaljit Singh, Guru Nanak Dev University
  2. ^ Page 2, Volume 3, A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province. HA Rose
  3. ^ SGPC Parkash (October 2000). Gurmat Parkash. SGPC. p. 80. ISBN 81-7835-664-3.
  4. ^ "Lord Rama Lineage, Family Tree till 1634 BCE - History". BooksFact - Ancient Knowledge & Wisdom. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b Supplement to the glossary of Indian terms (1845). Supplement to the glossary of Indian terms. Henry Miers Elliot. p. 110.
  6. ^ a b The Indian Encyclopaedia (2002). The Indian Encyclopaedia. Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd. p. 629.
  7. ^ W. Hunter, The Imperial Gazetter of India, Vol. I, Truber & Co., London 1885, pp.181-82.
  8. ^ Studies on military transport By George Armand Furse P. 215
  9. ^ Dr Jaswant Singh,Panjab di Lubana Bradri,(1849-1947)
  10. ^ Bhavnani, Nandita (2014). The Making of Exile: Sindhi Hindus and the Partition of India. Tranquebar Press. ISBN 978-9-38403-033-9.
  11. ^ Transformation of the Sikh Society (Ethene K. Marenco) p. 120
  12. ^ Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh: Retrieved from National Commission of Backward Classes, India
  13. ^ https://sje.gujarat.gov.in/ddcw/showpage.aspx?contentid=1736&lang=english


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