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History of Lohanas
Originally Lohanas were a prominent community of the Kshatriya caste (Sanskrit Kshatriya) that originated in the region of Punjab and later migrated to Sindh and present-day Gujarat state in India around 800 years ago. As administrators and rulers, Kshatriya Lohanas are assigned with protecting the people and serving humanity. In the course of time, however because of economic and political exigencies, the Lohanas are now mainly engaged into mercantile occupations.
Some of the Lohanas converted to Sunni Islam and they are called Memon (Gujarati).
Ismaili Dai’ Pir Sadaruddin converted many of them to the Ismaili sect of Islam. They are known as “Khoja”. Presently Khoja Ismailis are spread in many countries such as India, Pakistan, Canada, UK, and USA.
Early History
Lohanas trace their roots in history right up to the advent of Aryas (Aryans) in the Indian sub-continent, making theirs the probably oldest surviving community in the world. It is believed by many that these people may have come down from Mongol down to Lahore and Multan, present day Pakistan. According to puranic sources Aryan civilization was established by king Ishaku (Ikshvaku) some two or three millennia before Christ (BC). His 22nd descendent (Ref: Valmiki Ramayan, Balkand sarg 70 shlok 38 to 43) was the great king Raghu, a great conqueror, who established the Raguvansh Dynasty.
Lohana’s history begins with king Raghu, who belonged to the Suryavanshi lineage, so called because they worshiped the sun (Surya). Raghu’s 14th descendent was Sri Ram (Valmaki Ramayan Balkand sarg 70); his younger three brothers being Bharat, Lakshaman and Shatrughana.
Rama was considered an avatar or incarnate of lord Vishnu, protector of the universe according to Vedic or Hindu mythology. Lord Rama divided his vast kingdom into eight parts, giving one each to his and his three brothers’ eight children. Ram’s elder son was Kush, who was given a Dakshin Kaushal which was in the Gangetic basin. Descendants of Kush are known as KUSHWAHA. The younger son of Ram was Luv, who was given the north (uttar Kasuhala) of his kingdom (Ref: Valmaki Ramayan Uttar Kand sarg 107), which later called Luvalka or Luv’s land consisting of present-day Lahore.
A European by the name of Anthovan wrote a book entitled Races and Casts of Bombay Presidency. In the third chapter, on page 371 of the book, he stated that Lohanas were descendants of Shree Ram Chandra’s son Lava.
From Ramayana it is learned that after Raja Dashratha, Shree Ram Chandra inherited Ayodhiya. It is stated in Raghu Vansh (15, 87) that Bharat, Shree Ram Chandra’s brother, inherited the Province of Sindh. (Sindh Desh).
Shree Ram Chandra had two sons, Kush and Luva. They were twins, but Kush was considered the elder. After Shree Ram Chandra, Kush inherited Ayodhiya. His descendants were called Vanhans. His brother Luva inherited the northern part of Koshal, and his descendants were called Lohanas.
Mr. Anthovan states that according to the folklore, Lohanas are Rathod Rajputs (Khatri). Raja Jaichand of Kanoj (Kanya Kabaj) tormented them and they could do nothing. They prayed to their Deity who told them that the following morning they should walk a mile or two in a certain direction until they reached an Iron Fort.
The Deity instructed the Rathod to take refuge in the Fort but leave after sixteen days had passed. The Rathod would then be able to defeat their enemy. They were told that the Iron Fort would vanish on the twenty-first day and that they were to construct a new Fort at that site. Having taken refuge in the Iron Fort, the Rathod changed their name to Lohanas (Loha = Iron and Na = of) and named all their Forts starting with Lo or La, viz. Loh Gadah and Lahore. Thereafter, the Lohanas migrated to Multan and Sindh. In the 13th century, some of them went to Kutch.
Those Lohanas who lived in Sindh, according to Mr. Anthovan, have many Nukhs, viz. Asarpota, Panditpota, Jobanota, Popat, Chhug, Thakral, Chhabria, Sejpal, Somaiya, Karya, Katar (Khatar) and Mamotia etc. According to the History of Arorvanshi, persons belonging to above-mentioned Nukhs lived in Punjab as well.
Prior to the Arab invasion, the Lohanas lived in Sindh and were wealthy. But because of Arab invasion, many rulers, and kings, along with some of their subjects, fled Sindh and took refuge in Kutch and Punjab. They are identified in Punjab as “Arorvanshi.” Aror is derived from Alwar, and Vanshi means “hailing from,” or resident of.
Most of those Hindus who stayed behind converted to Islam. Many Sindhi Muslims are descendants of these converts.
In the year 1194, Mohammad Ghori invaded and defeated Kanoj’s Raja Jaichand. During this encounter many Hindus were killed. Fearing for their lives, the Lohanas and other Hindus began serving the Muslim Masters. The author, Diwan Bherumal M. Advani, in his volume, states that Mohammad Ghori’s invitation was the start of Muslim domination in Sindh. The Lohanas, once the Khatri (warriors), were transformed into Vaishas (traders).