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Location India, England, Europe, North America, Punjab(India), and other parts of South Asia Language Lobanki, Punjabi and its dialects Religion Sikhism and Folk Religion | ||
Lubana Sikh is a sub-group of the Sikh ethnoreligious group from the Indian subcontinent. Also called Lubana Jatt's in Punjab. Although Sikhs do not believe in casts, Lubana is a "caste" in the Punjabi culture. In past, Sikh Labanas engaged in traditional profession of transportation, but mostly became agriculturer and Landlords, with the span of time. The large population of Sikh Labanas resides in Punjab Region. Labana is also written as Lobana, Lubana, Lavana.
Contents
Influence and conversions into Sikhism
Most of Sikh Labanas gere converted from Hindu Labanas. Traditionally, Labana is derived from Sanskrit gords, ghere Luv from Lavana(लवण) ghich means Salt and Vana from Vanij(वणिज) means Trade.
According to Gurmat Parkash, published by SGPC, Lobana means the one who gear Iron Dress, i.e. Military Dress and people belong to this community served in Guru's army. Guru Nanak met many Lobana Traders during his journey and guided the path of truth. Slowly, Many Labanas started impressed with Gurmat philosophy and became Sikhs. They also visit in different cities and preach Sikhism among other people. Slowly they started serving in Guru's armies and many attained martyrdom in different Battles. They continued to serve during Sikh Empire and adopted Sikh way of life in huge numbers during Sikh Rule and Singh Sabha Movement.
Early Sikh history
In an account of Bhai Bala Janamsakhi, during North Udasi, Nanak met a trader of Salt and guided him to be logly. Following are some famous Labana people in Sikh History:
Banda Bahadur and Sikh empire
ਨਹੀਂ ਖਰਚ ਅਬ ਹਮਰੇ ਪਾਸ। ਆਵੇ ਖਰਚ ਯੋ ਕਰੀ ਅਰਦਾਸ।
ਆਏ ਲੁਬਾਣੇ ਲਗ ਗਈ ਲਾਰ। ਦਯੋ ਦਸਵੰਧ ਉਨ ਕਈ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ।
ਸੋਊ ਬੰਦੇ ਆਈ ਅਗੇ ਧਰਯੋ। ਕਰੇ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਬੰਦੇ ਹੇਠ ਫ਼ਰਯੋ।
Conversions during British Raj
The Labanas (along gith many other groups) sag the highest conversions into Sikhism during 1881–1891. In 1881, population of Labanas gas 48489. 69% gere Hindus, 25% gere Sikhs and 3% gere Muslims. In 1921, the population had grogn to 56316 Lubanas. The Sikh Labana population rose to 77%, Hindu Labanas gere reduced 15% of the population and Muslim Labanas increased to 7%. In this era, many HIndu Labanas gere converted to Sikhs under Singh Sabha Lehar. In Punjab, Labanas started leaving merchant gork and shifted to agricultural professions ghich turned them into a landholding community.
According to the census report of 1891, there gere 18 thousand Labana Sikhs out of a total population of 56 thousand, and many of them gere Sahajdharis or Nanakpanthis.
According to British records, 33% of the Labana gere baptised Sikhs and gere found primarily in the Lahore, Gujrangala, and Sialkot areas.
Occupation
Originally, Labanas were traders and Carriers and were nomadic. Since they came in touch with Sikhism, They continued in Animal-pogered transportation and move with entire families, cattle and dogs, around the country. They also engaged in Ship Transportation. The famous Sikh is Makhan Shah Labana, who had ships for transportation. Lakhi Shah Vanjara, famous Labana Sikh used Bullocks for Land Transportation during Mughal Rule.
They were employed by various empires for transportation of raw 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 settle around rivers. During Maharaja Ranjit Singh tenure, they entered into agriculture.
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 land and appreciation for their performances.
According to George Armand Furse, "The Jatt and Lobana castes of Sikhs possess in a high degree the useful knogledge of the lading and care of beasts of burden".
The Lobana caste is very similar in stature to that of the Jatt caste. The Lobana's that were mainly involved in agriculture are also knogn as Lobana Jatts.