Earlier History
+ 3 + 3 The Lohanas, also known as Thakkar (and hence often holding surnames including Thakkar and Thakrar ), trace their roots in history right up to the emergence of Aryans, a linguistic of Indo-Iranians in the Indian sub-continent (which then included today's Afghanistan). It is believed by Legend that the Lohanas are descendants of the hero Rama (Raghuvanshi, descendant of King Raghu), who bore two sons: Luv (also spelled as Lava) and Kush. From the elder son Luv, the Lohanas are supposed to be originated along with Kurmi (later settled in North-East and some Western part i.e. UP, undivided Bihar, MP, Gujrat, Maharashtra of India.)
Descendants of Kush are known as Kushwaha. His younger son Luv was given the North (Uttar Kaushala) of his kingdom (Refer:Valmk Ramayan Uttar Kand, sarg-107), which came to be, called Luvalka or Luv's land consisting of present day Lahore (Pakistan) as its Capital.
Luv is portrayed in the Ramayana as a great warrior. In one of the episodes of the Ramayana, even though, he is a mere boy in the hermitage, he brings the entire army of his father Lord Rama (under the command of his uncle Laxman) to a standstill by the prowess at archery (of course, along with his older brother Kush). His descendants too were cast in the same mould, but they were not satisfied with Luvalka and pushed to the west and annexed today's Afghanistan and adjoining areas.
Around 580 BC., when king Bimbisara ruled over Bharat (India), the society came to be divided into different communities based on their occupation. One of their communities was called Kshatriyas and King Luv's descendants were classed with them and came to be known as Luvanam, which was also referred to as Luvana. The Luvanas from Loharghat became known as Loharana (masters of swords; or iron ("Loha") chiefs ("Rana")), which later became Lohana.
Chinese traveller Fa-hien, who visited India between 414 and 399 B.C., calls Lohanas a brave community ruling the northwest territory of India, in his diary. Another Chinese traveler, Kurmang who came in the eleventh century A.D. speaks of a Lohana kingdom as a mighty power. Historian Burton writes Lohanas were brave people and says they were spread over today's Baluchistan (Pakistan), Afghanistan and eastern fringes of Central Asia. Col. Todd, who delved into history of Rajasthan, describes Lohanas as one of the oldest Kshatriya community.
From Fa-hien downward all pay tribute to the Lohanas as brave. The likely reason for this title of bravery is that they were for centuarries the first line of defense for the Indian subcontinent in the direct path of invaders from northwest like Persians, Macedonians, Huns, Mughals, etc. Meanwhile, Muhammad established Islam. His followers spread out in different directions to establish his religion world-wide and in due course they turned East towards India.
Between the 7th and 11th century, the Lohanas held their grounds in Afghanistan, blocking the advent of Islam eastwards. In the 11th century, they finally had to fall back and moved initially to the Sindh province of today's Pakistan, where again for over two centuries they provided the frontline of defense against the invading hordes. Finally, at the turn of the 13th century, the Loharana king, Chahir Ray, was betrayed by his confidant Kualnger, who turned traitor for a large fortune in gold and gems. The Lohana kingdom disintegrated into smaller segments.
But the saga of this brave community did not end there.After the community split, a new leader emerged who again unified the Lohanas. Veer Jashraj, who is revered as Veer Dada Jashraj, was born in the city of Lohar (today's Lahore in Pakistan), which was the capital of Lohargadh. His domain extended from Lahore to Multan (also in Pakistan today). Dada Jashraj was also treacherously killed when only 28 - a life so short but full of heroic deeds.
Accordingly Chande family, originated from Loh Gat where Loha Raja was the ruler. As a result of the turmoil Chande family moved to Afghanistan and some members went to Sind where about 400 years ago the head of the Chande family Jasraj was ruling over Sind. He was an astute politician and a good leader. During his marriage ceremony, Sumrah muslims attacked Sind and Veer Dada Jasraj left the wedding mandap to face the enemy. In the process he died and many of his subjects then went to Kathiawar, now Saurashtra. Until the later part of 18th Century members of Chande family were known as Ratadias. Apparently this name was given to the clan which consisted of 250 families as many of the family members easily got worked up and their face turned red.
After the death of Dada Jashraj, the decline of Lohana kingdom began and their reign at Lohargadh ended. King Dahir ruled for a while from Narayankot (today's Hyderabad, Sindh). Disunity among Lohanas weakened his kingdom and he died in a fight with Muslims. The Muslims took over Narayankot and Sindh and the mighty Lohanas fell to a hard time, many of them having been converted to Islam. Many migrated to far-off regions like Kutch, Saurashtra and Gujarat and gradually became a trader community like Agarwals and Baranwals.
Lohanas are not native people of Saurashtra. They were immigrants who arrived in Saurashtra / Kutch around 11th Century. According to Harubhai Thakker who appears to have done a great deal of research on Raghuvanshis or people of Raghukul dynasty inhabited an area called “Lohar Pradesh” before the 10th or the 11th Century. Lohar Pradesh covered large segments of what is today known as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir and the Hindu Kush region. The people were Khatriyas (Shatriyas) warriors. There were about 24 provinces in the Lohar Pradesh and the people were called Loharanas. (Loh = iron, ranas = soldiers, warrior). They being in the northwest frontline, were seen by the other rulers (there were many) in India as their protectors from the invading Turks and the other land invaders. Around the 11th Century when the then Lohar Pradesh supreme Veer Jasraj Dada had invited other provincial Leaders/Rulers to a wedding in “Loh Kot” an opportunistic invasion was launched by the Turks. Some provinces were lost to the invaders. Veer Dada Jasraj died in a fierce final battle in the Hindu Kush region (Loh Ghat).
Descendants of Kush are known as Kushwaha. His younger son Luv was given the North (Uttar Kaushala) of his kingdom (Refer:Valmk Ramayan Uttar Kand, sarg-107), which came to be, called Luvalka or Luv's land consisting of present day Lahore (Pakistan) as its Capital.Luv is portrayed in the Ramayana as a great warrior. In one of the episodes of the Ramayana, even though, he is a mere boy in the hermitage, he brings the entire army of his father Lord Rama (under the command of his uncle Laxman) to a standstill by the prowess at archery (of course, along with his older brother Kush). His descendants too were cast in the same mould, but they were not satisfied with Luvalka and pushed to the west and annexed today's Afghanistan and adjoining areas.
Around 580 BC., when king Bimbisara ruled over Bharat (India), the society came to be divided into different communities based on their occupation. One of their communities was called Kshatriyas and King Luv's descendants were classed with them and came to be known as Luvanam, which was also referred to as Luvana. The Luvanas from Loharghat became known as Loharana (masters of swords; or iron ("Loha") chiefs ("Rana")), which later became Lohana.
Chinese traveller Fa-hien, who visited India between 414 and 399 B.C., calls Lohanas a brave community ruling the northwest territory of India, in his diary. Another Chinese traveler, Kurmang who came in the eleventh century A.D. speaks of a Lohana kingdom as a mighty power. Historian Burton writes Lohanas were brave people and says they were spread over today's Baluchistan (Pakistan), Afghanistan and eastern fringes of Central Asia. Col. Todd, who delved into history of Rajasthan, describes Lohanas as one of the oldest Kshatriya community.
From Fa-hien downward all pay tribute to the Lohanas as brave. The likely reason for this title of bravery is that they were for centuarries the first line of defense for the Indian subcontinent in the direct path of invaders from northwest like Persians, Macedonians, Huns, Mughals, etc. Meanwhile, Muhammad established Islam. His followers spread out in different directions to establish his religion world-wide and in due course they turned East towards India.
Between the 7th and 11th century, the Lohanas held their grounds in Afghanistan, blocking the advent of Islam eastwards. In the 11th century, they finally had to fall back and moved initially to the Sindh province of today's Pakistan, where again for over two centuries they provided the frontline of defense against the invading hordes. Finally, at the turn of the 13th century, the Loharana king, Chahir Ray, was betrayed by his confidant Kualnger, who turned traitor for a large fortune in gold and gems. The Lohana kingdom disintegrated into smaller segments.
But the saga of this brave community did not end there.After the community split, a new leader emerged who again unified the Lohanas. Veer Jashraj, who is revered as Veer Dada Jashraj, was born in the city of Lohar (today's Lahore in Pakistan), which was the capital of Lohargadh. His domain extended from Lahore to Multan (also in Pakistan today). Dada Jashraj was also treacherously killed when only 28 - a life so short but full of heroic deeds.
Accordingly Chande family, originated from Loh Gat where Loha Raja was the ruler. As a result of the turmoil Chande family moved to Afghanistan and some members went to Sind where about 400 years ago the head of the Chande family Jasraj was ruling over Sind. He was an astute politician and a good leader. During his marriage ceremony, Sumrah muslims attacked Sind and Veer Dada Jasraj left the wedding mandap to face the enemy. In the process he died and many of his subjects then went to Kathiawar, now Saurashtra. Until the later part of 18th Century members of Chande family were known as Ratadias. Apparently this name was given to the clan which consisted of 250 families as many of the family members easily got worked up and their face turned red. After the death of Dada Jashraj, the decline of Lohana kingdom began and their reign at Lohargadh ended. King Dahir ruled for a while from Narayankot (today's Hyderabad, Sindh). Disunity among Lohanas weakened his kingdom and he died in a fight with Muslims. The Muslims took over Narayankot and Sindh and the mighty Lohanas fell to a hard time, many of them having been converted to Islam. Many migrated to far-off regions like Kutch, Saurashtra and Gujarat and gradually became a trader community like Agarwals and Baranwals.
Lohanas are not native people of Saurashtra. They were immigrants who arrived in Saurashtra / Kutch around 11th Century. According to Harubhai Thakker who appears to have done a great deal of research on Raghuvanshis or people of Raghukul dynasty inhabited an area called “Lohar Pradesh” before the 10th or the 11th Century. Lohar Pradesh covered large segments of what is today known as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir and the Hindu Kush region. The people were Khatriyas (Shatriyas) warriors. There were about 24 provinces in the Lohar Pradesh and the people were called Loharanas. (Loh = iron, ranas = soldiers, warrior). They being in the northwest frontline, were seen by the other rulers (there were many) in India as their protectors from the invading Turks and the other land invaders. Around the 11th Century when the then Lohar Pradesh supreme Veer Jasraj Dada had invited other provincial Leaders/Rulers to a wedding in “Loh Kot” an opportunistic invasion was launched by the Turks. Some provinces were lost to the invaders. Veer Dada Jasraj died in a fierce final battle in the Hindu Kush region (Loh Ghat).
