History of Sikh Banjaras and Lohgarh
During the 16th century, the Banjaras embraced Sikhism under the guidance of Guru Nanak patshah, the founder of the Sikh faith. This era also witnessed the rise of gunpowder empires, such as the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals. These empires were collectively known as the Gunpowder empires due to their reliance on gunpowder technology. India, being rich in saltpetre, an essential component of the premium gunpowder of the medieval period, played a crucial role in these empires’ military strength. Guru Nanak patshah shared the formula for the best gunpowder with Banjaras, which allowed them to develop a global monopoly over the gunpowder trade(Asiento do Conselho da Fazenda of 23rd February 1635 AD , reproduced in S.J. Stephens, Portuguese in the Tamil Coast. Historical Explorations in Commerce and Culture (Pondicherry, 1998), page 106. I/ANTT, Board of the Royal). This expertise and control over the crucial resource contributed to Banjara’s influence and prosperity during that time, and the Khalsa economy also evolved.In the medieval era, five significant traders were Banjara Sikhs, Persians, Jews, Chinese, and Europeans, who traded globally. During that time, a major part of world trade was controlled by Banjara Sikhs. Trade was carried out through bullock carts and on ships’ fleets. Only Banjara traders had expertise in challenging land and sea trade routes. The rest of the traders had expertise in sea or land routes, not on both modes of transportation; European traders had only expertise in sea routes.
The Banjara Sikhs established wells and baolis (step wells) on the land trade routes so that the Tanda (caravan) could access water as per requirement. During medieval times, regarding land route transportation, Baghdad became the epicentre of world trade. The Qadri chapter of the Sufi movement flourished here, and Pir Dastgir headed this chapter(In the early 16th century, Guru Nanak sahib went to Baghdad, and thereafter, the descendants of Pir Dastgir shifted to Sadhaura Lohgarh on a mission of Halimi Raj.). The Banjara Sikhs became renowned as great traders worldwide in the 16th , 17th, and 18th centuries. The Banjaras established villages or towns named Tanda and even forts globally, particularly at major ports.
They then established Tandas, which are still present in the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, and more – almost in every part of the globe. The economy of India reached its zenith because of Banjaras, and one-fourth of the world’s wealth accumulated in India. In the 15th century, with Guru Nanak sahib’s advent, Banjara Sikhs adopted Sikh ideology. They spread his ideology worldwide, and Banjaras were appointed masands globally (Dhanasing B. Naik, The Art and Literature of Banjara Lambanis, A Socio-cultural Study , 2000 , page 59).
By the 16th century, Banjara Sikhs were carrying out all the trading in Globe. They would take their cargo from place to place, loading the commodities on thousands of horses, camels, elephants, bullocks, and even on ships. As per Bhat Vahis, five major Banjara clans included:
Pawar Banjara Sikh Clan: They were descendants of the famous raja Bhoj, who ruled the Indian subcontinent during the 11th century, with his capital at Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. At Nahan, Bhai Laxman met Guru Nanak sahib and became a Sikh. Guru Nanak sahib also established a Manji (Sikh preaching centre) called Gangu Shahi Manji. Thereafter, the father of Bhai Mani Singh (Pawar Banjara and an important figure in Sikh history), Bhai Mai Das, was born in Nahan. Still, 25 villages named Bhoj Rajpur, Bhoj Paonta, Bhoj Mataur, etc., in the Lohgarh zone are present in the name of raja Bhoj. During the times of Guru Nanak sahib, Bhagat Sadhana and Bhagat Sain also settled in this region. Sufi saints (Chishti & Qadri Chapters) and other Banjara clans also migrated to this region in the early 16th century. After that, famous people from this clan included Bhai Ballu, Bhai Mai Das (father of Bhai Mani Singh), and Bhai Nathia. Bhai Nathia’s son, Bhai Bhagwant Singh Bangeshwari (Bhagu Banjara), was the mansabdar of Attock(M. Athar Ali, The Mughal Nobility under Aurangzeb, page 222.) and was one of the chief generals of Banda Singh Bahadar. Bhai Mani Singh became a close associate of Guru Har Rai sahib, Guru Har Kishan sahib, Guru Tegh Bahadar sahib, and Guru Gobind Singh sahib. In 1734 AD, he was martyred by the Mughals on the orders of the subedar of Lahore. In this family, more than 100 persons attained martyrdom, right from Guru Har Gobind sahib (sixth guru) to General Banda Singh Bahadar, while fighting against the atrocities of the Mughals.
Tomar Banjara Sikh Clan (Pelia Banjara): Bhai Makhan Shah Lubana became renowned in this clan. Guru Nanak sahib met Bhai Sahun Mal Banjara at Mutton Tanda Kashmir, and later, this family embraced Sikhism. The members of this clan also lived in Hampi (South India) and were called Lambadi, Lamani, etc. Along with Guru Nanak sahib, Lubana traders visited Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Kenya, Istanbul, Uganda, and Mecca(Surinder Singh Kohli , Travels of Guru Nanak, pages 15-115.). A large population of Lubanas still exists in Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria. Bhai Dasa of this clan became the masand of Africa(Satguru Ram Das covered areas of the world travelled by Satguru Nanak sahib and Bhai Mardana. He appointed Taru, Bharu (son of Bhai Malo, a Pima Indian of Mexico), and Dasa. Taru was a masand of Kabul, Middle East, up to Eastern Turkey (Ref. Mahan Kosh, Kahan Singh Nabha ). Dasa was the masand of Africa and Mauritius.). Along with his family, he spread the teachings of Guru Nanak sahib throughout Africa. Bhai Makhan Shah Lubana was a close associate of Guru Tegh Bahadar sahib and brother-in-law (Sandhoo) of Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara. Naik Dhuma, son of Kahna, Tomar Bijlaut, and Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara, picked up the body of Guru Tegh Bahadar, the ninth guru, and cremated it in Raisina village. The sons of Bhai Makhan Shah Lubana fought in several battles under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh and sacrificed their lives. Here, it is important to mention that Lubanas and Banjaras Sikhs are the same. Banjara Sikhs dealing in trade and transportation of saltpetre were called Lubana Sikhs .
Rathod Banjara Sikh Clan: This clan was a royal family whose ancestors ruled over Kanauj in the fifth century. Bhai Lakha Rathod of this family became a disciple of Guru Nanak sahib, and later, other members of the family followed Sikh Guru sahibans and were martyred from time to time. This family had the Lohgarh fort constructed in Mumbai under the guidance of Guru Nanak sahib, Bhagat Nam Dev, Bhagat Trilochan, and Bhagat Parmanand. Even during the time of Shah Jahan, the descendants of this family remained mansabdars of this fort. Bhai Udhay Bhan Gor was the kiladar of fort Lohgarh in Mumbai (M Athar Ali , The Apparatus of Empire, Awards Of Ranks, Offices, and Tiles to the Mughal Nobility 1574-1658 page 172.
Chauhan Banjara Sikh Clan: From this royal family, Udai became a disciple of Guru Nanak sahib. raja Jagat Rai of Hansi, belonging to this family, became the disciple of Guru Nanak and visited Kurukshetra in 1502 AD along with him. Later, members of this family followed the ideology of Guru Nanak sahib and did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives on the mission of Halimi Raj. This family used to rule India in the 5th century BC with the capital at Astherpura. They were great traders and warriors. The descendants of this family laid down their lives fighting against the Mughals, from Guru Har Gobind sahib to General Banda Singh Bahadar.
Jadav Banjara Sikh Clan: Lakhi Shah Banjara from this clan owned lakhs of horses, camels, elephants, mules, and oxen. He also had a force of a thousand young soldiers who protected his cargos and caravans of animals. Lakhi Shah Banjara (4th July , 1580 AD to 28th May, 1680 AD), son of Godhu, grandson of Thakur (Jadav, Badtiya gotra), was very wealthy. He owned the villages around Delhi named Raisina, Barha Khamba, Narela, and Malcha, as well as the surrounding forests(The revenue records of Delhi make reference of these facts.). Lakhi Shah Banjara was significant in constructing a substantial portion of the Lohgarh fortifications. His possessions extended across vast tracts of land, spanning from Kala Amb to the Yamuna River’s base at the foot of the Shivalik Hills. He also constructed the auxiliary forts of Lohgarh. He even owned a fleet of ships. His trading caravans went from Samarkand and Yarkand (Middle Asia) to Sri Lanka. It was only during the rainy season that the Banjara caravans rested.
Guru Tegh Bahadar sahib was martyred on 11th November 1675 AD in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, under the directive of emperor Aurangzeb and Lakhi Shah Banjara, which went against Aurangzeb’s instructions. Following this, Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara carried Guru sahib’s beheaded body to Raisina (Delhi), where he conducted the cremation at the site that currently houses the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj. Some historians propose an idea that to cremate Guru sahib’s body, Lakhi Shah set his own house ablaze, maintaining discretion about the event.
Lakhi Shah had eight sons: Nagahia, Hema, Hardi, Heera, Situ Pandara, Bakhshi, Bala, and Jawahar, and a daughter named Seeto. He also had 17 grandsons and 24 great-grandsons. They all played crucial roles in Guru Gobind Singh’s army and General Banda Singh Bahadar’s army. The Bhat vahis recount the martyrdom of Jawahar Singh (August 30, 1700 AD), Hema Singh (January 16th , 1704 AD), and Nagahia Singh (April 6th , 1709 AD)( Bhat Vahi Jadobansian, Punjabi University Patiala.).
During 1628 AD, Shah Jahan reigned as the Mughal emperor. At that time, Delhi was home to numerous ancient fortifications. Among them was the fort Salimgarh, established by Sher Shah Suri in 1546 AD. However, Shah Jahan envisioned constructing a colossal fort in Shahjahanpur, an area now part of old Delhi. Ustad Ahmad Lahori made its plan. The foundation of this fort was laid on May 12th , 1639 AD, and Lakhi Shah Banjara was the main contractor to supply the raw materials for the construction of this fort. It was completed on April 6th , 1648 AD. Shah Jahan named it Qila Mubarak, but it became famous as Lal Qila (Red fort) because it was made of red stone.
The Red fort in Delhi sprawls across 254.67 acres and is encircled by a 2.41-kilometre-long wall. The wall’s height ranges from 18 to 33 metres, with towering structures. The primary entrance is the ‘Lahori Gate’ in the southern part, while the second significant entry point is the ‘Dilli Gate’. The fort’s gate facing the Yamuna River is known as the ‘Water Gate’. A pre-existing pool can be found within the fort’s premises, which was present before its construction.
Lakhi Shah Banjara owned the Malcha Mahal in Delhi and the surrounding land. Several significant structures, such as Dhaula Kuan, Bara Khamba, Pusa Hill, Connaught Place, the President’s House (Rashtrapati Bhawan), Parliament House, and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, were constructed on this land. He also owned the lands in Lohgarh and Dabar, evident from the wells he built for drinking water. The presence of these wells indicates his ownership of the land, as people generally do not dig wells for water on someone else’s property.
Lakhi Shah Banjara also owns another fort in Saharanpur district, situated a little distance from Mukhlisgarh, between the villages of Tanda and Rampur Khwaspur, close to Badh Kalan. The fort’s architecture in Saharanpur, similar to the one in Lohgarh, features stone-made walls and a parapet with the same design. This consistency in construction style indicates that Lakhi Shah Banjara’s influence and architectural preferences were prominent across the forts he owned. Nearby, Lakhi Shah Banjara dug a well, suggesting his ownership of extensive lands stretching from Raipur Rani to Dehradun. Additionally, the Sarai (inn) Banjara near Rajpura was under Lakhi Shah’s possession, and he used this inn to accommodate his caravans during their travels.
Following the battles at Lohgarh, the Mughal rulers retaliated against the Banjara Sikh by committing acts of genocide. This had a severe impact on the Banjaras, not only economically but also socially. Once advanced and influential, the community struggled to maintain its standing. The situation worsened when the British Government implemented the Criminal Tribal Act, further marginalising the Banjara Sikhs and subjecting them to legal restrictions. In addition to the Mughals and the British, other groups like Europeans, Persians, and Jews also displayed brutal behaviour towards the Banjaras. These external forces contributed to the Banjara community’s decline, weakening them economically and socially. Despite their historical significance and contributions, the Banjara Sikhs faced numerous challenges and injustices throughout their history, ultimately impacting their overall development and progress.