Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara

Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara was born in the village of Khairpur Sadat,Tahsil Muzaffarpur, District Alipur, Pakistan, on Saravan Badi Ashtami samat 1637 (04-07-1580). He died on Jethi Sudi Akadshi Samat 1737 (07-06-1680AD) at the age of 99 years and 10 months in New Delhi at his palace called Malcha Palace. He had 8 sons, 17 grand sons and 24 great grand sons, all martyrdom with Guru Gobind Singh and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.

Profession

Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara was a rich trader of Delhi. He was the owner of four villages in Delhi named Malcha, Raisana, Baharkamba & Narela. He was a Sikh trader, contractor and a supplier for the Mughal Army, supplying them with saddles, limes, stone, bridles(rakabs) and reins. He also traded cotton and lime powder(chuna). He had four trading tanda, each tanda having more than 50000 Bulk carts, 1 lacs armed men for protection and management of tanda. He used to import and export goods from central Asia to India. His Grand father Nayak Thakur was one of the main suppliers of the Mughal Army, during the reign of Akbar. He was the main contractor for the construction of Redfort, Delhi.He was employer of more than 4 lacs employees.

Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara was indulged in interregional exchanges in agriculture products, construction products and livestock. Nahmardis of pargana of Sehwan and Chararhalos of Sind and Bhotiyas of central Himalayas traded with Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara, by exchanging lives stock such as camel, horses, oxen, sheep, goats etc., in lieu of food grains and weapons following the barter system. Tanda of the Banjara carries all their house hold along with them, one tanda consisted of many families. Their course of life was somewhat like carriers, they continues drived from one place to another for trading purposes. Banjara went dispersedly, driving their laden oxen before them, their journey was not about 15 to 20 km a day. Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara convoy carried between one tone to ten tones of load. In spite of slow speed, the quantities of the relatively cheaper goods they moved, essentially for the mass markets was considerable. The tanda of Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara had a population of 4 lacs and each family had hundred oxen to load, therefore total oxen population was about 9 million (assumption the conventional ratio of 4.5 persons to a family). Each pair of oxen carried loads for only a third of the year and 15 km per day, therefore the tanda of Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara annually conveyed on their cattles 10 million metric tonnes a year. This voluminous trade made by Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara in each and every corner of India, made him one of the rich traders of the country. He established wells or a ponds after every 10 km on the trade routes, so that the lives stocks and the associate Banjaras can have easy access to water. The archeological evidences of ponds and wells constructed by Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara are still found in many parts of the country. He also constructed many Sarais for night halt purposes. Such unified operations enabled Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara trading to be conducted on more informed lines and with much greater effect, than would have been the case if each individual made decisions on the basis of rumor or intelligence available to him. One begins to think of his Tanda, then, not only as an instrument of security for its members but also as a primitive substitute for a joint-stock company. When Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara acted on behalf of large merchant-bankers, his position as peddlers would be still more radically modified when the Sahu (merchant banker), who gave him capital, did so on a large scale.

His relationship with Sikh Guru Sahibans

The family of Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara was associated with Guru Nanak to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, in the struggle against the Mughals for removing oppressions. Bhai Banjara and his brother Bhai Gurdas was close associate of Guru Hargobind, Guru Har Rai, Guru Har Krishan, Guru Tegh Bahadur & Baba Gurdita. Later on after his death his sons Bhai Hema, Bhai Naghaiya (latter on becomes Jawahar Singh), Bhai Haria and his daughter Bibi Seeto, later on becomes Basant Kaur, the family remain closed associate of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, the tenth Sikh Guru. Bhai Hema, Bhai Naghaiya and Bhai Haria embraced martyrdom, fighting against Mughals along with Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib in 1700-1704. Latter on his grand sons Bhai Agraj Singh and Bhai Faraj Singh, who were among the main generals of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and were also incharge at the battle of Lohgarh and SadhauraSadhaura. Both of them were martyrdom on 09-06-1716, along with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Delhi.He contributed almost 80 years of his life for flourishing Sikhism. He sacrificed his wealth and family members on the sake of Sikhism.

Lohgarh-Khalsa Rajdhani & Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara

Lohgarh Fort- Sikh State Capital, established by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, is spread in almost 7000 acres and is situated in the old state of Nahan, now in District Yamuna nagar of Haryana and District Sirmour of Himanchal Pradesh. The fort Lohgarh is in the revenue estates of Lohgarh (HP), Haripur (HP), Jhil (HP), Mehtawali (HP), Palori (HP), Sukron (HP),Maharonwala (HP), Bhagwanpur Nathauri(Haryana), Dhanaura (Haryana), Nagli (Haryana) and Mohindinpur (Haryana). The circumference of the fort about 30 km. Archaeological evidence and engineering formulas (time and motion study) depicts that, it took almost 70 to 80 years for making fortifications in such a huge area. (This research has been conducted by Lohgarh Trust, YamunaNagar.) Presence of these archeological structures related to Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara near Lohgarh Fort, clearly indicates that Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara contributed to construction of Lohgarh Fort around 1630 to 1675. Moreover, Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara was a rich trader and had good relationships with Mughals, as he used to pay heavy taxes. His movement in the vicinity of Lohgarh, therefore never came under the suspicious radar of Mughals and he continued to supply construction material, arms, horses and food items to the men, indulged in the construction of the Fort Lohgarh. He inhabited more than 80 villages having Sikh population in the vicinity of lohgarh, which was later destroyed by the Mughal.

Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara was a rich and great trader, strategist and a warrior. He established many cottage industries in the pargana of Khizrabad (now in district Yamuna Nagar), in the foot of the Dabar hills (Shivalik Hills). This area was undulated land, thorny jungle persisted over it and a lot of seasonal rivulet flows made its water discharge in the Yamuna Nagar river and the Markanda river respectively. In 17th and 18th century, more or less area in the vicinity of Lohgarh, was non-cultivable land and therefore no revenues were generated, as there was no agriculture activities in the said area. Hence, Mughal mansabdars had no interest in the said land, which was barren and was not generating any revenue. Lack of population in the vicinity of Lohgarh, and its tough terrain made the condition suitable for the Tanda and the associate banjara’s Sikhs to inhabited near the Lohgarh, to accomplish the divine and secret mission i.e. construction of fort Lohgarh. For employment generation purposes, cottage industries, pertaining to various tasks were established. Weapon industry was established in the revenue estate of village Vansantoor and Sikh Tandas brought iron ore and copper ore from Bihar mines. Fire clay toy factory was established in the revenue estate of village Sandhay. Number of brick kilns were established by the Sikhs to raise the bricks/construction material for the construction of Lohgarh fort and its ancillary forts. The quarries of lime stone was present in abundant quantity in the Shivalik Hills. The other raw material i.e. stone was also readily available at the near point of construction of fort. Slowly it became an important trading center, education center and army training center for the Sikhs. Well developed market of timber in the pargana of Khizrabad, certainly help in flourishing of Sikh trade movement. From Khizrabad the goods could easily be transported through the water ways i.e. through the boat transport system in Yamuna river and other by bullock carts.

Many forts were also constructed by the Sikhs under the guidance of Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara in the 17th century, near the Kotwali of Buria. Garhi Banjara, Dayalgarh and Sugh are the places where the forts of the Banjara Sikhs used to exist. These places are situated on the bank of Yamuna river. However these forts were destroyed by the Mughals after 1716, but still sufficient archeological evidences are present on the spot. The revenue records of 1852, also reflects the entries of forts in the said area.

Persian sources (Ahkam-I-Alamgir 1703-07, translated by Irfan Habib) reveals that “In this while, Muhammad Auliya, resident of the township of Buria, in parana Khizrabad, sarkar Sahrind [Sirhind], has reported through persons known to this just world- adorning Court that his Highness [the addressee] had, in accordance with imperial orders, and in concert with the qazi, (Nanak-parastan) in the said township, and built a mosque, installing a dervish Saivid Muzaffar by name, for the offering of Muslim prayers in that mosque. The said people [i.e. ‘the Nanak investigation, they have admitted having killed him. But, owing to the representation made by some of them who have come to this benevolent Court, the qazi and muhtasib of that place have been dismissed without any fault of theirs ; and ‘Alimullah has been appointed qazi and his father the muhtasib [lit. given (the charge of) ihtisab]. The world-binding order has been issued that his Highness may be written to, as to why such negligence’s has occurred. Amends should be made in a commendable manner. “It belongs to Him, and is on God’s account.” It was also ordered that he should write the true facts about the previous qazi and muhtasib, and, till the receipt of his reply, the orders of appointment of the proposed qazi and muhtasib be not issued.”

Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara and his decedents played a significant role for construction of fort Lohgarh and helped the Sikhs, in making preparation to fight against the oppressions of the Mughals. There was a considerable amount of population of Banjara Sikhs in the pargana of Khizrabad, which was gradually martyrdom in the holocaust made by the Mughals, after 1716. Some of the Sikh population was forcefully converted into Muslim, this population migrate of Pakistan after 1947 i.e. the partition of the country.

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  Fort Lohgarh- Khalsa Rajdhani
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  Fort Lohgarh- Khalsa Rajdhani

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  remnant of Fort Lohgarh
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  remnant of Fort Lohgarh

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  remnant of Fort Lohgarh
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  remnant of Fort Lohgarh

Archaeological sites related to Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara

Guru Granth Sahib & Banjaras

Sikh Guru Sahibians and radical Bhagati movement saints have given great importance to Tandas, Banjara and Naiks in Guru Granth Sahib. These nomenculature of Banjara Culture has used to explain the Gurmat and to achieve salvation of true Lord. This clearly shows that the Banjaras were very close to Sikh Gurus and radical Bhagati movements Saints.

Bhagat Kabir Sahib narrates:

ਨਾਇਕੁ ਏਕੁ ਬਨਜਾਰੇ ਪਾਚ॥ naa-ik ayk banjaaray paach. There is one Leader and five traders. Guru Granth Sahib (1194)

aisaa naa-ik raam hamaaraa. My Lord is such a wealthy merchant! ਸਗਲ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਕੀਓ ਬਨਜਾਰਾ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥

sagal sansaar kee-o banjaaraa.

— 1

Bhagat Ravi Das jio also used nomenclature of Banjaras and Tandas to achieve salvation of God.

ਕੋ ਬਨਜਾਰੋ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਟਾਂਡਾ ਲਾਦਿਆ ਜਾਇ ਰੇ॥੧॥ ॥ कोबनजारोरामकोमेराटांडालादिआजाइरे॥१॥रहाउ॥

ko banjaaro raam ko mayraa taadaa laadi-aa jaa-ay ray.

— 1

Guru Nanak Sahib introduces Banjaras about the true lord and call Banjaras as friend

ਪਹਿਲੈ ਪਹਰੈ ਰੈਣਿ ਕੈ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਪਇਆ ਗਰਭਾਸਿ॥ पहिलैपहरैरैणिकैवणजारिआमित्राहुकमिपइआगरभासि॥ pahilai pahrai rain kai vanjaari-aa mitraa hukam pa-i-aa garbhaas. In the first watch of the night, O my merchant friend, you were cast into the womb, by the Lord's Command. Guru Granth Sahib (74)

                Similarly the Guru Amar das Sahib, Guru Ram das Sahib  and Guru Arjun Sahib have  given the reference of banjaras in many stanzas of Guru Granth Sahib.

Unrecognized contribution of Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara

Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara is a real hero in Sikh history, although historians have failed to justify his contributions and sacrifices for Sikhism. In case a merit list among the Sikhs are prepared for their contribution for Sikhism and Gurmat, the name of Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara shall be on one position. He is well known for his heroic action, as after martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, at Chadani Chowk, Delhi in 1675, he along with thousands of men, including his 4 sons, attacked Mughal Army and gave the head of Guru Sahib to Bhai Jagjivan Singh and took the trunk of Guru Sahib to his village Raisan in Delhi, where he cremate the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Presently Gurudwara Rakabgunj stands at this place. It worthwhile to mention here that the age of Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara was 95 years old, when this incidence took place and he died after five years after the martyrdom of GuruTegh Bahadur ji, i.e. in 1680, at his palace in Delhi, at village Malcha.

Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara and Bhai Makhan Shah Lubana

Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara had family and business relationships with Bhai Makhan Shah Labana (1619-1674), who was an international trader, and used to travel whole of the world. He had fleet of ships and was dealing through marines. Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara, who was based at Delhi, use to coordinate the business activities at Delhi, of Bhai Makhan Shah Labana. (reference found in book Mahal Sikh Bhai Makhan Shah Labana 1940, written by Baba Harnam Singh and Diwan Singh Mehram page 27).

References

• Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, Sikh History-1.
• Hari Ram Gupta, History of the Sikhs.
• The Saint of Sadhaura, Pir Budhu Shah, Gurcharan Singh, V.S Suri
• Fozi kafir, Pir Budhu Shah.
• Khushwant Singh, A history of the Sikhs second edition.
• Muzaffar Alam, The Crisis of empire in Mughal North India, ISBM-019-807741-6
• The Mughal Empire and its Decline. An Interpretation of the Sources of Social Power, ISBN 0-86078611-0.
• Sikh History From Persian Source, ISBN 978-81-89487-89-8
• History of the Punjab Hill States (J. Hutchison and J.Ph Vogel) ISBN 81-206-0942-5 and 81-206-0943-3

External links

• www.Lohgarh.com