imported>WikiEditor50: /* From Aror to Bhambore */

2021-05-01T14:42:35Z

From Aror to Bhambore

New page

The "Vasnani" and "'''Purswani'''" family is a branch of the Bhambrai Bradri grouping of families, which is the largest grouping among the [[Khudabad]]i [[Sonara]] community.{{cn|date=March 2017}} In the present day, the majority of them live in [[Jaipur]], [[India]].{{cn|date=March 2017}}

==Etymology==
The surname ''Purswani'' is derived from the name of their ancestor ''Pursumal'', son of Nebhraj Jethmal Bhambrai; the family can be traced back seven generations.{{cn|date=March 2017}} The Purswani family falls under the Bhambrai Bradri Nukh Dandi Proll.{{cn|date=March 2017}} The words “Dandi Proll” are derived from [[Dandakaranya]].{{cn|date=March 2017}}

==History==

===From Lahore to Aror ===
The ancestors of the families of Bhambrai Bradri were [[Lohana]], as part of [[Sindhi Hindu community]]. Around 1200 BC, this group migrated from [[Luvana]] (near modern [[Lahore]]) together with some of Shavi Aryas <ref>Diwan Bherumal Meharchand. ''Sindh Je Hindun Jee Tareekh-1919''</ref> to [[Aror]] (present day [[Sukkur]]), in [[Sindh (Pakistan)|Sindh]]. They settled near the banks of the [[Sindhu River]] and lived there till 962 AD.<ref>Diwan Bherumal Meharchand. ''Sindh Je Hindun Jee Tareekh-1919''</ref>

From Vedic times till 710 AD, all residents of [[Sindh]] were [[Hindus]] and [[Sindh]] was ruled by the Hindus.<ref>Diwan Bherumal Meharchand. ''Sindh Je Hindun Jee Tareekh-1919''</ref> In the year 711, [[Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf|Hujjaj Bin Yusif]], the [[Umayyad]] [[List of Umayyad governors of Iraq|Governor of Iraq]] (appointed by [[Al-Walid I|Khalifa Walid]]) sent the Arab forces under [[Muhammad Bin Qasim]] to conquer Sindh, in the process of freeing the kidnapped women whose abduction allegation were cast on [[Bawarij]]. The first town he attacked was [[Debal]], and upon the orders of Al-Hajjaj he looted its residents or priests and destroyed its temple . He then settled a garrison of four thousand colonists in one quarter of Debal, building a mosque over the remains of the original temple.

From Debal, Muhammad Bin Qasim attacked [[Old City (Hyderabad, Sindh)|Nayrun Kot]] (present day [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]]) and the locals, equipped mostly with farming implements, surrendered. King Nayrun was dethroned. The army of Muhammad Bin Qasim looted the trade goods and took over the Hindu worship sites atop the [[Ganjo Takker]] ridge, building mosques to replace them. The Nayrun Kot was destroyed. After that, he captured Sadusan ([[Sehwan]]). Again, the main temples were razed and mosques were built to replace them, often using their components; additionally one-fifth of the [[Looting|booty]] including slaves was dispatched to Hajjaj and the Caliph. At Ar-rur ([[Nawabshah]]), he defeated [[Raja Dahir]]'s forces and the eastern [Jats] in the battle. About 6000 Sindhi warriors were put to death. Dahir's wife Ladi committed ''[[suttee]]'' to escape from the hands of the [[Muslims]]. [[Aror]] was the capital of [[Sindh]] which was ruled by Raja Dahir. Muhammad bin Qasim won over Raja Dahir and took control of Sindh. His conquest for the Umayyads brought Sindh into the orbit of the Muslim world.

From Qasim on, extracting [[jizya]] (a tax on non-Muslims) was a political and religious duty exacted "with vigour and punctuality, and frequently with insult. The native population had to feed every Muslim traveller for three days and nights and had to submit too many other humiliations which are mentioned by Muslim historians." The period of Qasim's rule has been called by U.T. Thakkur "the darkest period in Sindh history", with the records speaking of massive forced conversions, temple destruction, [[massacres]] and [[genocides]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Thakur|first=Upendra|title=Sindhi Culture|year=1959|publisher=University of Bombay|location=Bombay|pages=250}}</ref>

[[Khudabad]]i [[Sonara]] and some other Hindu [[Sindhis]] who refused to convert to Islam yet remained in Sindh were heavily oppressed. According to Sindhi legend, the Sonaras gathered at temple of the goddess [[Durga]] for three days and nights continuously without eating food and drinking water. On fourth day, a miracle occurred: all the men present felt janau (sacred thread) on their bodies and they realised the blessings of Durga Mata. Thereafter, these Khudabadi Sonara became known as Janjogal (janau-wearing) Sonara. These Hindus continued to fight the ''[[naib]]''s of the Khalifa and in due course of time they managed to recover a large part of Sindh and ruled over that.<ref>Puj Khudabadi Sonara Panchayat (Regd.), Jaipur-Diamond Jubilee Souvenir 2005.</ref>

===From Aror to Bhambore===
In 962 AD, an earthquake struck Sindh, altering the course of the [[Indus]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sukkur|url=http://www.tourism.gov.pk/sukkur_sindh.htm|publisher=Pakistan Tourism|accessdate=20 June 2011}}</ref> The ancestors of the families of Bhambrai Bradri shifted their homes from [[Aror]] to [[Bhambore]] (Bhambore is famously known as Bhambra among [[Khudabadi Sindhi Swarankar]] Community). During the ensuing prolonged period of lasting peace after 711 AD when, the families of Bhambrai Bradri as a part of Sindhi Lohana/Khudabadi Sonara could not be supported by the armies and could not find any work as warriors, they turned to peacetime occupations and became cloth merchants as the means of their livelihood in Bhambore.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

About the 10th century Bhambore was the capital of a chief Bhambo Raja and was named Bhambore after him. Bhambore was the ruins of the ancient port city of [[Debal]], located near modern [[Karachi]] at the base of the [[Indus River]], approximately 60 km between [[Dhabeji]] and [[Gharo]]. Its population was mainly Hindus with a Buddhist minority. It is largely known for the ruins of a castle destroyed by [[Muhammad bin Qasim]] during the invasion of Sindh. According to modern archaeologists Debal was founded in the 1st century AD, and soon became the most important trading city in Sindh. The city was home to thousands of Sindhi Sailors including the [[Bawarij]] (a Muslim Sindhi community). [[Ibn Hawqal]] mentions the dry arid land surrounding the city that supported little agriculture, he mentions how efficiently the inhabitants of the city maintained fishing vessels and trade.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bhombore|url=http://websitepakistan.com/bhambore/bhambore1.htm|publisher=Picturesque Pakistan|accessdate=20 June 2011}}</ref>

Bhambore was the trading link between Arab and South Asian nations of its times. It was most important fort because of trade communication and security. According to Berzin, Umayyad interest in the region stemmed from their desire to control the trade route down the Indus River valley to the seaports of Sindh, an important link in the ancient [[Silk Road]]. At that time, Sindh was the wild frontier region ruled by [[Raja Dahir]] who also wanted to control the Western Indian Ocean. Muslim sources insist that it was these persistent activities along increasingly important Indian trade routes by Debal pirates ([[Bawarij]]) and others which forced the Arabs to subjugate the area, in order to control the seaports and maritime routes of which Sindh was the nucleus, as well as, the overland passage. In 711 AD Muhammad Bin Qasim entered Sindh by first assaulting and capturing Debal Fort, presently known as [[Bhambore]].

Debal and the [[Manora Island]] were visited by Ottoman Admiral Sevdi Ali Reis and mentioned in his book Mirát ul Memalik in 1554. In 1568, Debal was attacked by the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] Admiral [[Fernão Mendes Pinto]] in an attempt to capture or destroy the Ottoman vessels anchored there. Pinto also claims that Sindhi sailors joined the Ottoman admiral [[Kurtoğlu Hızır Reis|Kurtoglu]] Hizir Reis on his voyage to Aceh. Debal was also visited by the British travel writers such as Thomas Postans and [[John Elliott (historian)|Eliot]], who is noted for his vivid account on the city of [[Thatta]].

===From Bhambore (Bhambra) to Lakhpat (Kutch)===

Members of Bhambrai Bradri (the ancestors of Purswani family) also left Bhambore and settled in [[Lakhpat]] around 1200 AD and continued with their occupation as cloth merchants. This is said to be due to the invasions of [[Mahmoud Ghaznavi]].

===From Lakhpat (Kutch) to Bhambore (Bhambra) and Khudabad===

The Sammas, a [[Rajput]] tribes, which was ruling [[Kutch]], gained control of Thatta in the southern Sindh from the [[Soomro|Soomras]] around 1351, and expanded their territory northward to [[Bhakkar]] and beyond. Around that time, the Khudabadi Sonara Community started returning to their home towns (Bhambore, [[Tando]] & Nayrun Kot etc.), and some of them settled on a "empty land" on the banks of [[Sindhu River]] near [[Dadu, Pakistan|Dadu]], in Sindh. Members of Khudabadi Sonara Community developed the empty land and called it "Khud-Abad" Later, due to Muslim domination, the Khud-Abad was renamed as [[Khudabad]], a Muslim name. Families of Bhambrai Bradri (the ancestors of Purswani Family) returned to their home town Bhambore around 1400 AD. They are called Bhambrai Bradri because they lived in Bhambore for many centuries (before migration to Lakhpat around 1200 AD and after returning from Lakhpat). Bhambore was later abandoned due to a change in the river's course. Evidence of earthquakes and regional invaders is also cited as an explanation for the population's movement away from the area and the crumbling of the castle. The former [[Indus River Delta|river delta]] is now a creek. And later, they shifted to Khudabad around 1700 AD. They changed their business from cloth merchants to jewelry and [[goldsmith]] business while living in Khudabad.<ref>Puj Khudabadi Sonara Panchayat (Regd.), Jaipur-Diamond Jubilee Souvenir 2005.</ref> Khudabadi Sonara invented [[Khudabadi Script]] for [[Sindhi Language]] around 1750 AD while living in Khudabad. It is called Khudabadi Script because it was invented in Khudabad. It was later known as Vaniki, Hatvaniki and Hatkai. Mian [[Noor Mohammad Kalhoro]], who became the ruler of Sindh (1720–1755), then, chose Khudabad as his capital. The Khudabad was capital of Sindh between 1720 and 1783.

===From Khudabad to Hyderabad (Sindh)===

After the defeat of [[Kalhora]]s (Mian Abdul Nabi Kalhora), and extensive flooding of the [[River Sindh]], Mir Fateh Ali Khan ([[Talpur]]) left his capital Khudabad and made [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]] his capital in 1789. Great celebrations were held in 1792 to mark his formal entry in Hyderabad fort. He made the [[Pacco Qillo|Pako Qilo]] his residence, which was spread over thirty-six acres, and he held his courts there. The change of capital induced a large number of the population of Khudabad to migrate to Hyderabad, the new seat of royalty. The families of Bhambrai Bradri along with the other families of the Sonara community, [[Amil]]s and [[Bhaiband]]s, who had lived and worked in Khudabad, shifted to Hyderabad with the rulers, They retained the term '''''Khudabadi''''' in the names of their communities as an identifier of their origin and called themselves "Khudabadi Sonaras", "Khudabadi Amils" and "Khudabadi Bhaibands".

The Bhambrai Bradri lived in Gidwani Ghitti(ghitti means lane) in [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]].<ref>Puj Khudabadi Sonara Panchayat (Regd.), Jaipur-Diamond Jubilee Souvenir 2005.</ref> At that time, the head of Bhambrai Bradri was Paripyomal Bhambrai, also known as "Bhai Sitaldas Bhambrai". He had a son, Jethmal Bhambrai, who was born around 1789 in Khudabad before they moved to Hyderabad.<ref>Khudabadi Sonara Navjawan Mandal Samiti (Regd.), Jaipur-Diamond Jubilee Souvenir, April 22, 2011.</ref>

Jethmal Bhambrai had friendly relations with Diwan Tarachand Sagharani, then [[Mukhi]] of [[Amil]] [[Panchayat]] in [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]]. The [[Battle of Miani]] ended on 24 March 1843, where the last Talpur rulers, Mir Mohammad Naseers Khan Talpur of Hyderabad and [[Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur]] of Mirpur lost to the British General Sir [[Charles James Napier]] and the cities of Hyderabad and Mirpur came into the hands of the [[British East India Company]]. [[Mukhi]] Tarachand Sagharani and other residents of Hyderabad feared reprisal and apprehended lootings from the hands of the British forces. Sagharani, along with Mukhi Chandumal of the Khudabadi Sonara, Jethmal Bhambrai (the ancestor of Purswani Family), and three other elders of Hyderabad City met Napier and pleaded with him to confine his forces to barracks and not to allow them to enter the city. The residents of Hyderabad undertook to provide them with food and other rations that the British forces needed and deliver it to them in their camp. Sir Charles conceded to their request, and the British forces remained outside the city. The residents of Hyderabad provided the rations and Amil Panchayat footed the bill.

Later, Sir Charles Napier met Mukhi Tarachand Sagharani and others in his camp at [[Hussainabad (Sindh)|Gidu Bunder]] and thanked them for their farsightedness, and for the food that they had supplied. This information was disclosed to [[Bherumal Meharchand Advani|Diwan Bherumal Meharchand Advani]] by [[Mukhi Mangharam Gurdinomal]] and was on records in the [[India Office]], London. Diwan Bherumal Meharchand Advani further writes that it was learnt from records maintained by Pinda Badaldas Bulchand of Sindhi [[Dharamshala (type of building)|Dharamshala]] [[Haridwar]], that wife of Amil Mukhi Tarachand Sagharani expired in the year 1835 and Mukhi Assanand along with Jethmal Bhambrai served as ''kandhi'' [pallbearer](Kandhi words relates to kandh meaning area between neck & shoulder on which kandhi supports the "Kaai") , for his wife, carrying her ashes for performing the last rites at Haridwar. At that time [[Kumbh Mela]] was in progress.<ref>Diwan Bherumal Meharchand. ''Sindh Je Hindun Jee Tareekh-1919''</ref>

===Surname change===
Jethmal Bhambrai had two sons, naming Nebhraj (born around 1814 AD) and Aainomal. Nebhraj had four sons naming Pursumal, Motoomal, Hassrajmal and Assandas whereas, Aainomal had one son naming Mangatram. Respected Mangatram had two sons naming Gunomal and Udhanmal. The surname of whole family was [[Jethmalani]]. Around the year 1910, the descendants of Pursumal changed their surname to '''''Purswani''''', those of Motoomal changed to ''[[Motwani]]'', those of Hassrajmal changed to ''[[Hasrajani]]'', those of Gunomal changed to ''[[Ganvani]]'' and those of Udhanmal changed to ''[[Udhani]]''. Assandas had a daughter named chupi but no son as such there was no further extension of the family of Assandas. All these groups have been maintaining their respective surnames since then. At the same time, all the families have also retained “Bhambrai” as the name of their ''Bradri'', signifying that their ancestors had lived in Bhambore many centuries ago.

Pursumal had four sons (Lalchand, Narumal, Jeumal, Fatumal and Bhojraj). In the year 1910, there were further splits in families; the descendants of Purswani family such as Lalchand, Narumal, Fatumal separated whereas Jeumal and Bhojraj remained together (the wives of Jeumal and Bhojraj were sisters). By this time, the members of Motwani family and Hasrajani family moved out from the joint residence in Gidwani Ghitti but the members of Purswani family continued to occupy the ancestor´s residence in Gidhwani Ghitti. Most of the male members of these families continued with their ancestor’s occupation (goldsmithing) in Hyderabad, but before [[Partition of India|Partition of Sub-continent]] at least one person from each home of the family was working overseas. The members of one or two families went for higher education. Some of them became medical practitioners and teachers whereas some went into government services but most of them now, have gone back to their original occupation as Textile Merchants equipped with modern technology.<ref>Khudabadi Sonara Navjawan Mandal Samiti (Regd.), Jaipur-Diamond Jubilee Souvenir, April 22, 2011.</ref> In the past, some members of Purswani Family were practicing [[Bhakti Yoga]] and some were involved in community work whereas, some took part in [[Indian Freedom Movement]] and [[Indian National Army]].<ref>Puj Khudabadi Sonara Panchayat (Regd.), Jaipur-Diamond Jubilee Souvenir 2005.</ref>

==Religion and culture==
Members of "Vasnani" and "Purswani" Family follow the religious customs of Bhambrai Bradri. Families of Bhambrai Bradri are Hindu by religion, and generally follow [[Sindhis|Sindhi]] ways of lifestyle.

==See also==
*[[Khudabad]]
*[[Khudabadi Script]]
*[[Panchayati Hall]]
*[[Bhaiband]]
*[[Khudabadi Sindhi Swarankar]]
*[[Muslim conquests]]
*[[Muslim conquests on the Indian subcontinent]]

==References==
English Translation
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* Bherumal Mahirchand Advani, '''"Amilan-jo-Ahwal" - published in Sindhi, 1919'''
* '''Amilan-jo-Ahwal (1919) - translated into English in 2016 ("A History of the Amils")''' at [http://www.saibaba-fund.org/sindhis.html sindhis]
*News Paper "Jog Maya" published in Sept, 1975 from Baroda (Gujarat)-Editor Naraindas Soni.

[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Lohana]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes in India]]

Purswani - Revision history

imported>WikiEditor50: /* From Aror to Bhambore */