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HISTORY OF PARAJIYA PATTNI SONI
Pran Chhaganbhai Arjan (Dhanak),
The history of
Even today there are no physical means that could hold or represent the information of the Indian history in its original form without any flaw, fault, change or damage for such a long period of time. It is beyond human power. At the same time, it is also very important that, for the knowledge and the encouragement of the existing generation, that they must know and make them aware of the glories of the past. Thanks to the works of Saints and Rishis who maintained this knowledge with their Divine power and reproduce it on the earth planet in the form of books. That is how the unbroken continuity of the original records of the history is made possible to be available in every generation of the human civilisation.
History of Parajiya Sonis
Historically, the early Vedic society was divided into four broad groups:- Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra. Sonis came from Khastriya caste. Today, there are many communities who work in the jewellery trade. Those who are in jewellery business are called Sonis. When a person is unable to earn sufficiently from one trade will then look elsewhere and venture into other businesses. Such evolution has been going on in the history. We may earn less due to circumstances but that does not mean that our original trade had been destroyed. Today, there are many rich people who have taken up farming. So in future, their generation will become known as farmers. Like we became Sonis from Khsatriyas, there are many others who became farmers, traders, cobblers etc. Our family was Sonis before our forefathers became your Barots. Now my sons have again taken up jewellery business so will become jewellers. So the evolution carries on.
Soni’s history in English
Today’s new generation is much more educated. There is a revolution going on in the modern world. Many Samaj are now researching about their historical roots thus, I wrote and published fifteen books on the Soni’s history in Gujarati. New generation, specially born abroad, do not have any knowledge of our forefathers. It is very important that these children learn about such a history. I had always hoped that somebody, somewhere will carry the torch and write this history in English. It seems that the Lord has answered my prayers. I wish you all the best and pray to Mataji that you succeed in your task that you have undertaken.
As you aware, there are many Muslims in
For further reading on Parajiya History, please click Muslim Parajiya Soni
Please do not hesitate to ask for any help or information that you may require on the Parajiya history.
Best Regards and wishes - Sagarkumar Barot
BIRTH OF PARAJIYA SONI SAMAJ
Pran Chhaganbhai Arjan (Dhanak) - Editor
PARAJIYA SONIS 2000 YEARS AGO
2000 years ago, we were all of Kshatriya community. They were settled in the ancient city called Parajav, (it is now called Patiala.), located in Punjab, near the Sindh border in
In the year 145A.D. there was one bandit leader called Hakmibandha. His real named was Hukamsinh Parmar and was a devotee of Mataji. He got tired of living on immoral earnings and realised that the community will never make any progress if they carry on being bandits. So he decided to give up this life style and do something good for the community. He prayed to Hingraj Mataji and pleaded for her forgiveness for their misdeeds and also asked for her guidance. Legend has it that Mataji answered to his sincere prayers and by giving him jewellery tools and teaching him jewellery business. Hakmibandha then taught this business to his followers and their children. This community from Parajav city then became goldsmiths and jewellers and were called Parajiya Soni Samaj. Hakmibandha is the first person to become a Parajiya Soni.
Note: Parajiya Soni Samaj stayed as united Soni Samaj for next 1000 years. It then split into three Communities: Parajiya Pattni, Parajiya Girnaras and Parajiya Kutchi Sonis. There was also an unfortunate fourth split. This breakaway section converted themselves to Muslims. They were excluded from Soni Community, thus removed from the Barot’s register book.
Parajiya Soni clans are mainly divided into three branches called Vansh (Lineage) – Suryavansh, Chandravansh and Hanumanvash. It is important to have the basic understanding of the origin of Kshatriya and Vansh. This fact is clearly stated in many Hindu Puranik literatures like Bhagwat Puran, Bramha Puran, and Vishnu Puran etc.
This is the short history of Parajiya Soni Samaj. Further articles will be added at a later date
(This information is elaborated in one of his books by Shree Sagarkumar Barot)
Shri Sagarbhai Barot resides in
PARAJIYA ANCESTRAL TREE
This is just a very brief explanation. to understand this Ancestral Tree
There are three main lineage branches called ‘Vansh’ - Suryavansh, Chandravansh and Hanuman Vansh. All Parajiya Sonis family roots come from these three ‘Vansh’s
‘Suryavansh’ : Bhagwan Ram, the seventh avtar of Bhagwan Vishnu is the most prominent Surya Vanshi. Thus all Parajiyas who are ‘Suryavanshi’ are the descendents of Bhagwan Ram
‘Chandravansh’ : Bhagwan Krishna was a ‘ChandraVanshi’ So in the Parajiya Ambo, those who are ‘Chandravanshi’ are the descendents of Bhagwan Krishna’
Hanuman Vansh : As the name suggest, Hanuman Vanshi are the descendents of Hanuman.
A complete comprehensive history of Parajiya Sonis will be posted chapter by chapter as we develop our website.
Click the link to view Parajiya ancestral Tree - Parajiya Ambo (double click on ambo to enlarge)
As mentioned in our History Section, Parajiya Sonis were from Kshatriya Caste. The Kshatriya caste was traditionally that of the warriors. It was in the year 145A.D. that one leader Hakmibandha who took refuge and sought advice from Hingraj Mataji who guided and taught him to become jewellers. The abode of Hingraj Mataji temple is still in existence in today’s
AADH SHAKTI DEVI MAA
Hakmibandha was from the city of
Indian History during Islamic Invasion
The Islamic invasion of
We have already mentioned in the History Section that Parajiya Soni Community (the community that came into being in 145A.D.) used to live in Punjab in
Mahmud of Ghazni (971A.D. – April 1030), was the ruler of Ghazni from 997 until his death. Mahmud turned the former provincial city of
Mahmud Ghazni carried sixteen or seventeen campaigns into northern
The spread of Islam in
Prof. K.S. Lal calculated in his book The Growth of Muslim Population in
Break up of Parajiya Sonis Samaj
Again to summarise from our History Section, Parajiya Soni Samaj stayed united as Soni Samaj for next 1000 years. It then split into three Communities: Parajiya Pattni, Parajiya Girnaras and Parajiya Kutchi Sonis. As mentioned in the Indian History above there was also a fourth split. This breakaway section converted themselves to Muslims. There are many Memon Sonis living in
Click for further reading - Muslim Parajiya Soni
Parajiya Sonis during the turbulent period of Muslim invasion, moved from Parajav(Punjab) to Patan (
Due to political reasons, there was a further split in the Samaj. Two new Parajiya Samaj came into being which became known as Parajiya Girnara Soni and Kutchi Parajiya Sonis –
We shall continue this interesting history of how and why Girnara Sonis and Kutchi Sonis split from Parajiya Sonis from Patan.
Don’t also miss our forthcoming article on Hingraj Mataji who was the reincarnation of Goddess Sati and the place of abode which is currently in
We have sufficient information from Shri Barot’s books. However we still need to know a lot more about our history, especially the history of Sonis in the last century.
Our forefathers migrated from India about 120 years ago to many countries - Africa, The Middle East, Mauritius, and Fiji and recently to Britain, Australia, New Zealand, U.S.A. and Canada. I do not think any history has ever been written on them to date. It is important that we record this now; otherwise such historical facts will be lost forever. Since most of the Sonis in
In May 1896 British Government started the construction of the railways in
During this period, many middle class Indian traders, artisans and professionals started arriving, particularly after World War 1. These also included many Parajiya Sonis. Who were those pioneer Parajiyas?
In January 1901, the work was completed at Port Florence( now Kisumu ), at the shores of
The bulk of the migration was between 1920 to 1940, when many of our forefathers migrated and settled in
Parajiya Sonis in
There was a further migration from Africa to
The first one in early 1960s, those who came to study, then in 1967 from Kenyan exodus, in 1973 from Idi Amin’s Uganda and lastly 1975 onwards, when Sonis came from various countries. We need the history for all these periods. This is the first time that such a project has been undertaken.
Shree Sagarkumar Barot - Paraj Vansh Prakash
Wikipedia, the Encyclopaedia.
PARAJIYA PATTNIS IN
Vinay Chhaganlal Ramji Kagdada –
In the late 19th century, the Sultan of Oman moved his throne from
The mode of Transportation was dhows, moving with the help of sails & winds. Seasonal Monsoon/Trade winds allowed the dhows to move in different directions in different seasons. The majority of the Indians who ventured to settle in this Island, came from Gujarat-mostly from Kathiawar/Kutch, sailing out of the fishing ports of Porbunder, Bedi Bunder, Veraval and other
Amongst the Indians, were many Sonis who came to
First Parajiya Sonis in
The Pattni Sonis were mainly were 'Sagars' from Shil, Madhupur and Mangrol and 'Vayas' from Prabhas Paatan and Veraval area. Some of the Soni names which come to my mind were Haji Ahmed Haji Elias, Haji Budha Haji Hasham, Visanji Dungarshi, Tulsidas Nenshi Devshi, Morarji Devshi, Dhanji Pala and many others. And amongst the Parajiya Pattni Sonis were – Pragjibhai Dharamshi, Kakubhai Bhaya, Chhaganbhai Ramji, Laljibhai Savji, Liladharbhai Hansraj, Bhanjibhai Bhagwan and many more. They were in their tender age of between 15 and 20 years. They were the pioneers who left their families and beloved ones to adventure out of
They suffered lot of hardship whilst trying to settle down. Most of them would sleep in groups in their own shops. Cooking was also done in groups. So their home and work were all in the same place. Their special dish was Khichdi with orange juice!! All these Sonis had left their families in
First Pattni Mahila in
Amongst the first Parajiya women who came to
Zanzibar: The missing History
Mrs. Kala Dayaljibhai Mavji Leicester -
I read about the history of Parajiya Pattnis in
These were few of the Pattni pioneers who came to
Parajiya Pattni in
Vinay Chhaganlal Ramji Kagdada
There were many other Indian communities like the Brahmins, Vaniks, Lohanas and Bhatias. Parajiya Sonis were highly respected and were referred to as ‘Soni Mahajan’. There were about 80 goldsmith or 'sonara' shops throughout the Indian population of some 60,000. However, it should be noted that the sonara shops also included Bhoy, Arab and Ceylonese Sonis. The coastal Africans who had converted to Islam, the Arabs and the local Indians adored jewellery – whether it was gold, rolled gold, silver or mixed silver (rupu). Thus the sonis had a thriving business.
Chunilal Liladhar catered mainly to the local Indian clientele. He was a very talented craftsman and also led a stylish lifestyle that combined with a contemporary dress sense. Some sonis later moved to the sister
Then there was also an illegal trade in alluvial gold or gold dust, commonly referred to as 'bhuko' and uncut diamonds (‘kankara’). These mainly came from then
The political revolutions, coups, expulsions, Africanisation, racial discrimination or economic disasters forced the Indians, sonis included, to move out of
At present the highest number of Parajiyas outside
Times are changing very fast. Today’s Pattni Samaj with its current progress is now making its own history. Let the future generation review this history. I may have missed out lot of names. My apologies for that. The only thing to say now is that the Parajiyas are mostly in a better position. It all started with the courage, sacrifice and the adventure of the few.
Some of them lost their lives in the SIKOTRA storms and went down with dhows into the icy cold waters of the Indian oceans. Our hats off to them
PARAJIYA PATTNI SONI IN
Babulal Mamaiya Ghaghada
I am writing this article from my fading memories. So please do excuse if I have forgotten to mention any names or if you find any other discrepancies.
The first ones who came to Africa were Hirjibhai Lakha’s grandfather, Bhim Hadabapa, Jetshibhai Naran from Lalpur, Parmanandbhai Dossa (well known as Mabheni walla), Laljibhai Savji Vaya, Raghvji Mithabhai (brother of Narshibhai Mithabhai) and one Girnara Soni, C.M.Jinna. Some of the Pattnis who later joined them after 1944, were Kanjibhai Meghjibhai, Shamjibhai Lakha, Jamnadas Muljibhai and Merambhai Govind.
The only mode of transport from
Going back to
Jitu Anandjibhai Jeram.
Please correct following discrepancies in the article on Parajiya Pattni Sonis in
Bhim and Hadabapa were sons of Govani and neither of them came to East Africa The first Ghaghada to arrive in East Africa was Samat Bhim, - grandfather of Anandji Jeram, and not as reported in the article.
Shamat Bhim was the original founder of Hirji Lakha (the shop), as it is known today. Shamji Lakha first arrived in East Africa around 1910 followed by his brothers Hirji, Purshottam, and Damji Lakha, brother of Samat found East Africa not to his liking and went back to
Raghvji Mithahai (son of Hadabapa) was the other Ghaghada as correctly stated in the article to arrive in
The name of Hirji Lakha (shop) came into existence around 1925, after the death of Samat Bhim. Jeram Samat was not in
I hope these facts have further enlightened you.
The writer Babulal is descendant of Govani and so am I. I make these corrections with full respect to him and his fading memory.
Babulal - Mamaiya – Mitha – Hada – Govani (The writer of original article)
Jitu - Anandji – Jeram – Samat – Bhim – Govani (Me)
Tribhovan (Abbi) – Shamji – Lakha – Bhim Govani (Lakha connection)
Finally, Congratulations are in order for the first PPA News in the
Thank you Jitubhai for your comments and corrections. As we are recording history of the East African Pattnis for the first time, there are bound to be some discrepancies, which can only be rectified by one’s immediate family. – Editor
PARAJIYA PATTNIS IN
Rameshchandra Jamnadas Satikuvar (
First Parajiya Sonis in
I first came to
When we left the life in
PARAJIYA PATTNI IN U.A.E.
Haresh V. Dhakan - U.A.E
The migration of the Parajiya Pattni Sonis in the Gulf, mainly in
Since the advent of our elders the population of the community in the U.A.E. has now grown to a sizeable 3000 members (500 families approx.) The largest group resides in
The Samaj members are always in the forefront taking active part in various Charities like Morbi flood, droughts in Gujarat, the mission for Kargil Jawaans funds and the recent earthquake in
We thank Sagarbhai Barot, Vinaybhai, Babulalbhai, Jitubhai, Kalaben, Hareshbhai and Rameshbhai for their contribution - Editor