Lohanas in Diaspora

16 Warriors and Merchants ____________________________________________________________ Kabul. There were many Lohranas in Kabul who had converted to Islam. Vir Jasraj arranged for them to be reconverted to the Hindu fold and eventually consolidated his position in the Lohar Paradesh.

Thakkar also deals with internal strife and conflict among the Lohana chiefs in Chapter 18. More than anything else, this chapter shows clearly that not withstanding their common origin, the Lohranas constituted a whole range of different and competing political and military communities. Thakkar aptly titles this particular chapter as “the storm of internal strife”. It records a family dispute between Meghraj of Laturgadh and Rana Karanpal of Bijnor. It appears as if the Rana of Bijnor decided not to accept Meghraj’s daughter in marriage - an alliance which may have been arranged in advance. This created a dispute which led to an armed conflict. Meghraj, the Rana of Latur allied with a Bidayu Muslim who had attempted to undermine the Lohranas to attack Rana Karanpal of Bijnor. Vachchraj came to support the Rana of Bijnor almost at the same time when he himself was being threatened with a battle by Raisingh Kotecha. Whatever interests were involved in the formation of such a complex conflict, what is clear is that the Loharanas were by no means constituted a unified political kingdom. The second point which is worth noting is the nature of the relationship between Lohranas and Muslim chiefs. The conventional division between Hindus and Muslims may indicate a dichotomy between the religious communities. However, what is most significant is that religious differences were not always identical with political differences and Lohrana kings were, therefore able to recruit support from Muslim rulers in conditions where their military and political interests prevailed over religious issues. Recent history of Punjab also illustrates , not a dichotomous, but a complex relationship between religion and political groups. Be that as it may, Vir Jasraj intervened in the conflict between Meghraj and Rana Karanpal . However, for his association with Bidayu Muslims which brought about the fall of Bijnor, when Meghraj returned to his Latur kingdom, his wife killed him with a spear for his treachery. The enemies of Latur rushed in to make a gain. Women , Lakshma and Kamladevi fought to save Latur against overwhelming odds. Vir Jasraj and his troops arrived in time to save Latur from the Bidayus.

The event for which the Lohanas still remember Dada Vir Jasraj occurred when he was getting married at Unadkot after his glorious victories in the war. Just as his family were arranging his wedding, Bidayu soldiers came to Unadkot. They entered the village and drove all the cattle away with them.

Sindhusharma, one of Jasraj’s commander pursued them and encountered them outside Unadkot . In a stormy battle, Bidayus beheaded Sindhusharma.