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The History of the Leuva
Patels.
The Aryan Race of central Asia were the ranchers and farmers in the Highland
region of Pamir. The migration of these Aryan people of Pamir began approximately
four thousand years ago when some of them moved westward towards Europe and Iran,
whereas the group migrated to the southern part of Asia. The later group entered
Punjab, India through Afghanistan and settled in the new country. These settlers
were mainly involved in cattle rearing and farming. These Aryans being hard working
and resourceful people became prosperous and culturally advanced.
The RIG VEDS describes "Purush-Sukta" the four classes, which was necessary to delegate
the responsibilities to run an efficient community for these very advanced thinking
people. The four categories of workers were BRAHMINS, KSHATRIYAS, VAISHYAS and SUDRAS.
It was a common practice for a Sudra to become Brahmin, the Vsaishya to become Kshatriya
and so on. In simple terms the system was not as rigid as it became later on when
the people were stereotyped, belonging only to one particular caste. The system
was supposed to utilize the labour according to one’s capabilities and adequacies
of successfully working at a particular function or a task. In the Rig-Veda there
is mention of Kshatriya girls marrying Brahmin, as was the example of King Saryata’s
daughter Sukanya marrying Cyarana. It seems the caste system played no role in percentage
of psyche of a particular person, the only criteria required in order to belong
to a particular class was the know-how, the capability and willingness to perform
a particular task efficiently. It seems each man’s worth was weighed by his virtue.
In true form this was a very organized culturally advanced society.
Brahmins were the advisers, educators or teachers; Kshatriyas were the defenders
of an area, a region or kingdom. Vaishyas were the tradesmen, shopkeepers or landowners
and the Sudras were farmers, helpers, or involved in menial type of work. During
the peace times, it was common for certain Kshtyras to work the fields or rear chattels.
These Kshtryas were known as KURMI KSHATRIYA. As the time passed the word KURMI
changed to KUNBI and later to KANBI. This KURMI (KUNBI) KSHATRIYA population grew
in Punjab to a point when several families did not possess enough land to cultivate
and this was one of the reasons for the migration. Another reason for this exodus
from the Punjab area was the atrocities, mistreatment and loss of family members
encountered during the attack by the King Sairas of Iran in 600 B.C., King Dairas
of Iran in 518 B.C and Alexander the Great of Greece in 300 B.C. These families
called the KURMI KSHATRIYAS having endured losses of family members and setbacks
in life progression started emigrating either eastbound or southbound towards Rajasthan,
the to Binmal in Gujarat, their plight from Punjab, it seems was for survival as
well as making a better life for their families.
When the Kurmi Kshatriyas came to Gujarat, they first came to Saurastra, then to
Vadnagar, later on to Vadodara & Baruch. During A.D 1820’s, the Kurmis, by that
time known as Kanbis, moved to Surat Districts and then to Valsad Districts. In
addition to being known as Kanbis, they were also known as KADVAS and LEVAS. It
took nearly 5000 years for some of the original Aryans descendents to have reached
Surat and Valsad, the southern part of Gujarat State.
Before we look into the emigration of Leuva Patidar outside of Indian subcontinent,
let us look at the different terms the Leuva Patidars is recognized by with their
origin. The ones living in Leya part were known as Leys-Kurmi, and those living
in Karad part were known as Karad-Kurmi. Later on the Leya-Kurmi came to be known
as Leuva -Kanbi and the Karad-Kurmi became Kadva-Kanbi.
Patel
The surname Patel is the most widely used name today. Originally the Kurmis
of Punjab, after having settled in Gujarat around 1400 A.D. were allocated the uncultivated
land in Petlad Taluka by the Solankis, the rulers of Gujarat at the time. The Solanki
ruler allocated land equivalent to one village to each family for cultivation. The
Kanbi family being highly motivated and hard working to succeed cultivated the land
and prospered. The King has an agreement with Kanbis and had appointed a headman,
whose responsibility was to keep the records of the crops on a PAT. The person keeping
the record was known as PATLIK, and was shortened to PATAL, and eventually to PATEL.
Prior to the introduction of the name Patel in Gujarat, they were known as Kanbis.
Patel is not a cast, but a surname adopted by the most of original Kanbis.
Patidar
Patidar means "owner of land". ‘PATI’ means land and ‘DAR’ means the person
who owns it. In Mehamdavad, Kheda district, around 1700.A.D., the ruler of Gujarat,
Mohammed Begdo, selected the best farmer from each village and gave them land for
cultivation. In return, the Patidar would pay the ruler a fixed income for a certain
period of time, after which, the Patidar would acquire the ownership of the land.
The Patidars would hire a hard working and knowledgeable work force to cultivate
the land and in due course of time, they would become the owners of the land. These
Patidars were from then onwards identified as Patel Patidars.
"Gujarat na Patidaro" It has mentions Vir Vasandas, who lived in a village near
Piplao (Kheda District), and was a collector of revenues from Dhoka, Matar and Petlad
Talukas. Vir Vasandas called a convention to honour the King Bhadurshah (son of
mogul king Aurangzeb, the ruler of India during Mogul domination) and invited all
Kanbis of Gujarat. At the convention, Vasandas introduced all Kanbis to the King
as PATIDARS, and the King entered Patidars in the government records as those who
are proprietors of land having to pay fixed revenue to the governing authorities.
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