|
Banjaras:
In his classic work 'Saarth-wah' (Caravan Leader), Dr.
Motichandra furnishes an account of ancient trade
arteries on land as well as water, and of the caravans and
merchant vessels which traversed them. One such land route
started from Dwarka, crossed the Thar desert
and went on to Kamboj (Central Asia) and beyond; the
Mathura-Ujjain-Surat-Paithan route skirted the left
bank of the Charnbal; the Delhi-Ahmedabad route went
via Ajmer; the Mathura-Karachi route went via
Bayana and traversed the Thar. The Banjaras of Rajasthan
are the descendents or successors of the ancient frequenters
of these and other trade-routes.
The Banjaras have included Hindus as well as Muslims
and various groups of itinerant traders. The 1891 Census
report for Marwar includes persons of Bhat, Rajput,
Charan and Jat extraction as forming this occupational
community. Col. James Tod mentions a baaladof
taanda (oxen laden with goods) with 40,000 bullocks.
There are umpteen references to ‘Lakhi' Banjaras -
traders with 1,00,000 bullocks - and their pomp and
munificence. Jehangir in his memoirs mentions inducing the
Banjaras to accompany the imperial army to Kandhar.
The laden bullock of a baalad has been cited as a symbol of
opulent grandeur in the well-known 'Vinayak' or
‘Bindayak’ song of Rajasthan. Writing in 1825, Bishop R.
Heber wrote this about a Banjara encampment near
Nasirabad; We passed a large encampment of Brinjarees,
of carries of grain, a singular wandering race, who pass
their whole time in transporting this article from one part
of the country to another, seldom on their on account, but
as agents for more wealthy dealers. They move about in large
bodies with their wives, children, dogs and loaded bullocks.
The men are all armed as a protection against petty thieves.
From the sovereigns and armies of Hindostan they have no
apprehensions. Even contending armies allow them to pass…’
Further on, he chanced on another group carrying salt to
Malwa and observed that the men were fine-looking and
powerful, though not tall, while the females ‘were the
largest and most masculine whom I have yet seen in India’. |
