Lanjwani

The Lanjwani is a Baloch tribe which is settled in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab provinces of Pakistan.

History

They are also called Mir Jat (tribe). Mir Lanjo Khan Jat was the name of their great ancestor, after whom, they are now called. Mir Lanjo khan Jat had five sons, 1) Rais, 2) Kalo, 3) Yar, Mohammed, 4) Yousif and 5) Karam, Ali. Their descendants now adopted the names Rasani, Kalozi, Yarozai, Yousifzai and Karamzai, Lanjwani respectively [3]. The Lanjwani tribes were Camel drivers, soldiers and servants of Baloch king, Mir Chakar Khan Rind [4].

The Lanjwani were supporters of Mir Chakar's during the civil war between the Lashari and Rind tribes of Balochistan [4]. Mir Chakar and Mir Gwaharam Khan Lashari, head of the Lashari tribe, went to war that resulted in thousands dead, including Mir Chakar's brother and many Lanjwani peoples. After the "Thirty Years War" against the Lashari Tribe, [3,4], many Lanjwani peoples left Balochistan with Mir Chakar and settled in the Punjab region in 1518.

Many Lanjwani people under the command of Mir Shahdad Khan son of Mir Chakar Khan Rind joined the Mughal army of Emperor Humayun in 1555 after a long exile in Persia. Emperor Humayun came back, recaptured Delhi, and ousted the Suri dynasty in 1556. The Lanjwani people were well settled at Lanjo area of Sui Tahsel in Dera Bugti, Balochistan, where they had a large area of land called Lanjo pat. The Lanjo river was their source of water for the agricultural and domestic uses. The Lanjwani people were scattered throughout the whole country especially in Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, in Punjab province, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Larkana, Kamber and Shahdad Kot, Khairpur Mirs, Sanghar, Tando Allahyar, Jamshoro, Karachi, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Matiari, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Umerkot districts in Sindh province and Dera Bugti, Jafarabad, Nasirabad and Sibi districts in Balochistan [3,5,6]. The Lanjwani people also migrated to Africa, nowadays many Lanjwani people are living in Zamababwe, and they are called Langwani [3].

The Lanjwani tribe is locally known as very hard worker, tolerant and socially active people. Most of the Lanjwani population are agriculturist but some of them are related to animal caregivers, business. Many Lanjwani families are living in Middle East countries and Canada. There are scientist, professors, doctors, Engineers and many more professionals from Lanjwani tribes working in the country and abroad [3].

Notable Lanjwanis

• Mir Rasool Bux Lanjwani: Chairperson and one of the founders of Lanjwani welfare association of Pakistan and currently working as an officer at the Agricultural Bank of Pakistan. He belongs to the village of Mir Huzoor Bux Lanjwani, near Kashmore, Sindh.

• Shahnawaz (Shan) Lanjwani: One of the founders and the first General secretary of Lanjwani welfare association of Pakistan. First Lanjwani hold a doctor of philosophy degree in Science, belongs to village of Mir Dost Mohammed Lanjwani, near Nasirabad, Larkana, Sindh. Presently he is living and working in Canada along with wife Antonietta, Yaseen, Khalid and Haque Lanjwani. He is the first Lanjwani who got Canadian Citizenship also he is author of Lanjwani wikipedia.

References

1) Sheikh Sadik, Ali, Ansari, A short Sketch historical and traditional of the Muslaman races found in Sindh, Balochistan and Afghanistan, pages 18, 85, published by Indus Publication Karachi in 1901.

2) Khair Mohammed Burrio, Encyclopedia of tribes, published by Murad publication Sehwan sharief page 701.

3) Dr. Mir Shahnawaz, Lanjwani, notes on the Lanjwani tribe.

4) Dr. Sigrid Westphal-Helibusch and Dr. Heinz, Weslphal, The Jat of Pakistan, published by Lok Virsa, P.O Box 1184, Islamabad, Pakisatan, page 52.

5) S.A.J. Shirazi. Heritage Village, Pakistan. Travelers Digest.

6) Overseas Pakistan Foundation. Provinces of Pakistan (Balochistan). Encyclopedia of Pakistan. 7) shahbaz lanjwani ,notes on lanjwani tribe.