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| {{Infobox caste | {{Infobox caste | ||
| |caste_name=Luthra | |caste_name=Luthra | ||
| |classification=] | |classification=] - ] | ||
| |subdivisions= | |||
| |subdivisions= ] and ]<ref></ref>. | |||
| |populated_states=], ], ], ] and ] | |populated_states=], ], ] and ] | ||
| |languages=], ] and ] | |languages=], ] and ] | ||
| |religions=] and ]}} | |religions=] and ]}} | ||
| '''Luthra''' (]: |
'''Luthra''' (]: लूथरा, ]: ਲੂਥਰਾ) is an Indian (Panjab): Hindu (Arora) and Sikh name based on the name of an Arora clan. <ref></ref> Over the course of time, Luthras have migrated to places across ] and ]. | ||
| When ] was founded in 1947 |
When ] was founded in 1947. Most of the Luthras migrated to India. Today, Luthras live in numerous regions within India, but are mostly concentrated in ], ], ] and ]. Luthras can be both ] and ], as the religions are generally very close in the Punjab region.<ref name="Legends">Temple, R.C. "The Legends of The Panjab", 1884. Many reprints 1977, 2002 (ISBN 81-7167-636-7, 0405101287)</ref><ref name="Imperialrule">Imperial Rule in the Punjab: The Conquest and Administration of Multan, 1818-1881 by J Royal Roseberry, III. Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 110, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1990), p. 176</ref> | ||
| == History == | |||
| === Origins === | |||
| The Luthras are usually ] of the ] or ] castes of the Punjab and Sindh. They are of the ] ], which in ] times, was the civil ruling and administration group which also included warriors. A number of Luthras migrated to ] (modern-day ], near ] in Sindh, Pakistan) in ancient times and joined a group of ]s which had settled there.<ref></ref> | |||
| === Independence === | |||
| Some Luthras are ]s and originate from the Rajput clans of ]. These Luthras are related to the Arora Luthras, but originated in ] and migrated to the Punjab later in their history and began their relation after reaching the Punjab.<ref name="Mairhistory"></ref> The two divisions of the Luthras are closely related but have sometimes been split over their history, particularly in ancient battles where Mairs were inclined to protect their homeland of Ajmer and Aroras were inclined to defend Aror.<ref name="Mairhistory"/> Thus, some Luthras identify as ]s while other Luthras identify as Aroras and/or Khatris. | |||
| ⚫ | Luthras were also affected by the ] in 1947. Some were forced out amidst the violence in Pakistani Punjab as Hindus and Sikhs were expelled to create an Islamic republic. Thus they left the Aror region and settled in Indian Punjab and in regions such as ] and ] | ||
| The origin of the Luthras as a subcaste is ambiguous. However, the broader parent-castes of the Luthras, the ]s or ]s, are Indo-Aryans who have inhabited India since 2000 BC (some estimates indicate earlier dates). They belong to the region where the ], ]'s most ancient scripture, was written. | |||
| == Current spread == | |||
| ⚫ | Luthra's are currently based all over the world as Indian ]. They are also prominent in the Indian states of ], ], ], ], ] and have small populations in states like ] and ]. Some Luthras may reside in ], but they would be an extremely ]. | ||
| ].]] | |||
| In Iron Age Vedic India (c. 1000 BCE), they were inhabitants of the ]. The dynasty was later ruled by ], who led the ] against the ] which is detailed in the Hindu epic, the ]. In this war, the Kshatriyas assumed the role of warriors for either side of the battle. | |||
| Dispersal and dissolving of such kingdoms resulted in a Mauryan invasion of most of India. The ] ruled the region inhabited by the Luthras in a period of conflict followed by peace. ] and Mauryan forces clashed on numerous occasions, with the Greeks eventually being defeated. The Kshatriyas of the Punjab joined hands with the Mauryans in defeating the foreign force. | |||
| After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, a power vacuum shortly existed in the region. In about 100 CE, the ]s from ] invaded the Punjab, whom the Aroras including the Luthras resisted but failed in the face of the nomadic hordes from Central Asia. However, the Kushans were benevolent rulers and assimilated within Indian culture with many converting to ] and ]. The ] assumed control of ] in 400 CE, and the Kshatriyas, including Luthras, joined forces with the Guptas to maintain law and order in what became India's Golden Age. | |||
| === The Islamic Period === | |||
| The Luthras were affected by the ] as much as numerous other communities of the region. A number of Luthras came under pressure to convert as the city of ] fell to the invaders. Most of the them spread across to further parts of the ] and ]. The ] brought great cruelties to the local remaining Hindus, as tens of thousands were slaughtered for failure to accept the new faith. Kshatriyas like the Luthras, prominently including ]s, failed to protect their lands. ] Luthras were particularly involved in fighting for their lands. During 661-680 AD, ] generals failed to gain land in India reportedly because of the brave fighting of the ]s and '']''.<ref name="Mairhistory"/> | |||
| This began the practise of '']'', in which numerous Kshatriyas were killed as they rushed out while vastly outnumbered to battle the ] armies and protect their cities. ] contends that that several Muslim invaders were waging a systematic '']'' (''Holy War'') against Hindus in India to the effect that "Every device short of massacre in cold blood was resorted to in order to convert heathen subjects." <ref> {{cite book |last=Sarkar |first= Jadunath |authorlink=Jadunath Sarkar |title=Islamic invasion of Hindus in India }} </ref> An estimate of the number of people killed, based on the Muslim chronicles and demographic calculations, was done by ] in his book '']'', who claimed that between 1000 CE and 1500 CE, the population of Hindus decreased by 80 million, most of whom were Kshatriyas (who lost their lives in battle) or ]s (who were easy targets for conversion).<ref> {{cite book |last=Durant |first= Will |authorlink=Will Durant |title= | |||
| "The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage" (page 459)}} </ref><ref>{{cite news | first =Koenraad | last =Elst | title =Was there an Islamic "Genocide" of Hindus? | url =http://www.kashmirherald.com/main.php?t=OP&st=D&no=138 | publisher = ]| pages = | page = | date = 2006-08-25 | accessdate =2006-08-25 }}</ref> | |||
| === The Dal Khalsa === | |||
| In the 1600s, the rise of ] and the '']'' (Sikh Army) provided incentive for Hindu Kshatriyas to fight for the creation of a Sikh Empire in the Punjab. Traditionally, the first son of Luthras were brought up as Sikhs to protect Punjab.<ref>See ]</ref> This tradition has been wiped out recently but was prominent in the past. The Sikh Army eventually expelled the Mughals from large parts of the Punjab in 1716 and continued to resist Mughal attacks up till 1799. They united together to form the ] in the Punjab, where former Kshatriyas (Sikhism rejects casteism) held prominent positions as rulers and warriors. From 1801-1849, ] united the Punjab under the ]. The Empire was the strongest in India, rivalled only by the ], with which it was friendly with. Kshatriyas including Luthras formed an integral part of the military, which included 35000 regular soliders and approximately 300000 irregular or militia troops. The military also had 188 ] and 70000 ]. The Sikhs were later faced with an external threat from the ], which had sought conquest over all of India. The Punjab was the last state to fall, in 1849, as the troops failed to hold off against the British in the ]. | |||
| === Independent India === | |||
| Most of India was involved in the struggle for Independence and the Luthras also played a part in this. They did so both as part of the ] and as part of the ]. Most of their efforts was limited to the Punjab region however and no Luthras are particularly famous for their independence efforts. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| == Current Spread == | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| == Role in society == | == Role in society == | ||
| Luthras are ]s and are known for their prominence as warriors and of the ruling and administrative class.<ref></ref> However, later they expanded into ] classes and lived as merchants.<ref></ref> Mainly Luthras were involved as warriors in various Indian military battles. As Kshatriya, They were generally at the front-line in battles. | |||
| In modern times, with the changing world, the position of 'warrior' does not fit in. Many Luthras have entered the Indian military and some have entered politics, but the vast majority have involved themselves with businesses across the world. This trend began as early as the Muslim conquest of the subcontinent. Many Luthras are quite successful in terms of business<ref>See prominent Luthras list below</ref> and in the original system of varnas, have expanded into domains previously held only by Vaishyas while many retain their Kshatriya ways. | |||
| In terms of politics, Luthras mainly subscribe to the ] (or its ally the ]), with a minority supporting the ]. | |||
| == Religion == | == Religion == | ||
| ⚫ | Luthras are predominantly ]. However, after the foundation of Sikhism some members of subcastes like Luthra would devote their first child to the ] gurus and pronounce him as a Sikh, thus increasing the number of Sikhs who are also Luthras. The tradition has fallen out of prominence in modern society. | ||
| ⚫ | ==Prominent Luthras== | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| *] - filmaker and writer<ref></ref> | *] - filmaker and writer<ref></ref> | ||
| * - ] | |||
| *] - ]<ref></ref> | *] - ]<ref></ref> | ||
| *BK Luthra - Chairman of the Luthra Academy.<ref></ref> | |||
| *K.K. Luthra - Famous lawyer. The KK Luthra Memorial All India Moot Court Competition is held in his memory.<ref></ref> | *K.K. Luthra - Famous lawyer. The KK Luthra Memorial All India Moot Court Competition is held in his memory.<ref></ref> | ||
| * |
*] - Deputy Commissioner of Police in ] India.<ref></ref> | ||
| * - owner of numerous beauty parlours and health clinics in India. | |||
| * - Deputy Commissioner of Police in ] India. | |||
| *] - Saxophonist, composer and musician in New York City.<ref></ref> | *] - Saxophonist, composer and musician in New York City.<ref></ref> | ||
| *Rajiv Luthra - Famous lawyer and owner of law firm.<ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
| *AK Luthra - Chief Commissioner of ]. <ref></ref> | *AK Luthra - Chief Commissioner of ]. <ref></ref> | ||
| *] - Rhodes Scholar and ], founder of Computer Literacy 4 Kids (CL4K)<ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
| *] - Theatre actor.<ref></ref> | |||
| * - Actor | |||
| * - Actor | |||
| * - Vice President of ITDC (Duty free shops) | |||
| * - ] player | |||
| * and Adarsh Luthra - founders of the "Nisha Luthra Prize in Philosophy". | |||
| * - ] | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| ⚫ | ==See also== | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | *] | ||
Revision as of 22:25, 17 May 2007
| Luthra | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Vaishya - Arora |
| Religions | Hinduism and Sikhism |
| Languages | Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu |
| Populated states | Punjab (India), Haryana, Delhi and Sindh |
Luthra (Hindī: लूथरा, Punjabi: ਲੂਥਰਾ) is an Indian (Panjab): Hindu (Arora) and Sikh name based on the name of an Arora clan. Over the course of time, Luthras have migrated to places across Punjab and Sindh.
When Pakistan was founded in 1947. Most of the Luthras migrated to India. Today, Luthras live in numerous regions within India, but are mostly concentrated in Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Luthras can be both Sikh and Hindu, as the religions are generally very close in the Punjab region.
Independence
Luthras were also affected by the Partition of India in 1947. Some were forced out amidst the violence in Pakistani Punjab as Hindus and Sikhs were expelled to create an Islamic republic. Thus they left the Aror region and settled in Indian Punjab and in regions such as Uttar Pradesh and Delhi
Current spread
Luthra's are currently based all over the world as Indian diaspora. They are also prominent in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and have small populations in states like Maharashtra and Bengal. Some Luthras may reside in Pakistan, but they would be an extremely small minority.
Role in society
Religion
Luthras are predominantly Hindu. However, after the foundation of Sikhism some members of subcastes like Luthra would devote their first child to the Sikh gurus and pronounce him as a Sikh, thus increasing the number of Sikhs who are also Luthras. The tradition has fallen out of prominence in modern society.
Prominent Luthras
- Avie Luthra - filmaker and writer
- Suresh Luthra - cricketer
- K.K. Luthra - Famous lawyer. The KK Luthra Memorial All India Moot Court Competition is held in his memory.
- Tajender Luthra - Deputy Commissioner of Police in Chandigarh India.
- Arun Luthra - Saxophonist, composer and musician in New York City.
- AK Luthra - Chief Commissioner of Income tax.
See also
References
- Luthra
- Temple, R.C. "The Legends of The Panjab", 1884. Many reprints 1977, 2002 (ISBN 81-7167-636-7, 0405101287)
- Imperial Rule in the Punjab: The Conquest and Administration of Multan, 1818-1881 by J Royal Roseberry, III. Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 110, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1990), p. 176
- Avie Luthra
- Suresh Luthra profile
- KK Luthra
- Tajender Luthra
- Arun Luthra
- AK Luthra