FIRST MIGRATION: (WHEN OUR ANCESTORS MIGRATED TO SHIKARPUR)
General background of the time around mid 18th century:
In medieval times, before opening of Suez Canal, India’s trade with central Asia, Arab countries and Europe was conducted through caravans. The main items which were transported for bartering were opium, wool, silk, spices, dry fruit and vegetable products. The route which is historically famous runs from China to Europe is the legendary SILK ROUTE. One branch of this silk route ran through Kandahar Quetta, Sibi, Loralai, Peshawar and Shikarpur. This branch was dotted with settlements where caravans used to halt for night. The traders settled here were all round traders, providing facilities and services required for caravans like barter, language interpretation, wholesale purchase of distress sales, financing, auction and so on. This route almost touched the border between Shakastan (now called Sciestan in Southern Afghanistan) and Khorasan (now part of Iran). Due to its strategic location and trade skills of people it had become very prosperous.
Around mid 18th century, it so happened that one central Asian invader (In guru Nanak - janam – sakhi referred as turk (but subsequently referred variously as Ahmed Durrani , pathan Ahmedshah and afghan warlord Ahmedshah Abdali) began looting these prosperous trading posts continuously year after year for 10 to 15 years repeatedly. Incidentally this loot was used to support and expand his army which was used ultimately in battle of Panipat. This warlord changed his family name from Durrani to Abdali and came to be known as Ahmedshah Abdali , when he founded the kingdom of Afghanistan. The nearby region of Khorasan was also taken away and emerged as Iran. Most of these trading posts therby remained devastated. As a result of this most of the trading communities gradually started migrating to safer location namely fortified towns. They shifted to Bukhara, Samarkand, Istanbul, Baghdad and Shikarpur.
It is interesting to note a feature common amongst these towns. All these towns have forts wherein the central bazaar is covered, and both sides of bazaar are lined with shops. In Shikarpur such bazaar runs almost a kilometer from Lakhidar to Stol (Stuart ganj) and is popularly called DHAK BAZAR. It is so nicely covered that trade/barter could have been conducted under hot mid day tropical sun. This is pointed only to indicate a kind of possible communication link of ideas or the origin of ideas in addition to trade links.
In Vikramaditya and Ashoka ‘s times, it is mentioned that central Asian trade routes were dominated by Pahlavas ,Kambojas, Gandharas and Shakas.
The group which migrated via Bolan pass into the Indian side( now forming part of Pakistan) were majority Shakas ( referred by British writers as Indoscythians ). In fact the old name of Shikarpur is Shakpur, similarly Sukkur is Shakgarh and Quetta is Shakkot. This group members were all related to other members by matrimonial links and trade links. The custom of close inbreeding amongst this group is well known. In those days it was customary to know others by name and father’s name like KISHINCHAND CHELLARAM ; CHETOOMAL BOOLCHAND , RAI BAHADUR UDHAVDAS TARACHAND, VENSIMAL BASARMAL , PARMANAND DEEPCHAND, and so on.

Additional identification by way of trade link or place of residence or dominant ancestral link was designated as NUKH . Many such nukh names were substituted as surnames after British rule. Later on the names are also going in background with surnames receiving emphasis e.g. P. D .HINDUJA, Dr B.S.RAHEJA and so on .Quite a few Shikarpuri surnames are yet recognizably based on trade settlements on Khorasan-Balochistan border . E. g KUK DARI MUKH MATLI MATTA KHANGER CHUGH HIND. Although the word hind sounds nearer to hindu yet it is not so. There is HINDU KUSH mountain ( In old pushto kush and koh both means mountain,) These mountains when thus named were far away from hindu influence. The shikarpuri traders using Vikram samvat along with Shak samvat in their legal documents and Brahmins using shak shalivahan and vikram samvat in almanacs is a pointer to not only shak connection but to another chapter of racial history. After British rule the recollection of samvats is going in the background and Christian era is all what people care and remember. Around mid 18th century under above described situation a family known in trade circles as METHAI migrated to Shikarpur . They were dealers in METH which was a kind of vegetable dye. In Shikarpur they got additional identification as RAHEJA mainly due to their past association. There were three prominent members in the family: PESSUMAL, RAJARAM and BHARUMAL. It may be remembered that this was the time when industrial revolution was gathering momentum in Europe, the British textile industry was gearing for mass production, the chemical dyes had not yet developed, the East India company had not yet spread in full India, so the vegetable dyes were in huge demand. The family prospered in Shikarpur. Three lineages developed from this family as RAJANI RAHEJA , PESWANI RAHEJA and BHARUMALANI RAHEJA. Even methai background identification continued. Any of these names points to a link to this family.
During Pessumal ‘s time, Ahmedshah Abdali retreated to Afghanistan and died, Marathas were not able to pay attention to north India so it was the Sikhs who consolidated their hold on whatever they could hold. Maharaj Ranjit singh had snatched Shikarpur from qalati balochs in a bloody skirmish. Shikarpur was considered to be important for sikh panth propagation and tax revenue from Hindu population. Khatwari Darbar was at least established during this period although it came into prominence later on. Khat is Sindhi equivalent of charpai (hindi). The first sikh preacher had preached Gurbani while keeping Granth Sahib on this charpai which was sanctified and worshipped. During this period, many warrior class families (khatris) , administrator class (bhatias) and traders from Multan and Punjab (multanis and Punjabis) migrated to Shikarpur.
Pessumal’s lineage ran as follows:
Pessumal
Chhangomal Pesumal
Jeomal Chhangomal
Thakurdas Jeomal
Lalchand Thakurdas
Lalchand had one brother named Mulchand who died childless.


At the time of Lalchand’s death his progeny ran as follows ; sons
Sewaram Lalchand Raheja
Topandas Lalchand Raheja
Naraindas Lalchand Raheja
Chunilal Lalchand Raheja,
Mathradas Lalchand Raheja and grand-sons
Lachhmandas Sewaram Raheja
Girdharidas Sewaram Raheja
Bhagwandas Sewaram Raheja
Dr Bihari Sewaram Raheja
Sewaram expired two years before 1947 (India –Pakistan partition) and subsequent deaths have occurred post-partition in India.
During the life- time of Chhangomal and Jeomal, Shikarpur passed through very bad times. There was cold spell year after year. There were crop failures, locust attacks and famines. The Indus river changed its course west-wards and caused havoc by wiping out villages. After each calamity there were epidemics which wiped out families en masse. (The vaccination and pasteurization was unknown). Ranjit Singh’s rule was short lived (1823-39) and was replaced by Kalhoras and then by Talpur mirs . Every new ruler was interested in tax collection and fleecing the traders. A very few families survived but with much reduced numbers .The worship of Jhulelal took roots during this period as people were desperate and every calamity was somehow connected with Indus.
During the lifetime of Thakurdas, Shikarpur was taken by Mirs (politically).They appointed a Hindu vazir (Dewan Jethmal Chhabria). He was specially appointed to revive the trade activities. He was a typical shikarpuri with trade in his blood. This was a period when barter system was being replaced by currency. Dewan Jethmal was allowed to mint gold mohurs which became running currency (this was fore - runner to British guineas minted much afterwards). The gold mohurs of Jethmal are exhibited in Prince Albert London museum.
During this period accounting and money lending skills of Shikarpuris were in great demand. The Shikarpuri banker’s reach extended upto Bukhara , Baku and Astraskhan (Uzbek-Iran border) which continued till Russian czar took over these areas and Russian banks were forced to replace Shikarpuris. Most of the big and monumental Serais (Business offices) in Shikarpur were made in this period . It may be interesting to note that Dewan Jethmal’s progeny have started identifying themselves as Jethmalanis instead of Chhabria after the name of their illustrious ancestor. Thakurdas married a lady who was essentially a very simple natured lady from this diwan Jethmal’s family. He built three storied house in Shikarpur and was a proficient banker and accountant. There was some misunderstanding between him and his wife, and his wife went away to her mother’s house. Although well placed, he found it difficult to continue in Shikarpur with hostile and influential in- laws. He left Shikarpur along with his sons Lalchand and Mulchand for Bukhara. He returned from Bukhara with more wealth. During his absence, the political climate had improved and Dewan Jethmal also had expired and his sons Lalchand and Mulchand were to be married and settled (about 1860 A.D.)
The dramatic conditions under which Lalchand insisted his estranged mother to be called back to bless him at the time of his marriage ceremony became an unforgettable folk-lore heard umpteen times in the family. The details of such drama can even today form the basis of
television serial. But in an old conservative Shikarpuri society it created an admiration and controversy. This incident became talk of the town and gave publicity to the family for a long time to come.
Lalchand alone inherited lot of fortune from his father as his brother Mulchand died early enough and childless . Lalchand was an alchemist by interest. He wanted to find formula for making gold out of base metals and cheaper substances and thus make his family the richest in shikarpur. Inspite of several failures he was steadfast in his belief upto his last . He wasted lot of money and effort in this pursuit and antagonized his progeny.
He was well -versed in religious idiom and used to be invited to give discourses in PYARI SANGAT which was patronized by leading saints in shikarpur . He was also ardent practitioner of yogic sadhana. Due to his unproductive alchemist activities his yogic dictations were often ignored. He used to say that gradual mastery of KUMBHAK (breath retention) pranayam is a key which opens every spiritual door spontaneously . He himself had mastered kumbhak . It is said that at the time of his death he asked family members to leave him alone and he died peacefully. His wife used to claim to have seen the black spot on the top of his head.
Lalchand possessed sturdy constitution and lived 86 years (1845-1931) Although it is said that he used to carry stick when outside, he used to walk without stick at home and haveli. When asked about this he used to retort that the stick is for dogs and the evil –eye of the people . There are several such family anecdotes as an insight to the psyche of a person which may be out of place in this narration. In those days arthritis and eye- sight problems were very common but his mind remained as sharp as ever upto the last day of his life . Because of his family background, seniority and stature he was highly respected figure in RAHEJA bradari and was considered rishi .After a tradition of small families for few generations , his family was visibly poised for good growth . He left five sons and four grandsons as already mentioned , and in all about 36 grand-sons and great-grand-sons (as of now 2009) to join the patrilineal link. (the link through daughters at any stage is being postponed for the time being for consideration .)

The material above is the first step towards making a website/booklet on this subject. Most of the facts connected with family are basically based on oral traditions . Any suggestions/additions/modifications /improvements /criticism are welcome. The material is free for use by anybody if found useful. For feedback use any of the following.
U.T.Raheja (Manu) 25649325 9920089166 rahejaut@gmail.com

R. Vishamber 25573504 9821053270

Sandeep V Raheja 25573504 9820130691 smartsandy@hotmail.com