Durgbansi - A brief history

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Samogar Mai | Durgbansi - A brief history

This history has been collated by Thakur Arvind Singh - and subsequently replicated in wikipedia. I requiest future editors of the widepedia article to give due credit to this website for information gathered hereunto.

A kshatriya clan whose origins date to the medeival periods in Hindustani history. The exact origins are sketchy, with the roots being debated as being from modern day Rajasthan, Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh.

Currently, this sparse clan resides in eastern Uttar Pradesh, distributed in Jaunpur, and neighbouring areas. Here is some information gleaned from historical documentation:

Traditional origins and history.

This clan is a sub division of the Dikshits. It claims descent from the surajbans kings of Ajudhya. At a remote period a cadet of the fmily name Durg Bhao, is said to have emigrated to Guzerat, where his descendents tool the title of Durgbansi. Ie children of Durg. Several generations later, one of the chieftains named Kalyan Sah, received the title of Dikhit (q.v.), which thenceforth becoame the tribal name. About 550 years ago, a number of Dikhit adventurers entered the service of Muhammad Tughlak and settled in Oudh. About a century later their descendants were invited by the Muhammadan authorities to expelthe Bhars from Jaunpur. Their efforts were completely successful, and shortly afterwards this section of the clan reverted to its old name of Durgbansi, in honor of one of Durg Sahai, one of its principal leaders. It is stated that the title of Raja was conferred on Harku Rai, their elected chief by Emperor Akbar, in recognition of the valour dispalyed by the clan at a great tournament held at Allahabad. In the 18th century the Drigbansis were deprived of their possessions by Balwant Singh, the Raja of Benaras, but regained them through the annexation of the district by the British.Litigation and extravagance led to the loss of most of their ancestral domains, and by the time of the mutiny the Dirgbasi raja was in very reduced circumstances. From his antecedants, poverty, and relationship to the famous rebel Koer Singh, he might well have been tempted to rebellion: but on the contrary he behaved with conspicuous loyalty, and was rewarded with considerable estates and a title.

Geographical Distribution

Dirgbansis are found chiefly in the Jaunpur District of the North West Provinces. They have a male population of 7600.

Religion

The clan is addicted to Shakta worship and pays special reverance to Durga. Like the Dikhits the Dirgbansis belong to the Kassyap gotra.

Dirgbansis contract marriages with members of the following clans:

Give Daughters to

Take wives from

Sombansi

Rajkumar

Gaharwar

Raghubans

Nikumbh

Bisen

Surajbansi

Sirnet

Bisen

Nikumbh

Kath-Bais

Chaupat Khambh

Gargbansi

Chandel

Donwar

Extract from: Page 67-68

Handbook on Rajputs

By A. H. Bingley

Originally published as: Rajputs. Simla : Govt. Central Print. Office, 1899

Published by Asian Educational Services, 1986

ISBN 8120602048, 9788120602045

The Tribes and Castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh

By William Crooke

Published by Asian Educational Services, 1999

ISBN 8120612108, 9788120612105

1809 pages

Other books of reference

More details

Memoirs on the History, Folk-Lore and Distribution of the Races of the North Western Provinces of India

By Henry Miers Elliot, John Beames

Contributor John Beames

Published by Asian Educational Services, 2004

ISBN 8120619056, 9788120619050

Durgbansi

Name of a clan of Rajputs who hold villages in Garwara, Ghisua and rari, in the district of Jaunpur and Mahul in Azimgarh. The raja of Garwara is a Durgbansi. They are descended from the Dikhits, and came to the neighbourhood of Jaunpur from Simauni in Bundelkhand, about 14 generations ago. Their relative position in the rank of Rajputs is shown by their giving daughters in marriage to Chamargaur, Bandhalgoti, Tilokchandi, Bais, Sombansi,Surajbansi, Sarnayt, Baghel and Gaharwar of kantit. Their sons marry into the families of chandel, powar, gautam, raghubansi, Ujayin and inferior grades of Bais.

(Page 87)

The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India

By R V Russell, R.B.H. Lai

Published by Asian Educational Services, 1995

ISBN 812060833X, 9788120608337

2231 pages

Hindu Tribes and Castes: As Represented in Benares

By Matthew Atmore Sherring

Published by Thacker, Spink, 1872

Original from Oxford University

Digitized 24 May 2007

405 pages

Durgbansis,

The Durgbansls, although of the same family originally as the Dikshits,

yet in several parts of the country have a separate name, and are regarded as a

distinct tribe. They occupy lands in Garwara, Ghisera, and Rarl, in the

Jaunpur district, and also in Mahul of Azimgarh. They intermarry with some

of the highest tribes of Rajpoots. The Raja of Garwara belongs to the Durg-

bansl tribe (a).

Dhrigubansi.

This tribe sprang from the province of Oudh. It is numerous in the

district of Jaunpur, where it possesses several thousand families. Colonies also

are in the neighbouring district of Azimgarh. In Mirzapur are a few hundred

individuals ; and in Benares likewise is a small community. In Oudh the

Dhrigubansls have one chief, whom they are permitted to send as their representative

to the Governor General's Durbar.

The cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia:

by Edward Balfour - 1885 Define Durg Bansi"s as -

Durg Bansi - A tribe of Rajputs in Jonpur & Azimgurh