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A Family Reunion of Lalpur Kutumb after Four Generations

Purshottam Gova Dhanak Family - Meeting family’s lineage after 100 years

by Pranbhai Dhanak (webmaster, Pattni Connection)

 

 

Gunwant Dhakan - Pranbhai Dhanak

A CHANCE discussion amongst Pattni members has reunited family members living in London, Mumbai and Chennai for the first time after four generations.

The families were able to retrace part of a fascinating family tree, uncovering branches in India, UK, Kenya and other countries.

 

My great-grandfather Purshottam Gova Dhanak had two daughters. One of the daughter’s names was Sonaba. I have not yet able to find the name of the other daughter.

 

Purshottam Gova’s wife passed away at a young age. As the daughters were still at a young age, he remarried and was then blessed with three sons - Ratanshi, Arjan (my grand father) and Walji. The family lived in Lalpur, near Jamnagar. They were famously well known as Lalpur kutumb (family).

 

Sonaba got married to Devdanbhai Dhakan in the village called Sarsai situated in Junagadh District, Gujarat.

 

In the late 1930s families of three brothers, Ratanshi, Arjan and Walji migrated to Mombasa where they made their home for nearly 45 years.

 

In the early 1970s, most of the families’ members moved to UK. Some of the Rantashi family members still live in Mombasa and Nairobi.

 

Meanwhile Sonaba living in Sarsai had three sons, the eldest Lakhubhai then Keshubhai and Govindbhai.  Two elder brothers have passed away and Govindbhai, age 78 lives in Mumbai.

 

 

Govindbhai is blessed with six sons and they all live joint family together in Chennai and Mumbai.

 

It was Govindbhai’s younger son Gunwant who while visiting London came to know about me and visited my residence last month. So after nearly 100 years later, fourth generation of the family members enjoyed an emotional union.

 

Gunwant connected the phone from my residence to his elder brother Chandrakant bhai who lives in Chennai. I had a long happy conversation with Chandrakantbhai and then with his younger brother Narendrabhai. As Govindbhai is on a pilgrimage in Gujarat, I am yet unable to get the full details about their family history.

 

Hingraj Mata Maha Yagna after 2000 years

Chandrakantbhai told me during our telephone discussion that they along with other Parajiya Sonis, have organized a Maha Hingraj yagna. This will be the first ever such mega event since the birth of Parajiya Pattni Samaj 2,000 years ago.

 

The organising committee is expecting a huge turnout of nearly 50,000. The committee cordially invites all three communities - Pattni, Girnara and Kutchi Parajiya Sonis to witness and participate in this mega event.

 

For details of the yagna click:  Chandi Mahayag - Grand Maha Yagna in Mumbai


 

From Editor:

I have been informed that this Maha Yagna is going to be the largest Yagna in the history of Soni community. Parajiya Sonis will be travelling from all over India town, cities and villages to attend the holy occasion. Several Pattni families residing in UK are also going to Mumbai to participate in this mega event.

 

Special message to the Lalpur Kutumb

There are approximately 400 members whose family roots are from Lalpur who are related to Purshottam Gova Dhanak. If you are visiting Mumbai in February, then it will be worth your while to attend the Maha Yagna and meet your new relatives. I shall update the website once I have more details of the programme.