BRAHMINS OF LADORI AND THE MANJHOL KUTUMB
Brahmins of Ladori belong to different gotras and sub-castes. This is perhaps because they came to this village from different cultures and regions at different times. It is only because of this, that they can solemnize the marriages of their children within the community. First ever such marriage was solemnized when Bhatianwale married off their daughter to a boy belonging to Manjhol Kutumb..
Bhatianwale came to Kangra District from Kashmir during latter part of 19th century and after having lived for a short duration at Bhatti Chak near Dina Nagar, District Gurdaspur, Punjab, they finally came to Ladori. Having come from Village Bhatti Chak, they were later known to be as Bhatianwale. Nanku, Jai Karan, Prakashu and Mahant of Bhatianwale Khandan lived their full lives in Ladori. Subhash Chand, Som Dutt and Daya Nand are the descendants of Bhatianwale family.
Bhatianwale came to Kangra District from Kashmir during latter part of 19th century and after having lived for a short duration at Bhatti Chak near Dina Nagar, District Gurdaspur, Punjab, they finally came to Ladori. Having come from Village Bhatti Chak, they were later known to be as Bhatianwale. Nanku, Jai Karan, Prakashu and Mahant of Bhatianwale Khandan lived their full lives in Ladori. Subhash Chand, Som Dutt and Daya Nand are the descendants of Bhatianwale family.
Subhash Chand presently lives in Mumbai, who along with his son Dinesh looks after the management of his two Engineering Works manufacturing auto parts in Mumbai and Nasik. His youngest daughter Sunita lives in Panipat along with her charming husband Arun. She is serving as a science teacher in one of the leading Public Schools in Panipat. She never misses me at Rakhi and Tikka during festivities. Som Dutt and Daya Nand are retired officials of Education and Revenue Departments respectively. Leela, a good old lady and wife of Dadu Mahant was highly respected in Manjhol family.,
Other brahmin families of Ladori are locally known as Beriwale, Ghaluinwale, Thappe, Vaid, Ambiwale, Phatiwale, Dubey, Dakwale, Halwaii, Mukkimaar and Upadhaya (Padhe).
Forefathers of Manjhol family lived in and around Pathankot in Kuthiali village since more than a couple of centuries ago. My great great grandfather, Makhan Lal, along with his wife Kali and one of his cousin brothers moved to Village Suliali in the early part of 19th Century. After having settled in Suliali, he got a job in the Royal Court of Nurpur Kingdom.
Other brahmin families of Ladori are locally known as Beriwale, Ghaluinwale, Thappe, Vaid, Ambiwale, Phatiwale, Dubey, Dakwale, Halwaii, Mukkimaar and Upadhaya (Padhe).
Forefathers of Manjhol family lived in and around Pathankot in Kuthiali village since more than a couple of centuries ago. My great great grandfather, Makhan Lal, along with his wife Kali and one of his cousin brothers moved to Village Suliali in the early part of 19th Century. After having settled in Suliali, he got a job in the Royal Court of Nurpur Kingdom.
His son Hira Lal, my great grandfather also joined him in the the Palace as Head Cook in the Royal Kitchen. Makhan Lal and Hira Lal both were allotted 100 Bighas of land in Village Suliali by the then Raja of Nurpur. After the demise of Hira Lal, my great grandmother, Laxmi was left all alone. She was terrorized and repeatedly thrashed by her near relatives in order to grab her landed property. As a result, she was forcibly thrown out of the house along with her five years old son Mallhu.
Laxmi, then went to her brother's house at Madanpur in search of a temporary shelter and lived there for quite some time. One of her brothers lived in Kashi and taught in a Gurukul. In due course of time, Luxmi came in contact with some kind hearted prominent women of Pathanias, who brought her to Ladori along with her son and offered a piece of land her a cottage at a place where present Manjhol House is situated. By this time, Mallhu was 17 years lad who had a burning desire to learn Jyotish and Upadhya Krit. He had in his mind his maternal uncle (Mama)who lived in Kashi and he always wanted to reach up to him.
One fine morning, Mallhu suddenly disappeared from the village and somehow reached Kashi. It is not known whether Mallhu could ever trace out his Mama in Kashi or not. But for 20 years there was no trace of Mallhu and Laxmi had almost lost all hopes of seeing her son again. One day, it so happened, that Laxmi saw Mallhu in her dream who told his mother that he was in Kashi and was learning Karamkand, Jyotish and Upadhya Krit and would come back home soon. Next morning Luxmi set out for a long journey for an unknown destination - Kashi, without having a slightest idea of the city, to bring her son back home.
On reaching Kashi, she stood tired at Ganga Ghat eagerly looking at each and everyone in utter madness who passed by her. Suddenly, an impressive looking man wrapped in saffron appeared before her as if from nowhere! He asked the woman as to why she was standing there and to whom she was searching for? Luxmi narrated the whole story in one breath. The man told her that "Mai, come to the Ghat tomorrow morning and you shall perhaps meet your son". The man disappeared.
Next morning, hardly a minute had passed when a young man in his late thirties approached Luxmi and asked her ":Mai, why you are so depressed and shaken, why you are standing here and to whom are you looking for? Luxmi abruptly cried and tears rolled down her sullen face. She told the man all about her missing son. The stranger told Luxmi that her son was living with him in a Gurukul and that she could come along with him and meet her son Mallhu, who by now was known as Pandit Mallhu Ram. Jyotishacharya. Luxmi brought her Mallhu back home who was warmly welcomed by the villagers.
Shahpure Pathanias' donated a piece of land in the middle of Ladori Village where present Manjhol House is situated. At the age of 39, Mallhu Ram was married to Bhatianwale's daughter Rukmani. Pandit Mallhu Ram was widely known and respected for his goodness and command over jyotish, Upadhya Krit and Karamkand. Mallhu Ram and Rukmani had a large family of five sons and five daughters including one adopted.
Since there was no fixed and regular income except that was earned through Upadhya Krit and Dehra Pujan, their financial condition was miserably poor. However, Pandit Mallhu Ram fought and took back his share of landed property at Suliali and family was brought up, educated and married off smoothly. Manjhol Parivar was well settled and spread all around by the time my grand parents left for their heavenly abode one after the other!
Laxmi, then went to her brother's house at Madanpur in search of a temporary shelter and lived there for quite some time. One of her brothers lived in Kashi and taught in a Gurukul. In due course of time, Luxmi came in contact with some kind hearted prominent women of Pathanias, who brought her to Ladori along with her son and offered a piece of land her a cottage at a place where present Manjhol House is situated. By this time, Mallhu was 17 years lad who had a burning desire to learn Jyotish and Upadhya Krit. He had in his mind his maternal uncle (Mama)who lived in Kashi and he always wanted to reach up to him.
One fine morning, Mallhu suddenly disappeared from the village and somehow reached Kashi. It is not known whether Mallhu could ever trace out his Mama in Kashi or not. But for 20 years there was no trace of Mallhu and Laxmi had almost lost all hopes of seeing her son again. One day, it so happened, that Laxmi saw Mallhu in her dream who told his mother that he was in Kashi and was learning Karamkand, Jyotish and Upadhya Krit and would come back home soon. Next morning Luxmi set out for a long journey for an unknown destination - Kashi, without having a slightest idea of the city, to bring her son back home.
On reaching Kashi, she stood tired at Ganga Ghat eagerly looking at each and everyone in utter madness who passed by her. Suddenly, an impressive looking man wrapped in saffron appeared before her as if from nowhere! He asked the woman as to why she was standing there and to whom she was searching for? Luxmi narrated the whole story in one breath. The man told her that "Mai, come to the Ghat tomorrow morning and you shall perhaps meet your son". The man disappeared.
Next morning, hardly a minute had passed when a young man in his late thirties approached Luxmi and asked her ":Mai, why you are so depressed and shaken, why you are standing here and to whom are you looking for? Luxmi abruptly cried and tears rolled down her sullen face. She told the man all about her missing son. The stranger told Luxmi that her son was living with him in a Gurukul and that she could come along with him and meet her son Mallhu, who by now was known as Pandit Mallhu Ram. Jyotishacharya. Luxmi brought her Mallhu back home who was warmly welcomed by the villagers.
Shahpure Pathanias' donated a piece of land in the middle of Ladori Village where present Manjhol House is situated. At the age of 39, Mallhu Ram was married to Bhatianwale's daughter Rukmani. Pandit Mallhu Ram was widely known and respected for his goodness and command over jyotish, Upadhya Krit and Karamkand. Mallhu Ram and Rukmani had a large family of five sons and five daughters including one adopted.
Since there was no fixed and regular income except that was earned through Upadhya Krit and Dehra Pujan, their financial condition was miserably poor. However, Pandit Mallhu Ram fought and took back his share of landed property at Suliali and family was brought up, educated and married off smoothly. Manjhol Parivar was well settled and spread all around by the time my grand parents left for their heavenly abode one after the other!
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