Mirzapur - Article

Mirzapur - Article - Relations

Relations

Leva Patels, Kanbi's of different villages have come to Kutch from different parts of India, and centuries ago from many parts of the world. There are also many Leva Patel families residing in other parts of Gujarat. Most surnames are as they should be but other surnames have been adapted and named after our ancestors. For example;

Mayani surname has derived from Mayabapa Gangjiani has derived from Gangjibapa Khimani has derived from Khimjibapa Laljiani has derived from Laljibapa Limbani has derived from Limbabapa

While arranging a marriage, parents or elders must look into the surname properly. Youngsters building up relationships with a view to marriage must research in depth before this relationship becomes a tie. Birth Certificates, Passports or other travel documents, showing Patel, Kanbi, or grandfathers name, even a surname after the first name may not necessarily be the correct surname. Before building up a relationship, it becomes your duty to ensure that your partner is not a family member or a distant family member by way of surname, as this causes a great deal of distress to all. Remember, according to Hindu custom, a boy from Hirani family cannot marry a girl from Hirani family, similarly a girl from Halai family cannot marry a boy from Halai family and so on as they could be distantly related as brothers and sisters generations down their family tree. Please seek advice from elder family members or elder community leaders to avoid confusion and misery. Our religion disapproves of marriage to a related person, as it is more likely to produce genetically deformed children.

Surnames relating to the Kanbi Community at large are as follows;

Kanbi is a common name and not a surname as we are all Leva Patel Kanbi Patel is a common name and not a surname as we are all Leva Patel Kanbi

Ajani*
Asani*	are mostly Varsani
Bhanderi
Bhudia
Bhutani*
Chhabhadia*
Chabhadia*
Chhabadia*
Chothani*	are also known as Mandani
Dabasia
Gajipara*
Gajparia*
Gami	are also known as Bhuva, Vagadia, Pindoria, Hirani
Gondaria	are mostly known as Seyani
Gorasia
Halai	are also known as Limbani, Padaria, Panchani, Ajani, Pethani, Mayani, Jesani, Asani, Gangjiani, Kara
Halaria
Harsiani	are also known as Taparia
Hirani	are also known as Lachhani, Laljiani, Bhojani, Dhanani, Bhabhani, Bhuva, Jagani
Jesani	are often known as Halai, Vekaria
Jivani*
Kara*
Kerai	are also known as Garara, Vaghani, Bhabhani, Meghani, Suthar
Khetani
Khimani	are mostly Pindoria
Khokhani
Khokhrai
Ladhani*
Madhaparia
Mayani	are mostly Halai
Mepani	are also known as Jivani, Lakhani, Raghwani, Sonara, Rabadia
Meghani	are mostly Kerai
Paadaria
Padhra*
Panchani
Pindoria	are also known as Bhuva, Vagadia, Khimani, Meghani
Punjani*
Rabadia	are also known as Savani, Mepani
Raghwani	are also known as Mepani
Rajani*
Rupalia*
Sanghani
Saparia*
Savani or Sevani	are mostly Mepani or Rabadia
Seyani	are also known as Gondaria
Sojitra*	are also known as Nardani
Surani*
Surjani*
Vaghani	Is not a correct surname. They are mostly Kerai
Vagadia	is a surname adapted by people who came from Vagad a state of Gujarat. It is not a correct surname. Most Vagadia's are Pindoria and some Vagadia's are Hirani
Varsani	are also known as Assani, Ladhani, Hirani, Gangjiani, Ambani
Vastani	This is not a correct surname as this is adapted from Vastabapa
Velani*
Vekaria	are also known as Ajwani, Vagadia, Kara, Jesani, Halai, Bhuva, Meghani, Saloria, Thakrani, Valani
Vora*	is not a correct surname. They are mostly Halai or Kara
Wagjiani	are also known as Kabaria, Nardani

Some surnames are more common and some are less common for example in some villages there are more Varsani's and in some villages there are more Hirani's or Pindoria's or Vekaria's and there are very few families of less common surnames. Knowing your correct surname is a must.

The above list of surnames is prepared after consultation with community leaders and reference to our community directories. If your surname does not appear on this list or if you know of any surnames not on the list, please advise us for our future reference. Particular care should be taken in checking which sub surname marked * are related to what main surname.

Elders are requested to ensure that they know their correct surname and tell their children, as many of them have been using adapted surnames or ancestral names and have never bothered to find out their correct surnames.

When our parents emigrated from India, their travel documents/application forms were filled in by travel agents, who used their surnames as Patel or Kanbi, or even wrote in their grandfathers name. Eventually the last name appearing on the travel document was treated as their surname by immigration authorities.

Even to date many people have not corrected this error, and so many children do not know their correct surname. When youngsters today meet their opposite sex and build a relationship with a view to marriage, one says my surname is Kanbi and the other says that their surname is Patel where as in reality they both could be Hirani or Halai etc. Many parents do not come to know until it is too late. The method of changing to your real surname is very simple. A deed-pole through solicitors is all that is needed after which travel documents and all other authorities will accept this document and amend their records in accordance.

Children have a birth right to know their correct surname, (not just Patel, Kanbi or a surname derived from their grandfather's or great grandfather's name) also their ethnic identity and full access to their religion, customs and culture. It is every parent's duty to make the children aware of all these and where they are denied these rights, they end up on the wrong path and are then blamed for wrong doing.

Parents must also encourage their children to take a more active role in the community at large, and to take part in Gaam, Samaj, Temple committees etc. The whole world is one family and so for every person, community, religion and culture and custom must be respected.

Velji Manji Hirani, Mirzapur