THE SOURCE OF SINDHI SURNAMES

An Introduction to Narain Kimatrai
By Shakun Narain

My husband Narain has been my strength. He has trusted and supported me in my spiritual interests, and has been instrumental in my keeping a balance between my house-hold duties and
Spiritual pursuits.

About twenty years ago (1980s) Narain's  friend Hotu, Diwan Hotchand Advani, (Superintendent of Customs, now retired), showed him two volumes of a Sindhi Books titled, "SIND JAY HINDUN JEE TAREEKH" and "THE ORIGIN OF SINDHI SURNAMES"

The book interested Narain as it recounted the History of Sind and Sindhis, and especially as it also contained photographs of our ancestors.

Hotu got these volumes photocopied for Narain, courtesy of Mr. Pishu T. Chellaram.

After glancing at some of the pages that seemed interesting to Narain, he put the volumes away.

Now, twenty years later, he has picked up these volumes again and is making an attempt to translate certain sections of them in English.

This attempt is not only for the benefit of our children, Sunder, his wife Saira, Madhavi, her husband Mohan (Bob), Anuja and grandchildren Aditya, Kiran, Aysha, Shazia and Jai but also for all Sindhi youngsters who may have an interest to know about their roots.

I am convinced that you, our Sindhi reader, will be proud to get to learn about our roots of lineage as well as the source of our surnames.

I have uploaded 'Origins of Sindhi Surnames' on my website.

Sindhi Surnames

 The 'Advani' Chapter includes the surnames: Sidhwani,Sitlani,Larkana Advani,Manshiani,Nandiram Hardaram,Mohanlal Rewachand,Kandhrani

The Kimatrai Chapter includes Gianchand, Ramanmal, Damomal, Kimatrai,Jhamatmal, Sobhraj, Narain, Narain’s sisters, Kimatrai’s other children.

The Khiani Chapter includes Pohu-Khianis, Mr Khiamal's sons, Mr Pohumal,

 Chapter 3 includes: Ajwani, Batani, Bhambhani, Tolani, Tejsinghani, Thadani, Gehani, Kewalramani,

Jaisinghani,Jethmalani

Chapter 4 includes:

Tahiliani, Education,Teckwani, Primalani, Punwani, Punwani from Kherpur, Phulwani, Pherwani, Jagtiani, Mother-138 children, Jhangiani, Chandiramani, Chanani of Larkana and Hyderabad, Jhamnani, Dadlani, Radhakrishnani.

Chapter 5 includes:

Sabhani, Rijhsinghani, Sadarangani, Mahtani, Shivdasani, Shahani, Idnani, Karanmalani, Khatri, Katar, Gidwani, Lala, Bhatia, Lalwani

Chapter 6 includes:

Lulla, Lund, Lohana, Makhija-ni, Malkani, Manghermalani, Mirchandani, Mirchandani, Notani, Vanhans, Vava, Aswani, Ailani

Chapter 7 includes:

Ailani, Uttamsingh, Amarnani, Israni, Bathija, Bajaj, Brahmkhatri, Bhaharani, Bhaherwani, Balani, From History, Bhatia

Chapter 8 includes:

Bhagchandani, Bhagat, Bhagwanani, Bhojwani, Seth Hotchand, An Episode,Tulsiani, Tharani, Parwani, Pagrani, Pojara (Pujari)

Chapter 9 includes:

Chhatwani, Chhugani, Khubchandani, Dudani, Dhanjani, Dhermalani, Dhodeja

Chapter 10 includes:

Sathra Sathrow,Sipahimalani, Sindhi Panjabi, Bhagwanani

Chapter 11 includes: 

Chellaram, Sahta, Garibdasani, Shevakramani, Karya, Kanjhan, Kirpalani, Khatwani, Kharna

Chapter 12 includes:

Melwanis, G. Bherumal, Hiranand Sons, N.G.Melwani, G. Daulatram, Jhamatmall Gurbamall, Khilnani, Khialdasani, Gandhi-Bhatia, Lahori 

Chapter 13 includes:

The inspiring life story of a Saint of Sindh:

Bhagat Kanwar Ram

Chapter 14 includes:

Sakraneys, Lakhani, Lakhwani, Lakhiani, Matai, Motiani, Motwani,

Murjani, Mahrotari, Nanwani, Nassirpuri, Chhapro, Wadhwani

Chapter 15 includes an article on:

The Business of being Sindhi

Chapter 16 includes:

Vaswani, Hingorani, Gehani, Raisinghani, Makwani, Takhtani, Nagpal,

Bharvani, Lakhani, A Tribute, Bhavnani

Chapter 17 includes:

The Song of the Ancient Sindhi Hindu

Chapter 18 includes: 

Uttamchandanis, Daswanis, Watumal,Hathiramanis

Chapter 19 includes

Kirpalani, Ramchandani, Mansukhani, 

Chapter 20 and 21  includes:

Hiranandanis

Read my article: A Trip to Sind, A Journey to my roots

'The Source of Sindhi Surnames' is a translation into English, by Mr. Narain Sobhraj Kimatrai from the original in Sindhi by Mr. Diwan Bherumal Mahirchand Advani