The Patidars were originally descendants of Aryans. To understand and appreciate the vast history of the Patidar Community in Gujarat, we must first explore Aryan migration to India.
Many historians have speculated as to when Aryans arrived in India, and the origin of their arrival. Certain prominent historians believe that the Aryans lived in Central Asia on the banks of river Amu. From Central Asia, one group of Aryans travelled towards Europe and a second group went to Iran. The final group travelled to Punjab via Afghanistan (3500 B.C). No historical evidence has been found in support of this migration, as the printing press had not been invented at this point in time. However, it is believed that the Aryans lived together in this region, as recordings were preserved in ancient scriptures of the Vedas. Indian history was primarily preserved in Rugaveda where Aryans were later to be found.
Scholars of Rugaveda have found that prior to settlement in Punjab, the Aryans resided in Afghanistan. From here, they crossed through the Khyber Pass and consequently lived in Punjab. In Punjab, they originally inhabited an area where the seven rivers flow: the Sindhu, the Jelum, the Chinab, the Ravi, the Bias, the Satlaj and the ancient Saraswati. From this region, they scattered east towards the fertile lands of the Ganges and Jamuna and subsequently to Bihar and Bengal. So it would seem that the Gujarati Patidar Community of today were once the original Aryan settlers who migrated from Punjab to Gujarat.
Caste division appeared in the Aryan culture while they were living in Punjab (2500 B.C). A caste is a social order in ancient India in which society is divided into four castes or groups: (1) Brahman, (2) Kshtriya, (3) Vaishya and (4) Shudra. Prior to caste separation all Patidars were Aryans. The Kshtriya caste was divided into three sub-castes: Rajans (Kings)—leaders of small groups of Kshtriya who used to protect their villages; Kshtriyas (Fighters)—army ready to fight for the king at any time; and Kurmi Kshtriyas—who helped the king during the war and engaged in farming during peacetime.
The Kurmis owned the land and over many years became known as Kunbi and then later Kanbi. The Kanbi caste later became known as two groups: Laua Kanbi (migrants from the Lya district of Punjab) and Kadva Kanbi (migrants from Karad district). Therefore, Gujarati Patidars can be thought of as two groups: (1) Laua Kanbi and (2) Kadwa Kanbi.
During this period there was a huge increase in the Aryan population of Punjab as many groups migrated there. There was a shortage of farming land and so many groups spread towards northern Rajasthan, Bengal and Bihar. As a result of this migration, the main occupants of these areas in present times are the Kurmi Kshtriyas.
Migration into the Gujarat region took place between 600 BC and 200 AD. The Kurmis who left Punjab migrated to Rajasthan, Saurastra, Vadnagar and of course to the whole of Gujarat. These Kurmi migrants were mostly from the Karad Region of Punjab and so were known as Kadwa Kurmi. Lor Kurmis came to Adalaj via Ajmer, Marwar, Jaypur and Bhinamal. As the population increased in Adalaj, the Kurmis migrated firstly to Daskoi and from there to Charotar, Bhal, and Vakal and to Kanam and further to Kathlal, Kapadwanj and via Salvi to Champaner. After settling around these areas, Laua and Kadwa Kanbis reached Vadodra, Bharuch, Surat and Valsad districts, thereby spreading themselves to almost all the villages of Gujarat.
The actual name is derivative of the word Patlik. The name was first used in Gujarat during the era of the Muslim Sultans (1412 AD & 1573 AD). The headmen in the village were appointed by Sultans and were known as Mukhis. Mukhi is a word derived from the Arabic word Mukta. Through time, these headmen became called Patel (derived from Patlik or Akshpatlik or Akshpatal). Eventually even relatives and friends of Mukhis started calling themselves Patel. It seems the word came into use after 1400 AD. Prior to this period, all Patels were known as Kanbis. The name Patel is a surname and not a caste. It is also used by certain other groups. At present, the surname Patel is only used by Kanbis and so it is known as their surname. In the state of Maharashtra Patels are known as Patils.
The name Patel had been in use for three hundred years when a man called Vasandas from Piplav (Kheda) village was offered the job of collecting land revenues in the Dholka, Matar and Petlad area. Vasandas was a brave man and had a good deal of influence over the Mogul King, Aurangzeb. During one of his meetings (1703 A.D.) with Kanbis at Piplav, he invited Bahdur Shah (Son of Aurangzeb) to his meeting and asked his permission to use the word Patidar instead of Kanbi. The meaning of Patidar is Landowner: Pati = land, Dar = owner. During this period Nagar Brahmins had the sole authority to collect the land taxes and therefore used to have the upper hand on the Patidars and harass them. Fortunately, Vasandas used his influence on the mogul administrators to transfer the tax collection powers to the Patidars. As a consequence, the Patidar tax collectors were given the titles of Amin and Desai. Therefore, the Patidar caste began to incorporate three surnames: (1) Patel, (2) Amin, (3) Desai—and Vasandas became the first ever Gujarati Amin!
The adventurous Patidar community were to find the boundaries of Gujarat very limiting. East Africa was becoming more prosperous and offered attractive prospects. The arrival of the railway in East Africa attracted many Gujaratis across the Indian Ocean, into jobs as station masters, guards and clerks. As the railway system expanded in Kenya and Uganda, Patels also spread to many small and medium sized towns and villages for trade. The traditional farmer's sons from Gujarat became successful traders in East Africa. Two decades (1950 to 1970) were known as golden years for the Patel communities.
In the early seventies, the East African countries gained their independence in succession. In 1972 a tragic result of Idi Amin's expulsion of Asians from Uganda led to thousands of Gujarati families migrating to the UK. For the initial part of their new lives, first generation immigrants worked in offices, shops and factories. Thereafter they secured their own businesses—chiefly corner shops we still see today. They worked extremely hard, put in long hours and encouraged their children to aspire to educational success. The second generation of these Gujarati/Patels studied hard and flourished in higher education. Many graduated in Pharmacy, Engineering and medicine—traditionally only dreamt of by their parents!
Today, there are many Gujaratis/Patels young and old, leading very comfortable lives in various sectors within British society—whether it may be professional, industrial, commercial or politics. Patels can also be found thriving as entrepreneurs in trade, in towns and cities in India and virtually all over the World.