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In the indian state of Gujarat the Banjara people are known as the Labhani’s. As recoded by Encyclopedia Britannica. The language of this north western Indian state, is also the regional language in India who are closest related to Gormatti, the language of the Banjara people. In the Indian context, the word Lamani has been understood to have originated out of the word Lavan. Which means salt. It also can be understood as white, the colour of salt. The nomadic tribe came in long caravans, and they were considered to be traders in salt.

But in a Middle Eastern context, “Labhani’s” do have a very different origin. Laban is the male head of a tribe. The brother in law of Jacob, the father of the 12 tribes of Israel. Laban provided Jacob with his two wives, Rachel and Leah. The tribe of Laban provided the Jewish people with the female blood line. Laban and Jacob are also connected on the male family line. They had the same Great Grand father in Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor.
Back to the Indian context: If the Banjara people are not originally from India. The correct understanding of the relationship phrase “a Labhani” should literally be understood as: “a daughter of Labhan”. In lesson number 1, I explained that the Banjara people use the word “Aram” everyday. Without failure. When Jacob set ut to find his wife, he traveled back to the house of his mother Rebecca. Who lived in Paddan Aram. The fields of Aram, the son of Shem. These fields had Harran as the village center, the place where Laban lived.

Paddan Aram was an early Aramean kingdom in Mesopotamia. Paddan Aram means the field of Aram. These are the fields of a man, Aram, one of the sons of Shem. And the people who lived here are Shemites, relatives of Abraham.
The Banjara people (Lambada. Labhani. Lamani) use the word “Aram” everyday. You will be greeted with the following question: Aram chi? The answer will be “Aram tzo”. The English understanding of this question and answer will be: Are you ok, and in peace? The expected answer will be: “Yes, everything is fine”. In the Indian context, “Aram” means peaceful, and in balance. But as a personal greeting, the Hindi speaking people would use “Shanti” as a statement proclaiming a peaceful mind. The Banjara language (Gormatti) is the only language in the Indian subcontinent who use the phrase “Aram” as a personal greeting, the first word spoken in every personal encounter. Without failure.

In the Middle Eastern Context “Aram” is the name of a man, the head of a tribe. And the area where they settled is called Paddan Aram. The home of Nahor the brother of Abraham, the father of Rebecca who married Isaac the son of Abraham. Laban lived in Haram, the village center of Paddan Aram. Jacob, the father of the 12 tribes if Israel served under Laban for 14 years. He married his who daughters Rachel and Leah.

The history of pastoral Nomadic tribes is passed on to the generation orally. The tribes who lived in this area would eventually be driven away, and never to return. The sons and daughters would be instructed; “Please remember Aram”. The daily question would be: “Is Aram ok?”. In the gormatti language “tzo” would mean “go”. A reply like “Aram tzo” would literally mean “Go to Aram”. Hundreds of years back, the daily conversation would likely have been: ‘You are Aram, are you ok? “Please go to Aram and find out your self”. Aram chi? Fram tzo.

This linguistic circumstantial evidence is not sufficient to make a case for the Banjara people originally living in Paddan Aram. But as I will and have explained, there are multiple circumstantial evidences. And when all the pieces are puzzled correctly together, it is possible to make a strong case. The Banjara people are linked to the lost tribes of Laban.

There are two ancient people who are closely related to the history of Israel. Aramenans and Assyrians. Both of them had their kingdoms inside todays Syria. But there is a huge difference between them. The Assyrians are the sons of Ham, the Son of Noah. Sworn enemies of the people of Israel. The Arameans are the sons of Aram the son of Shem. The people of Aram are Shemites. just like the 12 tribes of Israel. The Banjara’s use the word Aram every day. Aram was the brother of Elam, both sons of Shem. In Elam you find the origin of the word « Tanda ». Also used by the Banjara’s every day. The chief (mayor) Tanda was captured by the Assyrians and exiled to Egypt in 668 B.C.
A few hundred years earlier, there was a kingdom named Aram Damascus, around 1.000 B.C. (map). The peopel of Aram were subjects of Jewish King David. After the death of King David and King Solomon, ancient united Israel fell apart. A new kingdom named Aram Damascus took control of the areas of todays Golan Heights, originally gifted to Manassse the son of Joseph, the son of patriarch Jacob. Aram-Damascus invaded the northern Kingdom of Israel, but were not able to take the city of Jerusalem. The people of Aram-Damascus were captured by the Assyrians, (ca. 740-732 BC), and taken into captivity in Assyria together with the 10 lost tribes of Israel. Could it be possible to identify the remnants of these 10 tribes, by decoding words in Gormatti, the oral Banjara law code, use of Judaic symbols, traces of the Mosaic law and clues from the patterns and jewellery of Banjara females? I believe so. I will give you all the evidences, to conect my beloved Banjara people back to their forfathers. Something to reflect on.

Both the Kurmanji people in North Eastern Iran and the Gor Banjaras use the word «Aram». In both cultures, used as a friendly request at the beginning of all conversations: «Are you at peace» or «resting»? During the Achaemenid Persian Age (600-300 B.C) both Kurmanjis and Banjaras traveled along the Khurasan Road that connected the Middle East with the Indus Valley. In Hebrew Aram-i mens Laban. (page 72-73, «Gypsy and daughter of Israel, Gor Banjara») This was a tribe that lived in Paddan Aram. (The fields of Aram). The plains where the ancient Aramean people dwelt, the border area between today’s Syria and Turkey. Keep in mind that Patriarch Jacob, before he was renamed Israel, was an Aram-ean. From the Bible: Deuteronomy 26:5: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. (…). As a bachelor Jacob came to his uncle Laban at Paddan Aram in search for a wife. And returned to the land of Kanaan with not less than four Aramean wifes.