Bhatiara
Encyclopedia
The Bhatiara are a Pathan
community, found in North India
. They are also known as Farooqi or Shaikh Farooqi.
. They enjoyed royal patronage in running inns all along the trade routes in India
. The community trace their descent from Salim Shah, a brother the Sher Shah Suri
, the last Afghan
ruler of North India
. After the overthrow of the Suri
dynasty, members of the royal family were forced into the lowly occupation of inn-keeping by the vengeful Mughal
s. Although claiming to be Pathan
, their clans reveal a heterogeneous origin. Their main clans are the Bahlim, Bhil, Chauhan, Chriyamar, Jalkhatri, Madariya, Muderi, Sidiqui, Nanbai, Shirazi and Sulaimani.
disposition, but many now belong to the Deobandi
or Ahle Hadith
sects.
The community is dispersed all along the Grand Trunk Road
, but are concentrated in Allahabad
and Fatehpur
. The community speaks Awadhi, but many are shifting to Urdu
. They perceive themselves to be of Shaikh
status, but this claim is not accepted by other recognized Shaikh groups, such as the Muslim Kayasths
and Milkis
. A significant minority of Bhatiaras have also emigrated to Pakistan
, where they form an important element in the Muhajir community.
In Bihar
, the Bhatiara are also known as Farooqi, and claim descent from the second caliph
of Islam
, Umar
. According to their traditions, the ruler Salim Shah Suri settled them along the Grand Trunk Road as inn-keepers. They speak the Magadhi dialect, and are found mainly in central Bihar
. The community are strictly endogamous, with virtually no cases of inter-marriage with other communities. They are essentially an urban community, with many being petty traders. The Bhatiara have now opened tea-stalls, sweet-shops and paan shops. They are some of the more successful Bihari Muslim communities, and many have now taken to education. The community have a state-wide caste association, the Farooqi Jamat, which deals with community welfare.
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
community, found in North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. They are also known as Farooqi or Shaikh Farooqi.
History and origin
The Bhatiara are the traditional innkeepers of North IndiaNorth India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. They enjoyed royal patronage in running inns all along the trade routes in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The community trace their descent from Salim Shah, a brother the Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
, the last Afghan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
ruler of North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. After the overthrow of the Suri
Suri
-Places:* Suri, Birbhum, a town in West Bengal, India* Suri , an assembly constituency in Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal* Suri dynasty, a former South Asian empire* Şuri, a commune in Drochia District, Moldova*...
dynasty, members of the royal family were forced into the lowly occupation of inn-keeping by the vengeful Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
s. Although claiming to be Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
, their clans reveal a heterogeneous origin. Their main clans are the Bahlim, Bhil, Chauhan, Chriyamar, Jalkhatri, Madariya, Muderi, Sidiqui, Nanbai, Shirazi and Sulaimani.
Present circumstances
The Bhatiara are no longer involved in their traditional occupation of inn-keeping. Most are now wage labourers, or involved in driving ekkas, a traditional horse drawn cart. Many are also sharecroppers, renting out land from other communities. This decline in their occupation has also led the disappearance of their caste council. The community were historically Sunni of the BarelviBarelvi
Barelvi is a term used for the movement of Sufi , Sunni Islam originating in the Indian subcontinent.The Movement is known as Ahle Sunnat movement to its followers....
disposition, but many now belong to the Deobandi
Deobandi
Deobandi is a movement of Sunni Islam. The movement began at Darul Uloom Deoband in Deoband, India, where its foundation was laid on 30 May 1866.-History:...
or Ahle Hadith
Ahle Hadith
Ahl al-Hadith or , is a term that has been used to refer to many Islamic movements that emphasize the use of hadith in Islam...
sects.
The community is dispersed all along the Grand Trunk Road
Grand Trunk Road
The Grand Trunk Road also formerly known as Uttarapatha, Shah Rah-e-Azam or Sadak-e-Azam or Badshahi Sadak is one of South Asia's oldest and longest major roads...
, but are concentrated in Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
and Fatehpur
Fatehpur
Fatehpur may refer to:Places in India*Punjab** Fatehpur Jattan, village in district Fatehgarh Sahib** Fatehpur Rayian, village in district Fatehgarh Sahib** Fatehpur Bhangala, village in district Rupnagar* Uttar Pradesh...
. The community speaks Awadhi, but many are shifting to Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. They perceive themselves to be of Shaikh
Shaikhs in South Asia
Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Cheikh, Šeih, Šejh, Şeyh and other variants , is a word or honorific term in the Arabic language that literally means "elder." It is commonly used to designate an elder of a tribe, a revered wise man, or an Islamic scholar...
status, but this claim is not accepted by other recognized Shaikh groups, such as the Muslim Kayasths
Muslim Kayasths
The Kayastha Muslim are community of Muslims, descendents of members of the Kayasth caste who embraced Islam. They live in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan and many have now settled in United Kingdom, United States and Canada. The community uses...
and Milkis
Milki (caste)
The Milki are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Malik, and found entirely in the Awadh region. A small number of Milki are also found in Karachi in Pakistan. The Milki, together with the Qidwai, Malik and Chaudhary are one of the four sub-group...
. A significant minority of Bhatiaras have also emigrated to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, where they form an important element in the Muhajir community.
In Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, the Bhatiara are also known as Farooqi, and claim descent from the second caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Umar
Umar
`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c. 2 November , was a leading companion and adviser to the Islamic prophet Muhammad who later became the second Muslim Caliph after Muhammad's death....
. According to their traditions, the ruler Salim Shah Suri settled them along the Grand Trunk Road as inn-keepers. They speak the Magadhi dialect, and are found mainly in central Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. The community are strictly endogamous, with virtually no cases of inter-marriage with other communities. They are essentially an urban community, with many being petty traders. The Bhatiara have now opened tea-stalls, sweet-shops and paan shops. They are some of the more successful Bihari Muslim communities, and many have now taken to education. The community have a state-wide caste association, the Farooqi Jamat, which deals with community welfare.