Bhat (Kashmir)

For the general caste, see Bhatt.
For the English name, see Butt (name).

Bhat (Kashmiri: भट (Devanagari), بھٹ (Nastaleeq)), sometimes spelled as Butt (Pahari: بٹ), both of which are a shortened rendition of Bhatta (Kashmiri: भट्ट (Devanagari), بھٹٹ (Nastaleeq)),[1] is a Kashmiri surname, found among individuals native to the Kashmir Valley of India,[2] as well as Kashmiri émigrés who have migrated to the Punjab,[3][4] a region divided between India and neighbouring Pakistan.[5] Kashmiris bearing the surname Bhat belong to the larger Bhat caste of Brahmins found in the rest of the India;[1][6][7] the surname is shared by both Hindus and Muslims.[8]

Contents

Etymology

Historians state the surname is a distorted form of Bhatta, which originates from Sanskrit (भटट), meaning "scholar" according to Brāhmaṇa.[9] While the original shortened rendition of the "Bhatta" caste was "Bhat" or "Bhatt,"[1] many of the migrants to the Punjab, started spelling their surname as "But" or "Butt" which is the spelling of the clan used in the Pahari language.[5][10][5]

The reason that "Bhat" is used in Kashmir and "Butt" in Punjab is because at the time of the last British census the different governors of the two regions used different spellings. Since ancient times, Kashmiri traders used to spend summers at home in Kashmir preparing their goods (carpets, shawls etc.) and in the harsh winters they migrated to prosperous Punjab to trade their goods. Those that were trading in Punjab or resident in Punjab at the time of the census started spelling it "Butt" due to the British governors' interpretation. In 1947, those that were in Punjab generally just stayed there and kept using "Butt". Some that were resident in Punjab returned to Kashmir but continued using "Butt".

Origins

People named Bhat were said to be a clan of Brahmin descents of intellectual Vedic and Dardic saints that inhabited the banks of the Saraswati River, which ran dry around 2000 BC. This forced the community to migrate to Kashmir in search of "ultimate truth".[11]

The Bhat tribe is widespread throughout Kashmir. The Mir tribe is a sub clan of the Bhat tribe and has descended from the Bhat tribe. Butt may also be used to refer to people who are native to the Kashmir valley mainly from a city named Baramulla.

Geographical distribution

Bhats can be found in the following areas:

Notable people

Activists

Arts & Literature

Businessmen

Historians

Military

Musicians

Politicians

Scientists

Sports

Cricket

Football

Other Sports

References

  1. ^ a b c Saligram Bhatt. "Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace". http://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=why+dhar+written+as+dar&source=bl&ots=qvj7ExyG5_&sig=4VyuOpb8Aghj8g24jkHfHHhQp3Q&hl=en&ei=Dyf9TJ3MGIO0lQe0n7CTBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Bhat&f=false. Retrieved 2010-12-02. "Bhat {Bhatt} surnames are found in Uttaranchal, Northern Belt, Central and Western parts of the country and is a surname of sizeable Brahmins in Konkan, Maharashtra and Gujarat; where they had migrated in sizeable strength. Bhatta's who migrated to Gauda {Bengal} werecalle dAcharaya's {Scholars} and thus Bhattacharaya's. In Nepal they became priests, ardent worshippers of Bhadrakali and spread Kali worship; mostly around Pashupatinath Temple. In Uttaranchal they became Purohit {Priestly} class, adopted surname Purohit, many changed profession but retained Bhatt surname. In northern plains, few became Bhatta's, many Bhatt's; in both cases Purohit {Priestly} class. In Central and Western parts, strict requirements of a Bhatta {Purohit} could not be sustained and to indicate their Brahmin roots they opted for surname only. Thus Bhatta and Purohit are surnames of the same category. Bhatta has a shortened version, Bhat {Bhatt}; referring to the same class of people. Surname Bhat {Bhatt} in Kas'mira can also be traced to short form of Bhatta. In Kas'mira, Bhatta honorific has been associated with many personalities, scholars of 9th and 10th centuries, scriptures and specific in many cases in 14th century and later." 
  2. ^ "Explore Kashmiri Pandits". Dharma Publications. http://books.google.com/books?id=zsoC6GWr47QC&pg=PA99&dq=bhat+butt+name+kashmir&hl=en&ei=JdEbTaLcOsqkngfx4f2aDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2010-12-02. 
  3. ^ A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province. Nirmal Publishers and Distributors. http://books.google.com/books?id=LPsvytmN3mUC&pg=PA479&dq=malik+kashmir+caste&hl=en&ei=OPjxTISOA4GC8gb92eThDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=malik%20kashmir%20caste&f=false. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "The most important Kashmiri element in the Punjab is found in the cities of Ludhiana and Amritsar, which still contain large colonies of weavers, employed in weaving carpets and finer fabrics." 
  4. ^ Kashmiris’ contribution to Ludhianvi culture. The Tribune. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030724/ldh1.htm. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "In fact, the Ludhiana hosiery industry owes its origin to Kashmiris. According to the Ludhiana District Gazetteer, during a devastating famine in the 19th century a number of Kashmiris migrated to Ludhiana. They are known world over for their handicraft skills. They started weaving woollen fabric here. Slowly the trade got popular and Ludhiana started to be identified with hosiery only." 
  5. ^ a b c "The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 52". The Survey. http://books.google.com/books?id=gPmBAAAAMAAJ&q=bhat+butt+name+kashmir&dq=bhat+butt+name+kashmir&hl=en&ei=ddEbTbSNOsKTnwf9v7mjDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBjgK. Retrieved 2010-12-02. "The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine." 
  6. ^ "Madras journal of literature and science, Volume 4". Athenæum Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=hVMYAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA143&dq=bhat+butt+name&hl=en&ei=IdEbTabWNca4nAe524ClDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2010-12-02. "Bhatt (vulgarly Butt) is the distinctive name of a class of Bramins in the north; and in the south the same class bear the distinctive title of Pattar." 
  7. ^ "The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore)., Volume 96". The Society. http://books.google.com/books?id=SANuAAAAMAAJ&q=bhat+butt+surname+punjabi&dq=bhat+butt+surname+punjabi&hl=en&ei=ptMbTdAPzMucB5q0vNkN&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAg. Retrieved 2010-12-02. "Even today most common family name in Kashmir is Butt, a distortion of Bhatt, a Hindu surname common amongst the Brahmins in India." 
  8. ^ Parvéz Dewân. "Parvéz Dewân's Jammû, Kashmîr, and Ladâkh: Kashmîr". Manas Publications. http://books.google.com/books?id=fF0wAQAAIAAJ&q=bhat+butt+surname+punjabi&dq=bhat+butt+surname+punjabi&hl=en&ei=ptMbTdAPzMucB5q0vNkN&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA. Retrieved 2010-12-02. "This is a surname shared by Hindus and Muslims." 
  9. ^ For definition of ब्राह्मण brāhmaṇa, with last syllable showing a Vedic accent, used as a noun as "m. (having to do with Brahman or divine knowledge), one learned in the Veda, theologian, priest, Brāhman, man of the first four castes"; and definition of ब्राह्मण brāhmaṇa, with only first syllable showing a Vedic accent, used as an adjective as "a. (i) belonging to a Brāhman, Brāhmanic", see: Macdonell 1924, p. 199.
  10. ^ P.K. Kaul. "Pahāṛi and other tribal dialects of Jammu, Volume 1". Eastern Book Linkers. http://books.google.com/books?id=DKFjAAAAMAAJ&q=butt+pahari&dq=butt+pahari&hl=en&ei=VdgbTd-VOsGfnAfphoSQDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEYQ6AEwCA. Retrieved 2010-12-02. "The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine." 
  11. ^ http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=QpjKpK7ywPIC&pg=PA365&lpg=PA365&dq=History+of+kashmir+and+its+people&source=bl&ots=-RI_8tLrab&sig=8d9tzPeeB5lAjaq9RZqzYO8QydA&hl=en&ei=ab9pSobcB46PkAXutZW4Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6
Bhat/Bhatt/Butt • Dhar/Dar • Haksar • Kak • Kaul/Koul • Kichlu • Lone • Malik • Mattoo • Mir • Pandit • Sapru • Shaikh/Sheikh