Bisati
Encyclopedia
The Bisati` are a Muslim
community, found in North India
. Many members of this community migrated to Pakistan
in 1947 and have settled in Karachi
and Sindh
.
, during the period of Mughal
rule. They are said to have initially settled in Punjab
, and then moved different parts of India
.
They are now found mainly in Lucknow
, Kanpur
, Faizabad
and other parts of Awadh
, as well as the districts of Meerut
and Saharanpur
in the Doab
, and in Gopalganj District
of Bihar
. The community have several sub-clans, known as biradaris, the most important being the Ansari, Hashmi, Khan, Kazi and Mirza. Technically, marriages are said to occur within the biradari, and all biradari members trace their descent from a common ancestor.
status. In Uttar Pradesh
, the Bisati are Sunni Muslim
of the Barelvi
sect, and speak Urdu
, and various dialects of Hindi
.
The Bisati in Bihar
are found throughout the state, with especial concentrations in Gopalganj district
. They are also known as Ferriwala, Manihara, Tikulihara, and Pathera. Like the Uttar Pradesh
Bisati, they are peddlars, selling hosiery and locally manufactured toys. They claim descent from Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, a Sufi saint, who is said to have come from Iraq
. Like other South Asia
n communities, they are strictly endogamous, and practice both cross cousin and parallel cousin marriages. There are however cases of marriage with the Qassab
, Ansari
, Churihar
and Chik
communities. There are now divisions with in the community, with successful Bisati running their own businesses. The community are also involved in the running of small industries such as dyeing and weaving. A good many Bisati are now farmers, with cattle rearing, and poultry are important subsidiary occupations. They speak Bhojpuri and most have knowledge of Urdu
.
Many members of this community migrated to Pakistan
in 1947 and have settled in Karachi
and Sindh
.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
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...
. Many members of this community migrated 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...
in 1947 and have settled in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
.
History and origin
The Bisati are said to get their name from the word bisat, which means goods spread out for sale. They are a community of peddlars and petty traders. According to their traditions, they have emigrated from IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, during the period of 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...
rule. They are said to have initially settled in Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, and then moved different parts of 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...
.
They are now found mainly in Lucknow
Lucknow District
Lucknow District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The city of Lucknow is the district headquarters and the district is part of Lucknow Division...
, Kanpur
Kanpur District
Kanpur district is one of the districts of the Uttar Pradesh state of India. It is a part of Kanpur division and its district headquarters is Kanpur. Due to increase in population of Kanpur District, for proper administration it has been divided into two. The term Kanpur refers to the combination...
, Faizabad
Faizabad District
See also: Faizabad Faizabad district is one of the 71 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Faizabad city is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district occupies an area of 2,764 km²...
and other parts of Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
, as well as the districts of Meerut
Meerut District
Meerut district , is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Meerut is the district headquarters. Meerut district is a part of Meerut division.-Demographics:...
and Saharanpur
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
in the Doab
Doab
A Doab is a term used in India and Pakistan for a "tongue" or tract of land lying between two confluent rivers...
, and in Gopalganj District
Gopalganj District, India
Gopalganj is the administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarter is located in the town of Gopalganj and the district is a part of Saran Division. Languages spoken are Bhojpuri, Urdu and Hindi.-History:...
of 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 have several sub-clans, known as biradaris, the most important being the Ansari, Hashmi, Khan, Kazi and Mirza. Technically, marriages are said to occur within the biradari, and all biradari members trace their descent from a common ancestor.
Present circumstances
The Bisati have general merchandise business as their main source of income. Many are also vendors of goods such as bangles, buttons, cosmetics and undergarments. The community is essentially made of up door to door salesmen. Only a few Bisati have the resources to own their own shops. They consider themselves of ShaikhShaikhs 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. In Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, the Bisati are Sunni Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
of the Barelvi
Barelvi
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....
sect, and speak 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...
, and various dialects of Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
.
The Bisati 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....
are found throughout the state, with especial concentrations in Gopalganj district
Gopalganj District, India
Gopalganj is the administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarter is located in the town of Gopalganj and the district is a part of Saran Division. Languages spoken are Bhojpuri, Urdu and Hindi.-History:...
. They are also known as Ferriwala, Manihara, Tikulihara, and Pathera. Like the Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
Bisati, they are peddlars, selling hosiery and locally manufactured toys. They claim descent from Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, a Sufi saint, who is said to have come from Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Like other South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n communities, they are strictly endogamous, and practice both cross cousin and parallel cousin marriages. There are however cases of marriage with the Qassab
Qassab
The Qassab are members of the Muslim community involved in meat business. They are butchers and work in abattoirs and meat shops where they process and sell meat of poultry, seafood, cattle, goats, sheeps, etc. The most common surname of Qassab community is Quraishi. But all Quraishis are not ...
, Ansari
Momin Ansari
The Momin Ansari or Ansari, are a Muslim community, found mainly in West and North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Ansaris are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. The community were once known as al ansar, although the term is now obsolete. In North India, the...
, Churihar
Churihar
-Origin:The word Churihar us derived from the Hindi word chura hara, literally a manufacturer of bangles. They were traditionally associated with the manufacture of bangles, and have no origin myth. It is likely, that they are amalgam of different groups who took to manufacturing bangles, and are...
and Chik
Chik
The Chik are a Muslim community, found in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Bakar Qasab, Buz Qassab and Chikwa. The Chik have been granted Other Backward Class status in both Bihar and Uttar Pradesh....
communities. There are now divisions with in the community, with successful Bisati running their own businesses. The community are also involved in the running of small industries such as dyeing and weaving. A good many Bisati are now farmers, with cattle rearing, and poultry are important subsidiary occupations. They speak Bhojpuri and most have knowledge of 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...
.
Many members of this community migrated 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...
in 1947 and have settled in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
.