Bhat

Bhat (also spelled as Bhatt or Butt) is a surname in the Indian subcontinent. Bhat and Bhatt are shortened renditions of Bhatta.

Mayaram bhatt famous Brahmin follower of swaminarayan

Etymology

The word "Bhat" (Sanskrit: भट, IAST: Bhaṭa) means "teacher" in Sanskrit.[1][2] While the original shortened rendition of "Bhatta" was "Bhat" or "Bhatt,"[3] many of the migrants to the Punjab region started spelling their surname as "But" or "Butt" which is the spelling of the clan used in the Pahari language.[4][5]

Geographic distribution

Goa

The surname is in use among some Konkani Christians who trace their ancestry to the Goud Saraswat Brahmins of Goa.[6]

Gujarat

Hindu Bhatts who speak the Gujarati language reside in the Indian state belongs to Nagar Brahmins.

Karnataka

This is a common surname among the Tuluva Brahmins, Goud Saraswat Brahmins , Havyaka Brahmins and Hoysala Brahmins of Karnataka.

Kashmir

Bhat, also spelled as Bhatt or Butt, is a Kashmiri surname, found among Kashmiri Brahmins of the Kashmir Valley, as well as Kashmiri émigrés who migrated to Punjab,[7][8] a region divided between India and neighbouring Pakistan.[4] Many such Kashmiris migrated to Punjab in the late 19th century due to 1878 Kashmir famine.[9][10][11][12] The surname is shared by both Kashmiri Hindus and Muslims.[13][14] During Sikandar Shah Miri's rule from 1389 to 1413 CE, his prime minister Suha Bhatt embraced Islam along with his family by Mir Muhammad Hamadani and took the name of Saif-ud-Din, along with earning the title of Malik.[15]

Bengal

Hindu Bhattas who reside in the Bengal region and speak Bengali belong to Kulin Brahmins and are found in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.

Nepal

Hindu Bhattas who reside in Nepal and speak Nepali language and Doteli language are mostly found in the Mahakali zone of Sudurpashchim Province, Nepal. Some Nepali Bhattas are also found in the Gorkha district of Nepal. However, due to the migration of people for opportunities nowadays, Bhattas can be found in different parts of Nepal.

Punjab

Some Muslim Bhats/Butts found in Pakistani Punjab migrated to different cities of (undivided) Punjab from Kashmir and Jammu during the 1878 famine,[4][5] and are Hindu converts to Islam.[10][11] Many such Muslim Kashmiris migrated to Punjab in the late 19th century due to natural disasters.

Uttarakhand

Bhatt residing in Uttarakhand are mostly Hindu Brahmins. They speak Hindi, Kumauni or Garhwali language and are priests in the local temples.

Himachal Pradesh

Bhatt residing in Himachal Pradesh belongs to the Brahmins of the Gaddi community. They use Bhatt as a canopy term and are further divided into sub-castes like Lappar, Maradu, Dangnu, Langhe, Daenu, Baune, Bagaedu, etc. Rayebhatt also belongs to this caste. They speak Kangri and Gaddi languages. They belong to Gotras viz; Vashishth, Bhardwaj, Kaundinya, Gautam, etc. Bhatt in Himachal Pradesh is distributed in the districts of Kangra and Chamba. In Kangra, they are found near Dharamshala and Palampur. In Chamba they are mostly found in Bharmour region.[16]

Notable individuals

Academics

Actors, models, technicians and musicians

Businesspeople
  • Baiju Bhatt (born 1984/1985), American billionaire, co-founder of Robinhood

Military
  • Muhammad Zaki Butt (26 January 1929), former Air Commodore in the Pakistan Air Force and bodyguard of Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
  • Ziauddin Butt, former Chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence
  • Tahir Rafique Butt (born 1955), 20th Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force
  • Malik Tazi Bhat, 15th-century Warlord, from Jammu, who fought Lodhi Dynasty

Politics

Scientists
  • Noor Muhammad Butt(born on 3 June 1936), Pakistani nuclear physicist, research scientist, and chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation
  • Parvez Butt (born on 4 October 1942), Pakistani nuclear engineer and former chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
  • Atul Butte, a researcher in biomedical informatics and biotechnology entrepreneur in Silicon Valley

Sports
  • Amad Butt (born 10 May 1995), Pakistani cricket player for Islamabad United, of Kashmiri origin
  • Arif Butt ( May 17, 1944 – July 11, 2007), Pakistani cricket player
  • Arvind Bhat (born 7 June 1979), Indian badminton player
  • Abhishek Bhat (born 19 November 1989), Indian cricket player
  • Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt (22 May 1878 – 23 May 1960), a wrestler is also known popularly as The Great Gama of Kashmiri Brahman origin.
  • Hussain Butt (born 7 August 1976), Pakistani cricketer
  • Ijaz Butt (born 10 March 1938), former Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board and cricket player, of Kashmiri origin
  • Ikram Butt (born 25 October 1968), Rugby player for England, of Pakistani/Kashmiri origin
  • Muhammad Sharif Butt (15 January 1926 – 8 June 2015), Pakistani sprinter
  • Pramila Bhatt (born 16 September 1969), Indian cricketer
  • Raghuram Bhat (born 16 April 1958), Indian cricketer
  • Rehan Butt (6 July 1980), Pakistani field hockey player
  • Samad Bhat (born 2 October 1995), Indian cricket player
  • Salman Butt (born 7 October 1984), Pakistani cricketer
  • Sadia Butt (born 2 March 1975), Pakistani cricketer
  • Shujauddin Butt (10 April 1930 – 7 February 2006), Pakistani cricketer
  • Yasir Butt ((born 3 July 1986), Pakistani squash player
  • Yousuf Butt (born October 18, 1989), Pakistani footballer

See also

References
  1. Sahagala, Narendra (1994). Converted Kashmir: Memorial of Mistakes. Utpal Publications. p. 53. ISBN 978-81-85217-06-2. Bhat means a Brahmin, teacher, who imparts knowledge.
  2. Sehgal, Narender (1 January 2013). A State In Turbulence Jammu & Kashmir. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-8430-242-4.
  3. Saligram Bhatt (2008). Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace. ISBN 9788131304020. Retrieved 2 December 2010. 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. Bhattas who migrated to Gauda {Bengal} were called Acharaya'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 the Purohit {Priestly} class, adopted the surname Purohit, many changed profession but retained the Bhatt surname. In northern plains, few became Bhattas, many Bhatts; in both cases Purohit {Priestly} class. In Central and Western parts, strict requirements of a Bhatta {Purohit} could not be sustained, and to indicate the Brahmin roots they opted for a 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 the short form of Bhatta. In Kas'mira, the Bhatta honorific has been associated with many personalities, scholars of the 9th and 10th centuries, scriptures, and specific in many cases in the 14th century and later.
  4. The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 52. The Survey. 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2010. The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.
  5. P.K. Kaul (2006). Pahāṛi and other tribal dialects of Jammu, Volume 1. Eastern Book Linkers. ISBN 9788178541013. Retrieved 2 December 2010. The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.
  6. Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians, Alan Machado Prabhu, I.J.A. Publications, 1999, p. 137
  7. The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India. The Survey. 2003. Retrieved 10 January 2015. The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.
  8. Explore Kashmiri Pandits. Dharma Publications. ISBN 9780963479860. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  9. Bahl, Arvin (2007). From Jinnah to Jihad: Pakistan's Kashmir Quest and the Limits of Realism. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 76. ISBN 9788126907212.
  10. The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India. The Survey. 2003. Retrieved 10 January 2015. The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.
  11. The quarterly journal of the Mythic Society (Bangalore)., Volume 96. The Society. 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2010. Even today most common family name in Kashmir is Butt, a distortion of Bhatt, a Hindu surname common amongst the Brahmins in India.
  12. Saligram Bhatt (2008). Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace. ISBN 9788131304020. Retrieved 2 December 2010. Bhat {Bhatt}, surnames are found in Uttaranchal, Northern Belt, Central and Western parts of the country and are a surname of sizeable Brahmins in Konkan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat; where they had migrated in sizeable strength. Bhattas who migrated to Gauda {Bengal} were called Acharaya'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 the surname Purohit, many changed profession but retained the Bhatt surname. In northern plains, few became Bhattas, many Bhatts; in both cases Purohit {Priestly} class. In Central and Western parts, strict requirements of a Bhatta {Purohit} could not be sustained, and to indicate the Brahmin roots they opted for a 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 a short form of Bhatta. In Kas'mira, the Bhatta honorific has been associated with many personalities, scholars of the 9th and 10th centuries, scriptures, and specific in many cases in the 14th century and later.
  13. Parvéz Dewân (January 2004). Parvéz Dewân's Jammû, Kashmîr, and Ladâkh: Kashmîr. Manas Publications. ISBN 9788170491798. Retrieved 2 December 2010. This is a surname shared by Hindus and Muslims.
  14. Sharma, Usha (1 January 2001). Political development in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. Radha Publications. ISBN 9788174870629. Retrieved 11 January 2015. Surnames like 'Bhatt' and 'Pandit' are common to both Hindus and Muslims.
  15. "The Rich Heritage of Jammu & Kashmir by Somnath Wakhlu". ikashmir.net. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  16. Christopher, Stephen (2019). "Gaddi, a Hindu community of the Western Himalayas". doi:10.14288/1.0385824. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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