Pathan of Bihar
Encyclopedia
The Pathans of Bihar have a large community of Pashtun
s in the state of Bihar
in India
, who are said to have settled in the region from the 13th Century onwards. These Pashtun are known as Pathan
, which is the Hindi
and Urdu
term for a Pashtun. Another common name for the community is Khan
, which also a common surname. The name Pathan in Bihar now refers to two distinct but related communities, the Nasli (from the Arabic word nasl meaining racial or by birth) and Divani (from the Arabic word diwan
meaning a royal court). The former are descendents of various Pashtun settlers in Bihar, while the latter are Rajput
and Bhumihar
converts to Islam
.
rule, with the settlements of the Nuhani Afghans in the Bhojpur
region. Bahlol Lodhi, the first Lodhi
Sultan of Delhi, settled his fellow Pashtuns in Bhojpur and Rohtas
region, to control the rebellious Bhar
chieftains. The early settlers belonged mainly to the Suri
and Sherwani
tribes. Sher Shah Suri
, the last Afghan
ruler of India
was born in the town of Sasaram
, in Rohtas district. This region remains home to several Pathan settlements.
They are now found throughout Bihar, especially in the districts Gaya
, Nawada
, Aurangabad
, Patna
, Munger
, Darbhanga
, Muzaffarpur
, Saran
, Rohtas
, Bhagalpur
, Ranchi
and Hazaribagh
. In addition to the Pashtun, the term Pathan also covers a community of Rajput
converts, known as the Diwani Pathan
s, who belong mainly to the Bisen
, Bais
and Ujainiya clans.
, Sherwani
, Yousafzai
, Bhatti, Durani, Bangash
, Afridi, Khattak
, Lodhi
and Ghori, all of whom are well known Pashtun
tribes. They now speak Urdu
as well as local dialects such as Awadhi and Bhojpuri. Like other communities in the region, the Pathan are endogamous, and tend to marry close kin. They practice both parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. Those who live in the larger cities, such as Patna
have begun to marry other Bihari Muslims, and a process of assimilation into the wider Bihari Muslim community has begun.
The Bihar Pathan are still largely a rural community, and many are still small to medium scale farmers. Like other agrarian communities in Bihar, they too have seen a noticeable decline in their standard of living, as agriculture has suffered a decline. The land reforms carried at start of Indian independence have also affected the Pathan, as some were large jagirdars. In rural areas, most villages with large Pathan population have the Khan biradari committees, which are informal caste associations, These act as elements of social control, dealing with disputes with in the community, but there is no statewide caste association. The urban Pathans have no such caste organizations. They belong to the Sunni sect, and have customs similar to other Bihari Muslims.
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...
s in the state 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....
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...
, who are said to have settled in the region from the 13th Century onwards. These Pashtun are known as Pathan
Pathan
Pathan may refer to a member of the:*Pashtun people; an ethnic group native to Pakistan and Afghanistan*Pathans of Punjab*Pathans of Rajasthan*Pathans of Uttar Pradesh*Pathans of Bihar*Pathans of Gujarat*Rohilla...
, which is the 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...
and 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...
term for a Pashtun. Another common name for the community is Khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
, which also a common surname. The name Pathan in Bihar now refers to two distinct but related communities, the Nasli (from the Arabic word nasl meaining racial or by birth) and Divani (from the Arabic word diwan
Divan
A divan was a high governmental body in a number of Islamic states, or its chief official .-Etymology:...
meaning a royal court). The former are descendents of various Pashtun settlers in Bihar, while the latter are Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
and Bhumihar
Bhumihar
Bhumihar or Babhan or Bhuin-har is a Brahmin Hindu community mainly found in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.- Varna status :...
converts to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
History and origin
The Pathan settlement in Bihar began during the period of KhiljiKhilji
Khilji may refer to:*Khilji dynasty*Khilji, Nepalas added to the page to prevent it being listed on Special:Shortpages. It and the accompanying monitoring template were generated via Template:Longcomment. Please do not remove the monitor template without removing the comment as well....
rule, with the settlements of the Nuhani Afghans in the Bhojpur
Bhojpur district, Bihar
Bhojpur district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India. Arrah town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-History:...
region. Bahlol Lodhi, the first Lodhi
Lodhi
Lodhi is a Batani Pashtun tribe mainly found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were part of a wave of Pashtuns who pushed east into what is today Pakistan. Often accompanying the Timurids who conquered South Asia, the Lodhi established themselves during the Islamic period as a Muslim ruling class...
Sultan of Delhi, settled his fellow Pashtuns in Bhojpur and Rohtas
Rohtas district
Rohtas district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India.The Rohtas district is a part of Patna Division, and it has an area of 3850 km² , a population of 2,448,762 , and a population density of 636 persons per km²...
region, to control the rebellious Bhar
Bhar
The Bhar are a Hindu caste found in North India. They are also known as Rajbhar. British historian General Cunningham said that Bhars are branch of the Ahir tribe.-History and origin:...
chieftains. The early settlers belonged mainly to the Suri
Suri (Pashtun)
Sur or Soor is one of the historical names of the Afghan tribes, they are now found primarily among the Pashtun people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They claim to be descendants of Mohammad Sur, one of the princes of the Ghorids, who left his native Ghor region and settled among the Afghan tribes in...
and Sherwani
Sherwani (tribe)
Sarwani or Sherwani is a Batani Pashtun tribe settled in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.- History :The history of Pashtuns is based mainly on myths and largely on truths. One Niamatullah, in the court of Mughul Emperor Jahangir, in 17th century wrote the history of Pashtuns, in his book"TARIKH E...
tribes. 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
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
ruler 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...
was born in the town of Sasaram
Sasaram
Sasaram , sometimes also spelled as Sahasram, is the administrative headquarters of the Rohtas district in the Indian state of Bihar.It is one of the oldest cities in India, and is famous for production of stone chips and for the local quarrying industry...
, in Rohtas district. This region remains home to several Pathan settlements.
They are now found throughout Bihar, especially in the districts Gaya
Gaya District
Gaya is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The district is having a common boundary with the Jharkhand state in the south. Gaya city is its largest city and the district headquarters.-History:...
, Nawada
Nawada
Nawada is a city and a municipality. It is also the headquarters of Nawada district in the Indian state of Bihar.-Geography:Nawada is located at . It has an average elevation of 80 metres...
, Aurangabad
Aurangabad District, Bihar
Aurangabad district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.-History:Aurangabad features in traditional records...
, Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
, Munger
Munger
Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords. One of the major institutions in Munger is Bihar School of Yoga. It is one of the foremost learning center in the...
, Darbhanga
Darbhanga
Darbhangā is a twin city and a municipal corporation and the capital city of the Darbhanga district and Darbhanga Division in the state of Bihar, India. It is one of the most important districts of North Bihar situated in the very heart of Mithilanchal. According to the latest 2011 census, the...
, Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur Town is a town in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of Muzaffarpur district and Tirhut division....
, Saran
Saran district
Saran District is one of the thirty-seven districts of Bihar state, India. The district, part of Saran Division, is also known as Chapra district after the headquarters of the district - Chapra...
, Rohtas
Rohtas district
Rohtas district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India.The Rohtas district is a part of Patna Division, and it has an area of 3850 km² , a population of 2,448,762 , and a population density of 636 persons per km²...
, Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur
Bhagdattpuram was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" . It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God...
, Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
and Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh is a city and a municipality in Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the divisional headquarters of North Chotanagpur division. It is famous as a health resort and for Hazaribagh National Park ....
. In addition to the Pashtun, the term Pathan also covers a community of Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
converts, known as the Diwani Pathan
Khanzada (Awadh)
The Khanzada or Khan Zadeh are a community of Hindu converted Muslim Rajputs, found in the Awadh region of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. A few are also found in the state of Bihar. This community is distinct from the Rajasthan Khanzadas, who are also a community of Muslim Rajputs. They also...
s, who belong mainly to the Bisen
Bisen
Bisen/Vishen are the Suryavanshi Rajput clan found in North India, mainly in the state of Uttar Pradesh.They trace their descent from Raja Prithvi Mull of Majhaul, and get their name from the Sanskrit words visva meaning "entire" and sena means an "army".In other words it connotes those who have...
, Bais
Bais
Bais can refer to:* Bais City, a city located in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines* Bais, Ille-et-Vilaine, a commune of the Ille-et-Vilaine département, in France* Bais, Mayenne, a commune of the Mayenne département, in France...
and Ujainiya clans.
Present circumstances
The Pathan proper of Bihar belong to eleven sub-groups, the main ones being the SuriSuri (Pashtun)
Sur or Soor is one of the historical names of the Afghan tribes, they are now found primarily among the Pashtun people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They claim to be descendants of Mohammad Sur, one of the princes of the Ghorids, who left his native Ghor region and settled among the Afghan tribes in...
, Sherwani
Sherwani (tribe)
Sarwani or Sherwani is a Batani Pashtun tribe settled in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.- History :The history of Pashtuns is based mainly on myths and largely on truths. One Niamatullah, in the court of Mughul Emperor Jahangir, in 17th century wrote the history of Pashtuns, in his book"TARIKH E...
, Yousafzai
Yousafzai
The Yūsufzai is one of the largest Pashtun tribes...
, Bhatti, Durani, Bangash
Bangash
Bangash is the name of a Pashtun clan. The Bangash clan inhabit regions within the Federally Administered Tribal Areas , the Kurram Agency, the Miranzai Valley bordering the Samana Range, Naryab, Tirah, Kohat and Peshawar within the Sarhad province...
, Afridi, Khattak
Khattak
Khattak or Khatak , is the name of an Afghan tribe. speaking a variant of the Kandahari Pashto. They are accorded the status of being one of the original and true Afghans. The tribe is settled along the western bank of the river Indus from as north upwards as Sammah; modern day Lund Khwar & Sher...
, Lodhi
Lodhi
Lodhi is a Batani Pashtun tribe mainly found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were part of a wave of Pashtuns who pushed east into what is today Pakistan. Often accompanying the Timurids who conquered South Asia, the Lodhi established themselves during the Islamic period as a Muslim ruling class...
and Ghori, all of whom are well known Pashtun
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...
tribes. They now 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...
as well as local dialects such as Awadhi and Bhojpuri. Like other communities in the region, the Pathan are endogamous, and tend to marry close kin. They practice both parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. Those who live in the larger cities, such as Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
have begun to marry other Bihari Muslims, and a process of assimilation into the wider Bihari Muslim community has begun.
The Bihar Pathan are still largely a rural community, and many are still small to medium scale farmers. Like other agrarian communities in Bihar, they too have seen a noticeable decline in their standard of living, as agriculture has suffered a decline. The land reforms carried at start of Indian independence have also affected the Pathan, as some were large jagirdars. In rural areas, most villages with large Pathan population have the Khan biradari committees, which are informal caste associations, These act as elements of social control, dealing with disputes with in the community, but there is no statewide caste association. The urban Pathans have no such caste organizations. They belong to the Sunni sect, and have customs similar to other Bihari Muslims.
See also
- PashtunPashtun peoplePashtuns 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...
- Pashtun diasporaPashtun diasporaPashtuns , also called Pathans have many communities around the world. Pukhtuns have long history to conquer and colonizing several regions especially the ancient regions of Sub-continent in duration of past few centuries...
- Sher Shah SuriSher Shah SuriSher 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...
- Suri dynasty
- Suri tribe
- RohillaRohillaThe Rohilla are a community of Hindi-speaking Pashtun also known as Pathan, historically found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. Most are now also found in Pakistan where they are now part of the Mohajir community. At one time, they form one of the largest Pashtun diaspora community...
- Pathans of Rajasthan
- Pathans of GujaratPathans of GujaratGujarati Pathans are a group of Pathans. At various times in history, large number of Pashtuns have settled in the region of Gujarat in western India. They now form a distinct community of Gujarati speaking Muslims...
- Pathans of Uttar PradeshPathans of Uttar PradeshThe Pathans of Uttar Pradesh , have a large community of Pashtuns in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, who form one of the largest Muslim communities in the state...
- Pathans of Punjab
- 30-35% of the Muhajir peopleMuhajir peopleMuhajir [literally – migrants] is a term commonly used especially by Pakistanis to describe the Muslim immigrants who chose to settle in Pakistan and shifted their domicile after partition of British India into Pakistan and India. Some had participated in the movement for creation of Pakistan in...