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{{Short description|Muslim community in North India}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{infobox ethnic group|
|group= Bisati
|poptime =
|popplace = • India - [[Kashmir]] • Pakistan
|langs = • [[Urdu language|Urdu]] • [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
|rels= • [[Islam]] •
|related= • [[Ramaiya]] • [[Khumra (Islam)|Khumra]] • [[Shaikhs in South Asia|Shaikh]]
}}
The '''Bisati'''` are a [[Muslim]] community, found in [[North India]].<ref name="A Hasan pages 336">People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 336 to 339</ref> Many members of this community migrated to [[Pakistan]] in 1947 and have settled in [[Karachi]] and [[Sindh]].

==History and origin==

The Bisati -known as Punjabi biradri are said to get their name from the word ''bisat''', which means goods spread out for sale. They are a community of peddlers and traders. According to their traditions, they have emigrated from BEHRA now in Pakistan, during the period of [[Mughal Empire|Shahjahan]] rule. They are said to have initially settled in [[Punjab region|Punjab]], and then moved different parts of [[India]].
They are now found mainly in [[Kashmir]] [[Lucknow District|Lucknow]], [[Kanpur Nagar district|Kanpur]], [[Faizabad District|Faizabad]] and other parts of [[Awadh]], as well as the districts of [[Meerut District|Meerut]] and [[Saharanpur District|Saharanpur]] in the [[Doab]], and in [[Gopalganj District, India|Gopalganj District]] of [[Bihar]]. The community have 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.<ref name="A Hasan pages 336"/> They have titles like Ahmed and Beg.

==Present circumstances==

The Bisati have general merchandise business as their main source of income. Many are also vendors of goods such as bangles, buttons and cosmetics. They consider themselves of [[Shaikhs in South Asia|Shaikh]] status.<ref>People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 339</ref> In [[Uttar Pradesh]], the Bisati are [[Sunni]] Muslims, and speak [[Urdu]], and various dialects of [[Hindi]].<ref>People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 339</ref>

The Bisati in [[Bihar]] are found throughout the state, with especial concentrations in [[Gopalganj District, India|Gopalganj district]]. Like the [[Uttar Pradesh]] Bisati, they are peddlers, selling hosiery and locally manufactured toys. Like other [[South Asia]]n communities, they are strictly endogamous, and practice both cross cousin and parallel cousin marriages. There are now divisions within 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. They speak [[Bhojpuri]] and most have knowledge of [[Urdu]].<ref>People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part One edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 202 to 204 Seagull Books</ref>

==See also==
* [[Siddiqui]]
* [[Shaikhs in South Asia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Indian Muslim}}

[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Shaikh clans]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Bihar]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]

Bisati - Revision history

>Place Clichy at 07:31, 30 June 2021